If you’re a homeowner, you’re probably already familiar with the concept of inspection cameras. A relatively recent application of modern camera technology, the inspection camera is able to provide an inspector with the ability to visually inspect in real-time things like drains from within by introducing a digital camera. Probably something you’re less familiar with are the inspection cameras commercial applications such as on building sites, by law enforcement, by utility companies, and for industrial applications. The problems with drains and pipes is, once they’re buried in the ground (or even encased in concrete), it’s often not economically or even physically possible to access them when there is a problem.

An example of a manufacturer and supplier of visual inspection equipment is VisioProbe, a company based in Montbrison, France and Paris. They have a very wide range of equipment such as a remote inspection camera and a radiation tolerant camera.

Image you’re Her Majesty’s Custom and Excise working at Dover and a suspicious lorry pulls up. A small camera on a pole which can view small areas would be an invaluable in helping to outsmart a drug trafficker hell bent on getting their illicit cargo into the UK. These inspection cameras can Pan & Tilt for 360° view, are tough and lightweight, have a long vbattery life, are lightweight being on carbon fibre telescopic poles, are compact and easy to setup & use, and allow photo and video recording which can be used in court to present the evidence. From their website: “[inspection cameras can] inspect containers, loads, look for suspicious items, explosives, weapons, packs, control trucks, boats, ceilings, cavities. VISIOPROBE pole camera combined with a large range of fibre carbon folding poles provides you with 360° vision in any situation. Designed to meet operational requirements in the most extreme working conditions. Visioprobe pole camera is among the most compact, robust and light weight with high end image quality.”

Of the 32 species of trees native to the UK, three of the most recognisable and widely known are Ash, Oak and Beech. These three species are slower growing, deciduous and broad-leaved which distinguishes them from softwood trees such as pines. Hardwood is very well suited to furniture as it’s tougher than softwood, however, generally more expensive.

Beech wood is quite easy to identify – the wood is typically a pale cream colour, occasionally having a pink or brown hue. Preparing the wood with steam will often give it a more golden tone. Flatsawn surfaces tend to be very plain, while quarter-sawn surfaces exhibit a silvery fleck pattern.

Oak, on the other hand, has many different species, often introduced. Therefore, there are many colour variations seen in oak timber. To add confusion, not only dependent on the variety of oak, the growing conditions will also influence the appearance of the wood. The English Oak – also known as the European Oak – is common to most of Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa. The heartwood is a light to medium brown – often with an olive cast – though there can be a lot of variation in colour. Nearly white to light brown sapwood is not always sharply demarcated from the heartwood. Quarter-sawn sections display prominent ray fleck patterns.

Ash is a light to medium brown colour, though darker streaks can also be seen, which is sometimes sold as Olive Ash. Sapwood can be very wide and tends to be a beige or light brown, not always clearly or sharply demarcated from heartwood.

Wood used in the production of furniture can be made from simple planks of wood or, more often, made from panels or sheets. A good example of a wooden panel producer is the Ducerf Groupe, based in France, who produce the Panoplot panel, which is made of solid full stave lamellas glued together on the side and in the width. See examples here: https://en.ducerf.com/products/solid-wood-panels-panoplot