18v Battery - cordless tools, 18 volt

Visit Store Now !!

the v-18 lithium ion 18v batteries are a huge improvement over the nicad 18v that i have been using for the last 2 years i have 6 nicads which were constatly cycling through the three bay charger now with 4 li ion batteries and 1 single charger i can keep up the run time is better than doubled and the remaining charge indicator lights are a help .its a big jump in price but its worth it to me Milwaukee 48-11-1833 V18 Multi-Pack 18-Volt and 28-Volt Lithium-Ion Charger with 2 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Batteries Combo Pack

This review is actually being written by Paulette's husband - Dan.

When one of the NiCad batteries for my old hammer drill, 0624-20, died, I successfully 9v jump started the battery. After another 6 months both NiCads were dead and neither would jump start. I bought a new hammer drill, 0824-24, that came with these new V18 batteries and charger. I bought the new drill because different reviews had mentioned that these new batteries would not fit into the old case, that the battery could not be connected in reverse, or that the battery meter would not work when connected to an old 18V tool. Now that I have received the new drill, here are my findings: The battery can indeed be connected to my old 18V tool in both the forward and reverse directions. Also, the battery meter works no matter which way the battery is connected to the old 18V tool. After realizing that the battery meter button is a little finicky (it took a few tries before finding the magic way it wants to be pushed), I was able to get the meter to work every time. The V18 batteries and V18 charger will NOT fit into the old case - however, with just a little cramming, I was able to fit my old hammer drill into the new case along with the new batteries, new charger, and new hammer drill. The new batteries are bigger than the old batteries but they are lighter than the old batteries.

Lets face it, anyone who owns a Milwaukees 18v Ni-CAD battery knows they are the very worst on the market. Its about time Milwaukee came out with a replacement, that lives up to the promise. (It took long enough)



The price is high, but worth it, I guess. What choice do I have? Buy new batteries, or buy all new tools. It was actually a VERY tough choice.



4 stars because of the delima Milwaukee put so many into, and gave very poor support for the junk 18v Ni-cads. They knew they were bad, but will never admit it.



EDIT - Bought these in 2007 when just released and as of Summer of 2009 they are toast. They charge and hold charge for about a week now and discharge in about 1 minute in use. So once again, METCO let me down with their crap batteries.



If your wondering about my usage, they see mild home use only, they are stored indoors during winter and charged on occasion at all year round regardless of use.



Thus, I am done with METCO batteries and they battery powered tools.

This battery and charger set was a Christmas gift for my father. After just one use on the job, he had stories about drilling holes in ½ inch steel, and never even needing the second battery. I can't yet review the life expectancy since it has only been a few weeks. However, with the warranty, I can't think of any reason not to recommend these.



As a side note, if you have 14-volt or 18-volt NiCd batteries, there is a recall for some models that should allow you to get a free replacement. You might want to consider before dropping the $ for these.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07234.html

Battery works forwards and backwards. Battery charge scale on back isn't funky, just press the dang button you idiots.



Only bad thing and it's minor. 18v batteries won't fit in the old hard case but this is no fault of the seller, it's Milwaukees. Just bought a tool bag and stuff everything in there.



Best price I saw on the internet. Everything works as promised.

I had bought the new lithium-ion 18v 1/2 inch hammer drill and loved it. When I bought the drill got a bonus free matching sawzall but just the two batteries weren't enough. Started looking for more batteries and found this deal. Got two more batteries and an extra charger for about half of what all this would have cost purchased separately. These batteries are great they have much longer run times, deliver constant output. Be aware it takes some getting used to, these batteries don't slow down like regular batteries. They run full power till the little smart brain inside says the battery is run down as low as safe and they just shut off. Now I've never had one stop while using but you can drill a hole and everything is fine then when you go to drill another hole the drill is just dead, the little brain at work. Luckily the battery has a built in charge indicator, you just press the test button and a series of led's light up and let you know how much charge remains. Once you get used to testing the charge before you start using you won't have a problem and the longer run times are excellent. Also these batteries don't get hot when using or charging so you don't have to wait to let them cool and can get more use out of them in a day without fear of ruining

I have recently used the new batteries and without a doubt see the improvement in performance. I use them mostly with my cordless drill and just like others have mentioned the batteries and charger do not fit in the drills case. I modified my plastic case by cutting the battery area a little larger and can now fit both batteries in the case(no battery on drill). I store the charger separately. I retired my new Hatchet saw because it never had enough power with the 18v nicads. I tried the new batteries on the Hatchet and the tool is brought back to life. The lights on the battery to show charge level is nice and functions well. I may purchase more of these if I catch them on sale. Four stars only because they don't fit in the case. - Milwaukee - 18v Battery - Cordless Tools - 18 Volt'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

18v Battery - cordless tools, 18 volt 18v battery 18v Battery - cordless tools, 18 volt

Computer Hardware - optical mouse, mouse

Visit Store Now !!

Those of you who have read my G5 review might be surprised that I bought an MX518 instead of a G5. I'm pretty high on the G5, and rather sad about breaking it, but I was curious about the MX518, if for no other reason than it is the standard by which the G5 is so often compared.



