#wire straightener and cutter

[mariacallous]

This story is part of a joint investigation between Lighthouse Reports and WIRED. To read other stories from the series, click here.

Mitch Daniels is a numbers guy, a cost-cutter. In the early 2000s, he tried and failed to rein in congressional spending under then-US president George W. Bush. So when he took office as Indiana governor in 2005, Daniels was ready to argue once again for fiscal discipline. He wanted to straighten out Indiana’s state government, which he deemed rife with dysfunction. And he started with its welfare system. “That department had been rocked by a series of criminal indictments, with cheats and caseworkers colluding to steal money meant for poor people,” he later said.

Daniels’ solution took the form of a $1.3 billion, 10-year contract with IBM. He had lofty ambitions for the project, which started in 2006, claiming it would improve the benefits service for Indiana residents while cracking down on fraud, ultimately saving taxpayers billions of dollars.

But the contract was a disaster. It was canceled after three years, and IBM and Indiana spent a decade locked in a legal battle about who was to blame. Daniels described IBM’s sweeping redesign and automation of the system—responsible for deciding who was eligible for everything from food stamps to medical cover—as deficient. He was adamant, though, that outsourcing a technical project to a company with expertise was the right call. “It was over-designed,” he said. “Great on paper but too complicated to work in practice.” IBM declined a request for comment. 

In July 2012, Judge David Dryer of the Marion County Superior Court ruled that Indiana had failed to prove IBM had breached its contract. But he also delivered a damning verdict on the system itself, describing it as an untested experiment that replaced caseworkers with computers and phone calls. “Neither party deserves to win this case,” he said. “This story represents a ‘perfect storm’ of misguided government policy and overzealous corporate ambition.” 

That might have been an early death knell for the burgeoning business of welfare state automation. Instead, the industry exploded. Today, such fraud systems form a significant part of the nebulous “govtech” industry, which revolves around companies selling governments new technologies with the promise that new IT will make public administration easier-to-use and more efficient. In 2021, that market was estimated to be worth €116 billion ($120 billion) in Europe and $440 billion globally. And it’s not only companies that expect to profit from this wave of tech. Governments also believe modernizing IT systems can deliver big savings. Back in 2014, the consultancy firm McKinsey estimated that if government digitization reached its “full potential,” it could free up $1 trillion every year. 

Contractors around the world are selling governments on the promise that fraud-hunting algorithms can help them recoup public funds. But researchers who track the spread of these systems argue that these companies are often overpaid and under-supervised. The key issue, researchers say, is accountability. When complex machine learning models or simpler algorithms are developed by the private sector, the computer code that gets to define who is and isn’t accused of fraud is often classed as intellectual property. As a result, the way such systems make decisions is opaque and shielded from interrogation. And even when these algorithmic black holes are embroiled in high-stakes legal battles over alleged bias, the people demanding answers struggle to get them. 

In the UK, a community group called the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People is trying to determine whether a pattern of disabled people being investigated for fraud is linked to government automation projects. In France, the digital rights group La Quadrature du Net has been trying for four months to find out whether a fraud system is discriminating against people born in other countries. And in Serbia, lawyers want to understand why the introduction of a new system has resulted in hundreds of Roma families losing their benefits. “The models are always secret,” says Victoria Adelmant, director of New York University’s digital welfare state project. “If you don’t have transparency, it’s very difficult to even challenge and assess these systems.” 

The rollout of automated bureaucracy has happened quickly and quietly, but it has left a trail of scandals in its wake. In Michigan, a computer system used between 2013 and 2015 falsely accused 34,000 people of welfare fraud. A similar thing happened in Australia between 2015 and 2019, but on a larger scale: The government accused 400,000 people of welfare fraud or error after its social security department started using a so-called robodebt algorithm to automatically issue fines.

Another scandal emerged in the Netherlands in 2019 when tens of thousands of families—many of them from the country’s Ghanaian community—were falsely accused of defrauding the child benefits system. These systems didn’t just contribute to agencies accusing innocent people of welfare fraud; benefits recipients were ordered to repay the money they had supposedly stolen. As a result, many of the accused were left with spiraling debt, destroyed credit ratings, and even bankruptcy. 

Not all government fraud systems linked to scandals were developed with consultancies or technology companies. But civil servants are increasingly turning to the private sector to plug knowledge and personnel gaps. Companies involved in fraud detection systems range from giant consultancies—Accenture, Cap Gemini, PWC—to small tech firms like Totta Data Lab in the Netherlands and Saga in Serbia.

Experts in automation and AI are expensive to hire and less likely to be wooed by public sector salaries. When the UK surveyed its civil servants last year, confidence in the government’s ability to use technology was low, with around half of respondents blaming an inability to hire top talent. More than a third said they had few or no skills in artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automation. But it’s not just industry experience that makes the private sector so alluring to government officials. For welfare departments squeezed by budget cuts, “efficiency” has become a familiar buzzword. “Quite often, a public sector entity will say it is more efficient for us to go and bring in a group of consultants,” says Dan Sheils, head of European public service at Accenture.

The public sector lacks the expertise to create these systems and also to oversee them, says Matthias Spielkamp, cofounder of German nonprofit Algorithm Watch, which has been tracking automated decision-making in social welfare programs across Europe since 2017. In an ideal world, civil servants would be able to develop these systems themselves and have an in-depth understanding of how they work, he says. “That would be a huge difference to working with private companies, because they will sell you black-box systems—black boxes to everyone, including the public sector.” 

In February 2020, a crisis broke out in the Dutch region of Walcheren as officials realized they were in the dark about how their own fraud detection system worked. At the time, a Dutch court had halted the use of another algorithm used to detect welfare fraud, known as SyRI, after finding it violated people’s right to privacy. Officials in Walcheren were not using SyRI, but in emails obtained by Lighthouse Reports and WIRED through freedom-of-information requests, government employees had raised concerns that their algorithm bore striking similarities to the one just condemned by the court.

Walcheren’s system was developed by Totta Data Lab. After signing a contract in March 2017, the Dutch startup developed an algorithm to sort through pseudonymous information, according to details obtained through a freedom-of-information request. The system analyzed details of local people claiming welfare benefits and then sent human investigators a list of those it classified as most likely to be fraudsters. 

The redacted emails show local officials agonizing over whether their algorithm would be dragged into the SyRI scandal. “I don’t think it is possible to explain why our algorithm should be allowed while everyone is reading about SyRI,” one official wrote the week after the court ruling. Another wrote back with similar concerns. “We also do not get insight from Totta Data Lab into what exactly the algorithm does, and we do not have the expertise to check this.” Neither Totta nor officials in Walcheren replied to requests for comment. 

When the Netherlands’ Organization for Applied Scientific Research, an independent research institute, later carried out an audit of a Totta algorithm used in South Holland, the auditors struggled to understand it. “The results of the algorithm do not appear to be reproducible,” their 2021 report reads, referring to attempts to re-create the algorithm’s risk scores. “The risks indicated by the AI algorithm are largely randomly determined,” the researchers found. 

With little transparency, it often takes years—and thousands of victims—to expose technical shortcomings. But a case in Serbia provides a notable exception. In March 2022, a new law came into force which gave the government the green light to use data processing to assess individuals’ financial status and automate parts of its social protection programs. The new socijalna karta, or social card system, would help the government detect fraud while making sure welfare payments were reaching society’s most marginalized, claimed Zoran Đorđević, Serbia’s minister of social affairs in 2020. 

But within months of the system’s introduction, lawyers in the capital Belgrade had started documenting how it was discriminating against the country’s Roma community, an already disenfranchised ethnic minority group. 

Mr. ​​Ahmetović, a welfare recipient who declined to share his first name out of concern that his statement could affect his ability to claim benefits in the future, says he hadn’t heard of the social card system until November 2022, when his wife and four children were turned away from a soup kitchen on the outskirts of the Serbian capital. It wasn’t unusual for the Roma family to be there, as their welfare payments entitled them to a daily meal provided by the government. But on that day, a social worker told them their welfare status had changed and that they would no longer be getting a daily meal.

