#Graphite Cooler

[omegagraphite]

[mjhartwork]

portrait

[violentdelightshavevioletends]

Ridoc: Dumbest scar stories, go!

Ridoc: I have two pieces of graphite in my leg from accidental stabbings.

Sawyer: You made that sound way cooler than it actually is, tell them the rest of the story.

Ridoc: Fine! One is from accidentally stabbing myself with a pencil in the world’s worst math class when I was 8. And the other is from scaring Violet in the library and she “accidentally” stabbed me while studying. I’d say Sawyers next but then we’ll never hear the end of it!

Sawyer: I still can’t taste anything on the left side! … I burned my tongue drinking tea because I asked Sliseag to boil it super-fast.

Cat: *shudders* Never “surprise kiss” Xaden in front of Violet.

Jesinia, signing & showing her palms: I paper-burned my fingers from speed-reading too vigorously.

Rhiannon: I was making a cup of noodles out and spilled it on my hand and I got such a bad burn my sister called a medic.

Dain: I once told Cath he needed a breath mint and he proceeded to breath fire until my eyebrows were singed off, there’s still a mark behind my ear.

Violet: I can’t even pick one… my whole life is a walking accidental injury.

Ridoc: Yeah, sure “accidents” …

Violet: — Hey! How about YOU almost get your neck snapped when someone “surprises you” and then see how you fair! … *muttering* and I didn’t say Cat was an accident *dead pan & smirks*.

Bodhi: I once zipped my hand in my riders jacket and took a chunk out of my pinky… *glances to Xaden in question*

Imogen: *fully glares at Xaden* I once kicked Xaden’s girlfriends ass and then mysteriously tripped down a stair I “didn’t see”

Xaden: Well, I once took 107 stab wounds for a bunch of idiots.

Ridoc: Oh, who?

Imogen: It’s us. We’re the idiots.

Sloane: … And now we can add emotional scars to the list.

[mrnightingale]

My grandma gifted me an infinite pencil (?) for Xmas so here you have some sketches. It's supposed to be a metal alloy instead of graphite, crazy stuff. It's good for sketches, draws pretty well but the stroke isn't dark enough, so I delineated it with my usual mechanical pencil (mainly for the photos).

I realized I haven't done anything for the Holidays so, ✨Nutcracker✨ because I absolutely love Tchaikovsky + first time drawing Niko! I haven't figured her out but eventually I'll do.

And Highway to Hell! Edwin bc I couldn't shake it off my head all day. It's @majorlb 's fault and her Metal AU, I want to draw more for this AU if I can bc I love it. Edwin plays the violin and also the cello bc cello has more personality as headcanon/au and the pic reference was cooler.

[simch84]

My acrylic portrait painting process.

A vaguely step-by-step showing of how I painted my recent study of Astarion's golden ear mods from Afterlife by @cweepa and @dumptruck. Check out their amazing cyberpunk fic here, my original post of this art here, and available Inprnt prints here.

My supplies for this piece:

--Golden brand fluid acrylic paint

--Golden brand acrylic mediums (specifically GAC 100, high-flow medium, and dry-time retarder)

--variety of brushes. Mostly for acrylics I use Royal & Langnickel Zen brushes

--a wet palette. Mine is a Game Envy Exemplar one but they're all basically the same

--random 5x7 canvas I already had, literally no idea what brand lol

Step One: Sketch and Tone!

I start with a sketch on scrap paper because trying to draw on stretched canvas with a pencil sucks and this lets me erase as much as I want. Once I spend forever and a day messing with pencil lines I ink it so it's clear what my final lines are (you can see here though even as I was inking it I changed my mind a few times. Art is a process lol) and then I use tracing paper and the graphite transfer method to transfer it to my toned canvas.

I always tone my canvases first with a solid color, even in cases like this where the base colors were pretty opaque (due to all the titanium white). It ensures that no white dots of canvas are showing through in the final piece. Also, any of tone that does show through the final paint layers help bring cohesion to the overall piece. It helps to not be staring at a white surface when you start, I think. Less intimidating.

In this case I painted the whole thing with Alizarin Crimson. For warm skin tones I typically use Burnt Sienna, but Astarion is cooler-toned.

Also, side note, the vibe of this color is already good for vampire.

Step Two: Base Colors

I follow my sketch and lay down flat areas of color. When I mix these I use as few pigments as possible so the colors don't get muddy, especially since we're going to be doing lots of thin translucent layers on top. This is one of the main reasons I love Golden fluid acrylics--great color payout and pigment load with many options for single-pigment colors.