I've been using the new mouse for about a week and it's hard to distinguish performance-wise from a G5. But there are some differences worth mentioning.



What I Miss About the G5 -



Separate X and Y axis sensitivity settings - this feature was only available in SetPoint's Game Mode but did give me some flexibility in opening up the horizontal sensitivity for close-in sweeping without sacrificing vertical precision.



Adjustable weights - My G5 as described in my review weighs 140g; the MX518 weighs 105g. The weight module on the G5 makes the entire difference. I've noticed the difference, but have adjusted without too much trouble.



Sensitivity Indicator - Occasionally I'd lose track of the mouse sensitivity and had to look at the G5's LED indicator, which in some cases was easier than wiggling the mouse.



What I Like Better About the MX518 -



Two thumb buttons which I've set for raising and lowering sensitivity a la user.xml customization similar to what I did on my G5. Their location is still a bit high.



BTW, the SetPoint software will detect the MX518 and append user.xml with default settings for the MX518. This is cool as it allows one to switch back (or use in parallel) to a G5 without losing any customization.



Toss-Ups -



The size and shape of the MX518 and G5 are identical, however my G5 had a slightly rougher texture both on its' topside and its' gripping surfaces. The MX518 is more slippery in both areas, so those who tend to rely on palm friction for grip might prefer a G5. I tend to use my thumb and pinky to hold the mouse, so it's not as noticeable.



Conclusion -



The G5 was the best mouse I ever owned, but the MX518 is an acceptable and more cost-effective replacement.



Public Service Announcement - How to "Deep Hack" your MX518 --



The SetPoint utility keeps its' configuration info in a file called user.xml (I forget the path, but it's stored in the Documents and Settings directory on XP). Editing the file itself is not difficult - because it's XML, any text editor will do. It's WHEN one edits that's important. SetPoint guards against accidental changes or deletions by rebuilding the user.xml file when it exits. So you have to do the following:



1) Close SetPoint, either from the system tray or going into the task manager.

2) Copy user.xml to user.xml.orig or whatever suffix you use to save an archival copy.

3) Edit user.xml, by copying and pasting the tags for the normal "increase sensitivity" button to button 4. For the MX518, I also copy and paste the normal "decrease sensitivity" button tags to button 5. If like me you want to use it for games that you've set up for SetPoint's "game mode", you'll also have to change the section in user.xml dealing with game mode. Otherwise, the change will fail as soon as you run the game.

4) Delete last_user.xml.

5) Open SetPoint. In my case, I logged out of XP then logged back in to reload SetPoint.



The end result is that outside of game mode, both the standard increase / decrease sensitivity buttons and the thumb buttons can change the mouse sensitivity. In game mode, only the thumb buttons can change the mouse sensitivity. This is because game mode has a different XML syntax than default mode. Conceivably this technique can be used to arbitrarily reprogram all of the buttons. Make sure you backup user.xml before charging in! Logitech MX 518 High Performance Optical Gaming Mouse (Metal)

I like this mouse a lot. With the right mouse pad (a Microthin Wow!Pad from Office Depot), this mouse glides beautifully, never seen one better. The main buttons are easy to push (only Microsoft does this right also). The forward and back side buttons are a little small but work fine. The scroll wheel is not as nice as the MS Intellimouse 4 as it still clicks and is harder to roll. Never used the tilt wheel on the MS mouse. It is gaming where this mouse shines. The mouse tracks no matter how fast I move the mouse. The mouse never sleeps so it always responds perfectly. Frankly, I have not yet found any use that I needed to change the mouse resolution (i.e. speed) but in trials that is easy to do.

Feel is good, middle to small sized so fits most of my family. Cord is thin and a little stiff so it does not always lay completely flat (I have not found on that did). Very lightweight. Contoured nicely to fit the cupped hand.

Worked with Win XP as soon as I plugged it in, drivers and program loaded with no hassle.

Nice job, Logitech!

I bought this mouse in April of 2005 and I haven't had a problem with it. Perfectly tracks on all surfaces I have tested (though I'm sure highly reflective ones might cause a bit of problem). Honestly, I haven't found the DPI switching to be a feature I use very often, but it doesn't hurt.



Buttons have a very nice tactile feel. Especially useful are the two buttons on the left side of the mouse which default to paging forward and back in your webpages. After spending any significant time with this mouse, it's hard to surf the web with any other mouse; you'll constantly be pressing the nonexistant side buttons in an effort to navigate. The forward and back action also works when browsing through files and folders, which is also very helpful.



Finally, ergonomics on this mouse are absolutely incredible, at least if you are right handed.



Do not hesitate to buy this mouse



Update 2/28/09:



I am still using this mouse 3 years after buying it. The buttons started sticking slightly but it still works fine. I'll be very sad when it eventually died - Computer Hardware - Logitech - Optical Mouse - Mouse'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Computer Hardware - optical mouse, mouse computer hardware Computer Hardware - optical mouse, mouse

Acne Free - acne, face treatments

Visit Store Now !!

