11474 Joseph Campau Ave. Hamtramck, MI

World Renowned street artist Shark Toof

World renowned street artist Shark Toof, known for his larger than life street murals, is opening his first bar in Downtown Hamtramck. Shark Toof, originally from Los Angeles, started painting graffiti in 1985 and after graduating from Art Center College of Design, traveled the world creating artwork for clients such as Ritz Carlton, Samsung, Apple, and Heineken. He most recently participated in Detroits 2017 Murals on the Market.

According to Shark Toof, the Carbon Room had been on his radar for several years. Having fallen in love with the creative community in the area he took this as an opportunity to bring something different yet communal and inclusive to the area. He’s brought a completely new experience for the area that is sure to create a buzz!

Mural in Detroit by famous street artist Shark Toof

As a large-scale street artist, his creativity is not confined to the intricate details of just the furniture, décor or paint color but rather encompasses the entire structure of the establishment. His vision for the windows was quite unique. He reached out for help creating these custom, one of a kind door features and we were thrilled to be a part of the transformation. (For more custom solutions, check out past projects here.)

Fabrication and Installation

Shark Toof discovered an amazing set of old, weathered, industrial windows while at a scrap yard this past summer. After consulting with our team, he entrusted us with giving them a new lease on life. The frames, rusted and holding only shattered remnants of glass panes, were up-cycled into fully functioning full view doors. These doors would open up the inside of the venue to the bustling downtown community area.

During the fabrication process, the frames where reinforced to give back some of the shape they’d lost over the years as well as to provide a stable base for which we could mount the necessary door hardware. Of course, in order to truly bring them back to life again new window panes had to be installed. The reinforcements that were made helped create new casings for the glass to sit where the old ones had rusted away. The rust that had built up on the frames over their time was a huge element in Shark Toof’s vision for these doors and therefore their finish was left in as raw of a state as possible.

Design/Vision

Overall, this was quite the renovation. A large aesthetic departure from the glass block features that existed before. The once bright blue-faced Carbon Room has since taken on a more historical look that is “borderline burlesque”.

Before his art career took him on the road, Shark Toof spent quite some time working as an antique shop manager. That experience has molded his taste ever since. This bar, crafted completely around his creative and unique artistry, is covered in eclectic antique elements. Internally, the design and soul of the establishment is reminiscent of an old parlor, taking cues from the Eastlake Movement of the Victorian era.

Much like the new exterior façade, the inside will have a revamped look. Art deco lamps topped with hand blown rose-colored glass shades, one-of-a-kind folk art bar backs as well as marble tabletops from the 1880s will fill the space. Separate “rooms” will be created via the furniture and décor. One of these spaces will be a bit more intimate with vintage couches and a fireplace.

Drawing on his previous experiences managing both the antique shop in LA as well as his art career, Shark Toof has shown that he knows the kind of energy and commitment it takes to get this business off the ground. We are so grateful to be a part of this wonderful endeavor and appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this up and coming hot spot!

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April 25 – 28, 2018 | Las Vegas, Nevada

Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino | Las Vegas Convention Center

A few months ago we were fortunate enough to take the entire team on a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada for the 2018 IDAExpo. This trip was a great team building experience, especially for some of our younger members. Meeting with our vendors and seeing some of the newest advances in our industry was also a great motivation for us as we begin the busy summer season.

A Truly Hands-On Experience

The International Door Association put together an amazing Expo equipped with plenty of guest speakers and technical training. The event granted us the opportunity to see the wide range of the products and possibilities that are available to us and our customers.

First hand we were able to see, touch, and operate some of the cutting-edge equipment on display. This was also a wonderful opportunity to network. Finally being able to place faces with many of the names that we converse with on a regular basis gave us the ability to further solidify relationships with these companies in an interpersonal way. Not only is this very beneficial for our team members and for our company but also the consumer. It helps to raise the quality and level of care that our customers receive as well.

Providing Valuable Insight

Another amazing perk to this trip was that we were able to give feedback, in person, directly to the manufacturers about their products. To provide first hand experiences our expert technicians have had using their products was extremely rewarding. Able to express directly to manufactures things that might be beneficial improvements to their products was an unbelievable experience for us as well as extremely gratifying for our technicians who depend on these products to make their jobs that much more doable. Anything that helps us provide the best service possible for you, our customers, we take very seriously. Being able to speak, in person, to the companies that create the products we use has helped us, as a company, feel as though we were doing our part in contributing back to the door community. This interaction has played a huge part in our efforts to make a difference in the forward progression of our industry’s future.

We had an incredible time exploring the Expo as well as getting our fair share of Vitamin D in the process. Our team returned from Nevada with a revitalized and energetic attitude. We are thrilled to continue creating an even more enjoyable, rewarding experience for you with the most up-to-date products our industry can offer.

If it’s been a while since the last time we spoke or if you’re interested in seeing what sort of solutions we might have for your door problems, give us a call or send us an email! We offer free estimates on all new installations and provide the best in quality service and preventative maintenance.

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There is a general set of guidelines that all dock leveler technicians follow when approaching the inspection of your dock equipment. This list can fluctuate in length based on how frequent the equipment is used as well as the how much time went by between inspections, but some typical bullet points on their list would be:

• Check all safety devices on the unit.
• Clean the upper portion of the plate, lower rollers and between the side angles.
• Clean all debris from the pit or from the vicinity of floor mounted units to avoid any interference with the rolling mechanism.
• Inspect the hold-down assemblies, lip assist assemblies, and other mechanisms for wear and/or damage.
• Inspect the safety leg system and return spring operation.
• Check rollers, pins and bushings for any signs of wear.
• Check the springs for elongation.
• Inspect all welds under the leveler for fatigue or failure.
• Check general condition of the dock leveler.
• Operate dock leveler after service, check for any abnormal noise or vibrations.

5 Steps to a Thorough Evaluation for Proper Maintenance of your Equipment:

Our process for dock leveler maintenance inspections is fairly simple and straight forward. To walk you through the typical inspection process, we’ve assembled an easy 5 step break down.

1. Cleaning: Technicians thoroughly clean equipment and components under and around the equipment to ensure longer life and a more efficient workplace. This prevents dirt and debris from clogging working parts and causing premature wear.

2. Lubricating: By correctly applying lubricants in the proper places our technicians ensure that your equipment continues to work efficiently. This reduces equipment downtime since the components are protected from wear, moisture and corrosion.

3. Adjusting: Equipment that is improperly adjusted can waste time and create hazards in the work environment. Necessary components are properly adjusted to make sure your equipment works smoothly and consistently.

4. Inspecting: Once the cleaning and adjustments have been made, our technicians thoroughly inspect the loading dock equipment. Our technicians have been trained to bring small problems to your attention before they become bigger issues. At this time, predictive maintenance solutions are offered as needed.

5. Documentation: Lastly, we provide you with documentation to show exactly what service work has been completed, to indicate areas of concern, as well as recommended solutions to those concerns. This will save you potential headaches down the road.

The post Have Your Dock Levelers Been Inspected? appeared first on Motor City Door Company.