The hair is two different mixtures of titanium white and carbon black (normally I wouldn't use straight black in portraiture but I wanted a really neutral grey base layer here), skin is titanium white with more alizarin crimson and a tiny touch of phthalo green (blue shade) to tone down the pinkness. Still pretty pink but whatever. Ear cuff is straight raw sienna. Ear lines are more alizarin crimson--those are just so my sketch isn't totally lost among the flat colors.

The hair chunks here are very gestural and only meant to get an idea for how the hair will lay. Some sections change a bit later on.

Step Three: Create Form and Depth

Here I start to build things up to start to look 3D as well as hone in where I want bits of hair to fall. At this point I am still using limited pigments but we're bringing in more colors. Payne's Grey in the hair so it's isn't so black-paint-flat. Violet oxide and Van Dyke Brown in the skin.

Here is also where I start to use some mediums. I add a bit of dry-time retarder to my colors and I keep everything on a wet palette so my mixes don't dry out. I do both on-palette mixing and on-canvas mixing at this step. Some blends are already pretty smooth but some are a little choppier. The skin here is still a little too pink for my liking but that's fine! Things will be toned later.

Step Four: Details

Now we're building up the details that will be fully seen in the final piece.

For the skin, I'm now doing mostly on-canvas blending. I will add some GAC-100 (basically clear acrylic paint base) to thin the colors a bit so they blend more. I put down two colors and then use a clean fluffy brush to blend at the edges. Kind of like eye shadow?? Idk. I didn't go to art school, y'all, that's just how I do it.

Once I have a good blended base, I then start adding a TON of layers of thinned paint. I combine a little bit of a color with a mix of GAC-100 and high-flow medium. This basically creates toning washes of color, similar to how you create solvent-based washes in oil painting. Some washes go across the whole skin area (like a wash of burnt sienna to make the whole thing less pink) or selective washes in specific areas (phthalo blue in the shadows, for example).

For the hair I used a striping brush and created layer upon layer of increasing light lines. I had the same pool of mixed grey (titanium white+payne's grey) and kept adding more white to that same pool as I built layer on layer of little strands. That way it was all the same color family but just lighter tints.

Note that brown crease line wouldn't normally be that dark or harsh if this were a normal ear but I wanted to make sure it stood up to all the little details I was about to paint on top.

Now, I meant to take at least one progress picture of the ear cuff, the little attachment tabs, and the scarring but I totally forgot (got ADHD hyperfocused for too many hours straight, whoops). But I added the final art below so you can look at it while I explain, at least.

I shaded the whole cuff and the attachment tabs first before adding any details. That way I could ensure that the shadows and highlights made sense and I didn't have to worry about covering any details. Also at this point I added that second little arch. I put a base layer of raw sienna down to make sure the hair there was fully covered and then shaded it like the rest.

The details were all unplanned and spur of the moment. I poured out some pyrrole red, cobalt teal, and burnt umber and just went to town with a tiny brush.

The scaring was done by first creating the shape with a similar white+crimson mixture to that first flat base layer we did at the beginning, then building up translucent washes of color and adding tiny shadows around the edges with Van Dyke Brown.

I also tweaked the shading on the skin just a tiny bit more (again, using only thin translucent washes of color) and added a few more little hair swoops using basically pure white to make them pop.

Final Step: Tone and Seal

Last step is simple. I added a couple drops of a blue shade (I think I used Anthraquinone blue?) to a bunch of GAC-100 and did two layers across the entire canvas. This seals everything together, helps add a little UV-protection and anti-yellowing protection, and most importantly very slightly tones the entire thing so that the colors meld well together. Sort of like putting a filter on a picture but irl. You just have to make sure the blue is VERY lightly tinted.

Final, Final Step: Forget the Sign the Damn Thing Because You Were Too Excited to Post it

Et voila! It was ready to scan. Note the progress photos look way warmer than the final scan due to the overhead lighting. Looking at it in person it looks way more like the final scan.

Thank you for getting to the end if you are still here. If people are interested I can post more of these process insights in the future!

[subway-boss-ingo-official]

Return to the Highlands

I have arrived back at my tent near Lady Sneasler’s den.

The rainstorms have at last broken—scattered clouds now drift over the Highlands, but the sky is clear and the ground is firming again. The lack of persistent mud quickened my return considerably, for which I am grateful.

That said, I cannot say I enjoy the heat.

I’ve always favored cooler air—there is clarity in it. The warmth here presses down like a weight, and my coat, though serviceable, does not breathe well. Still, I’d rather the sun than another week of water seeping into my boots.

The Arc-Transceiver remains intact—no water damage, no signs of malfunction. I ran a self-check (to the best of my limited knowledge) and all systems appear stable.

I will begin new sketches tomorrow. The graphite is smooth, and the watercolors have survived the trip remarkably well, though I suspect some of the green hues have mingled. I may need to be creative.