Murad was the only thing that did anything for my face besides Accutane. If you are thinking of trying it, keep in mind a few things about this product. Plan to use it for a full 60 days because I really didn't see any real change until about 4 weeks into the routine but when it works it really works. It did a great job at keeping breakouts at bay, and I used to break out almost every day of the week. So that was really exciting, and it's slowly starting to clear up blemishes that I've had for years. Murad Acne Complex Kit/ for problem skin ($100 Value) 60 day supply

I've tried tons of products over the years to clear up my acne, but nothing has worked as well as the Murad. I have very sensitive skin and it hasn't dried it out one bit. You'll start to see the effects about 2 weeks after using it, but it really kicks in about a month later. My 2 month supply is less than 1/4 of the way gone, so it'll last me about 4-5 months. Definitely worth every penny.

I love this stuff. I am in my fifties and yes, I still have break outs. I always have. Murad works on all ethics. I have been using Murad for about four years now. It is the only thing that I have found that really works for me. No longer do I need to worry about going to the doctor and risking taking medicines that might cause reactions. No more waste of money. For me Murad is just right. It has no junk to cause my skin to have rashes and such. Once you use it keep using it. At first your skin might break out more, but don't freak out, it will get better. That is what it is suspose to do. Don't give up. I hope others will have the success that I have. This was one info commerical that I was glad I gave a second look.

Ps, you might want to shop around for better prices. I do shop at Amazon because, I have found very good prices. Best of luck on your skin's success.

Acne Complex is a great product, I felt the difference in my face with the initial use of the cleaner. I love that you don't have to have any extra tools to apply any of the products, some of the products out there you have to have a cotton ball or something to apply the toner etc. At first I didn't know if I would be able to use the product twice a day, my skin is very sensitive, I could feel a couple of spots that felt dry, but they didn't look dry. I have been looking forward to using it twice a day, and it is the first acne product, that I could actually use 2 times a day as directed. So it is definitely worth the purchase, and as the other review said, it does go a bit further than the 30 days, or 60 days, which makes it that much more of a great value. I tried Klear Action and Acne Free, and my face broke out so badly, I couldn't continue to use it no matter what. I think Klear Action and Acne Free are actually the same product, that's just my guess. I tried them both months apart, with the same reaction...

Using the kit got me clear skin in just two days. It's been rather miraculous. Murad has a lot of active ingredients in it so I would be careful not to use any of the products too often at first to avoid redness and over-drying. So far, I am very pleased.



I have been using the kit for six weeks now and I did have one major breakout, but I know why I broke out and it's not the products' fault. My theory of skin care is that you need balance. If your skin is overly dry it will start creating too much oil to compensate and that is what gives me breakouts. While I was using all four products 2x a day, I took a plane flight (drying) and had a cold and took Claratin D (super drying). My skin got too dry and I broke out. I used a couple of masks and it cleared up in a few days.



At any rate, after trying all four products, I have bought full sizes of the Clarifying Cleanser and Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel. I think these are excellent products. I'm going to go back to using my old moisturizer, which I love.



I found the Acne Spot Treatment to be ineffective and will be using a Benzoyl Peroxide product for that purpose as it doesn't irritate my skin.



I hope that this is helpful.

This is a great product. There is a minimal purging period (5-7 days) which is short for most acne treatment systems. It doesn't dry your skin out like other popular treatment systems. And Step 2 works amazingly well! Every time I use it, all bumps go away. But being a woman it doesn't help with those pesky monthly breakouts. But overall very fast acting, very effective system. I would recommend it to anyone who is struggling with a current system or cannot find an effective system. It is relatively inexpensive for the quality it is. And you do not need to use much of the product at a time. A dime size amount is ample. So it should last quite some time, even with twice daily usage.

I'm a 27 year old woman, and after pregnancy my face changed. My face became very oily on my t-zone and my cheeks got dry. I also stared breaking out all the time. So I decided to try Murad, It was very harsh on my skin. The products have a very strong smell. I used it as indicated for 4 days and my skin was so dry and irritated that it started peeling. I continued to breakout so I discontinued use. =(

I'm 43 years old and previously had mild breakouts a couple of days a month. After using these products (The starter kit & Mask) for a couple of weeks, my skin looked worse than ever, so I called their customer service number. They said that some people look worse at first bacause all of the impurities are coming to the surface, but that with continued use my skin would stay clear. Three months later, I didn't look any better.



After going back to my cheap drug store products, I'm back to breaking out only during my period.



DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!

I bought this kit once when I was in middle school and once again in college.

It hadn't worked the first time but I had hoped it would possibly work the second time I purchased it.

But it didn't..



The first couple days I used it, my skin felt soft and refreshed. But then my skin began to break out like crazy. I was aware that this was a stage and would get better after a few weeks. Yet my skin continued to get worse for 5 weeks. It got so bad that I got many scars on my face when I hadn't before. I had to finally stop using it because I feared the scars would get worse. I got a refund from the company.



