Long term storage solution for homes

March 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Iam looking for advice on making a long term storage solution for my home storage system. Presently I use RAID (2*75GB) and sometimes I burn important files on CD-R, but I don’t have a “complete solution” as of now. Ive decided that what I need is to keep every version of every file “forever”, so I’m really looking for some kind of archival utility. Long term comparability is key, so currently I’m fixed on using CD-R or DVD-R, since these media will probably be in common use for the next couple of decades. The problem is documenting where files are placed. Most backup software isn’t usable since it has another focus and primarily concerns itself about restoration of entire drives, not keeping track of different versions of files.

 

Right…music and movies are not going to stick on these media for centuries too! With the DVD debate still ongoing you’re half right…it can take some times. But other data type can be moved to other medium (tape). IBM and Storage achieved 1 TB on tape. It will still takes few years before going full production. They must act very fast because disk are getting cheaper. In the mean time you are going to see 200 GB native or above before end of this summer from various vendors. Depending what you are considering long term it could mean different thing. For me long term is anything above 7 years. In storage industry today the capacity increase very fast and become cheaper.

 

That been said you have to look at the OS and application who support these devices too. How long it takes to get obsolete in this area…3 years or so. That mean your applications need to follow. Who’s going to support Oracle 7.x today when they say it’s End Of Life and they are forcing you to migrate. What happened if your applications used some dirty trick to get faster under DOS and cannot be ported to Win2000 (games for example). What OS was popular 18 years ago…Windows or DOS.

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Imported storage units

March 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Thank you for the reply. I am going to work on this idea and see if I can develop some kind of storage system behind my sofa. I may even look into building something that would fit behind the sofa but remain completely hidden. Anyone out there have any thoughts for developing a behind-the-sofa storage system? The fun ones are from imported shipments. Someone I know found a pallet used to ship something from Africa; it was made from an exotic gold- colored wood. Another guy I knew a long time ago worked next door to a motorcycle shop; all the motorcycles imported from Asia were in crates made of Philippine mahogany lumber, apparently all #1 grade–no knots, no sap pockets, etc.

 

The shop was just throwing the crates away, so he started hauling them home and breaking them down. He had a lifetime supply of nice wood.Around here they seem to be red or white oak if not pine. Since I changed jobs, I don’t have easy access to a good supply of pallets any more, but while I did, I salvaged enough to build a bunch of shelves in my garage, the lathe base, and some smaller projects. It was a good thing while it lasted; we were doing volume PC manufacturing, so we had large quantities of matching size pallets.

 

Having quantities of consistent-sized pieces makes it a lot easier to build things. Could you hang all of your cups/mugs on the kitchen wall? That can look pretty nice. Also, you know those shoe holders? The kind that you hang on the door? Well, don’t limit yourself to shoes! You can put anything in them, toys, kitchen gadgets, tools, even smaller food items. If you get the clear ones you can see where everything is at a quick glance or you can label them to help w/ organization.

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Storage options in home furniture

March 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

You have to be creative in finding places to store things. In my living room, I have a sofa with a filing cabinet sitting beside it as a combination of storage and side table. I realized that I could pull the filing cabinet out about 18 inches from the wall, so it was just even with the edge of the sofa. That 18″ of space behind the filing cabinet is the perfect size to store extra toilet paper and paper towels. I put a pillow on top of them and no one can tell they’re there. I also pulled the sofa out a couple of inches from the wall, and I store my large cookie sheets behind it, along with platters and other awkward things that are difficult to store.

 

Office Depot and Office Max have some reasonably priced, tall/narrow Formica shelves (in black or white)that should work for you. We bought one for my husband’s office (which is in a very crowded 11′ by 12′ spare bedroom that has many of the problems you mention). We were recently in either Home Depot or Lowes and saw a tall, narrow white shelving unit with paneled doors that looked very nice and was quite inexpensive. It was being advertised as a storage unit for a child’s room but would make a wonderful pantry or what-have-you unit. How about going up? I live in an older walk-out ranch. We made an attic entrance in the garage and there’s another in the house. We covered a lot of the floor with scrap plywood. While I wouldn’t store food up there, it is nice and dry.