– Warden Ingo

[mary-queen-of-longbeach]

Behold, the true monarch of the ocean: RMS Queen Mary! She may well be the world’s most beloved ocean liner barring, of course, Titanic; her existence has touched lives the world over and she continues to be a cultural staple today. She’s high up on my list of favorite ships, and as such I decided to draw her not as a gijinka, not in her current hotel-slash-attraction form, but as the record-breaking liner she was built to be. Here she is, thundering across the waves, racing the sky itself as she sets a new speed record for Britain and Cunard.

And, of course, here are the notes:

I started this drawing more than a year and a half ago, in the spring of my first year at college. For context, as of posting this it’s the fall semester of my third year, so quite a bit of time has passed. The piece was stalled for so long because coloring the hull was so daunting - I didn’t want to mess anything up, and I knew it would require a lot of graphite!

Originally, this was going to be a fully inked and colored piece. However, the way I shaded the hawsepipe and the top of the funnel just looked too nice to erase or color over, so I switched to making it a pencil-only piece instead.

Despite how realistic I made the drawing, there are some elements that are missing or otherwise incorrect. The horizonal poles (which I believe are cargo booms) attached to the foremast are absent; you should be able to see one of them from this angle, but I left it out because, when I first started the drawing, I wanted to simplify things slightly. I ultimately changed my mind, but by then it was too late in the process to add that in. That’s also the case with the simplified instruments on top of the bridge.

The rigging is simplified, but I tried to be accurate with the stuff I did add.

I made the smoke and water look like that by coloring them in normally and then smudging the pencil with my fingers. Then I added darker areas in the smoke for shading, and finally I used an eraser to make the lighter parts in both the smoke and water. Realistically, Queen Mary wouldn’t have actually produced such a dramatic smoke plume, as she was an oil-fired ship rather than a coal-fired one, but the bigger cloud looked cooler and more dynamic. Also, the smoke should be blowing backward, but it isn’t for similar artistic-license reasons; this, at least, can be explained by saying she must be sailing in some pretty strong wind!

I was originally planning to smudge the hull too in order to smooth out the coloring, but I changed my mind.

I based the drawing on this photograph!

[arunneronthird]

different anon, but wow, color theory is awesome. I always wanted to learn more about it but I always got so confused (which is why I mainly just draw with a graphite pencil on paper with no color involved), but I'm getting off track. I was just wondering if there was a certain strategy to getting colors to look like other colors (the yellow and blue looking like green), or is it just a bunch of guess and check?

welp i havent studied art so this is complete trial and error on my part and i dont really know art terms, but i can try and explain how i see things in a v basic way

i see it as pulling from one side of the wheel, and since i like red and blue, i pull from the left/down corner

therefore, green will either go counterclock-wise if its closer to yellow, like military green, and become yellow or even orange, and it will go clock-wise if its a forest green and become blue, following this, yellows will border on orange for me

important, when moving colors, ive noticed i have to desaturate them a lot for the eye to read them as the color i want to reflect

so imagine i want to draw a robin, and i want him to wear a bluish kind of green cause the strong green they wear pains me, that green will become a desaturated blue:

if i want to draw a lime kind of green (for some reason cause i do not like lime green) it will become desaturated yellow or orange:

when i want a warmer drawing, i tend to move blues clock-wise and greens counterclock-wise, when i want a cooler drawing, greens move clock-wise and blues stay as is

this method can be improved upon cause im no expert, but u can experiment by pulling from a different side of the wheel and not being part of the green hating club

[postureformpillows]

Sleep in Comfort: Exploring the Benefits of Pillow Protectors

Sleep hygiene plays a crucial role in our overall health, and maintaining a clean, allergen-free sleep environment is key. Among the tools at our disposal to enhance this environment, cotton pillow protectors stand out for their comfort, breathability, and protective qualities. This article delves into why cotton pillow protectors are an essential part of a healthy bedroom, ensuring a cleaner and more restful night's sleep.

The Importance of Pillow Protectors

Pillow protectors are a fundamental component of healthy sleep hygiene, serving crucial roles that go beyond simple bedding additions. They are instrumental in maintaining both the longevity and cleanliness of your sleep environment, offering multiple protective benefits:

Allergen Barrier: Pillow protectors form an effective shield against common allergens like dust mites, pet dander, and pollen, which can settle in your pillows. For those with allergies or asthma, these protectors are essential in minimizing exposure to these irritants, ensuring a healthier breathing environment while you sleep.

Moisture Protection: They are particularly important for keeping your pillows dry by blocking sweat, oils, and other body fluids that could otherwise soak into the pillow. This moisture can create an ideal breeding ground for mold and bacteria, which not only deteriorate the pillow but can also pose health risks. Pillow protectors help prevent these issues, ensuring your pillows remain dry and hygienic.