Good- skin feels soft and refreshed. Do like the mask and cleanser. Company was pleasant to deal with



Bad- Made acne worse, made face greasier - Acne Kit - Face Treatments - Skin Care - Acne'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Acne Free - acne, face treatments acne kit Acne Free - acne, face treatments

Diamond Earrings - stud, diamond earrings

Visit Store Now !!

I bought these little babies for my wife's birthday and she loves them... wears them all the time. They are small of course, but when they are worn they actually look bigger than you might think. I am no diamond expert but they are very sparkly and at least to my untrained eyes the ones I received had no visible imperfections. If you are on a budget but want to get some earrings for your lady I would definitely reccomend these! 1/4 Ct Diamond Stud Earrings 14k White Gold (I1 Clarity G-H Color)

I bought these for my wife but we had to return them because of the poor quality. The backs of the earrings slip right off and don't have any grab. We were afraid the first time she wore them they would fall off.

As the previous reviewer said, these earrings look very small but appear a bit larger when you wear them. They are just the right size for me. Very nice and the diamonds are beautiful. They are classy looking and I'm very pleased with them. Also, the sale price was fantastic! - Diamond Earrings - Earrings - Stud'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Diamond Earrings - stud, diamond earrings earrings Diamond Earrings - stud, diamond earrings

Fashion Sneakers - stylish, casual

Visit Store Now !!

Very beautiful (at least in brown they are marvelous).

Good build quality.

Only thing to complain is that the POLO tag in the back is really unprotected and in the first week of usage mine got riped. My fault I guess. Polo Ralph Lauren Men's Harold Fashion Sneaker,Black,9 D US

These are perfect for going out. Stylish and sharp looking. May be a tight fit if you have wide feet.



I thought the white laces stood out a bit, so I replaced with some brown laces and voila! The brown color is nice and dark, and they have a nice shine to them so they look extra sexy at night. I don't plan on using these for daily use just because I want to keep them in good shape for a long time, but would recommend for occasional wear as they go nice with any dark coordinated outfit.

These are very good looking and classy looking sneakers (got one in black) and so far they holding up well. I find them comfortable and I have been using them for walking without problems. The sizes just run a little small, I am normally a size 8 but I had to get them in 8 1/2 so that they would fit well. I plan to get a brown pair soon.

These shoes are great, the design is simplistic but unique. The two design aspects I would personally change would be the dimples at the front of the shoe going around the base strip. It's hard to see within the pictures, but it isn't completely smooth going around the entire base of the shoe, there are two dimples connecting the nose of the shoe. The other design aspect I would change would be the white insole of the shoe, when your pants ride up it gives that effect of wearing white socks with black shoes, it would of been better to keep this black and only the pin stripe and logos in white.



The quality of the shoe so far (two months) has been great, I would suggest buying a little pot of leather moisturiser to help prevent wrinkles appearing in the leather at the front of the shoe. Hope that helps, overall great shoes and at a very fair price for this brand and quality.

I bought the shoes in early October and wore them 1-3 days a week. By late December, the pair is at the end of the line: in the left shoe's sole, the padding collapsed at the ball of the foot, and resulting depression makes walking seriously uncomfortable. - Stylish - Casual Wear - Leather - Casual'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Fashion Sneakers - stylish, casual stylish Fashion Sneakers - stylish, casual

Oscillating Saw - fein, flush cut

Visit Store Now !!

Tool and attachments, 6 Stars.. Case, 2 Stars.. Price, -3 Stars = 5 Stars



This Fein MultiMaster Top kit is one of those tools that cost too much but you can't do the job as fast without it. The last few years, attending woodworking shows, I would watch the demos on the MultiMaster tool. I was ALWAYS impressed as to what the tool was capable of. The price made me walk away. It was not on my list of "GEE, I've got to have that"! However I did see its potential.



Recently, I saw the ad for the new version with the quick blade release and the package supplied attachments, but was still held back by the price. Then it happened. I got a job that required this type of tool.



I had to do a job of installing decorative returns on an old house with period moldings. The old returns had rotted along with some of the crown rake boards. Making the new returns was not a problem; trimming back the 4-inch crown molding was going to be tedious to say the least. I purchased the Fein MultiMaster Top kit and felt the pain all the way back to the job..... Until I opened the box, fitted a (expensive) wood / metal cutting blade and trimmed back old rusty hard to reach nails and 4 inch crown molding to solid wood. The roofs 12/12 pitch made it almost impossible to perform the task at hand with any speed with regular tools. The MultiMaster accomplished the task in minutes. After trimming back 6 returns in under an hour, I was convinced the tool was worth the expense. It was kind of anti climatic however, doing all that work in such short time! $389.00 per hour and done so easily and quickly is what came to mind!



Since the initial purchase, I have found the MultiMaster tool to live up to all I've seen at demo shows. Once you own it, you will find yourself reaching for it more often than you planned. Time verses cost will eventually be offset as this tool pays for itself very quickly.



I find myself treating the attachments as if they were gold, considering their replacement costs. I guess Fein can get away with the high prices because there is no other tool like it that works so well. The blades by the way are very sturdy and long lasting.



