Untitled - Wood Tools

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I Recycled plostic ond recoptured
wood ore reduced to dust
or pellet form ond then blended
to creote composite products.
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WHEN PLASTIC MEEIS WOOD
I n the simplest of terms, composites are an
I alternative to natural wood made from a
I Ute"a of recycled plastic and recaptured
I sawdust (lnset Photo).These unlikely bedfellows
are blended in roughly equal quantities
at high temperatures.The molten "goo"
thatt formed is then extruded and cut into
manageable lengths.
At first, this technology was applied exclusively
to deck boards. Today, the category
includes deck boards, handrails, balusters, fascia
boards, molding, and even fence material. In
short, whatever your outdoor project, chances
are theret a place for composites.
Composites are an excellent choice for
several reasons. Chiefly, they are low- or nomaintenance
materials. In most cases, an annual
cleaning is all that's required.
Another reason to select composites is
longeviry. Most manufacturers estimate the
life expectancy oftheir product at around 75
years (interestingly, warranties range from 10
years to lifetime).
And one final argument for composites is the
intrinsic flexibiliry of the material.This unique
trait makes it easier to incorporate eye-catching
design elements into a deck, such as the serpentine
pattern shown in the Photo above.
30 woRKBENCH ft luNr 2004