Enhanced Lifespan: Beyond health benefits, pillow protectors significantly extend the lifespan of your pillows. By protecting against stains and moisture, they prevent the premature breakdown of materials within your pillows. This means less frequent need for pillow replacement, which is both cost-effective and better for environmental sustainability.

Ease of Cleaning: Pillow protectors simplify the maintenance of your bedding. Easily removable and machine washable, they make it straightforward to keep your sleep area fresh and clean without having to wash the entire pillow, which can be cumbersome and potentially harmful to its structure and comfort.

Why Choose Posture Form Pillow Protectors?

Tencel is a natural fibre known for its comfort, durability, and hypoallergenic properties, making it an ideal choice for pillow protectors for several reasons:

Breathability: allows for excellent airflow, which helps regulate temperature and keeps the sleeping surface cool and comfortable.

Moisture Absorption: It naturally absorbs moisture, reducing the discomfort of night sweats and maintaining a dry sleeping environment.

Softness and Comfort: Tencel protectors add a layer of softness to your pillows, enhancing comfort without compromising the feel of your pillow.

Hypoallergenic Properties: Being a natural fibre, cotton is less likely to cause allergic reactions, making it suitable for people with sensitive skin or allergies.

Tencel Pillow Protectors and the Posture Form Pillows

The synergy between high-quality pillows and effective pillow protectors is crucial for maximizing sleep quality. Posture Form’s range of pillows, including the contour and NexGen memory foam pillows, are designed to provide optimum spinal support and comfort. When paired with Tencel pillow protectors, these pillows offer several enhanced benefits:

Optimal Comfort and Support

The Posture Form contour pillow, designed to align your head, neck, and spine, delivers exceptional support. Covering it with a cotton protector preserves the pillow’s integrity while adding a layer of natural comfort that complements the pillow’s ergonomic benefits.

Hygienic Sleep Environment

Our NexGen memory foam is hypoallergenic and infused with natural graphite, promoting cooler sleep and resisting bacterial growth. Encasing this innovative foam in a tencel protector adds an extra hygiene barrier, keeping the pillow fresher for longer and making it easier to maintain.

Durable and Easy to Maintain

The durability of Posture Form pillows combined with the easy care of cotton protectors—machine washable and durable—ensures your sleeping environment remains pristine. This combination not only enhances your comfort but also extends the life of your pillows, providing value over time.

Enhancing Your Sleep Experience

Investing in quality sleep accessories like cotton pillow protectors and ergonomic pillows can transform your sleep experience. Here’s how:

Reduced Neck Pain and Stiffness: The Posture Form contour pillows helps reduce neck strain, and when used with a soft, breathable cotton protector, the experience is enhanced, leading to a softer touch and potentially reducing irritation.

Minimized Muscle Strain: Proper spinal alignment supported by our pillows can be maintained cleanly and effectively with cotton protectors, ensuring the pillow's performance isn’t hindered by moisture or allergens.

Improved Sleep Posture: Maintaining the correct sleep posture is easier when your pillow is protected and maintained well, leading to better overall health and reduced discomfort.

Decreased Aches and Pains: The combination of supportive pillows and protective cotton covers helps alleviate pressure points, reducing tossing and turning and enhancing sleep quality.

Tencel pillow protectors are more than just bedding accessories; they are an investment in your health. By choosing the right protectors for your Posture Form pillows, you ensure that your sleep is not only comfortable but also health-promoting. Check out our selection at Posture Form Pillows to find the perfect complement to your pillow, enhancing both its lifespan and the benefits it provides. Embrace the change a simple addition like a pillow protector can make in your life, starting tonight.

[omegagraphite]

Explore premium Graphite Equipment from Omega Graphite, designed for industrial excellence. We manufacture a wide range of graphite equipment across India, Mumbai, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil, ensuring durability, corrosion resistance, and high performance. Discover advanced solutions for your industry. 

Website - www.omegagraphite.com | Email - info@omegagraphite.com | Phone: 098200 45787

Address: A-186, District:, MIDC Phase-l, Dombivli East, Mumbai, Dombivli, Maharashtra 421203

[victoriablazers]

Lewis and Fredrickson Lead Blazers to Defeat Aces, Advancing in VILL Playoffs

Another wild night of lacrosse in Esquimalt last night. The friendly neighbourhood Victoria Blazers got started late, with an extended game delay wreaking havoc on everyone's bedtimes on a school night. This time it wasn't broken glass though, it was the early game going into double overtime. I think things got started about 30 minutes late. And when things finally got going, the Blazers came out a little flat, opening the scoring with a goal from offensive force Max Fredrickson (2g + 1a). But not long after that, the dudes were down 3-1 in the first period. Trust the process, they said. And trust the process they did. Star newcomer Mason Pynn potted a late goal for the good guys, finishing the period down 3-2.