Under-cutting doorjambs loaded with trim nails are a breeze. I was able to set tile under 6 doors and the blade teeth still look new. I am looking forward to trying out all the other attachments that came with the "TOP" kit.



The case has some issues. It is nice and square and stores well. It holds all of the supplied accessories and then some. BUT, after seeing the older metal case, the new plastic case is bigger and holds less. The old metal case has foam dividers that make finding each attachment quite easy. Sanding attachments and the paper can be seen on edge. The new case has 2 removable plastic storage cases within the main case. These cases have snap down covers making it difficult to see and grab what you're looking for. Within the small cases, there are no dividers; everything just sits in there bouncing around and store in no particular order. The outside of the main case is consumed by the nice handle, which is recessed in the top of the case when standing on edge, it chews up a lot of storage space that could have been used to have divided storage inside like the old metal case.



I have zero complaints about the quality of the tool and the attachments. They all do what they are supposed to do. My complaints lye with cost of product and attachments, and the poor thoughtfulness of the case storage areas. This tool will not be easy for most people to purchase because of the cash outlay. In my case, it was one of those tools that came to mind while in a predicament. I purchased it, and think of it as a Cool Tool! Fein MultiMaster FMM 250Q Top Variable Speed Sanding and Scraping/Cutting Tool with Case

This tool reminds me a little of the Rotozip. It works extremely well for the job it was designed for, Multimaster=Flush-cutting, Rotozip=cutting drywall, but isn't as good for the other purposes they are advertised for.



I have used this for a few weeks now and have used the flush-cutting and sanding attachments quite a bit already. It has come in extremely handy for those jobs that it is about the only tool that would work, and average at the other jobs like sanding and scraping.



I would give the tool 4 or 5 stars but the blades are way overpriced and don't last real long. You can buy generic blades that are much cheaper and in some cases better quality, but Fein is trying to stop people from making these blades.



By the end of the year Bosch will have their own version here in the states for much cheaper so wait if you can.

I requested this tool as a birthday present from the wife to patch my hardwood floor. After removing a closet as part of my kitchen remodel I had some square cuts on my oak flooring that I needed to stagger (ie: cut in between existing boards) in order to make the repair seamless.



Online instructions had said to use a chisel so I got my trusty Craftsman, sharpened it on the bench grinder, and started whacking away. To my dismay, the super-hard red oak barely budged....time for a Fein Multi Master!



Through trial and error I realized that the best bet is to score a line for the tool to start in (using a razor blade and the above mentioned chisel) otherwise it will wildly vibrate about ruining perfectly good floor boards. I used that technique as well as lowered to tool to the slowest speed to get a good cut line, then would give it full power. I have made about 15 cuts so far and the e-blade is still holding up nice despite the copious amounts of black smoke created when cross cutting the oak.



The tool it's self seems to be well made although the variable speed control is awkwardly located at the back and difficult to adjust (especially when it is running) - and there are no power indicators on it so the first couple times are trial and error. There is no lack of power with the Fein but seems that it could have more control. Perhaps I have shaky hands but I challenge anyone to put this tool on full blast and make a strait knife like plunge cut. It seems that the vibrating is not only side to side but back and forth to a degree. Another thing to be on the lookout for is the actual extension of the vibrating blade. With it moving so fast it is easy to get past where you want to cut as the blade edge is blurry and hard to view when running.



The case is a complete disappointment as the interior is not blow molded but rather has a flimsy plastic cut out that the tool rests in that is about the thickness of three sheets of paper. Mine was broken from the get-go so I will be contacting Amazon for a replacement liner. Moreover, the case does not open 180 degrees but rather only 90 degrees. I am still not sure why it was designed this way as every other tool case I have opens fully. Unless your surface is flat, you run the risk of getting a finger slammed closed in it. All this in a case that costs over $100! Had I to do it over again I think I would forego the case and get a bag to throw it in.



Amongst other qualifiers I rate products on value. How does the Fein measure up? Well, it is HORRIFICALLY expensive for what it is and the replacement blades will run you to the poor house. However, it has the distinction of doing what no other tool can. Funny, this thing reminds me of my BMW M3....:)



Should you get it? If you can avoid it I would say no, but as I stated it has capabilities that no other tool I know of has. If someone made a cheap knock-off of it I would get that in a second being a DIYer. For a pro it is worth the money. - Oscillating Saw - Flush Cut - Multimaster - Fein'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Oscillating Saw - fein, flush cut fein Oscillating Saw - fein, flush cut

Holiday Wrapping

Visit Store Now !!

I purchased this paper to wrap a few presents for my sister and her daughter. This wrapping paper is BEAUTIFUL in person. Very thick, I would almost compare it to shelving paper. The fact that it comes with the matching tissue paper is fantastic. The wrapping paper is textured, thick,nothing you're wrapping will be displayed through this, great find. (Also received a note thanking me for my purchase from the seller) Gift Wrap Cool Flowers & Paisley Wrapping Paper & Tissue Paper 20 Sq Ft Roll

I have never seen gift wrap so wonderful and so reasonably priced. The roll has both a tissue paper layer and an embossed, thick wrapping paper layer. After using it, I compared it to the wrapping papers on offer at a couple of local drugstores and bookstores. I could not find comparable quality and certainly not at this price.