The family was in shock, and Ahmetović rushed to the nearest welfare office to find out what had happened. He says he was told the new social card system had flagged him after detecting income amounting to 110,000 Serbian dinars ($1,000) in his bank account, which meant he was no longer eligible for a large chunk of the welfare he had been receiving. Ahmetović was confused. He didn’t know anything about this payment. He didn’t even have his own bank account—his wife received the family’s welfare payments into hers. 

With no warning, their welfare payments were slashed by 30 percent, from around 70,000 dinars ($630) per month to 40,000 dinars ($360). The family had been claiming a range of benefits since 2012, including financial social assistance, as their son’s epilepsy and unilateral paralysis means neither parent is able to work. The drop in support meant the Ahmetovićs had to cut back on groceries and couldn’t afford to pay all their bills. Their debt ballooned to over 1 million dinars ($9,000). 

The algorithm’s impact on Serbia’s Roma community has been dramatic. ​​Ahmetović says his sister has also had her welfare payments cut since the system was introduced, as have several of his neighbors. “Almost all people living in Roma settlements in some municipalities lost their benefits,” says Danilo Ćurčić, program coordinator of A11, a Serbian nonprofit that provides legal aid. A11 is trying to help the Ahmetovićs and more than 100 other Roma families reclaim their benefits.

But first, Ćurčić needs to know how the system works. So far, the government has denied his requests to share the source code on intellectual property grounds, claiming it would violate the contract they signed with the company who actually built the system, he says. According to Ćurčić and a government contract, a Serbian company called Saga, which specializes in automation, was involved in building the social card system. Neither Saga nor Serbia’s Ministry of Social Affairs responded to WIRED’s requests for comment.

As the govtech sector has grown, so has the number of companies selling systems to detect fraud. And not all of them are local startups like Saga. Accenture—Ireland’s biggest public company, which employs more than half a million people worldwide—has worked on fraud systems across Europe. In 2017, Accenture helped the Dutch city of Rotterdam develop a system that calculates risk scores for every welfare recipient. A company document describing the original project, obtained by Lighthouse Reports and WIRED, references an Accenture-built machine learning system that combed through data on thousands of people to judge how likely each of them was to commit welfare fraud. “The city could then sort welfare recipients in order of risk of illegitimacy, so that highest risk individuals can be investigated first,” the document says. 

Officials in Rotterdam have said Accenture’s system was used until 2018, when a team at Rotterdam’s Research and Business Intelligence Department took over the algorithm’s development. When Lighthouse Reports and WIRED analyzed a 2021 version of Rotterdam’s fraud algorithm, it became clear that the system discriminates on the basis of race and gender. And around 70 percent of the variables in the 2021 system—information categories such as gender, spoken language, and mental health history that the algorithm used to calculate how likely a person was to commit welfare fraud—appeared to be the same as those in Accenture’s version.

When asked about the similarities, Accenture spokesperson Chinedu Udezue said the company’s “start-up model” was transferred to the city in 2018 when the contract ended. Rotterdam stopped using the algorithm in 2021, after auditors found that the data it used risked creating biased results.

Consultancies generally implement predictive analytics models and then leave after six or eight months, says Sheils, Accenture’s European head of public service. He says his team helps governments avoid what he describes as the industry’s curse: “false positives,” Sheils’ term for life-ruining occurrences of an algorithm incorrectly flagging an innocent person for investigation. “That may seem like a very clinical way of looking at it, but technically speaking, that's all they are.” Sheils claims that Accenture mitigates this by encouraging clients to use AI or machine learning to improve, rather than replace, decision-making humans. “That means ensuring that citizens don’t experience significantly adverse consequences purely on the basis of an AI decision.” 

However, social workers who are asked to investigate people flagged by these systems before making a final decision aren’t necessarily exercising independent judgment, says Eva Blum-Dumontet, a tech policy consultant who researched algorithms in the UK welfare system for campaign group Privacy International. “This human is still going to be influenced by the decision of the AI,” she says. “Having a human in the loop doesn’t mean that the human has the time, the training, or the capacity to question the decision.” 

Despite the scandals and repeated allegations of bias, the industry building these systems shows no sign of slowing. And neither does government appetite for buying or building such systems. Last summer, Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance adopted a decree authorizing the launch of an algorithm that searches for discrepancies in tax filings, earnings, property records, and bank accounts to identify people at risk of not paying their taxes. 

But as more governments adopt these systems, the number of people erroneously flagged for fraud is growing. And once someone is caught up in the tangle of data, it can take years to break free. In the Netherlands’ child benefits scandal, people lost their cars and homes, and couples described how the stress drove them to divorce. “The financial misery is huge,” says Orlando Kadir, a lawyer representing more than 1,000 affected families. After a public inquiry, the Dutch government agreed in 2020 to pay the families around €30,000 ($32,000) in compensation. But debt balloons over time. And that amount is not enough, says Kadir, who claims some families are now €250,000 in debt. 

In Belgrade, ​​Ahmetović is still fighting to get his family’s full benefits reinstated. “I don’t understand what happened or why,” he says. “It’s hard to compete against the computer and prove this was a mistake.” But he says he’s also wondering whether he’ll ever be compensated for the financial damage the social card system has caused him. He’s yet another person caught up in an opaque system whose inner workings are guarded by the companies and governments who make and operate them. Ćurčić, though, is clear on what needs to change. “We don’t care who made the algorithm,” he says. “The algorithm just has to be made public.”

Additional reporting by Gabriel Geiger and Justin-Casimir Braun.

[callmeleonardo]

Odachi Tutorial

heres kind of an explanation on how I made Leo's odachi +kind of a tutorial so you can look like this

Shit you'll need:

Lots of cardboard

Scissors or box cutter (be safe 😤😤😤)

Paint

Lots and lots of hot glue

Hot glue gun (obviously)

Masking tape (if you do the same thing I did)

Further instructions below ⬇⬇⬇

Okay so step one- figuring out big this thing is gonna be

A quick Google search will tell you that a typical odachi is 3-4 feet long, even reaching 5 feet in extreme cases

I wanted to make mine five feet, but that would make it literally the size of me (im 5'1") so I opted for slightly shorter

Heres a size ref for mine:

(The staff is 5 feet exactly)

So first things first, you'll need to cut your pieces out. I made the blade roughly 3.5 feet in length, and the handle is 7 inches. You can adjust however you'd like, but I made it so both my hands can fit comfortably on the handle. For the blade and handle I used regular cardboard (abt 1/8 inch thick) and for the hilt I used 1/4 inch thick cardboard, which was so hard to cut through oh my god- box cutter is highly recommended if you choose to use thicker cardboard there.

You will need to cut out two blades (ik, exhausting-) to glue together, because just one will bend and flop, so having two glued together helps reinforce it.

To make the handle, cut out a rectangle of cardboard; mine was 5x7 inches, but do whatever feels right. Basically just crease and roll up the cardboard until you have a solid log of cardboard.

Paper example here:

Glue your handle nice and tight, and set it to the side.

Okay- so for my swords, I decided to wrap the handle and hilt with blue masking tape for a couple of reasons. Number one, I didn't want to paint it, and number two, taping it would give me the wrapped look Leo has on his swords. You don't have to tape it, but it ended up saving me later on with keeping the pieces together, so I recommend it.

So if you do decide to tape it, here's how you can avoid my mistakes and jump right to the solution.

Right now you should have: a taped handle and hilt, and two blades, glued together.

The issue I faced was that hot glue alone wasn't enough to secure the pieces together because the blade was to heavy. So I used a method I call the octopus method. its kind of hard to explain, so here's a helpful little example.

Wrap a piece of tape around the top of the handle (the side that will be attached to the hilt) but make sure you only stick half the tape on. (If this makes sense-) So a bit of tape should be not attatched to the handle.

