Tech Tip of the Week

Ratchet suspensions (109622, for example) adjust by turning a knob at the back of the hard hat, while pinlock suspensions (10961, for example) match a pin into a corresponding hole.

Hard hat suspensions are available in 4 and 6 points. The more points, the better the distribution of impact force. Never interchange one manufacturer’s hard hat with another’s suspension.

Type I hard hats (10880, for example) provide protection against blows to the top of the head. Type II hard hats (53385, for example) provide protection against blows to the top and sides of the head.

GEMPLER’S carries two styles of Ultraseal™: commercial grade (G64511 for one gallon and T1319 for five gallons) and bulletproof grade (G65511 for one gallon and T4024 for give gallons). The bulletproof grade seals puncture wounds up to 1/2-inch in diameter and contains twice the number of sealing fibers as the commercial grade, which can seal punctures up to 1/4-inch in diameter. Only use bulletproof-grade Ultraseal in low-speed applications (less than 25 mph, while the commercial grade can be used in both low- and high-speed applications). You must have your tires balanced before installing Ultraseal for use in high speed or highway vehicles.

Wireless weather stations (125094) rely on unobstructed line-of-sight between the remote sensor and base unit to transfer information. Cabled weather stations (125095) have the remote sensor physically connected to the base unit by a cable. Some wireless stations have a range of up to 1000 feet, with a typical range of 200 to 400 feet. The cable station is limited by the length of the cable, usually 100 feet.

Data loggers tabulate readings such as temperature, temperature and relative humidity among other variables over a specific time interval and duration. You’ll find several Hobo data loggers at GEMPLER’S that record indoor readings (125178 for temperature, 125719 for temperature and humidity, and 125720 for temperature, humidity and light) or outdoor readings (138702 for internal temperature and humidity, 138703 for external temperature and humidity, 138704 for two external temperature sensors, and 138705 for internal and external temperature). They all require a means to transfer the data from the logger to a computer and software to manage the data once it’s been downloaded. You’ll also find two Extech loggers (159744 for temperature only and 148423 for temperature and humidity) that enable you to download the data collected indoors or outdoors directly to your computer through the USB port connection of the logger.

Reliners and tire guards provide additional puncture protection in tires, but do so in a little different method. Reliners are generally two half-moon shaped pieces that go in between the inside of the tire and the inner tube, providing good protection to the tire in the tread and sidewall areas. Tire guards are single pieces that are also placed between the inside of the tire and the inner tube, providing excellent protection in the tread area and good protection along the sidewalls. A reliner (9DR15, for example) can fit in multiple tires that are close in size, while a tire guard (TG79) is compatible with only the tire it is designed to fit in. For tire guards, the brand and tread type are as important as the size in determining which one will fit in a particular tire.

There are currently two different versions of the Manplow available; the old style has a 45-degree blade, while the new style comes with a 90-degree blade. The replacement EZ Glide edges are not interchangeable. The old style 45-degree replacement edges are 167851 for the 24-inch one and 167853 for the 36-inch edge; the new style 90-degree replacement edges are 192158 for the 24-inch version and 192157 for the 36-inch edge.

We carry several different types of ice melt products that are effective and environmentally friendly. The products range from Premiere’s non-calcium chloride liquid ice melt (167584) that melts ice down to -8 degrees Fahrenheit to Safe Step’s magnesium chloride formulation (60580) that melts ice down to -25 degrees Fahrenheit. We also offer Premiere ice melt crystals (167582 and 167583) along with Safe Step granules (183238, 183239, 60578 and 183237) in several formulations. These formulations tend to be less harsh and safer to use around family and pets than typical calcium chloride-based products.

Carhartt makes outerwear with several different linings, each of them providing a different level of warmth. From warm to warmest, the linings are: thermal, blanket, red quilt, Sherpa, quilted flannel, and Arctic quilt.

We carry several different traction devices that feature replaceable metal studs (139251, G31032 and 162015), and coiled wire and rubber combination (134432) that attach to your boots or shoes to provide sure-footing in the snow and ice.

The poly blades on the 10 different scrapers we offer (CF818 and 139335) are replaceable, extending their service life. When one edge of the blade is worn down, merely remove it from the handle, flip it around and use the other edge.

Due to high cost, most open reel tape measure manufacturers do not offer replacement tapes, also known as blades. In most instances, it will be cheaper to replace complete measure, even if the replacement blade is even available.