In the second period, the The Best Dressed Team in BC™ found their stride. 3 quick goals midway through the period, and dominating possessions and shots. All-star scorer Ryan Lewis (3g) and two-way star Adam West-Patrick (1g + 1a) got in on the action. Faceoff master Colt Gnech (1g + 1a) was a big piece for the dudes too. 6-4 Blazers after two periods.

In the final frame, the Blazers took complete control of the game, and the rivalry started to boil over. 2 more goals for the Blazers, another big edge in shots. A bit of a penalty spree ensues, culminating in an Aces player instigating a fight against powerhouse Karl Hare (1a), that he reluctantly handled after waiting for the officials to intervene (they didn't).

With the win the Blazers advance to a much anticipated South Division eliminator game against the high flying Saanich Express Tuesday @ 7:40 pm.

Wanna see the #dudeswithgoodattitudes in action? Get yer butt to our next game, and bring a friend! Admission is free. Here's a link to our schedule.

For all things Victoria Blazers, find us on Instagram and Facebook. Upcoming games, stats, etc are on our site. Follow us on Twitter too, but Twitter sucks now.

MERCH FOR SALE! HOT HOT HOT! Ask us for a deal! Tees, hoodies, hats, more! Jerseys and shorts even. DM for size options!

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* Tudor House Liquor Store is the perfect stop for beer, wine, spirits, coolers + ciders in Esquimalt. Find them a few blocks from the arena at 533 Admirals Road! Drink responsibly. tudorhouseliquorstore.com

* Salish Seaside RV Resort and Marina is Western Canada's premier RV resort and marina! Owned & operated by Songhees & Esquimalt Nations. "Big rig" friendly pads, float home rentals, and moorage in Victoria's West Bay! salishseasidervhaven.com

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Also, huge thanks to all our other supporters featured on our site!

Major thanks to photography pro Kasey Eriksen, who took most of the gameplay photos we use. We appreciate ya!

[hateburapprovedforginglubricant]

Forging Lubricants for Large-Scale Industrial Components: Managing Thermal Load and Consistency

In the world of heavy industry, forging large-scale components such as crankshafts, turbine parts, transmission housings, and construction machinery elements demands far more than brute force. Behind the scenes of each precision-formed metal part lies a complex balance of pressure, temperature, material flow, and lubrication. Among these, forging lubricants play a crucial role in maintaining process stability, part quality, and die longevity.

As forging scales up in size and complexity, the demands placed on lubricants multiply. Managing thermal loads, ensuring consistency across cycles, and preventing tool damage in high-stress environments require a deliberate and well-informed lubrication strategy tailored to the specific characteristics of large-format production.

The Role of Forging Lubricants in Heavy-Duty Applications

Forging lubricants are not merely friction-reducing agents. In large-scale forging, they must withstand enormous thermal and mechanical stress while contributing to several vital process functions:

Reducing die wear under repetitive impact

Facilitating metal flow into large or intricate die cavities

Maintaining dimensional consistency across massive components

Minimizing forging defects such as laps, cracks, and cold shuts

Protecting the die surface from oxidation and thermal fatigue

A poorly selected or improperly applied lubricant in large-scale operations can lead to overheating, component defects, increased scrap rates, and even catastrophic tooling failures.

Thermal Load Challenges in Large-Scale Forging

When forging components that weigh several hundred kilograms or more, the forging temperature—often in the range of 1100°C to 1300°C—coupled with prolonged contact time on the dies, generates substantial thermal load. This affects not only the die but also the lubricant film's ability to remain stable and effective.

Key thermal challenges include:

Premature breakdown of lubricants, leading to dry contact and die scoring

Thermal cycling damage to dies, accelerated by poor heat transfer

Inconsistent lubricant performance between initial and subsequent strokes in multi-hit operations

Addressing these requires lubricants engineered with high thermal resistance, controlled viscosity, and stable chemical structure to ensure film retention at extreme temperatures.

Key Characteristics of Forging Lubricants for Large Components

Forging operations involving large billets or parts require lubricants that exhibit several performance characteristics:

Excellent Heat Dissipation: Lubricants must act as thermal buffers to manage the immense heat between the hot metal and relatively cooler dies.

Uniform Application Properties: Sprays or dips must evenly coat the surface, especially over large and geometrically complex dies, ensuring consistent performance.