Make little cuts all the way around

Fold the little fringes(?) Downwards so it looks kind of like an octopus (hence the name)

Then stick your handle onto your hilt, press the tape down nice and smooth, and glue the ever living hell out of it

You can vaguely see it here

And when I say a LOT of hot glue, I mean a LOT of hot glue. If you feel like you're doing too much, youre probably not.

I used the octopus method to attach the blade to the hilt as well, and it worked very nicely.

You can go ahead and let that dry (it'll take a whileeee since you need to use a ton of glue to keep it secure; so make sure you keep it propped upright in a way it'll dry correctly.

Also don't forget to paint the blade-

I had the idea after I finished, but if someone Iowans to try and let me know how it goes, its be awesome, but I had the idea to take a wire hanger or something of the like, straighten it out, and kind of insert into into the middle of the sword (going from the handle to the blade) to help with stability.

I thinkkkkk that's about it?

If you have any questions, my ask box is always open! And if you use my tut to make a sword, feel free to show me! Id love to see ^ ^

Twin katana tutorial here

@did-i-mention-the-shirt

[workingforitallthetime]

hello, i would like to talk at you for a bit about girl!rutger and adam and the boys and girls can't be friends verse.

what if adam and rutger were still longtime best friends, but it was girl!rutger? never lived in the same place, but kept seeing each other at tournaments and CAA events and always hit it off, reflecting the same brand of goofy energy plus hard-nosed competitiveness right back at each other.

like, imagine every photo of rutger on adam's canonical instagram except rutger's a girl. rutger in a bikini floating in adam's pool. girl!rutger and adam arm in arm on the beach at CAA camp, towels draped over their shoulders. girl!rutger at the baggage claim, just a stupid little picture adam posted when he picked her up at the airport one time, but somehow years later it's still in his saved stories.

adam's friends are like "are you hitting that or what?" and adam's horrified. "she's my best friend!" adam protests. ok, his buddy says, then give me the inside track, you can be my wingman. and adam's like no, absolutely not, don't talk about rutger like that.

meanwhile rutger rolls her eyes whenever her friends ask if anything's going on with her and adam. "boys and girls can be friends," rutger huffs, swishing her ponytail over her shoulder. rutger considers herself pretty enlightened on that front. she can have a best friend who's a boy. she's cool like that. maybe other girls can't be friends with boys without falling for them, but rutger can.

and rutger already has a boyfriend, anyway. cutter's great! they're together all the time. and yeah, he's always hovering and draping his arm around her when the ntdp plays the steel and she and adam get a few minutes to catch up on the concourse afterwards, but it's not like cutter has anything to worry about. adam's just a friend.

once they're off at at college, long distance is hard though! like, rutger and adam have basically never lived in the same place but every time they see each other at a camp or a tournament or a hughes party it's like they pick up right where they left off. but cutter's not like that. now that he's in boston and rutger's in michigan, talking on the phone is so awkward. rutger keeps accidentally missing cutter's calls and forgetting to call back, and then he's mad the next time they talk, and that makes rutger less likely to call him, and it's just a whole big thing.

college is, like, so much fun though. it's great to finally be on a team with adam, and their teammates are awesome, and living in the dorms is fun, and there's just always so much fun stuff going on! cutter's just kind of... a distraction from everything else in her life that seems so much more immediate.

they'll probably straighten everything out at world juniors. they just need some time together, right? and that's exactly how it works out! it takes a couple of days but pretty soon she and cutter are right back to normal. everything's easier when they can just, like, make out in the back of the charter bus instead of talking.

wjc is such an intense little bubble. even with seamus rooming with her and gavin and duker down the hall, michigan seems so far away. after a few days rutger's not even texting her other umich teammates. adam's not texting her either. but whatever, it's different for him going to team canada than it is for rutger to just go down the road to usa hockey. she gets it.

she does look over at the other side of the ice during warmups before their game against canada. she's not, like, going to distract adam if he's focusing or whatever. but if he wants to say hi, she wouldn't want to miss it, is all.

"looking for someone?" cutter plows to a stop in front of the bench, blocking her view.

rutger plays it off like she’s not startled. she picks up the closest water bottle and squirts it at cutter’s jersey. "checking out bedard, obvs."

“yeah, sure.” he skates away and rutger hops over the boards, snags a puck, and wires it over trey’s helmet, so it bangs into the glass after missing the net entirely.

---

a couple of weeks after world juniors, cutter texts her. he’s been doing some thinking. long distance isn’t working for him. maybe they should take a break.

rutger immediately facetimes him, indignant. “you’re breaking up with my over text????”

“oh so now you pick up the phone,” cutter says.

“i…” rutger stammers. “fuck off.”

“have fun with adam.” cutter hangs up before rutger can protest that adam’s her friend.

rutger looks furiously around her dorm room. where’s seamus when she needs her? she storms down the hallway to gavin and johnny’s room and dramatically bursts through the door. “cutter and i broke up.”

“aw, babe.” seamus immediately gets up from gavin’s bed to give her a hug. “i’m sorry.”

“shocker,” gavin says.

“be nice.” seamus swats him. “we’re mourning.”

“what?” rutger demands.

gavin shrugs. “just didn’t seem like you liked him that much.”

“of course i liked him! it was almost our two year anniversary!” rutger’s lip starts to tremble. it feels like she failed.

“what’s up?” rutger hears adam’s voice as he walks into the room.

“rut and cut broke up,” gavin says, indifferently.

a tear trickles down the side of rutger’s nose. their nicknames always sounded so good together.

adam makes a sympathetic noise and offers her an arm. rutger gratefully wraps her arms around him and sniffles against his t-shirt.

behind her, gavin snickers.

“stop laughing at me,” rutger says miserably into adam's chest.

adam pats her back reassuringly. maybe she'll live. maybe this isn't so bad. maybe it will be nice not to worry about cutter anymore. and there’s so much else going on! the second half of the season is so much fun, and she and adam are finally playing on a line together and they’re killing it, just like they always knew they could. now she can focus on hockey. now she can go out and really dance with guys, not just her teammates. now she can...

rutger picks up her head. "hey, now i can hook up."

adam stops patting her back.

rutger flounces over to the bed and snuggles up next to seamus. "who should i hook up with?"

seamus pets her hair. "maybe wait a little bit?"

"or not." rutger pokes gavin. "who's moyle's lacrosse friend?"

gavin snorts. rutger makes him and johnny talk through the merits of the entire men's lacrosse team. she doesn't notice when adam leaves.

---

lacrosse players are... well, they're okay. they're fine. rutger hooks up with a couple of them, at a couple of different parties. the second one is ryan, or maybe justin. he gropes her tits like he doesn't remember they're attached to the rest of her. rutger shrugs her neck away from his mouth and straightens her bra out and tells him she's going to find her friends. maybe she should try football players.

she snaps the elastic out of her ponytail and redoes it as she walks down the stairs of the senior house. adam's watching her from the beer pong room. his eyebrows pull together when he sees her expression. "everything okay?"

rutger points at the solo cup in his hand. "can i have a sip?"

"take it." adam hands the cup over. he drapes an arm around her. rutger steps out of her heels so she's a little shorter, and leans against his side.

---

everything falls into place as winter turns into spring. holtzy gets healthy, frankie gets healthy, and they go on a tear through the playoffs. rutger makes out with a few more people at a few more parties, but mostly it's good to be with the team.

after the big 10 tournament, rutger gets pleasantly buzzed on watermelon truly. she trips going down the porch steps at the senior house and grabs adam's elbow. "fucking heels." she straightens up, shifting her feet in her shoes so her toes aren't so pinched. "ugh, i'm going to have blisters." the heels are so cute, though, and they make her legs look about a million miles long under her little skirt. worth it.

adam crouches down a little. "want a ride?"