 

TP, Laundry soap, out of season clothes, Christmas stuff. The attic is about 20′x40′. If I didn’t need them for people I would take the smaller of the two bedrooms without a closet and turn it into a big, yummy storage room. Put in lots of stand alone shelving and you have plenty of storage. I never have enough storage, LOL…Its the bane of my existence…Im living in the largest sq ftg place of my life and still NO storage space, just lots of floor space I have some Under bed storage drawers that are pretty niffy, just make sure you get the ones w/ rollers…Got 4 to 6 under each bed depending on the size Also I use hanging baskets, the tiered ones on chain or cord, you can get them in graduated sizes from top to bottom or just same size for all. Most have 3 or 4 baskets to a set, I take 2 sets and combine them to make very nice corner or small space storage.

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Water proof storage facility while shipping

March 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

IMHO that is the least attractive option of them all. You still have to drive a tow vehicle to the storage area, and do the launch ramp thing, so you have none of the conveniences of a marina, plus still having to tow. What you are doing in essence, is paying to store your boat away from your home to save you the costs of the extra fuel you would use pulling the boat the extra distance (and it would be doubtful that you’d save enough in fuel to pay for the storage space). You’d also lose the piece of mind of having the boat with you at home. Keeping your boat at home on a trailer.

 

If you can manage to fit it into a garage, you have the best possible storage solution. The boat is kept away from the elements, and will look as good 10 years down the road, as it does today (providing you have no other “accidents”). It is also secure from thieves. If you can’t fit it into a garage, you may be able to construct a carport to keep the sun and rain off of it. Trailing a boat means that you can take advantage of lower cost fuel, and the piece of mind of knowing the boat is right outside, is calming. Plus, if you like to go to different waterways, you just hookup and go, which you can’t easily do at a marina.

 

Drawbacks to home storage/trailing: 1. Hassle. Getting the boat ready, hooking up, driving to the water, and the 3 ring circus at the launch ramp is enough to ruin many otherwise good boating days. 2. Maintenance. A trailer is a high maintenance item. At least if you want some reasonable safety, and reliability. 3. Tags and insurance. While registration and insurance costs for trailers is usually low, it’s still something that should be considered. 4. Tow vehicle.

 

Not many passenger cars can pull more than 1500 Lbs any more, which means an SUV or pickup truck (Which many people seem to like anyway). But you now have the costs of the tow vehicle to consider. If it’s your daily driver, you have to deal with the lousy fuel economy. If it’s a “second” car, then you have the costs of multiple cars and insurance. Many people, who tow once a year, can get away with renting a truck for the day. But this isn’t cost effective for the weekly trailer boater.

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Boat Storage – Slips Vs Storage Units

March 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

A slip will be the most convenient. Uncover, turn the key, cast off, and you’re on the water. The drawbacks include: 1. Cost. A slip is usually the most expensive. 2. Fuel. You’re stuck paying marine fuel prices, which can be as much as $.50 or $.60 more a gallon for gasoline (But for some reason, diesel is cheaper). 3. Exposure. Boats in slips are exposed to the elements. Gel coat fade, stains from bird droppings, osmosis and possible blistering, leaks into the interior and the musty, moldy and eventual rotting that it causes. Not to mention the hassle of bottom painting and scraping. 4. Worry. When your boat is in a slip, you worry when any storm comes up, you worry that a thru-hull will let go and sink the boat etc. 5. Security.

 

Many marinas are deserted during the week, making the boats there prime targets for thieves. Rack storage or covered storage at the marina is a little more convenient than trailing, but more of a hassle than a slip. It costs less than a slip, but you get what you pay for. In essence you’re renting a square plot of land or a rack unit. Drawbacks to rack storage: 1. Fire hazard. If one boat goes up, they all do. So you’re at the mercy of the dumbest idiot in the rack. 2. Storm damage. Many rack facilities do not survive storms well.

 

As in #1, make sure you have sufficient insurance. 3. Damage. Many rack owners leave the racking an unpacking to young and inexperienced operators, that occasionally ding, scratch, and even gouge your boat or drive (and then flatly deny it). 4. Dripping. Unless you’re in the top rack, whatever grime spews out of the boats above you, lands on your boat, which can stain the gelcoat or interior. 5. Timing. If you frequently boat on busy weekends, you may have to wait a long time for “your turn” to be launched/retrieved. Bribery of the yard hands might help. but it will increase your costs. 6. Fuel.

 

Like a slip, you’re still at the mercy of marine fuel prices Drawbacks to covered storage at the marina: 1. Value. You’re, in essence, renting a plot of land, and depending on your marina, the convenience of having your boat launched for you. This comes without any of the advantages of inside rack storage, or the turn key convenience of a slip. Many of the drawbacks are the same as rack storage. 2. Security. Like a slip, you boat presents an easy target for thieves, if the marina is not secured. 3. Exposure. Like a slip, your boat is still exposed to the elements (except for osmosis and bottom growth), and will age accordingly. 4. Timing. Like rack storage, you will have to “wait your turn” to be launched/retrieved.

