Disc Reflector

7 Things to Know Before Buying a Post-Style Patio Heater

As winter winds down, the outdoor patio heating market is just winding up. Freestanding patio heaters will soon be showing up at retailers across the nation.

The draw?

Homeowners want to squeeze in more quality time outdoors on those cooler days and nights during Spring, Summer and Fall. For restaurant owners, patio heaters can attract more business by giving patrons the option of dining outdoors.

And with so much attention to indoor air quality (IAQ) legislation and concerns associated with smoking indoors, patio heaters will continue to be a valued commodity into the future.

Growth in the outdoor patio heating market has exploded in the last 10 years and industry experts foresee nothing but an increase in the popularity of patio heaters well into the future.

That fact is not lost on the manufacturer's of patio heaters. In case you haven't noticed, post-style patio heaters are now readily available in most home centers and big box retailers across the nation at prices as low as $199.00. Once sold exclusively from specialty propane gas appliance and hearth products dealers for $600.00 and higher, manufacturers of patio heaters have come up with ways to decrease manufacturing costs to make them more affordable to the average homeowner.

The problem with this strategy, however, is that we've witnessed an enormous sacrifice in quality, technology and reliability. The big problem for consumers is knowing what to look for when shopping for a patio heater. To help you in your search, we offer the following suggestions:

7 things to know before you buy a "post style" patio heater:

1. Reflector size. What is the diameter of the reflector? We call this the dispenser - the large circular "mushroom" disc above the heater head. Its purpose is to distribute heat to the surrounding area in up to a 12 foot diameter circle. Generally speaking, small diameter reflectors emit infrared heat to a smaller area circumference and waste a lot of otherwise useable infrared heat. Larger diameter reflectors emit the heat to larger areas and can heat more people surrounding the heater. Some brands offer square top reflectors. They might look stylish, but are less effective.
2. Heater Weight. Weight is a good determiner of quality. A heavier heater is usually stronger than a lightweight unit. Some are as light is 40 lbs. The heaviest duty unit is about 120 lbs. (without the tank) That's a huge difference. Other than the fact that a heavier heater generally means higher quality, a heavier heater will not be as prone to fall over during high winds. It's not unusual to see cheap patio heaters with distorted and dented lightweight reflectors. All it takes is that first wind gust. Also, if you live in a cold climate with heavy snows, a more heavy-duty rigid reflector will not distort under the weight of snow.
3. Heater Construction. What is the heater made of? We recommend 304 stainless steel for the base, post, heater head and dispenser (reflector). If you see a stainless steel model at a retailer for $199.00 or less, rest assured it is not 304 stainless steel. Instead, it is likely made of cheaper 430 stainless or something lower in grade. Such heaters are usually very flimsy and, along with painted models, will rust and corrode over time under adverse weather. Let's face it, patio heaters are meant to be outside, so the material of the heater is very important. Don't skimp here. If you buy a painted unit, make sure it is made of heavier gauge steel. You can always repaint it if rust spots appear over time.
4. Heater Head (burner). How is the heater head made? Almost all post-style patio heaters use a "drum" style head, which, by design, is inefficient at reflecting the majority of heat to the people zone. All but one manufacturer chooses this type of burner head. The exception is a brand called EvenGlo by IR Energy, Inc.. This heater uses patented burner head technology, which dispenses up to 58% more heat to the people area.
5. Ignition Control. How is the heater ignited? Most brands use a red push button piezo ignitor. After opening the POL valve on the LP gas cylinder, the user turns the knob to "pilot" and pushes the igniter button to ignite the pilot flame. After one minute, the flame should stay lit and, by turning the control knob, the heater turns on. Owners of cheaper patio heaters are sometimes frustrated by not being able to light up the heater without going through the proper sequence (with a 5 minute waiting period between attempts) to finally get heat. By contrast, the best unit has a potted circuit board and ignition control that is as easy as lighting your home stove top.

1. Warranty. This is a great way to measure quality and says a lot about a manufacturer's confidence in its own products. Most manufacturers offer a 1 year warranty and some are as little as 90 days. The best we've seen is a 5 year warranty, which says a lot about quality and dependability.
2. Customer support. The problem we find with some retailers is that they have very little expertise in patio heating and no salesperson with the know-how to help you diagnose and fix problems should they occur. Recognizing this, we strongly recommend buying from a company who specializes in outdoor patio heating appliances.

In summary, if you see a patio heater for $199 or less, expect a lower quality product, with lower reliability, heating effectiveness and longevity. On the other hand, a patio heater listed for $999.00 will be constructed of higher grade materials, will be more reliable and will stand the test of time.