"oh, for real?" rutger swings a leg over his back. "awesome!"

adam straightens up and she wriggles into a decent piggyback position. he tucks his hands under her knees and starts to walk them back toward south quad. the night smells like springtime trees, everything blooming. rutger rests her cheek on adam's shoulder.

adam carries her all the way into the lobby and leans forward so she can reach the elevator button. as the slow dorm elevator makes its way up to their floor, rutger tries to slide off his back. "i think i can make it from here."

as soon as she says it, she stumbles over her heels on the dismount. adam catches her around the waist, and impulsively kisses her.

rutger's not expecting it and the kiss only sort of lands on her mouth. it's bad.

adam lets her go. he's looking at her, aghast. "sorry, i..."

rutger's aghast too. she and adam are winners. they can't have a bad kiss. that's just not who they are. "we can do better," rutger says, firmly, and kisses him for real.

the elevator doors open. they close again. adam backs her against the elevator wall as the slow descent to the lobby begins. this is great! why hasn't she thought about kissing adam before? he's actually a really good kisser! rutger smacks blindly at the elevator buttons, trying to get back to their floor while adam's tongue is still in her mouth.

by the time rutger's lying on her back with her tiny little skirt flipped up and adam's tongue tracing a path up the inside of her thigh, it occurs to her that maybe cutter was right about some stuff after all. well, whatever. cutter broke up with her. she can hook up with adam. it's not like adam's in love with her.

---

rutger thinks that adam and his tongue make for an ideal friends with benefits situation. because she and adam are friends, so this must be friends with benefits. boys and girls can be friends! rutger is determined to prove it! friends can hook up! even if it's like every weekend, and at the frozen four, and rutger isn't hooking up with anybody else! even (especially) if they haven't really talked about it! every time rutger thinks maybe she should clarify that this is absolutely definitely friends with benefits, she gets distracted by adam's tongue and she decides that there's no reason to disrupt a perfectly delightful status quo where her best friend also loves going down on her.

i want all of this to come to a head when gavin and seamus hook up and it immediately blows up in everyone's faces. luca and johnny are team "how could you do this to seamus" and gavin expects adam and rutger to have his back, which rutger absolutely does.

"like, how were you supposed to know she thought it was a whole thing?" rutger hangs her head over the edge of gavin's bed and kicks her feet up against the wall. "like, you can hook up and still be friends," rutger pronounces authoritatively. "it doesn't have to change anything." she looks upside down at adam, sitting in johnny's desk chair on the other side of the room. "right, adam?"

"...yeah." adam says slowly. "i guess so." the legs of the chair scrape against the floor as he stands up abruptly. "i'm gonna... go... find luca, i guess."

anyway i don't want to get into act 3 where everybody's sad. eventually girl!rutger realizes that clinging to the principle of boys and girls can be friends is much less satisfying than admitting that a best friend who you also have amazing sex with is actually just a boyfriend. idk how it all goes down but there's definitely a scene where a chastened rutger shows up on adam's doorstep, full of tears and dramatics.

[thatrandombystander]

24 metre roll of wire cut up for my feather supports and it still wasn't enough.... need another 6 or so metres.....

Pretty sure my hand is swollen where it was gripping the cutter. These were not easy to cut. .....I'm just hoping I picked the right wire diameter that will be strong enough to hold up under each feather weight and I won't have to redo all the cuttings with a thicker wire lol

Need to straighten these wires as much as I can, plus iron, measure and cut the fabric feathers to rough size before I can get to gluing them! 💪

[electricalstudents17]

CIHS EIM STRANDS WORKSHOP TOUR-BASIC ELECTRICAL WIRING TUTORIAL

WIRING ELECTRICAL TOOLS

1.PHILIP SCREW DRIVER

DEFINITION : THE PHILIP SCREW DRIVER WILL BE USED TO TIGHTEN THE SCREW ON OUR WIRING BOARD TO ADJUST THE CONNECTION OF THE JUNCTION BOX, UTILITY BOX AS WELL AS THE PANEL BOARD AND OTHERS

2. FLAT SCREW DRIVER

DEFINITION : A SCREW DRIVER WITH WITH A FLAT WEDGE-SHAPED TIP THAT FITS INTO A SLOT IN THE HEAD OF A SCREW. TYPE OF: SCREWDRIVER. A HAND TOOL FOR DRIVING SCREW; HAS A TIP THAT FITS INTO THE HEAD OF A SCREW.

3.LINE MAN PLIERS

DEFINITION : USED IN THE ELECTRICAL TRADE TO CUT , STRAIGHTEN , AND BEND WIRE , AND ALSO TO TWIST WIRES TOGETHER WHEN MAKING SPLICES

4.LONG NOSE PLIERS

DEFINITION :PROPER USE OF LONG NOSE PLIERS : USE TO GRIP SMALL OBJECTS , REACH AWKWARD PLACES , HOLDING WIRES, BEND LOOPS , AND ATTACH WIRES . WORK INVOLVING SMALLER GAUGE WIRE.

5.SIDE CUTTER PLIERS

DEFINITION : SIDE CUTTERS ARE USED ON WIRE AND THE LEADS OF ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS , AS WELL AS TO STRIP INSULATION . STRIPPING REFERS TO SAFELY REMOVING THE OUTER LAYER WITHOUT DAMAGING THE CONDUCTORS UNDERNEATH . IF THEY DO GET NICKED , THE CONNECTION MAY BREAK OR IT COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

6.LEVEL BAR

DEFINITION : A LEVEL IS A TOOL USED TO DETERMINE WHETHER A SURFACE IS HORIZONTAL (LEVEL ) OR VERTICAL (PLUMB ). WITHOUT THIS , YOU CAN'T BUILD A HOUSE THAT WORKS WELL OR LOOKS GOOD —NOT TO MENTION HANG KITCHEN CABINETS OR TRIM OUT A DOOR.

7.WIRE STRIPPER

DEFINITION : WIRE STRIPPERS ARE AN ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR ANY ELECTRICIAN OR MECHANICAL ENGINEER . WIRE STRIPPERS CREATE A NEAT AND TIDY CUT TO REVEAL YOUR WIRES , READY TO BE SOLDERED OR HAVE A CONNECTOR ATTACHED

8.PULL PUSH RULE

DEFINITION :A PUSH -PULL RULER IS A TAPE MEASURE THAT CAN BE WRAPPED TOGETHER IN A COMPACT CASE . IT IS USED TO MEASURE LONG , SHORT AND STRAIGHT LENGTHS . THE BODY OF THE TAPE MEASURE IS THE CASE.

9.MULTIMETER

DEFINITION: A MULTIMETER OR A MULTITESTER, ALSO KNOWN AS A VOLT/OHM METER OR VOM, IS AN ELECTRONICS MEASURING INSTRUMENT THAT COMBINESSEVERAL MEASUREMENT FUNCTIONS IN ONE UNIT. A TYPICAL MULTIMETER MAY INCLUDE FEATURESSUCH AS THE ABILITY TO MEASURE VOLTAGE, CURRENT AND RESISTANCE

A VIDEO IS ABOUT CIHS EIM STRANDS WORKSHOP TOUR-BASIC ELECTRICAL WIRING TUTORIAL

#activityemtechcihs

#youtube

[autolinkcncmachine]

What Is Wire Straightening And Cutting Machine?

What Is Wire Straightening And Cutting Machine?

A wire straightening and cutting machine, also known as a wire straightening and cutting device or simply a wire straightener, is a specialized industrial machine used to straighten and cut wire or metal rods to specific lengths. This type of machine is commonly employed in various industries, including construction, manufacturing, fencing, and wire product production.

The main purpose of the machine is straightening the coiled wire or metal rod and precisely cut pieces, ready for use in various applications. The machine offers several advantages, such as improved efficiency, accuracy, and consistency compared to manual straightening and cutting processes.

Here's a brief overview of how a typical wire straightening and cutting machine works:

1. Feeding the Wire: The machine takes in coiled wire or metal rods through a feeding mechanism, which guides the material into the straightening section.

2. Straightening: The wire passes through a series of rollers or guides that align and straighten the material. These rollers are adjustable, allowing the machine to handle different wire diameters and ensure optimal straightening.