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Storage pressure of domestic gas

March 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I have been looking into this possibility as I am 20 miles from the nearest supply point. According to a contact with Calor today Presently you can have a tank at home for automotive purposes. The storage pressures are different to domestic heating LPG Tanks come with a hand pump (good slimming / body development aid!?) You need to justify the costs with high individual annual mileage or multi vehicles to give adequate volume and offset a quarterly tank / pump rental ( from £70 per 1/4 & once off installation cost of about £150- £200) You pay the duty and vat up front with the gas delivery It is rarely economical for a 1 vehicle supply You can run groups of vehicles (business or family fleet).

 

The basic kit does not have a liter measure facility Electric pumps are available but are expensive to buy / rent and increase offset considerations NB Installation regulations apply You need a hardstand area about 2.5 x 3.0 meters The tank must be 6 meters from an occupied building and 9 meters from living accommodation and 3 meters from unoccupied stores. I do not think I can justify a home supply (space & cost) Calor say that most (not all) of their sites will give additional discounts to group / multi car purchasers Calor also report a mushrooming of their Auto gas site developments Another supplier CPS at Norwich will simply not supply non-commercial sites.

 

It was something I had been meaning to look into for my cousin who was very interested in using the LPG from his home storage tank. I was pretty sure that it even if it was technically possible you would not be (legally) able to get around paying the extra tax (I thought it might have some kind of delivery meter) Never mind, lets hope that some enterprising garage in Fareham gets a tank! The nearest is the wrong side of Southampton for me. I wonder if I could lobby the council to get them to urge local garages to start taking it? They are trying hard to get new business in the area, and plentiful LPG supplies can only help.

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Take home cars and storage

March 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Our local department has a policy that they call “Home Fleet.” It enables officers, detectives and such to drive their cars when off duty as well. They are allowed to drive them anywhere in the county on personal business. They are however required to respond to emergency calls and whatnot. The reasoning behind it is there are more police cars on the street (increasing presence), officers will park them on the street at their homes and thereby (hopefully) deter burgles in the area, and of course, the city can call on even off-duty officers to help out in certain situations (like directing traffic at accident scenes).

 

Anyway, I was wondering, our city is fairly small (230,000 or so), is this practice common in large cities as well? Does anyone know of any large cities (over 500,000) that has such a policy. Any comments on how it works? My department (about 1000 officers) has had a take-home program in effect since 1987 that has been very successful. We have two basic classes of these vehicles; Take-Home and Home-Storage. Take Home vehicles are marked units that can be used for personal business provided certain requirements are met. These units are assigned only to officers who reside within the city limits. Tends to be cost effective in lengthening the life of the most expensive piece of equipment.

 

An officer tends to take care of that care of that car if he knows that he is the only driver and is solely responsible for it. I know about a mid- size department, work very well. Hmm, didn’t Replay TV create the PVR before TiVo? I had a quick scan at the patent and had to laugh. “Time warping TV” hmm I think Star Trek has them on that one! Really there is nothing new in a TiVO. Commercial systems have been recording, buffering and time delaying video for some time. It’s only now that consumers get the opportunity! The integration of a computer, HD, phone connection and guide is a amazingly obvious thing to do.

 

Jeeves the next thing you know someone will try to patent PDA PVR’s, network downloads to PVR’s, multiple personalized channel guides, TV search bot’s, collaborative content selection mechanisms, … All pretty obvious evolutionary steps! The way this stuff usually goes is that TiVo will sue someone with deep pockets(Microsoft?) and try to work out a license deal. Once they do, they try to muscle in anybody else… Replay TV and Dish may be the only two who can say prior art and tell em to get lost.

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Alternative storage for television sets

March 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I don’t think this is re-regulate post per se – just trying to get some information and opinion on some ill-informed thoughts i’ve had, arising from my dissatisfaction with the current state of television. What if: – all cable tv spectrum were dedicated to broadband internet and video-on-demand – all users had in-home storage devices for content (e.g. tivo-like device but with massive amounts of storage) – users could select a la carte by program what they wanted to watch, which was delivered to their in-home storage devices.