It looks and feels great, and the store has great customer service. I would not hesitate to recommend this product and the sellers.

The paper arrived quickly and was much prettier than you can tell from the picture. It's actually embossed to look almost like leather and feels thick and rich. I loved it and my recipient was very carefully opening her gift to save the paper because it was "too pretty to throw away". There is also a ton of on the roll, unlike the usual "one time around the tube" type variety you get at bargain stores. I would definitely buy this again.'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Holiday Wrapping Holiday Wrapping Holiday Wrapping

Canon Digital Camera

Visit Store Now !!

This is a compact, easy-to-use, bring the fun back to photography camera that provides Canon's photo quality in a lower cost, compact build. A little bit bigger than the digital elphs, this camera still fits comfortably in a shirt or pant pocket.



The feature set is very basic, and nothing new. It has a "Face select" feature which lets you select which person you want to focus on in a group. On the dial it has four settings: Auto, Easy, Program and movie modes. The auto mode is just as with every other camera, the camera will select the settings it determines best, but you maintain control (if you care to select it) over the white balance and flash. Easy is the same as auto, except no options. Program gives you the option to select among several "scenes": Portrait, Landscape, Night, Kids&Pets, and Indoor (buried in the menu you can also select lesser used scene settings like Beach, Long Shutter, and Fireworks).



The only negative I've encountered with the camera is the relatively slow processor. That is the power up time (the time between turning the camera on and taking the first picture) is average (about 2 seconds), however, the time between pictures is around 2 seconds without the flash to 4 seconds with the flash. If you envision having (or wanting) to take faster pictures, then this is not the camera for you. Similarly, if you want to have any control over settings (i.e. shutter speed if you want to take pictures of your running toddler) this is not the camera for you.



Bottom line:

Canon replaces control and feature selection for extreme ease-of-use. This camera is a solid option for the money, and in case you are considering the A3000 IS, this (the A3100) is well worth the extra $30 (better resolution and faster picture-to-picture time).

The picture quality is great, no blur and vivid colors. Canon PowerShot A3100IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Silver)

My Canon S410 Powershot gave up the ghost, even after a trip back to Canon for repairs ($100, ouch). I was tired of not having a camera and this one crossed my path at the right time and I bought it after debating for months which camera to go with.



This is MUCH lighter than my Canon S410, and far sleeker -- all the knobs and buttons and whatnot are smooth and out of the way. It won't snag on things like the boxy S410 tended to do. This camera is as light as a plastic disposable camera. I remember my first digital camera back in 1999 which weighed a pound and then some.



The LCD screen is ENORMOUS compared to my old camera(s). It takes up almost the entire back of the camera body. Amazing. The controls are scrunched together compared to the S410 controls. Having had the S410 I was familiar with the Canon layout and the way the camera works, which was nice.



An earlier review mentioned that the startup time and the time between shots was long -- I didn't find that to be the case. It powers up almost instantly, and even taking photos at the largest image size the time between shots is only a second or two. My first digital camera would tend to "submarine" for six or seven seconds between shots!



Overall I'm VERY, VERY happy to have a camera that works again, and the cost wasn't all that much, like half of what I paid five years ago for the S410. Half the cost, half the weight... I still daydream about getting a "real" camera, a digital SLR (DSLR) with a nice heavy L-series prime lens... but it wouldn't fit in my pocket, would it?



Don't hesitate -- this is a beautiful little device, thoughtfully designed and nicely manufactured. If you're traveling or if you're a parent (or both) you know you simply cannot take too many photos. I bought a 4GB card for this, one of those little big-as-your-thumbnail chips, and even at the highest resolution the photos are about 2MB apiece, so you can shoot a lot of photos and never run out of space. Included with the camera was a cable to attach to a television, which I thought was a neat idea. I'll have to play with that sometime.



My only caveat would be based on my experience having sent my S410 in for repair to Canon -- for $100 the repair didn't last long at all, I wonder if they just sent me a refurbished unit they had. Anyway, don't DROP your camera and you won't have to send it in to be repaired.

The first digital camera that I ever bought was a Canon. It was a PowerShot A80 that had 4.0mp and 3x digital zoom. Since then, I have only purchased Canon brand digital cameras. The only reason I stopped using that one was because of age. So I bought the 7.0mp PowerShot SD750 Elph a few years ago. Again, incredible camera. I really liked that it had a lithium battery that was rechargeable. That's one thing I look for in digital cameras.



I bought this camera a few months ago when my SD750's battery couldn't seem to hold a charge (I had 2 different batteries for the camera). So that's when I decided I needed to purchase a new one. When I saw the A3100 IS, I was brought back to my first camera. It also has choices for which type of mode you want to shoot in on the top of the camera. It was a little hard to get used to again, but it's very easy to use. The fact that it has 12.1 mp is definitely a plus. The pictures I take are far superior to what my other cameras took. I do wish that it had HD video, but I'm not complaining about it. The video feature (which I used often) is great. I really like how you can now zoom in and out while filming. My mom's old camera (a Sony) was not able to do that. She now owns a different camera (Nikon) but it isn't as easy to use as this one is.