3. Cutting: Once the wire is straightened, it moves to the cutting section of the machine. Here, the wire is cut into predetermined lengths using a cutting mechanism, which can be a shear or rotary cutter.

4. Length Control: The machine typically has controls that allow the operator to set the desired length of the cut wire accurately. This ensures that each piece is cut to the same length, maintaining consistency in the final product.

5. Collection: After the wire is cut to the desired lengths, it is collected in a bin or other receptacle for easy handling and further processing.

Our machines come in various sizes and capacities, catering to different wire diameters and production requirements. Some machines may have additional features like automatic wire feeding, batch counting, and speed adjustments to meet specific production needs.

The use of a wire straightening and cutting machine significantly improves production efficiency, reduces labor costs, and ensures a higher level of accuracy and consistency in wire-based products. These machines are essential tools for industries that require straightened and precisely cut wire, such as in the production of nails, screws, mesh, wire forms, and more.

[builderblast22]

Step-by-Step Guide for Using Steel Tying Wire

Steel tying wire is a fundamental tool in construction and various DIY projects. This versatile wire is crucial for reinforcing and securing materials, particularly in masonry and concrete work. This blog will cover what steel tying wire is, its uses, advantages, and provide a detailed step-by-step guide on how to use it correctly. Additionally, I'll read about BS Fixings, a leading UK supplier of building materials, and include positive reviews of their products.

What is Steel Tying Wire?

Steel tying wire is a type of wire used in construction to bind materials together securely. It is typically made from mild steel and is known for its flexibility and strength. The wire is usually coated to prevent rusting, which extends its durability and usability in various environments.

Characteristics of Steel Tying Wire

Material: Made from mild steel, often with a coating to resist corrosion.

Gauge: Available in various gauges, which refer to the thickness of the wire. Common gauges are 16, 18, and 20.

Coating: May have a protective coating like galvanisation to enhance resistance to weather and rust.

What is Steel Tying Wire Used For?

Steel tying wire has several important applications in construction and DIY projects:

1. Reinforcing Concrete

Concrete Reinforcement: It is used to tie reinforcing bars (rebar) together in concrete structures. This reinforcement helps to distribute loads and enhance the strength of the concrete.

2. Securing Masonry

Brick and Block Work: In masonry work, steel tying wire is used to secure bricks or blocks together, ensuring stability and alignment.

3. Bundling Materials

Construction Materials: The wire can be used to bundle materials like pipes or rods, making them easier to handle and transport.

4. Creating Frameworks

Reinforcement Frameworks: It is also used to create frameworks or cages for concrete pourings, such as footings and columns.

Advantages of Steel Tying Wire

Steel tying wire offers several advantages that make it a valuable tool in construction:

1. Strength and Durability

Robustness: Steel tying wire is known for its high tensile strength, making it capable of holding heavy materials securely.

Long-Lasting: Its durability ensures that it can withstand the stresses and strains of construction work without failing.

2. Flexibility

Ease of Use: The wire is flexible, allowing it to be easily bent and shaped to fit various applications. This flexibility makes it suitable for different tasks, from simple bundling to complex reinforcement.

3. Corrosion Resistance

Coating Protection: Many steel tying wires are coated to resist corrosion, which is particularly useful in outdoor or wet environments.

4. Cost-Effectiveness

Affordable: Steel tying wire is relatively inexpensive compared to other reinforcement methods, making it a cost-effective choice for construction projects.

5. Versatility

Multiple Uses: Its versatility allows it to be used in various construction and DIY applications, enhancing its value and practicality.

Step-by-Step Guide for Using Steel Tying Wire Correctly

Using steel tying wire properly is crucial to ensure its effectiveness and safety in construction projects. Follow these detailed steps:

1. Gather Your Tools and Materials

Tools Needed: Wire cutters, pliers, and a tying tool or hook if necessary.

Materials: Steel tying wire, reinforcement bars or other materials to be secured.

2. Prepare the Wire

Cutting: Use wire cutters to cut the steel tying wire to the required length. Ensure that the wire is long enough to wrap around the materials you are securing with a bit of excess to work with.

Straightening: If the wire is coiled, straighten it as much as possible to make handling easier.

3. Position the Materials

Align Materials: Position the reinforcement bars, bricks, or other materials that you need to secure. Ensure that they are correctly aligned and placed according to your construction plan.

4. Wrapping the Wire

Start Wrapping: Begin by placing the wire around the materials you need to bind. Use pliers or a tying tool to wrap the wire around the materials tightly.

Secure the Tie: Twist the wire tightly to secure the materials together. Ensure that the wire is snug but not overly tight, as too much tension can cause damage.

5. Cutting and Finishing

Trim Excess Wire: After securing the materials, cut off any excess wire using wire cutters. Make sure that the ends of the wire are trimmed neatly to avoid sharp edges.

Check Security: Ensure that the materials are securely tied and that there is no movement. Adjust the wire if necessary to achieve a firm hold.

6. Inspecting the Work

Final Inspection: Review your work to ensure that the tying wire is properly applied and that all materials are securely bound. Make any necessary adjustments before proceeding with further work.

BS Fixings Overview

BS Fixings, a sub-group of BS Stainless Ltd., is a leading supplier of building, fixing, painting, and decorating materials in the UK. They offer a wide range of products designed to meet the needs of construction professionals and DIY enthusiasts.

Product Range

Steel Tying Wire: Available in various gauges and coatings, ideal for reinforcement and securing materials.

Annular Ring Nails: Known for their excellent holding power in timber and other materials.

Cavity Wall Ties: Essential for stabilising cavity walls and enhancing structural integrity.

Chicken Wire: Used for fencing, animal enclosures, and reinforcement in plastering.

BS Fixings is renowned for its high-quality products and exceptional customer service. Their extensive range ensures that customers have access to reliable materials for a variety of projects.

Customer Reviews

Here are some reviews from satisfied customers who have used products from BS Fixings:

1. John B. from London: "I purchased steel tying wire from BS Fixings for a concrete reinforcement project. The wire was strong and easy to use, making my job much smoother. Excellent quality and service."

2. Emily W. from Manchester: "The annular ring nails from BS Fixings were perfect for my decking project. They held the timber securely, and the delivery was prompt. Highly recommend their products!"

3. Tom R. from Birmingham: "I used cavity wall ties from BS Fixings in a new build, and they worked wonderfully. The ties were sturdy and reliable, ensuring the stability of the walls. Very satisfied with the results."

4. Rachel M. from Leeds: "The chicken wire I bought from BS Fixings was exactly what I needed for my garden. It was durable and easy to install, providing excellent fencing for my plants. Great product!"

5. Alex P. from Liverpool: "BS Fixings provided steel tying wire for a large construction project, and it performed exceptionally well. The wire was strong, and the customer service was top-notch. Will definitely use them again."

6. Sarah H. from Glasgow: "I was impressed with the quality of the steel tying wire from BS Fixings. It was easy to work with and provided the reinforcement needed for my brickwork. Fantastic value for money."

7. Mike J. from Edinburgh: "I recently bought some annular ring nails and steel tying wire from BS Fixings for a DIY renovation. Both products exceeded my expectations in terms of quality and performance. Excellent supplier."

Final Layer

Steel tying wire is an essential tool in construction, offering strength, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. By following the proper steps for its use, you can ensure that your projects are secure and durable. BS Fixings, with its wide range of high-quality building materials, including steel tying wire and other products, is a valuable resource for both professionals and DIY enthusiasts. Their exceptional customer service and reliable products make them a top choice for construction needs.

[duranttoolcompany]

Durant is a leading Manufacturer and Distributor with more than 75 years of Count and Control Products, Wire Machinery, Coil Handling, Material Feeding Equipment, and Rotary Turntables for factory automation, exhibit/display, stretch wrapping, and all stainless steel models. Counters, Decoilers, Uncoilers, Pallet Decoilers, Stock Reels, unwinding machines, rewinders, recoilers, coil straighteners, material lubricators, material oilers, roll feeders, electronic servo feeders, air feeders, scrap cutters.