 

For additional charge, users could opt to receive ALL content without advertising of any kind. Questions: – if all the existing spectrum were dedicated to this, would there be sufficient bandwidth to do it? if each household had, say, five daily programs and five weekly programs that they watched regularly, would this narrowing of selection offset the loss of efficiency gained from “broadcasting” simultaneously to all homes?

 

what is the equivalent dollar value of a program if there were no advertising in it at all? how much would users have to pay to match the income generated by advertisers? i realize this is completely dependent on the program in question, but some examples would at least put me in the ballpark mentally. Any other thoughts or comments, or pointers to websites that might have relevant information, are appreciated.

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How to build a storage facility?

March 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

We’ve had quite a large number of employees over years of all sizes. Hanging a bike by its front wheel is easiest when you press a femur up against the saddle while holding the bars. Sounds clubby but easy and graceful in practice. We recently acquired a couple more tandems and I redid the system by lowering the rear wheel hooks 18″ with an inverted “fence” made out of 2″ x 4″s and extending it a foot such that it now holds 3 tandems & 4 single bikes. By lowering the rear wheel 18″, the front forks went up 18″, giving us more walk under clearance for the tandems.

 

This puts the bike well out of the way in what would otherwise be unused ‘space’ freeing up the floor of the garage for car/motorcycle/work area/whatever AND keeps the bikes from being jostled around or knocked over. I find that a big paper bag is good. Anything that is out of the elements, heat and light, is good. Anything that can keep them dry and cool (not cold) is fine. Better to have them breathe than not. Any internal moisture content liberated by heat etc will aid in spoiling them in an airtight container.

 

Well, that’s my .002 anyway Cleaning a room at home around 20 years ago (around 1980), we found green coffee from Brazil which we got from my grand uncle around 1946. We tried it and the coffee was quite usable. Maybe not the best, but still absolutely drinkable. It had been stored quite airtight and in dry air. Green coffee will keep for one to three years with not much problem. Major consideration is humidity, the more humidity you have the less of a shelf life for the green bean. Stored in airtight containers or vacuum packed, green beans could last even longer.

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Safe storage of tools in garage

March 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Agreed, I’ve done it like this for years. I have a 2 car garage that holds 2 full size cars, lawnmower, garbage/recycling, workbench/tools, full size repair stand, 2 tandems, 2 road bikes, 3 mtbs and one fixie commuter. This system of storage depends on the direction of the ceiling joists. Unfortunately mine go parallel to the direction that a car faces, so I added small “pseudo-studs” in the proper place. If yours go perpendicular then you are set. Depending on the size of vehicles you have, you can also mount a long 2X4 on the wall, anchored in the studs. Insert the hooks in the 2×4 and hang bikes alternating by front and rear wheel.

 

They will hang 90 deg. to the plane of the wall, so they stick out more, but leave more room for other garage stuff. Hint-invest in a stud finder, use a measuring tape (interior wall studs are usually 16″ on center, exterior are 24″), test with a small pilot bit first, then pre-drill and insert hook. Get a long 2X4 and 10 vinyl coated hooks. Then install the 2X4 on your wall, make sure you screw into the wall studs. Then measure your handle bar widths and make the spacing on the hooks the width of your widest bars plus a couple of inches. You can then hang the bikes using the hooks and alternate hanging the bike from their front and rear wheel so that the handlebars don’t interfere with each other. Not the prettiest solution but it is cheap and easy to put together.

 

If the hanging approach had all the other features that I seek, I wouldn’t mind helping the wife stow/retrieve her bike. Perhaps I could give her a separate location elsewhere. The kids, though likely stronger, may not have the reach to stow their 20″ BMX bikes if the hooks are on the ceiling. I have hooks in the ceiling now, scattered about my garage. I tried to run some near the wall, but I found that the bikes don’t really hang too well from them. Let me try to explain. If you hang a bike from the ceiling using a hook through the wheel, the center of gravity of the bike causes it to hang such that the wheels are not aligned vertically, and the result is more wasted floor space below.

 

When I located the ceiling hooks near a wall (out away from the wall by about 1/2 the diameter of the wheel), I found the bikes hang one of two ways: If I hang them from the front wheel, the rear wheel is forced (by gravity) against the wall (that is good) but the position is unstable and the bike wants to twist or turn one way or the other, entangling with adjacent bikes. If I hang them from the rear wheel, the front wheel is forced (by gravity) away from the wall (that is NG) again projecting into the room (wasting space) and the bike still wants to twist or turn one way or the other, entangling with adjacent bikes.

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