Shanghai Then, Shanghai Now

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Second-hand Furniture For Sale

Just helping a friend sell some used furniture… Grab these second furniture, 1 lot, for only P8000.00. The lot includes a used living room sofa set, 2 pcs of cd dvd rack furniture and a dresser with stool. Only P8000 for the 4 goodies. Complete details here. However, if you prefer sparkling new furniture and accessory, by all means, check LEOQUE products. Thanks! Oh, speaking of furniture... I helped designing these... Buy one and make me rich!

Contressa Console Cabinet

Nesting center table (ok, I'll admit, inspired from a condominium interior design sighting)

Night table, side table with orig glass slot, cmon click here, check it out

A modified display rack I saw on the net, Round Display

Orig by us, old & new combo, side bench

Wood Plank Shelf, Easy Wall-Mount

4 Layers, Wenge Ladder Shelves

“BECCI” Console Table with 2-Door Cabinet

Mirror, Mirror

Two samples of framed mirror custom-made by House-of-Leoque. For the first time, these elegant framed mirrors are made affordable. Instantly giving the space a distinct rich & elegant look. Made from select wood & imported thick mirrors. Both can be wall-mounted or on-floor placement.

Reverse Engineer

I can feel this t-shirt print. Sa mga ma-abilidad na engineers & engineering students, this is a fitting t-shirt.

Bamboo, Up Close

Bamboo, in focus… both in photo (macro) and in description, as used in construction.

When treated, bamboo forms a very hard wood which is both lightweight and exceptionally durable. In tropical climates it is used in elements of house construction, construction scaffolding, as a substitute for steel reinforcing rods in concrete construction, and so on. Modern companies are also attempting to popularize bamboo flooring made of bamboo pieces steamed, flattened, glued together, finished, and cut. However, bamboo wood is easily infested by wood-boring insects unless treated with wood preservatives or kept very dry. A lot of institutes and universities are working on the bamboo as an ecological construction material. It is possible to get in the United States and France houses 100% made with bamboo, earthquake and cyclone-resistant, with international certification. Three ISO standards are for bamboo as construction material. Fromwiki.

Home Improvement: The Massive Glass Panel

I spent 2 hours yesterday just to get this massive glass panel installed. The huge half inch by 7 feet by 14 inch glass panel is from my sister as she chose to go wood panel instead. I got this free.

Man Hours Breakdown

A. The Lift Off (20 min)

20 minutes looking for someone who'll help me bring this glass from G-Floor to the 5th, via stairs. After 15 minutes of waiting in the sidestreet, there you go, one pedicab driver agreed to help me send it up to the heavens (5th floor), I gave him P40.00.

B. The Talk (10 min)

Precious 10 minutes to inform thy neighbor of an impending mala-jack-hummer powerful drill. Gotta talk to thy neighbors if you're separated by only 4 inch walls.

C. Measure Up (10 min)

10 minutes to draw the lines, err, the points. This one is 35 inches high and with 4 steel supports separated by 21 inches to spread the load.

D. Drill You, Screw You (20 min)

Just 20 minutes to actually drill the holes and screw the supports. And, I loaded the glass panel by myself while reciting Hail Mary. I was actually praying while lifting this thing for fear that it might snap and slit my throat. A lone worker lifting a seven foot glass panel is not recommended as it could snap in the strained/stressed area. BUT, I want to see how it'll look ASAP.

E. Clean Up (60 min)

Finally, 1 hour to clean up the mess. I actually spent more time cleaning up the concrete debri, chipped rust from the supports, tools everywhere... than actually installing the panel.

Next up, some paint retouching for the steel supports, i want it white and thoroughly clean the glass. Later on, get some artpieces or frame my own photo shots to put on the glass.

Innova Mirror Guard, err, Delayer

After some angelic soul/s took the side mirrors of our "ilova," we considered getting a set from "Evangelista Motorway" for surplus mirror set. But, I was afraid I'll get my own stolen mirrors from where I'll be buying. I live near Evangelista St., surely the thief just sent/sold my mirrors out there. And, being ilova only 3 weeks old, it doesn't deserve surplus parts muna. So we bought from Toyota Manila Bay. Price is P1734 a piece for original Toyota Innova mirrors. Total replacement cost for the stolen mirrors is P3468.00.