[abigailjohn2023]

Crucial Jewellery Creating Methods You Must Have in Your Equipment

Just like medical practioners and their dark bags and aspects using their toolboxes, people that are into jewellery making need to have several resources in their package in order to work with the pieces they're creating. If you're taking up jewellery making, it is a must that you have these instruments since it will make your projects easier for you.

Therefore, what methods can you must have in your toolkit whenever you work with jewellery making? Here are only some of the basic resources that your hobby requires. silver solder

Pliers are Standard in Jewellery Creating

Pliers are the absolute most important instruments that you'll require to own when you art jewellery. There are many kinds of pliers and here are some of them you will use.

1. Large nosed pliers. Big nosed pliers act as extensions of one's fingers. You use them for folding cables or for straightening or pulling at them. You can shape the cable with this kind of pliers.

2. Level nose pliers. Level nose pliers are employed for shutting clasps and crimps. In addition they perform better with jewellery tasks that require thinner wires.

3. Round nose pliers. Round nose pliers are pliers with a narrow and tapered nose. They're used largely for opening jump rings and for producing nice little rings on your jewellery wires.

Other Jewellery Creating Tools

Apart from pliers, you have to have other methods in your jewellery making kit that could help you choose up your beans, handle your jewellery parts properly, for surrounding your pieces and for saving them. What other resources do you need for jewellery creating? Listed here is a list.

1. Jeweller's files. Jeweller's files will allow you to file away at the sharp ends of one's line so they would maybe not damage whoever will be wearing your jewellery pieces. They're also referred to as needle files.

2. Polishing cloth. You need polishing cloth once you hold your line to align out jewellery. This can reduce any scrapes on your wires as you do the job.

3. Rulers. A ruler is essential for ensuring that you've the proper amount of cord for the part you are working on.

4. Storage boxes. Obviously, you'd desire a destination for a keep all of your methods, drops, wires, clasps, conclusions and the rest that you need to produce your jewellery pieces. Storage boxes will perform the job for you. Ensure that you obtain boxes which have spaces which means that your methods and items may well be more organized.

5. Tweezers. It may be difficult to get little objects for developing jewellery such as drops, clasps and results with only your fingers. It can be difficult to keep your use just your hands. Tweezers can help you choose up goods that are also little or too hard to hold.

6. Wire cutters. Wire blades are, while the title suggests, used to make sure that you've the proper amount of wire that you want. In addition you need this to cut at your stops if you are performed working with your jewellery project.

They're just a few of the necessary instruments that you need to own in jewellery making. These tools will help the task that you want to do on your own jewellery making tasks a lot easier.

[writerleo86]

Terravenger - Season 5: Part Two - Episode 443 (Do Not Copy)

   In the kitchen room at an apartment during one early morning, the youth Cutter found a person washing dishes by the sink before him.

   Cutter wore a sleeveless gray shirt with a thick red band around each shoulder. Printed on the top center of his shirt was a black symbol resembling a gliding bat. He had on a golden belt with a golden oval worn as a buckle. He also wore a pair of long bottoms that were made with gray leather that had red marking. He had a thick gray pad covering each knee. And he wore a pair of black boots that covered not only his feet, but his ankles as well.

   He put on his eyeglasses and gathered his books into his red backpack.

   The other person was revealed as a young man that had fair skin, dark-brown eyes, short light-brown hair, and a thick beard. He wore a collared green shirt with long sleeves, long black cargo-pants, and long black combat-boots. He also had a long black warmer covering each wrist. And a picture of a long silver key vertically printed on the right leg of his pants.

   Before a set Cutter could open the front door, the man stopped him.

   "Don't be out too late," He told the youth.

   Cutter turned his face toward the man and responded "I'll be fine Dad. This won't be like Talga. I have Duo with me this time."

   The young father named Theo lowered his head and said as his son hurried off "Hope so. Duo's a good dude. I'm sure he'll straighten my son out."

Terravenger -- Season 5: Part Two -- Episode 443:  A Genius With a Rough Past

During one bright morning, a younger Cutter Evans stood at the front of a large building which had barbed wire around the roof.

Cutter had a younger and puffy face. And he had neither a beard on his face or earrings. His blond hair was still short, but it was lowered. And he wore a pair of clear eyeglasses. He had on a light-gray outfit consisting of a short-sleeved top with a white T-shirt underneath and long pants. He also wore a pair of white socks and dark-blue slippers. His golden tattoo was freshly printed on his left shoulder. And he carried a red backpack.

He spotted another person standing before him as the gates that lead out of the area slowly opened.

This was a slender boy with fair skin and brown eyes. He also had short but wavy brown hair. He wore a white T-shirt with a V-neck collar, a thick black belt with a squared silver buckle, and dark-blue jeans. He also had on a pair of gray socks and white shoes. And he wore an opened pale-brown coat that had long sleeves.

The brown-haired youth kept each of his hands in each pocket of his pants as Cutter walked a few steps toward him. And the stranger gave a soft smile after a puzzled Cutter looked straight into the boy's eyes.

   Later, Cutter met with his friend Duo Storms at the Information Center of the Midas Academy.

   Duo wore a light-blue undershirt with a dark-blue circle printed at the top center of its front. The shirt also had dark-blue lines forming Xs all over. He had tight blue pants with yellow designs at the top, a thin white belt with his MAF badge as the buckle, and short brown boots. His helm-shaped tattoo was also shown on his left shoulder.

   After they bumped each other's fists, the pair walked toward the elevator which was at the center of the Academy's First Floor. They also found the younger student -- Ren Ravenstone -- standing at the middle of the crowd inside the elevator.

   Duo made his way to the right side of him and implied "We keep runnin' into each other!"

   Ren faced him and cried "Hey you!"

   Ren wore a black top with silver at the middle of the chest area while the top had no sleeves. He also had on long black bottoms and black boots. And placed around his forehead were a pair of black goggles.

   "Hey Blondie!" greeted Duo. "We need to stop meetin' like this!"

   Cutter remained by Duo's right side as he cried "I remember this guy! He was helping at the Playground Area!"

   Ren carried his white backpack along with a pair of books which he held in his arms.

   And the blond-haired youth told them "I'm Ren Ravenstone, a Fifth-Year."

   "That's right!" implied Duo. "You're the Commander's nephew. We met at the Funeral too."

   "Yeah," said Ren. "Thanks for comin' and payin' your respects."

   "Not a problem!" Duo told him. "Tai's a cool dude. I wish I knew him better though."

   An excited Ren shook his head and responded "Tai was so cool. We were like brothers. He was the main one that protected me, especially when I came out."

   "You're gay?" said Duo. "That's cool! I know how hard that is. My aunt was like you on her day. I was probably the only one that supported her. She's a great person, the best really."

   The door of the elevator began to open. Then some of the crowd walked out including Ren.

   Ren informed Duo "We should hang sometime."

   Duo yelled to the younger student as the door slowly closed "Hey! I'm Duo by the way!"

   "Duo huh?" called Ren. "Nice to finally get your name!"

   After the door finally closed, Cutter gathered with Duo at the middle of the small crowd on the elevator.

   "You're not gonna leave me out in the cold, are you?" joked Cutter.

   Duo gave a soft chuckle and said "I only have eyes for you. Don't worry."

   Cutter gave a quick laugh and Duo responded "It's fine. I don't think he needs me as much as you do. But you came a long way since we met."

   "Yeah!" implied Cutter. "I was in bad shape. Meditating didn't help much."

   Once the door opened once again, the pair walked out of the elevator. And they found themselves on the Third Floor of the Midas Academy.

   "You just needed someone to talk to," claimed Duo. "Someone that's been through some of the shit you have. I was happy to be there."

   Cutter gave another chuckle and replied "I'm so glad they let me meet you after my release. I definitely needed someone at my corner. I know my dad wouldn't understand."