For anyone who is like me and just likes to take pictures and/or shoot videos, I'd highly recommend this camera to you. It's easy to use and it's pretty compact. Sure it's not as small as the Elph cameras, but it's also not huge. I love the face detection feature as well. I have to say that this is my favorite camera that I have owned so far.'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Canon Digital Camera Canon Digital Camera Canon Digital Camera

Rotary Tool Accessories

Visit Store Now !!

I use these with a power carver. These burrs hog off wood with no finesse or grace, just brute cutting. They get the job done. Expect to have to clean up the carving area with sandpaper as a rasp leaves scratches. I've used several of the ten burrs, they do what they are designed to do and they are holding up well. HOWEVER, be aware that these are 1/8 inch shafts. But when you put the burr into a 1/8 collet, it doesn't fit as it's too big by a hair. I think its because of the heavy coating they have. I just gave it a quick tour of a fine-grit stone and removed the coating. Then they fit the collet just fine. If you use these burs with a power carver e.g. Wecheer or Fordome, be aware these burrs aren't designed to 15,000 to 30,000 rpm. So keep it in the under 10K range. With the coarsness of these burrs, you will not use anywhere near what is considered high speed....unless you are just trying to disintegrate a board.



A good, inexpensive option for the times you need to rough out wood, etc. 10 High Speed Black Carbon Rasp Burr Wood Working Rotary Tool Bits Set for Dremel

I bought these tools to use with my Dremel 300 for some detail carving. I carve wood sculptures using hard woods such as Oak or Walnut. I attempted to use these tools on a Oak sculpture and they didn't work very well at all. The wood gets suck to the little notches in the bit stopping the bit from cutting within seconds. So for hard woods they are basically useless. For softer woods it seemed to work okay. I tried them on a very soft sheet of plywood and they seemed to work. Over all on a scale of 1 to 10 I would give this product a 3. This product was a waist and now i'm out $10 plus shipping... save your money!!'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Rotary Tool Accessories Rotary Tool Accessories Rotary Tool Accessories

Laptop Sleeve - laptop bag, laptop sleeves

Visit Store Now !!

First, the service from the seller was excellent. This is a review of the product alone.



The reason that I purchased this sleeve was because of the low price. The material is strong enough to protect from scratches and it is durable so I would not expect it to tear. However, it will not protect the laptop from anything above featherweight impact, or shield it from water damage. With the low price, this is pretty fair.



However, the zipper broke within the first month of use.. and I rarely used the sleeve or carried my laptop around. Unknowingly, my laptop dropped out of the sleeve that I had already zipped up. The sleeve is not slip free, so my laptop slipped out even with two hands holding on.



With the low price, I did not have high standards in mind. However, a low price isn't worth the risk of damaging your computer. 14" Laptop Notebook Sleeve Carrying Case w Zipper for Fujitsu, Samsung, Dell,...

The product is very clean and smooth. It fits perfectly for my 14inch samsung laptop that i now carry everywhere with me. There is no place to hold the charger it's just for the laptop was the only downfall of this product but that's ok. The material is very nice and durable except for the cushion inside of it. It seems like it'll break easy but if you take care of it it'll be fine.

This is just a simple cover. I would give it 3 stars, but considering the LOW price I have to bump it to 4 stars. I wish that the foam or whatever is inside it were a little more dense, but it's okay. The fit and finish are very good for such a low price. It fit my 14" ASUS perfectly. The little corner straps are unobtrusive and I don't have to take my laptop out, just unzip and flip open... was a good deal. -jweaks

There is no neoprene padding whatsoever in this sleeve. It does not stretch at all. It feels more like cardboard. I can put my laptop in some cardboard for free.



This is a cheap and thin sleeve that won't provide as much protection as a proper neoprene sleeve.

I ordered this for my 14inch HP laptop and overall I would have to say 4 out of 5 stars. I think it is made of a good fabric and it is actually a lot more durable than it looks in the picture. The only reason I would not give this 5 stars is because I thought it came with the straps inside to hold on to it. Overall for the price and quality I couldnt have done better!

This was way too loose and ended up on trash. Get something that's snug. It was my fault though, cause the reviews did say it would be loose but I thought I could live with. I found it too ugly to use though.

Great fit for my 14" Dell Inspiron. Looks nice and very functional. You don't have to take your computer out to use it. Just wish is came in white because I have a white cat and this is a hair collector!

As soon as you touch it for the first time you get a yacky feel and you know you have done a mistake. Hard material. Even when you touch it it leaves your finger prints for a long time.