Since I'll be parking on same predicament as it was when when the mirrors were stolen, I ordered a mirror grill or guard. Quoted price was P2350.00. I was actually ordering the grill or removable metal housing for the mirror. I was surprised, when I was to pick up the mirror guard, it is not as expected. The thing is of different make, protection and usage.

This mirror guard kinda lines the mirror housing for it to be secured. As planned, the installaer says, the thief can extricate the mirror no more. The guard is just adhesively (3m) fastened to the mirror housing body then a sealant is applied. It sure looks UGLY but I need to have this.

Second, this mirror guard makes the mirror visibility smaller by a guess 10% to 15%.

Third, this thing aint 100% theft proof. In fact, I don't call this a "guard," actually I call this the "delayer!" A thief can still use a flat screw driver to have this lining guard un-installed and use the same flat screw driver to get the mirror again. But again, no choice, already ordered and "ilova"needed some kind of protection. This mirror guard is P2350.00 from Toyota dealer.

What would really be nice is that grill mirror guard. Sadly, Toyota doesn't supply this, it can be had from customized metal/steel fabricators welder.

Finally, Innova E isn't preloaded with keyless entry and the token alarm. I had the set installed the other day as well. Around P4000 for the labor and installation. It's the Taiwan brand that I had them installed. The US alarm keyless entry set is P7500.00. Almost double so to Taiwan I went.

In the Philippines, got to shell out P9000.00 just to get new and protect the mirrors. Haypota!

Good Planning Prevents You From Waking Up Thy Neighbors

Am up early today, well at least compared to my usual up time. Add that, I slept past 12mn again.

What made me see daylight?

These folks in the building in front of us were already alive and kicking, err, live and pounding away the walls. They are making a slot for an air condition unit. This building is about 8 floors high and units are for rent.

Surely, they constructed this building with the monthly rates already computed. Otherwise how can they possibly know when they'll get back the money invested, if at all they'll get it back.

News around here is that rate is P12,000 a month. Pretty high for a small space. Establishing 12k a month means they already got their target market. Middle class range, able to pay 12k at downtown Makati. In other words, they know the would-be occupants, willing and able to pay P1000 for an Air Conditioner. So prepare the slot during the construction.

Question is, why he owner/contractor did not take this to the account. Why not readily put a provision for an air condition slot. So that, the AC slot is uniform in size and form AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, they don't wake me up early. I hate poor planning.

To compound the pound(ing), the guys that are working on right now?... They are using teeny tiny little tools. Small electrical drill, small hammer and a damn concrete nail. If that's a precast concrete you're working on, good luck.

Now, some units have slot. Some don't have. Placement isn't uniform. In short, it's ugly. Investing multi-million pesos, then 'uglyfy' he loks in 3 years.

Why do I care? Two words, my sleep.

How to Terminate BNC Connectors (and RCA) To RG59 CCTV Cable

Learned something from technician on how to terminate RCA and BNC connectors to the COAX cable.

This coacial cable is used in the installation of CCTV Cameras and DVR Systems. One cute little DVR package here.

I tried what I learned and sort of documented it for posting here. Of course, every technician or an engineer has his own technique (don't you love that word?) so no system is perfect. Of course2, we can dig the Electrical Engineering Wiring code but hey, what I saw from this technician who demoed the stuff, made sense.

Unless Alessandro Volta haunt my BNC-RG59-RCA connection, this will hold and this is the process that I'll follow. Besides, I tested my 5 co-ax cable made last night, and all were good. Videos are clear (including the night vision camera). Very nice for those who'd love to have their own glorious sex scandal.

Pictures below...



The BNC Connector.



Strip the co-ax cable. About an inch (depends on your BNC Connector). Also strip the dielectric insulator (white one) about 3/16" of inch. Collect or twist the braided copper (wire) to a single strand. That is the ground.