Graphite or Graphite-Free Options: While traditional graphite-based lubricants are still used in heavy forging due to their high-temperature tolerance, advancements in graphite-free synthetic lubricants are making inroads where cleanliness and residue reduction are priorities.

Adherence to Vertical or Complex Surfaces: For massive dies or press-type operations, the lubricant must cling to surfaces without rapid runoff.

Low Smoke and Fume Emission: Especially in enclosed forging cells or automated lines, air quality and visibility are safety and regulatory concerns.

Forging Lubricant Types for Large-Scale Industrial Use

Graphite-Based Lubricants: These remain a standard for heavy-duty operations, providing superior thermal resistance and lubrication for high-pressure hot forging. Their drawback is residue buildup and higher cleaning requirements.

Synthetic Water-Based Lubricants: Designed for eco-friendliness and improved surface finish, these formulations offer more consistent application and reduced environmental impact, though they require careful process integration.

Oil-Based Lubricants: Less common today in environmentally sensitive settings, but still used in closed die or drop forging for very large components where maximum die protection is needed.

Consistency Across Production Cycles

Achieving consistent quality in large-scale forging is challenging due to:

Variable heat loss between cycles

Manual application inconsistencies

Complex part geometries affecting flow and die fill

Modern lubrication systems for large presses often integrate automated spray systems with programmable control over spray volume, location, and timing. This ensures that each forging cycle starts with a consistent, uniform lubricant film regardless of operator variability.

Additionally, monitoring lubricant concentration and delivery system performance becomes vital. Inconsistent mixing or clogged nozzles can lead to hotspots, part sticking, or even catastrophic die failure during repeated heavy-duty forging.

Environmental and Economic Considerations

With increasing environmental regulation and cost control pressure, heavy industrial manufacturers are now focusing on lubricants that offer:

Lower VOC emissions

Cleaner dies, reducing maintenance downtime

Longer tool life from enhanced thermal protection

Waste reduction through optimized application and fewer rejects

Moreover, the transition toward synthetic and semi-synthetic lubricants is accelerating, as these formulations can be tuned to match specific operational requirements while delivering better workplace safety and ecological compliance.

Best Practices for Forging Lubricant Use in Large-Scale Operations

Collaborate with Lubricant Manufacturers: Custom-formulated lubricants based on die material, part geometry, and press type offer the best outcomes.

Implement Precision Spray Systems: Automating application reduces human error and improves consistency.

Use Real-Time Monitoring: Sensors for die temperature, cycle timing, and lubricant flow ensure operational control.

Regularly Clean and Inspect Dies: Even the best lubricant will leave residues over time. Proactive cleaning and inspection extend tooling life.

Test and Optimize Concentrations: Dilution ratios impact viscosity, film formation, and ultimately the lubrication quality.

Conclusion

As industrial forging advances toward higher-tonnage presses and more complex geometries, forging lubricants are becoming critical enablers of efficiency, quality, and sustainability. In large-scale applications, the focus must extend beyond simple friction reduction to managing thermal loads, ensuring consistent application, and supporting precision and repeatability.

The future of large-scale forging hinges on intelligent lubrication—combining advanced formulations, automated systems, and real-time data monitoring. When managed properly, forging lubricants help manufacturers push the limits of size, strength, and scale without sacrificing performance or profitability.

[controlzblog]

5 Features Every Serious Mobile Gamer Needs in a Phone

When it comes to mobile gaming, casual gamers can make do with almost any modern smartphone. But serious mobile gamers demand far more. From competitive multiplayer games like Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG to graphic-intensive adventures like Genshin Impact, a true gaming phone must deliver unmatched performance, visuals, and endurance. At ControlZ, we understand that gaming is not just a pastime—it's a passion. Here are the five essential features every serious mobile gamer must have in a phone.

1. Blazing Fast Processor and GPU: The Powerhouse of a Gaming Phone

When milliseconds count, speed is everything. The heart of any gaming phone is its processor and GPU combination. Serious gamers need a device powered by flagship-level chipsets like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen series or MediaTek Dimensity 9200+. These processors not only handle complex game logic but also ensure lightning-fast responsiveness.

A robust GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), such as Adreno 750 or Mali-G710, guarantees smooth rendering of high-fidelity visuals. Games with expansive open-world environments and complex physics engines require powerful hardware that doesn’t falter under pressure.

At ControlZ, our refurbished gaming phones undergo precision-level tuning to ensure the processor and GPU operate at peak efficiency, giving gamers the same performance edge as brand-new flagships—but at a fraction of the price.

2. High Refresh Rate Display: Smooth Gameplay, Every Frame

A standard 60Hz display might be enough for everyday use, but for gaming, it’s far from sufficient. Serious mobile gamers need at least a 120Hz refresh rate, with 144Hz or even 165Hz being ideal for competitive play. A higher refresh rate ensures smoother animations, reduced input lag, and a more immersive experience.