   Duo stopped walking and told his friend "Ya'll should really talk. Your dad's probably been through the things you have. And I know he's understanding."

   Cutter stopped behind him and responded "That old man's probably going to lecture me just like my mom."

   "Maybe not," Duo replied. "Your dad's not that old you know. I'm sure he has stories that would shock you."

   Cutter felt his left shoulder which had his tattoo using his right hand as he lowered his head with sorrow.

   And he told Duo "Maybe you're right. Reaching out to my dad isn't such a bad idea."

   Duo shook his head and said "You definitely came a long way from the days of usin'. Chances are that you started because you didn't have a support system. Your folks weren't around much, mainly your dad. Now you're living with him."

   Cutter gave a soft yawn and implied "Mom was either working or dealing with her new husband to notice me. And it's not like I had my dad around at that time. That's why I turned to pills."

   Duo placed his left hand on his friend's right shoulder and told him "You know I got your back Bro. We just got through moppin' the floor with the two clowns yesterday. We can get through anything."

   A smiling Cutter placed his left hand on Duo's left wrist and responded "Yeah. I'm sure we'll do okay, even here. This city is the best place for me to start over. My life... And my relationship with my dad."

   Duo shook his head and added "And I'll be there every step of the way you know."

   At a large, frosted area that was surrounded by ocean, a large block of ice stood at the farthest corner. Lowering toward the frozen structure was a familiar individual.

   It was the young-looking man known as Goran. He had fair skin, a well-built body, a strong face, and a pair of warm purple eyes. And his short dark hair had a two-horned style at the top. He wore a collared black shirt with long sleeves along with a pair of black dress-pants, dark-purple socks, and black dress-shoes. He had on a long black coat with long sleeves and it was opened. He also had a large black square with a white skull placed on the front left side of his coat. And he wore a pair of thick black sunglasses.

   Once he stepped foot on the ground of snow, the wicked man looked up at the center of the icy block as two men dressed in white medieval armor hurried behind him as they each carried a long broadsword and a large shield.

   The soldier standing at the left side had yelled "Stop! You are not permitted to stand here!"

   And the other told the intruder "You will leave here at once!"

   A calm Goran slowly turned and began facing the two soldiers with no emotion.

   "This is sacred ground!" replied the soldier remaining at the left side. "You must leave or suffer!"

   "Do not interfere with me," Goran said in a stern voice.

   "We will remove you if you do not comply!" yelled the soldier standing at the right.

   Then Goran lifted his glasses which revealed his enchanted eyes. Both of the soldiers were soon retrained as if each of them were tied by rope.

   "By the gods!" cried the soldier at the left.

   And the other soldier yelled "What sorcery is this?"

   Goran gave a charming smile and responded "Just stand there for a moment. I'll help myself."

   He faced the large block of ice once again as a third eye opened on his forehead.

   Goran called in a pleasant voice "Release!"

   And cracks began to form on many parts until the block of ice finally blew into shattering pieces.

   "No!" yelled the soldier at the left.

   The other soldier yelled "Curse you Outlander!"

[ddpeliteusa]

A Comprehensive Guide to Orthodontic Instruments: Names, Uses, and History

Orthodontic Instruments: Names, Uses, and History

Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. Orthodontic treatment is important because it not only improves the aesthetics of the teeth and face but also promotes oral health and function. The use of orthodontic instruments is crucial in providing high-quality orthodontic care.

In this blog post, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on the various types of orthodontic instruments, their uses, and their importance in orthodontic treatment.

Why Orthodontics is Important?

Orthodontic treatment is essential for several reasons, including:

Improving the appearance of the teeth and face

Correcting dental and facial irregularities

Enhancing oral health and function

Reducing the risk of dental problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, and TMJ disorders

Boosting self-confidence and self-esteem

Who Invented Orthodontic Braces?

The concept of orthodontic braces can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians, who used catgut to straighten teeth. However, it wasn't until the 18th century that modern orthodontics began to take shape. Pierre Fauchard, a French dentist, is credited with being the father of modern orthodontics. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Edward Angle, an American orthodontist, further developed the field of orthodontics by introducing the first orthodontic brackets and wires.

Orthodontic Instruments Name

Orthodontic instruments are designed to aid in the diagnosis, treatment, and maintenance of orthodontic conditions. Here are some of the most commonly used orthodontic instruments and their uses:

Pliers: Orthodontic pliers are used to bend and shape wires and brackets during treatment. Types of pliers include:

Bird beak pliers: used for bending and shaping orthodontic wires

Weingart pliers: used for placing and removing archwires and elastics

Adams pliers: used for bending and adjusting archwires and springs

Cutters: ligature cutter orthodontics are used to cut wires and other orthodontic materials. Types of cutters include:

Distal end cutters: used to cut distal ends of wires

Wire cutters: used to cut archwires, ligature wires, and elastics

Scalers and pliers: Orthodontic scalers and pliers are used to remove and reposition brackets and other orthodontic appliances. Types of scalers and pliers include:

Band removers: used to remove orthodontic bands

Bracket removers: used to remove brackets

Ligature directors: used to direct and position ligatures

Mirrors and probes: Orthodontic mirrors and probes are used for visualization and examination of the teeth and oral cavity. Types of mirrors and probes include:

Mouth mirrors: used to visualize the teeth and oral cavity

Explorers: used to examine the teeth and detect cavities or other dental problems

In conclusion, orthodontic treatment plays a vital role in improving dental health, function, and aesthetics. The use of orthodontic instruments is essential in providing high-quality orthodontic care. By understanding the various types of orthodontic instruments and their uses, you can make informed decisions about your orthodontic treatment.

[carygrace]

Screwdriver woes, and a bit of random blacksmithing…

I recently acquired something I have been seeking for a while: a Singer 201K2 sewing machine (direct drive), in lovely condition!

After 82 years, it definitely needs a service before I start using it (cleaning out all the old hardened grease, re-lubricating, and also replacing the wiring, which has that lovely antique rubber insulation that, in this case, looked brand new, until I touched it and it shattered).

So, I set about taking it apart.

The first obstacle I ran into was these huge slotted screws.

While I have what I thought was a fairly comprehensive collection of screwdriver bits, I don’t actually have a slotted screwdriver bit this big. OK, I thought, I’ll order one online.

Not that easy, as it turns out.

I finally found a cheap one at B&Q (too thick, but I could re-grind it, and surely it would last long enough to remove and reinstall two screws). Great. Ordered for pickup the next day.

Except, they didn’t really have stock.

So in my annoyance, I dug a pair of broken Xuron cutters out of the scrap bin.

Cut off the rivet…

Cut off the end.

Forged the handle a bit to straighten out the curve and thin the part that was going to be the tip.

Did some initial grinding, put it in a handle, then hardened and tempered the working part…

Did a bit more grinding and finishing…and, voila! Looks a lot like a screwdriver to me. The screws thought so too. ;-)

it won’t win any beauty contests, but I don’t think there are any beauty contests for screwdrivers anyway.

[jcxlc]

sheet flat wire straightener machine #metalworkshop #steelwire #metalworkingmachines #cutter

[eis123456]

Customs Ruling Ny R03256 The Tariff Classification Of An Auto Body Repair Package From Taiwan

UTI is an educational institution and can't guarantee employment or salary. Be positive to also do your research and take advantage of UTI’s industry connections to speak auto body repair products with potential employers and ask what instruments you’ll be expected to have. Not only will this make a great impression, however it can additionally guide you as you add instruments to your set.

Take, for instance, Evercoat’s Rage Ultra and Metal Glaze Ultra. “Aluminum repairs will enhance as the need for lighter vehicles striving to meet fuel economy demands continues,” he says. Whether it's automotive priming, painting or eradicating old paint, Rust-Oleum Automotive has your solution. Rust-proof your undercarriage, touch up your car paint, and even apply personalized, short-term racing stripes.