Clamp the copper ground using a long nose tool or ordinary pliers.




Solder the thin wire to the BNC connector.




Normally, there is a rubber insulator to be placed after the solder is made. But, it's more recommended to electrically tape it. Tape doesn't go places unlike that of the plastic.



Insert the connector barrel. Sometimes, this barrel needs crimping. In my sample, this is the screwed type.



Finally, put an electrical tape to seal the connection. Protection on grounds and added integrity of connection.


Same steps with that of the RCA Connector's end. Only, it will end as shown in the pic above.


There you go, RG-59 Cable - RCA & BNC connection learned from the actual installer of CCTV Systems, and not from the book.

How (NOT) To Install An ELBA Range Hood

I installed the new ELBA Range Hood today. This one, we got (I think) from Anson's near Landmark. Yep, the new sprawling home appliance and furniture building. Annexed to it is a parking, where we always go. 3D is the post. If you see one black car, looks like it hasn't seen a car wash in month, that's me in the corner, that's me in the spot.

Anyways, i went to hell and back installing the range hood, and just herewith, to help you do this better, this is my how NOT to install this mother.

1. DONT read the manual. Yep, be lazy like me and assume you'll be able to figure it out, on fly.
2. Blame the condo-contractor for putting up one solid, hard to penetrate/drill concrete walls, just for inside walls.
3. Invite family members for a sleep-over and give them one good morning of extra judicial wall drilling noise.
4. Buy a short aluminum duct. So that, at the end of the day, you will still not be able to use its duct option. Right now, we are using the charcoal/filter option.
5. Don't prepare the vacuum cleaner or a trusty broom. Yes, make a mess of the kitchen.
6. Curse the freakin contractor no end for not having the cabinets provisioned and ready for this range hood. No effing holes for the ducts. I drilled 4 freakin panels, 4 inches in diameter. I grind a portion of the cabinet just to mak way for the hood. Whooooo!
7. Again, during times of trouble in the installation, skip the manual and go on "BAHALA NA" mode.
8. Midway thru the 3 hours of drilling, screwing and thinking, eat cheapo-chicaron and be dehydrated even more.
   

ABU WEB Site

Architects Basketball Union

Architect? Loves Basketball? Check this site. It’s the official site of the Architects Basketball Union (or, ABU) based here in the Philippines. I was once an Archi freshman back in the day, dropped out and chose to be an engineer instead. Today, I help fine-tune the ABU site (with PAY!). Having dropped my T-Square and the airbrush, this is as close as I can, doing stuff with Philippine architects.

Site Dev 2 - Dama De Lofte

The model...


The Jpeg Plan... (done using photo software, I no longer have autocadd installed, it's a memory hog)


I swung by to check the long delayed (plus 2 weeks now) house/condo renov earlier this afternoon. They are now working on the loft flooring. Vynil tiles in checkered black and white with gray/silver in the perimeter. Too bad, the silver tile is kinda same with the white ones. And so, the silver border aint noticeable. But hey, we'd like t wrap the works and so this will do.

Actual flooring...

The red center piece if for good luck.

Spiral Stairs Presentation

If you are an agent selling, well, spiral stairs, there are two ways of doing your presentation.

One, ask Ellen Adarna to model the spiral stairs for you. Like below...


Or two, use my image below. Feel free to use. No copyright. Featuring the butt of my contractor's welder.


Visited the works, with the fumes and dust, I almost passed out. The spiral stairs need some serious grinding.

Site Dev 1

about 7 days onto the works... this is the mini partition with niche, separating the mini dining room from the mini living room inside this mini unit...



look out helter, skelter... wrong! this config is now history.., the 4 x 2 should be on top of the 2 x 6 bolted to the concrete...
i repeat, this set-up is absolutely not right...

room elevation is via 2x4 wood, 3/4 ply on top, finish with vinyl... that aircon slot, the men at work are using that as their temp ventilation and entertainment break... the lady in the next building is somewhat a show-off.
i'll be going to the site again this PM to give 20K, much needed cash for the fabrication of steel spiral stairs to access the loft and storage area...

the proj is shaping up.