Equally important is touch sampling rate—the speed at which your phone registers touch inputs. Look for devices with 360Hz to 720Hz touch sampling rates. This ensures that your actions, whether it’s firing a shot or dodging an enemy, are registered instantly and accurately.

ControlZ-certified devices feature calibrated AMOLED or IPS LCD panels with high refresh and touch sampling rates, delivering fluid motion and razor-sharp responsiveness.

3. Advanced Cooling Systems: Keep the Heat Down, Keep the Game On

Extended gaming sessions generate serious heat. And heat is the enemy of performance. Without adequate cooling, even the best gaming phones will throttle their speed, resulting in frame drops and lag.

That’s why serious gaming phones come equipped with liquid cooling systems, vapor chambers, or multilayer graphite cooling solutions. These advanced thermal management systems dissipate heat efficiently, ensuring the processor maintains high clock speeds without overheating.

Phones like the ROG Phone series, Lenovo Legion, and RedMagic have integrated fan-based cooling or attachable coolers. ControlZ refurbishes and optimizes such models with care, ensuring their thermal solutions work at peak efficiency, even after prolonged use.

4. Massive Battery Life with Fast Charging: Game Longer, Wait Less

No gamer wants to be interrupted mid-battle because of a low battery. That’s why a true gaming phone must come with a minimum of 5000mAh battery capacity, with many performance devices now offering 6000mAh or more.

But battery life alone isn’t enough. Fast charging technology ensures that even if you do run low, you're back in the game in minutes. Look for 65W to 120W fast charging capabilities, which can recharge your battery up to 100% in under 30 minutes.

ControlZ ensures that every refurbished gaming phone maintains optimal battery health. Each device is tested for battery performance and fast-charging capabilities, so you never have to worry about your power source failing mid-session.

5. Gaming-Centric Features and Design: Tailored for Victory

Beyond raw specs, serious gaming phones must offer specialized gaming-centric features that elevate gameplay:

- Shoulder Triggers or Touch Buttons

Phones like the RedMagic 8 Pro or Black Shark series come equipped with tactile shoulder triggers that emulate physical controller buttons, giving players a distinct advantage in shooters and racing games.

- Haptic Feedback and Game Mode Optimization

Advanced haptics provide immersive tactile responses, while game mode software optimizes CPU/GPU allocation, blocks notifications, and enhances connectivity for seamless gameplay.

- 5G and Wi-Fi 6/6E Support

Low-latency, high-bandwidth networks are crucial for multiplayer games. A top-tier gaming phone must include support for 5G, Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E, ensuring stable, lag-free online matches.

- Audio and Visual Excellence

Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support or high-quality DACs deliver directional audio—a huge edge in FPS titles. Equally, HDR10+ support and peak brightness above 1000 nits enhance visibility in all lighting conditions.

At ControlZ, our curated selection of devices ensures each gaming phone features fully functional triggers, optimized game modes, and premium audio-visual configurations, giving you the upper hand in every match.

Why ControlZ is the Best Destination for Refurbished Gaming Phones

At ControlZ, we’re not just another refurbished phone provider. We are performance purists who believe every gamer deserves top-tier experiences, without the top-tier price tag. Our rigorous quality checks, performance benchmarks, and refurbishment standards ensure that every gaming phone we offer performs like new.

Whether you're an eSports enthusiast or a battle royale champion, we’ve got the right weapon for your digital arsenal. Our devices come with:

Certified hardware performance

Battery health guarantee

Gaming-optimized system software

Warranties and flexible payment options

We ensure you get flagship-grade gaming phones with all the essential features serious mobile gamers demand—delivered with trust, speed, and value.

Final Thoughts

The difference between winning and losing in mobile gaming can come down to your hardware. A top-tier gaming phone isn’t just about playing—it’s about dominating. With the right combination of power, display tech, thermal management, battery stamina, and gamer-centric enhancements, your device can be the ultimate tool for victory. At ControlZ, we deliver that edge, refurbished to perfection.

[victoriablazers]

Blazers Season-Ending Comeback Sets Tone for Postseason

Let's catch ya up on what's been happening in Blazer Nation over the last week, shall we? It's been pretty quiet lately, with us just coming out of All-Star week last week, but before the regular season came to a close your friendly neighbourhood Victoria Blazers had one last game to play, against the talented and surging Westshore Aces. The dudes limped into the last game of the season too, coming off 2 road losses and a depleted team, only able to dress 14 players on the night. Thankfully they found some help from friend of the squad Seve Cordero.

