Chris Johnson
Registered Users
Posts:341
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| 01/23/2008 11:23 PM |
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I hope everyone had a chance to make it out to the WOC this year, I was there yesterday
It appears the market must be in effecting sales and marketing budgets as a lot of ICF companies are not there this year.
Couple new products available which I see a good use for in my company, one was a leveling system, one person operation, set the hand set on the starting point of your wall and it 'zero's' itself out calling that the benchmark, move it around and keep checking the top of wall for level. Seems easier than setting up the laser...selling for $ 700.00...I haven't commited yet, but am strongly considering it.
Another neat product was an extremely heavy duty zip tie, tie it off to your rebars and use to hold embeds in place, very useful for me when installing flat plates and such as opposed to using plywood gussets and having to support everything plus all the labor involved, cost is less than $ .50 each, the tool is $ 40.00.
If the moderator doesn't mind, I can post the company names if you want, just let me know
Chris
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Chris Johnson - Pro ICF
Napa, CA
Come for the wine, Stay for the ICF work |
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lkazanov2
Registered Users
Posts:112
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| 01/23/2008 11:38 PM |
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Chris,
Please do if OK with the moderator. I am always interested in new products and technologies.
Leonard
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CFL-ICF
Registered Users
Posts:61
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| 01/24/2008 9:06 AM |
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most going to the WOC are looking for tools.
ICF's are not anything new as we all know here in this forum.
the ICF manufactures are saying they have never had a good return for there invesment in going to WOC. |
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Chris Johnson
Registered Users
Posts:341
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| 01/24/2008 3:27 PM |
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Posted By CFL-ICF on 01/24/2008 9:06 AM
the ICF manufactures are saying they have never had a good return for there invesment in going to WOC.
Wrong theory on their part...They may not see the return on the investment right away, but keeping your face out front reminds people who you are and that my friend gets you referrals.
Jamie sent me a message allowing me to post the new products I found, I'll dig thru my goody bag later tonight and post
Chris
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Chris Johnson - Pro ICF
Napa, CA
Come for the wine, Stay for the ICF work |
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CFL-ICF
Registered Users
Posts:61
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Chris Johnson
Registered Users
Posts:341
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| 01/24/2008 9:00 PM |
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Ok folks...
Check out the following neat items
A Zip level, www.ziplevel.com, advantage I see is no line of sight needed, so when the interior area is stacked full of blocks and you are checking level, you don't need to move bundles of blocks or materials around, $ 699.00 for the tool, I played with it for about 15 mins. I've spent that much money on dumber things, so I might just give it a shot on the job, comes with 30 day return policy.
www.ramsnappro.com, really neat zip tie system, I see it working well for embeds plates in the side of walls, angle irons, etc. $ just under $ .50 per tie, $ 40.00 for the tool. They were showing it for window and door bucks, I don't know if I would use it there.
www.rousseauco.com , batter board, you say what's so good about this, 8 pcs for $ 120.00, $ 15.00 each, I see it as cleaner looking on the job, easy to slid the marker across as opposed to having to keep renailing for off sets, I don't know what to really say, I just liked it and figure 2 sets would do me, so $ 240.00 and it's clean and fast. Again I've spent that money and more on dumber items.
If I dig up anything else from the trip I'll let you know
Anybody else gone and found anything neat? Got any neat tools in your box most of us wouldn't have?
Chris
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Chris Johnson - Pro ICF
Napa, CA
Come for the wine, Stay for the ICF work |
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Buntly
Registered Users
Posts:95
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| 01/24/2008 9:44 PM |
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Actually ya can get an 8 pack from amazon for $109 u.s.
Bunt |
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walltech
Registered Users
Posts:469
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| 01/24/2008 9:54 PM |
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Chris from two guys that think alike and have allot of respect for each other batter boards are a big waste of time!!!
Dave
p.s. I will see you some time soon and talk about this. |
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Chris Johnson
Registered Users
Posts:341
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| 01/24/2008 10:09 PM |
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Dave...
I agree when I am building on a footing, batter boards are a pain in my a$$, strings sag, people walk into them and move them ever so slightly, then try and compensate by 'putting it back' which is usually out a few more inches then I needed it and I have to reset them.
Recently I have been getting work in the hills here, solid rock...no footing, we layout with batter boards and string line, mark the rock, drill holes and epoxy rebar, reset the strings with a 12" offset, start setting the block and sculpting the foam to the contour of the rock. Seems a little time consuming but I have been doing that since my days in the Canadian Shield and have it down to a science now and actually do that quicker than building a footing, saves $$ on footing concrete too. It's the only way I found acurate enough since it's pretty difficult to snap lines on jagged rock up and down. Were actually doing one now, I can give you pics if you want.