The hori hori digging knife is a stainless steel, multi-purpose gardening tool that can be used to dig, weed, cut, scrape and saw. The blade has one sharpened smooth edge for slicing and a sharpened serrated edge for sawing; it also includes engraved depth markings from 25 to 150mm or .98 to 5.91 inches. 

The wooden handle is comfortable and designed to be operated in one hand. First used in Japan for working on bonsai trees, the hori hori is a valuable tool that can be used by an accomplished horticulturist or an inexperienced novice.

Class A fire extinguishers are for ordinary combustibles, such as wood, cloth, paper and some plastics, and water is usually the extinguishing medium.  A Class B fire extinguisher is for flammable liquids such as oil, gasoline and grease, and dry chemical is usually the extinguishing medium.  A Class C fire extinguisher is for fires in live electrical equipment and dry, electrically nonconductive chemicals are the extinguishing medium; class A or B extinguishers can be used once the equipment has been deenergized.

An A rating is equal to 1.25 gallons of water, so a 4A-rated fire extinguisher contains 5 gallons of water, while a B:C rating equals the square footage coverage, so a 20B:C-rated fire extinguisher contains 20 square feet of extinguishing material.

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DEET is an effective ingredient in insect repellents whether it’s in spray, lotion or towelette form. The higher the concentration of DEET, the longer the protection will last; repellents with a concentration of 100% DEET can provide up to 10 hours of protection.

As long as consumers follow label directions and take proper precautions, insect repellents containing DEET do not present a health concern.
> View EPA Fact Sheet

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The insect traps (Item No. T3300) and lures (Item No. T3136) that we carry are for monitoring purposes only and not pest elimination. The lures are used to attract a particular insect species into the trap, where they are captured. Farmers, managers or consultants use the traps and lures as a means to determine the extent of a pest population so that timely control programs can be implemented.

Pheromone lures are insect specific and compatible with certain trap styles. It is important to use the proper lure and trap for maximum monitoring effectiveness.

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Most sprayers, regardless of the type, are not compatible with bleach unless specifically identified as being compatible with it.  We do carry several sprayers that can be used with bleach, including the Solo 1-gallon handheld bleach sprayer (139308), the Chapin 2- and 3-gallon handheld sprayers (59715 and 59716), the Chapin 4-gallon backpack sprayers (163122 and 163123), and the Birchmeier 2.5- and 4-gallon backpack sprayers (151246 and 151247).  The four Chapin sprayers are compatible with diluted bleach, while the Solo handheld and Birchmeier backpack sprayers are compatible with up to 100% bleach solutions.

None of the sprayers we carry are compatible with gasoline, diesel, kerosene or any of the various bio-fuels.

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The percentage listed in the shade cloth we carry refers to the amount of light the cloth will block. 40% shade cloth will block 40% of the light, while 80% shade cloth will block 80% of
the light.

The shade cloth GEMPLER'S carries is available in custom square or rectangular sizes; the manufacturer, Green-Tek will not do round, oval, trapezoidal, triangular or other irregular shapes. Green-Tek prefers to do custom sizes in whole foot measurements (11 feet by 17 feet) but they will do half foot sizes (11.5 feet by 16.5 feet); however, they will not do fractional measurements (11 feet 4.5 inches by 16 feet 10 inches) because the cutting process doesn’t allow them to be that precise.

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UPF stands for ultraviolet protection factor, which is a rating system similar to sun protection factor for sunscreen but for apparel. On an average day, a garment rated UPF 30 will allow just 1/30 (3.33%) of the UV rays to reach the skin.

The UPF rating scale is broken down to three levels: good, which is a rating of 15 to 24 and blocks 93.3% to 95.8% of UV rays; very good, which is rating of 25 to 39 and blocks 96% to 97.4% of UV rays; and excellent, which is a rating of 40-50+ and blocks 97.5% to 98% of UV rays.

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Straight handle shovels are effective when digging in the ground, while D-handle shovels work very well to move the dirt you’ve taken out of the ground.  Shovels with D-handles are also good choices for close work, while long straight handle shovels can generate more leverage and result in less stooping for the user.

Shovel handles are made from wood, fiberglass or metal. Most handles are made from wood (ash and hickory), which is strong, flexible and a good shock absorber. Fiberglass handles have the flexibility of wood but are generally more weather resistant. Metal handles are incredibly durable but are sometimes heavier than wood or fiberglass ones.

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