We even have a complete choice of premium JEGS instruments at a variety of the greatest prices in the business. When you store with JEGS, you understand your auto body instruments and provides are made from the highest-quality supplies, so you may get the efficiency you want. Distributor of collision and automotive repair products and provides.

According to Perry, aluminum is tricky to weld because you have to maintain a continuing temperature to create the best weld. What helps with that could possibly be a push-pull function found on welders from Elektron, one of many brands under the Vehicle Services Group which Chief is a component of. This can remove the wire from “bird-nesting” inside of the welder, which might create inconsistent welds.

Use the search bar at the top of the page to seek for your products. Sign up for information, provides, and the latest product updates. If you have any questions, please contact Customer Service at MAC-TOOLS for help.

Advanced driver-assistance techniques helped to additional improve street security and lower injury prices for insurers. However, these techniques required significant calibration work after replacing the windshield. Since a windshield significantly contributes to a automobile body’s structural stiffness, this necessitated the use of more superior, full-cure adhesives. By creating the PowerCure system, Sika was once again capable of present a easy, market-ready solution that met customers’ challenges. 44) For Automotive Body and Related Repairers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tasks an annual common of 15,200 job openings between 2020 and 2030.

Our technicians develop standard working procedures for body technicians, stream-line paint groups, and prepare clients' staff on how to greatest use new products. “These welders and cutters had been developed for automotive repair,” says Bill Berman, president, Cebotech USA. “There are different welder suppliers that just offer an existing industrial unit and wish auto body repair products the tech on the body store to use them to repair a automobile. A welder developed for collision repair is fine-tuned to the wants of the tech. The power, the scale of the welding weapons, the software program and arc traits are meant for collision repair. Description This Bondo Body Repair Kit contains everything you have to repair automotive dents, rust holes, and scratches.

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[podjewellery]

Essential Jewellery Making Tools You Should Have in Your Kit

Just like medical doctors and their black luggage and mechanics with their toolboxes, folks that are into jewelry making want to have some equipment of their package with the intention to paintings at the portions they're developing. If you're taking up jewelry making, it's miles a need to which you have those equipment as it will make your paintings plenty less complicated for you. jewellery making tools

So, what equipment do you want to have on your toolkit whilst you paintings on jewelry making? Here are simply a number of the primary equipment that your craft requires.

Pliers are Basic in Jewellery Making

Pliers are the maximum crucial equipment which you want to have whilst you craft jewelry. There are many styles of pliers and right here are a number of them that you may use.

Large nosed pliers. Large nosed pliers act as extensions of your fingers. You use them for bending wires or for straightening or pulling at them. You get to form the twine with this form of pliers.

Flat nostril pliers. Flat nostril pliers are used for ultimate clasps and crimps. They additionally paintings plenty higher with jewelry initiatives that require thinner wires.

Round nostril pliers. Round nostril pliers are pliers with a slim and tapered nostril. They are used in particular for starting soar jewelry and for developing neat little loops in your jewelry wires.

Other Jewellery Making Tools

Aside from pliers, you need to produce other equipment on your jewelry making package that assist you to choose up your beads, take care of your jewelry additives properly, for shaping your portions and for storing them. What different equipment do you want for jewelry making? Here is a list.

  Jeweller's documents. Jeweller's documents will assist you record away at the pointy ends of your twine in order that they could now no longer injure whoever could be sporting your jewelry portions. They also are referred to as needle documents.

Polishing fabric. You want sharpening fabric whilst you preserve your twine to straighten out jewelry. This will save you any scratches in your wires as you do the activity.

Rulers. A ruler is important for making sure which you have the proper duration of twine for the piece you're operating on.

Storage bins. Naturally, you'll want an area to shop all of your equipment, beads, wires, clasps, findings and the whole thing else which you want to create your jewelry portions. Storage bins will do the activity for you. Make positive which you get bins which have booths so your equipment and substances can be extra organized.

Tweezers. It may be tough to choose up small objects for crafting jewelry inclusive of beads, clasps and findings with simply your fingers. It also can be tough to preserve your paintings with handiest your hands. Tweezers assist you to choose up objects which are too small or too tough to preserve.

Wire cutters. Wire cutters are, because the call implies, used to ensure which you have the proper duration of twine which you want. You additionally want this to reduce at your ends whilst you are carried out operating together along with your jewelry project.

For More Info:  jewellery making supplies melbourne

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A Complete Overview of Pliers

For those who have never used pliers, one might be surprised by their usefulness. They consist of a pair of metal levers joined at a fulcrum. The longer side forms the handle and the shorter side act as jaws used to manipulate and focus force with precision. The jaws can be used for cutting, gripping, fitting and working with objects too small or unwieldy for the fingers. General-purpose pliers are useful, but a few kinds, like cutting pliers, cobra pliers and crimping pliers, are designed to serve specific purposes.

One of the most common uses for pliers is to cut wire or work with heavy gauge wire that might otherwise be difficult to handle. Pliers are also useful for bending or straightening metal or wire into different shapes. A pair of pliers can be used to grip a nut with enough force so it can be loosened or tightened. Pliers are also helpful when trying to loosen an especially stubborn bolt or screw that is hard to reach with your hands.

Pliers can be very helpful when you need to hold something in place while working on it. For example, you might use them when you need a third hand while trying to thread the wire through a hole in something. 

One of the most basic tools in a toolbox or garage is the plier, but there are actually two types of pliers: adjustable pliers and locking pliers. Both types have jaws that can be set in place and locked, but they do not both have their own uses.

Adjustable pliers are great for gripping both flat and curved objects, and they help to tighten loose nuts and bolts. These are versatile tools that can be used as clamps, vises, or wrenches.

Locking pliers are designed with jaws that can be opened to different widths. The pivot is easily slipped into corresponding grooves to make the jaws open wider or narrower. This helps to tighten nuts and bolts that require varying widths to hold them in place. 

There are times when the things you want to separate can't be accomplished with your bare hands, but prying is an option. You don't always want to use a crowbar, though—it might scratch or damage the surfaces you've been trying to pry apart. Pry bars are also awkward and inconvenient to use, and they might end up scratching the surface as well.

Why not use gripping pliers? They're specifically designed to grab onto and hold objects firmly without breaking them. In some cases, their jaws can even be adjusted so that they will grip tightly around an object of any size or shape. They can be used for a variety of tasks, from constructing electrical circuit boards to pulling nails from wooden ply or cartons. And when you buy them, they'll come in many varieties: flat-nose, round-nose or needle-nose. All of these variations provide a great grip and are extremely useful to force two small objects apart or to remove nails. Gripping pliers find applications in a variety of areas right, from making jewelry to constructing electrical circuit boards to pulling nails from wooden ply or cartons.

The most useful pliers in a toolbox are often the ones you don't expect, which is why it's important to have a few cobra pliers lying around. These multi-purpose pliers are an easy addition to any toolbox because they're lightweight and strong and can be used for a variety of tasks. For example, consider a toolbox that only has needle-nose pliers, channel-lock pliers and wire cutters. That toolbox is missing cobra pliers, which would allow you to:

On top of all that, cobra pliers are great for small jobs or jobs where you're working in a tight space. They're also good for light work, like opening bottle caps or removing rusted hexagonal bolts. The channel lock on these pliers allows you to keep the grip position until the job is complete. Some other features include single-hand adjustment, self-gripping on pipes and nuts, and a jaw design that prevents nut-burring. These little tools are really handy to have around—but if your toolbox isn't equipped with them, then their usefulness is lacking.

When it comes to choosing the best plier and clamping tools in Dubai, one can never be sure of what exactly is available. With all the different stores offering different brands and different merchandise, it can get pretty confusing to choose the right one. To make things easier for you, we offer you the best that is out there in the market at this point in time. The best plier and clamping tools in Dubai are available at Damam Hardware store.

We have the best plier and clamping tools in Dubai. They are not only high quality but also very affordable! One thing we don't want is for our clients to get ripped off by some other store, so we make sure that pricing is always fair and competitive. You get a good product at a decent price here at Damam Hardware!