Bunt...Thanks for the heads up on the savings, if it includes shipping I'll look there
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Chris Johnson - Pro ICF
Napa, CA
Come for the wine, Stay for the ICF work |
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walltech
Registered Users
Posts:469
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| 01/24/2008 10:36 PM |
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Wow, what an example of how regional ICF tecnics or footings are different from one world to the next! Glad to see you diversified and figured a great way to start ICF without footings present. Thinking out of the box is productive.
Dave
See you some day! |
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icfgal
Registered Users
Posts:31
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| 01/24/2008 11:13 PM |
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I have been here all week. I counted 10 icf booths...they are moved around and more spread out through out the north hall compared to past years.
I will look for the leveling system...nice to have when it's just you on a site. Giraff bracing has come up with some add ons to their set I like.
Attendance is reported to be down a bit whatever that means...tons of people everywhere.
I missed the ICF builder awards night tonight...decided to lay low to conserve energy to hit it hard and heavy tomorrow.
icfgal |
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Chris Johnson
Registered Users
Posts:341
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| 01/24/2008 11:41 PM |
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ICFGal...
The leveling system was in the south hall 2/3 way towards the back in the middle section if that makes sense
look on the directory for either ZipLevel or Technidea Corporation
let me know your feedback
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Chris Johnson - Pro ICF
Napa, CA
Come for the wine, Stay for the ICF work |
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Mark Ross
Registered Users
Posts:65
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| 01/26/2008 7:28 PM |
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It was very nice to meet you ICFGal, Now I can put a face to the name.
Hope you have or will have a safe trip home.
Mark Ross |
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Chris Johnson
Registered Users
Posts:341
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| 01/28/2008 3:49 AM |
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Okay Folks, the shows over...let's here what items you found of interest/new
Chris
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Chris Johnson - Pro ICF
Napa, CA
Come for the wine, Stay for the ICF work |
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icfgal
Registered Users
Posts:31
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| 01/29/2008 11:59 AM |
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Ditto Mark...it was nice to meet you. I was sorry to miss the ICF builder awards on Thursday...my husband came down with a cold so I hung around the condo complaining about missing them. My complaining did nothing to help his cold so I won't try that again. At least we didn't stay at the Monte Carlo again this year.
icfgal |
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ICFconstruction
Registered Users
Posts:81
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| 01/29/2008 10:15 PM |
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Walltech, we use those batter boards and line. set our forms to height and screed off of them. We can always get stakes in our clay or sand, what is your better method of doing footings?
We installed ICFs on someone else's footings; they had put stakes to height down the building line, put forms in at no particular height and screeded off the stakes that ran down between the forms. However they were bad with lots of variance. |
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ICFconstruction.net |
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walltech
Registered Users
Posts:469
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| 01/30/2008 5:05 AM |
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ICF: There's nothing wrong with your methods of forming and staking, its the batter boards that are a waste of time. Take a basic ICF project with 12-16 corners. Many guys could have this roughed in with rebar stakes at all wall intersections in one third the time it took to set up batter boards. For example I have one of those old school customers who still spends a half of a day figuring block counts, labor, concrete pump fees, string, screws, and what ever else for a specific job that would simply require sq footage times his rate in less than a half hour.
I'm not suggesting to change what ever works for you, simply I feel it is an old school method that doesn't work for me.
p.s. I'm not usually up this early but we have a big snow storm happening right now with high winds and I always wake up thinking of my customers.
Dave |
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icfcontractor
Registered Users
Posts:237
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| 02/03/2008 4:33 PM |
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Chris,
I found a possible intresting tool at the WOC. It is the Tajima folding G-Saw. It is a thin kerf folding saw. I thnk it may have some application at an ICF jobsite but it would take a lot to get me away from my shorty sharks.
ICF Contractor |
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irnivek
Registered Users
Posts:272
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| 02/06/2008 10:07 PM |
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Stala based out of Kentucky has a nice hollow metal ICF jamb with drywall flange, they are exploring a thermal break for colder climates.
www.powerblanket.com has kept us working all winter, (for better or worse) they work as advertised when the wind isn't blowing 40mph....
ezbend has improved their benders even more and are a great resource for bending #5 and bigger bar, especially when doing commercial work and suspended concrete floors... We love ours, it has worked great.
Kevin |
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Chris Johnson
Registered Users
Posts:341
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| 02/06/2008 10:40 PM |
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ICF Cont. and Kevin...you guys pick up web site addresses for these items??
Kevin, I saw the ezebend, how good is it in the field? with it not being mounted or very heavy I though it might actually be ackward to use
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Chris Johnson - Pro ICF
Napa, CA
Come for the wine, Stay for the ICF work |
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