About the Author

Scott Workman is owner and President of Infra-Red Products Supply, Inc. Want more information about outdoor patio heaters, infrared heaters, propane heaters and more? Please visit http://www.heatersunlimited.com and http://www.infraredinfo.com.

What gear should I get next?

My birthday is in the end of this month, and my parents are wanting to know what I want, but I honestly don't know what I need!

My limit is $500 or less

What I already have:
-Nikon D200
-18-55mm
-70-300mm
-50mm f/1.4
-External flash
-Softbox & flash sync cable
-Tripod
-Reflector disk
-Bag
-Filters/cleaning kit/2 batteries, 8GB & 1GB card

I want to stay away from lens, as I think I am ok with the ones I have, being that the f/2.8 zoom lens are $1,000+

Here is my photography btw if it helps: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vangorkumphotography/
@chinnese_people,

calm down...im only 17 and when I see a chance to get more/better gear I will! I have very few chances in which money and gear can be gifted to me, so if I buy something, I want to make sure it is a wise choice. This isn't about wanting more gear just because...as you can see, I can't afford the $10,000+ studio that most of you can.

Happy Birthday! :^)

You might want some wireless triggers for that flash (I recommend RF602's). Maybe another flash? YN560's are good.

If you want a wider lens, then what about the Sigma 10-20mm - great for landscape and more 'interesting' portrait work.

Or a dedicated macro (though this is less needed as you get good results with your reversing setup).

Disc Reflector

Digital Photography 1 on 1: Episode 56: Shooting with the Nifty 50: Adorama Photography TV

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Collapsible Disc Light Reflector(Silver+Gold/42-inch) $17.99 - Durable and flexible steel spring frame insures easy spreading and closing. - Packed into a zip bag- Comes with two popular surfaces. - Gold: Increases the warm tone / effect, and enhances skin tone - Silver: For contrast and very reflective for lighting small shadows

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Collapsible Disc Light Reflector(Silver+White/42-inch) $18.95 - Durable and flexible steel spring frame insures easy spreading and closing. - Packed into a zip bag- Comes with two popular surfaces. - Silver: for a non-diffused light fill light.- White: for a soft and diffuse light.

Collapsible Disc Light Reflector(Silver+ White/24-inch) $8.34 - Durable and flexible steel spring frame insures easy spreading and closing. - Packed into a zip packet- Comes with two popular surfaces. - Silver: for a non-diffused light fill light.- White: for a soft and diffuse light.

5-in-1 Light Multi Collapsible Disc Reflector(30-inch) $18.41 - Durable and flexible steel spring frame insures easy spreading and closing. - Packs into a zip packet. - Comes with five most popular surfaces. - Silver for contrast- Gold for warn tone- Black block out unwanted light- White produce neutral color temperature- Translucent for softer lighting without shadow

5-in-1 Light Multi Collapsible Disc Reflector(24-inch) $12.48 - Durable and flexible steel spring frame insures easy spreading and closing. - Packs into a zip packet. - Comes with five most popular surfaces. - Silver for contrast- Gold for warn tone- Black block out unwanted light- White produce neutral color temperature- Translucent for softer lighting without shadow?

Reflector $11.99 Track Listing: 1. Reflector, 2. Dead Eye, 3. Contraction, 4. Mirroring, 5. Justin Jesus, 6. Wandering Ghost, 7. Flower, 8. Concentration, 9. Demon, The, 10. Collective Dream

BUS13: REFLECTOR $8.43 BUS13: REFLECTOR

Hand Reflector $24.99 Hand Reflector - Photographic Print

Reflector Telescope $69.99 Reflector Telescope - Photographic Print

32 80cm 5-in-1 Studio Light Collapsible Disc Reflector (CCA295) $19.99 HighlightNo more need for multiple reflectors, silks amp; solidsFive in one: Black, Silver, White, Gold amp; TranslucentCompactly folds into a disk one-third its in-use sizeFeaturesTranslucent surface for softeningSilver for the contrast you look forGold for warm toneWhite to fill the shadowBlack to block out stray light SpecificationShape: Round diskSize open: 32" / 80cmSurfaces: Gold, Silver, White, Black and Translucent

Disc $17.16 Disc

Linkrun Pro Reflector Opt $200.99 LINKRUN PRO REFLECTOR OPT

Nolan,Scott: Receiver/Reflector $19.47 Nolan,Scott: Receiver/Reflector

Reflector Shade $54 The Reflector Shade I is a metal shade for MR16 Refleckto lamps.

