Different Ways You Can Restore Oak Beams

Whether you visit a restaurant or a friend’s house, you’re always bound to see structural oak beams as a part of the main design of the interiors. Due to the material being wood, restoration is one of the many things that a homeowner must fulfill. Make oak beam restoration easier with these tips.

Apply A Coat Of Elbow Grease

Elbow grease is an option for owners who have laminated oak beams in their house, which are composed of a variety of oak wood pieced or “laminated” together. These types of wood have a high risk of developing cracks as it grows older. Although some owners opt to replace the beams with newer pieces, others love the aesthetic it brings. If you’re part of the latter, elbow grease is the product you should use to restore the laminated oaks.

Use Oil Stain

Oils stains penetrate deep into the wood to help preserve and protect them from the inside and outside. It can extend the life span of beams from months to many years if done regularly. Besides, stains also add to the aesthetic result when owners want a vintage or antique-like vibe. Here’s how you can stain wood effectively:

  • If you have spraying equipment, use it to apply the stain. If not, pour some on a cloth and start wiping on the surface.
  • After applying, let the oil absorb for at least 5 minutes and, finally, wipe it off with a clean, soft cloth.
  • If you wish to have darker colored wood, repeat the steps and allow the stain to stay for a longer time.
  • If you want a glossy finish, let the stain stay for at least three days and proceed to add a top layer of lacquer or varnish.

Choose A Top Coat

Finishing coat has long been a practice in the woodworking industry. However, as time goes on, opinions also start changing. Back then, workers used to varnish or use shellac, but nowadays, lacquer is the preferred coat because it dries quickly, long-lasting, and more affordable. Here’s how you can do it:

  • Using a spray gun, apply the lacquer on all areas of the wood. Make sure there are no drips and runs.
  • Let the finish dry.
  • Sand the wood using 120-grit sandpaper.
  • If you want more gloss, apply more coats but only sand the first layer.

Do Sanding

Sanding is a general procedure to restore all types of wooden oaks. The purpose of this procedure is to rid the wood of any coat or finish if possible. You may use an orbital sander or 100-grit sandpaper. Take note that you should see the natural wood color before proceeding to sand other areas.  You don’t have to spend more when your structural oak beams look old because there are numerous inexpensive ways to restore them according to your liking.

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3 Gin And Tonic Variations For Your Next Event

Gin and tonic are a well-loved classic that most people order at clubs and bars. However, trying out varieties every once in a while would not hurt. Here are a few alternatives and twists to try out for your next party.

Grapefruit And Pink Peppercorn

For this drink, you have to prepare 30ml of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, 30 ml of simple syrup, 40ml of gin, tonic, and a handful of peppercorns. To make the simple syrup, all you have to do is to put equal parts sugar and water in a pan. Stir continuously for five minutes or until the sugar has dissolved, and your syrup is viscous enough. Put ice in your glass and mix all the ingredients. You can also put a slice of grapefruit on the side of the side for garnishing.

Cucumber, Lime, Elderflower, And Basil

Before starting, prepare 50ml of gin, 125ml tonic water, 15ml elderflower liqueur, three pieces of fresh basil leaves, half a lime, and half a cucumber. In a highball glass, place a few pieces of already prepared thin ribbons of cucumber. Slowly add a handful of ice to the glass. In a shaker, mix the gin, elderflower liqueur, cucumber chunks, and basil leaves. Shake the drink well then add some more ice. Strain the cocktail before putting it in your glass. Top the drink with tonic and put a few basil leaves on top.

Roasted Pineapple

All you have to prepare for this recipe are two pineapple wheels, 50ml of gin, 70ml of pineapple juice, one lime, and tonic water. Grill the pineapple wheel for about 5 minutes on each side. Once they are lightly browned, caramelized, and smoky, you can remove them from the heat. Put aside one pineapple wheel and cut the other into wedges, and put it in your shaker. Add ice, gin, and pineapple gin to your cocktail shaker and mix it well. Carefully strain it into a glass filled with ice and top it with tonic water. Use the other pineapple wheel as garnish.

While these recipes will surely put a twist on your usual gin and tonic, they are only as good as the quality of the ingredients that you bought. Make sure that you are getting the freshest fruits along with the right gin label and tonic water.…

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How To Find A Good Criminal Defense Attorney Jacksonville FL

If you find yourself accused of a crime, then obviously you need to hire the services of a criminal defense attorney. But not just any lawyer will do. You need to hire a good lawyer. In this article, we are going to walk you through the basics of what you should be looking for in a criminal defense lawyer.

First off, though, how do you find a lawyer? It’s very easy and is as simple as going to Google and searching for a “criminal defense attorney” and the name of your local area. If you live in Jacksonville, type “criminal defense attorney Jacksonville FL”.

Just like anything else, not all lawyers are created alike and there are others who are better, mainly because of the extensiveness of their experience. As you are searching for representation, make sure to find lawyers that have experience in the kind of case you are embroiled in. Criminal law is broad and it covers a wide variety of crimes, including financial crimes, assault, murder, burglary, among others.

Aside from experience, there is the matter of success rate. It’s one thing to be experienced in handling cases and it’s another thing to win them in court. Hopefully, you have the good sense to understand that it would be better for you to hire the more expensive lawyer if he has won practically all the cases he has handled. This is especially true when you consider that it’s your life and future on the line.

But of course, this does NOT mean you should settle for the first hotshot lawyer you find. Find other lawyers who have been at the job for many years and has a proven track record for proof that he’s good at what he is doing. Compare them with the first lawyer you found. You can easily make a comparison in a consultation meeting. That said, schedule a consultation meeting with at least three lawyers. Don’t worry because most law firms offer free consultation to new clients.

For people who have been arrested, it’s very tempting to hire a lawyer as quick as possible. For us, though, it’s a recipe for disaster because you are not understanding the risks you are taking by hiring a particular lawyer. Anyway, even if you are not embroiled in any case, it’s a good idea to have a criminal lawyer in your contact list just in case.

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