Things were locked up early with teams trading goals in the first period, with Max Fredrickson (1g + 2a) getting in on the scoring, along with pickup Cordero. At the end of the first 20 minutes, things were knotted up 2-2. In the second frame the dudes stumbled a bit, getting a powerplay goal from AJ Lockwood (3g), but overall the team was down one going into the final period.

In the third, discipline and patience paid off for the The Best Dressed Team in BC™. The Aces took a handful of penalties and the Blazers made the most of their chances, with more scoring from Lockwood and Cordero, and Devon Casey (1g + 2a) tilting things back in the right direction. With the late rally, the good guys closed out a hard fought 9-8 win.

With the win, the Blazers claim the #3 seed in the VILL South Division heading into playoff action this week. Their first opponent? You guessed it - the Westshore Aces. Should be a hard fought battle to kick things off.

Wanna see the #dudeswithgoodattitudes in action? Get yer butt to our next game, and bring a friend! Admission is free. Here's a link to our schedule.

For all things Victoria Blazers, find us on Instagram and Facebook. Upcoming games, stats, etc are on our site. Follow us on Twitter too, but Twitter sucks now.

MERCH FOR SALE! HOT HOT HOT! Ask us for a deal! Tees, hoodies, hats, more! Jerseys and shorts even. DM for size options!

* Bin 4 Burger Lounge - gourmet burgers, international flavours, local ingredients. Multiple locations in Greater Victoria, Vancouver and Kelowna! Yum. bin4burgerlounge.com

* Sivelized Custom Carpentry - coveted full-service Victoria general contractor, blending innovative design with functional elegance to create inspiring & enduring spaces. Contact them for your next project! sivelized.com

* Lot 1 Pasta Bar is Victoria's premier pasta bar. Fusing traditional pastas with international style, they offer gourmet fare and price-driven value. lot1pastabar.com

* Vic West Pet Hospital excels at client & patient care with top tools/tech. Exams, vaccines, surgery, emergency care, dental, house calls, x-rays, lab work, microchipping, etc! vicwestpethospital.com

* Northern Star Plumbing/Gas/Service serves home and business owners across southern Vancouver Island tried-and-true plumbing and gas work at fair prices. Call today! northernstarplumbing.ca

* Tudor House Liquor Store is the perfect stop for beer, wine, spirits, coolers + ciders in Esquimalt. Find them a few blocks from the arena at 533 Admirals Road! Drink responsibly. tudorhouseliquorstore.com

* Salish Seaside RV Resort and Marina is Western Canada's premier RV resort and marina! Owned & operated by Songhees & Esquimalt Nations. "Big rig" friendly pads, float home rentals, and moorage in Victoria's West Bay! salishseasidervhaven.com

* Esquimalt Roasting Company offers great fresh coffee from their small batch local roastery. Visit for a taste in their new cafe in Esquimalt’s Town Square. Free local delivery! esquimaltroasting.com

* The Graphite Group Chartered Professional Accountants - thank you! The Graphite Group offers taxation, accounting and business advisory services to meet your needs. graphite.cpa

* EMCO Fire Protection is a fire protection industry leader dedicated to fire safety and fire protection solutions. Projects completed on time and within budget! emco.ca/stores/fire-pro-victoria/

* The Self Storage Place makes storage easy! Their Vic West location offers affordable indoor and outdoor self storage lockers and mailbox rentals & forwarding. theselfstorageplace.com

* Finishline Interiors specializes in drywall installation, epoxy floor coatings, and drywall repair. Family owned, dependable reputation offering services throughout the South Island. finishlineinteriors.ca

* Acera Insurance provides comprehensive and competitive coverage to protect everything you have worked hard for! The best coverage at the best rate. acera.ca

* James Bay Inn has been a historic local landmark since 1911! JBI is great for visitors looking for accommodations, locals love to pop in to the JBI Café & Pub! jamesbayinn.com

* Raptor Excavating offers small load deliveries, mini excavating and drop bin service. Big enough to get the job done. Small enough to care. raptorx.ca

* Tracy Fozzard Real Estate Victoria thank you! Browse her site, call or email with any questions about buying or selling a home in the area! Licensed realtor with RE/MAX Camosun. tracyfozzard.com

* Primo Lacrosse utilizes quality materials and advanced manufacturing to offer the highest quality at a low price. High tech & quality lacrosse shafts! Best warranty in the biz! primosportsco.com

* Butler Concrete provides Canada's greenest and cleanest concrete to lower Vancouver Island, from Port Renfrew to the Gulf Islands. Washed and crushed aggregate for any sized project. butlerco.ca

Also, huge thanks to all our other supporters featured on our site!

Major thanks to photography pro Kasey Eriksen, who took most of the gameplay photos we use. We appreciate ya!