Reflector Glass $57 The Reflector Glass shade is used for standard MR16 fixtures. The glass is designed to rest between the lamp and the fixture socket.

Reflector Set $7.99 4 reflector triangles -> 6 round reflectors yellow, 60 mm, -> 2 round reflectors red, 80 mm, with metal surround.

Delta DOT Headlight Lens-Reflector $31.99 Delta DOT Headlight Lens-Reflector

AR111 Aluminum Reflector Lamp $27.9 AR111 - 12 volt aluminum reflector lamps. 50 or 75 watt.

The DVD/CDs Duplication Method vs the DVD/CDs Replication Process

Disc creation is a good economical and also manageable means for large data storage and circulation. Daily, disc manufacturing firms cope with client requests on whether there is actually any difference if the data is copied utilizing DVD or CDs Duplication or DVD Replication. For the layman, it seems almost the very same. The thesaurus might even consider the two as synonyms. Nonetheless, learning what makes each distinct from one another makes it possible for one to pick appropriately based upon their needs. Variations may perhaps include cost-effectiveness with regards to volume of manufacturing and required turnaround times.

DVD and CDs Duplication is usually additionally known as "burning". Data is actually etched on to recordable DVD-R media using a tiny laser found in drive writers or even duplication towers. This process is handy to use, easily accessible as well as widely obtainable (may be accomplished at home employing personal computer systems or even laptops), and is less costly than replication due to the minimal setup costs. If a smaller quantity of dvds will be required, typically less than a thousand units, duplication will be the recommended process. If creating dvds for use on a stand alone DVD player, customers must be mindful that there is a small chance of older DVD players possibly not being able of reading DVD-R media. This is actually very uncommon these days however still a modest possibility that must be highlighted prior to an purchase is placed.

DVD or CD Replication is furthermore known as pressing. It is a professional production procedure where raw components run through large disc-molding equipment which make the fundamental Disc. Glass masters will be created from the consumer provided original masters. Data is then literally stamped or pressed into the actual disc. Following which, a protective layer of lacquer is spun on to the dvd next later hardened making use of ultraviolet light. Almost all of the operations included here are usually automated consequently factoring in the cost per unit. This particular technique is best used for bulk production generally with a bare minimum requirement of one thousand copies per creation. Replication also has a longer lead time with turnarounds generally of 2 weeks or more. For some orders, a lower minimum quantitly will be permitted, as well as rush jobs are usually offered.

One can effortlessly tell if a Dvd was duplicated or replicated merely by examining the disc's recorded surface area. A duplicated dvd is going to be purple coloured underneath due to the dyes located under the reflector. Replicated discs will be silver beneath due to the fact of the aluminum that has been used to cover the disc. Rest assured the actual quality of copied content as well as integrity of data is actually almost the same between the two. Typically speaking, the main distinction lies in the production techniques as well as the length of time required with regard to manufacturing.

About the Author

The publisher has been in the DVD Duplication and Replication business for many years, and often reviews companies giving their services in this industry. In their latest evaluations, here are his very best picks for CDs Duplication and CDs Replication. Visit one of these web sites right now for additional info regarding your DVD and CDs Duplication and Replication needs.

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42 Inch 110cm 5-in-1 Light Mulit Collapsible Disc Reflector 42" Inch 110cm 5-in-1 Light Mulit Collapsible Disc Reflector. Product Specifications: Shape: Round Disk Surfaces: Gold, Silver, White, Black and Translucent Size Open: 42" (110 cm) A must item for studio or outdoor photography Fits any standard reflector holders Ideal for taking portraits, still life, close-ups, nature, digital and film photography The most popular reflector in photograph Transluc...

Neewer 110CM 43 5-in-1 Collapsible Multi-Disc Light Reflector $9.46 This 5 in 1 collapsible reflector disc Comes with translucent, silver, gold, white, and black five most popular surfaces. Packs into a zip packet. Folds into 12" carry pouch for easy to carry, durable and flexible steel spring frame insures easy spreading and closing. This reflector fits any standard reflector holders....

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Fotodiox 32 5-in-1 Reflector Pro, Premium Grade Collapsible Disc, Soft Silver/Gold/Black/White/Diffuser $13.95 Fotodiox Pro-grade 5-in-1 Reflector provide ultimate photo solutions. Fill light with soft cold/neutral/Warm Tone, or simply use as diffuser, or used black to block unwanted light....

Disc Reflector