I am not sure how it will protect my laptop but definitely it is poor in quality and very OK in looks. My suggestion don't buy this product. Invest some more money and buy a good one.. In just a slight difference in price I saw a perfect notebook sleeve in SAM's club and Walmart. - Laptop Sleeves - Laptop Bag - Laptop Case - Laptop Sleeve'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Laptop Sleeve - laptop bag, laptop sleeves laptop sleeves Laptop Sleeve - laptop bag, laptop sleeves

Camping Accessories - ebags, camping bag

Visit Store Now !!

I could not imagine living without this product now that I have one! It keeps my frozen foods from the grocery store frozen for hours! I can go grocery shopping and then leave my food in the hot car while I run other errands with no rush. Soccer games and T-Ball games are so easy now that we can keep all our stuff Icy cold on hot days. Vacation's and long road trips are a breeze with this cooler. We pack drinks, popsicles, whatever! In it and because it is a soft side it is easy to fit into tight spaces. Not heavy and bulking like the other coolers. This is a MUST for any MOM! we are going to Disney World this month and I don't have to worry about not having a fridge in the hotel room! I have a POLAR BEAR! Polar Bear Coolers 12 Pack Soft Cooler, Mossy Oak B

Great purchase. Fits into basket on the golf cart. Keeps beverages cold. Melted ice water does not leak through the exterior canvas. Great expediated delivery. I was worried that this was not the type of cooler I wanted, Turned out to be the most versatile cooler I own. I own a bunch of coolers.

This cooler has the very best quality materials and workmanship. I've had mine for about a month, and it is working out well. The size is just right to keep and carry a picnic lunch for two in style. The handles and shoulder strap are convenient and the cap opener tool is a nice touch, but I do wish the side pocket was more roomy. It is not easy to load with napkins, utensils, etc.

This cooler is amazing. I used it last summer for keeping foods cold while traveling with my daughter from the midwest to the East Coast and back. It really kept the food cold, even when locked in a hot car in the middle of summer for several hours at a stretch. Since then, I have been using it daily for my lunch box, to keep foods cold during the day. I highly recommend this product!

So far, this seems to be as good, or maybe better than, the reviews might indicate. If you are, like me, not likely to first read the literature, it pays to at least read about "filling with warm water to regain its normal shape". It was almost flat when I removed it from the box because they bleed the air out of the insulation for shipping size. Filling with warm/hot tap water for 5 minutes enabled it to get its shape back. (Too bad humans can't do that!)

Drinks definitely are cool all day long. Tested with ice which hardly melted; no leaks; apparently very good zipper (an important detail often overlooked by some manufacturers); very tough fabric outside shell; lightweight when empty; good handles and shoulder strap. The 12-pack size is perfect for my usual work day (7 Diet Pepsis, 2 cup lunch container, 8"x6"x2" blue ice pack) with room left over.

I have a desk job so I'm pretty easy on these kinds of containers, and the tough exterior and zipper will probably be overkill for my needs, but I still appreciate not having to baby it and knowing I could strap it to a motorcycle with little concern.

I would buy this again, will likely buy more soon, and will speak well of the Polar Bear brand when possible.

bought the 12pack first, then the 6 pack after i THOUGHT the 12 might be too big. wrong. the 6pack was way too small. love the 12 because it's roomy enough to fit a decent meal and then some, and the overall construction compared to the 6pack is much higher quality. if you're on the fence between the 6 and 12, stick to the 12. versatile enough for most needs.

I ride a full dress motorcycle cross country quite a bit and during the warm/hot months. During the really hot months I wear a "cool vest" with frozen inserts and was looking for a cooler that I could keep the inserts in that will keep them frozen until I need them and would fit in my bikes side box. I did alot of research and noted this cooler had good write ups so I thought I would give a try. Used it for the first time last summer and it worked GREAT and fit in my bikes side box I definiely recommend it.

LOVE IT! I did a lot of research prior to buying this one, and it is simply THE BEST! I don't think you will be disappointed if you buy one too. Constructed VERY well, high end. Looks like a diaper bag, not a cooler! I think it's great for taking ANYWHERE. I plan to take it on the plane and around Disney World next month with my family. It's going to be great to lug all the stuff kids eat through out the day, without having to buy all the pricey food at the parks. - Lunchbox - Camping Bag - Ebags - Picnic Bag'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Camping Accessories - ebags, camping bag lunchbox Camping Accessories - ebags, camping bag

Michael Crabtree - football, ea sports

Visit Store Now !!

Look, I love the franchise. I've picked it up like a loyal lad every single year it's been available. Like so many others, every year I have some small amount of misguided faith that perhaps the serious issues that have plagued the title in the past have been addressed. Like so many others, every year I find myself disappointed once I realize that behind some fluff, the same limitations, bugs and flaws are still present.



I suppose that's not entirely fair. Things do get fixed, but for every step in the right direction, new problems (problems that should NEVER get past a reasonable amount of testing and QA) present themselves. So sure, defenders take better angles this year, and now HB screens are only crazily effective rather than unstoppable. Sure, QB sneaks now see the signal callers just sort of slumping forwards like they're having a cardiac event, which has "fixed" rampant abuse of the same in years past. Sure, they don't call the same plays over and over and over again (like a bomb out of shotgun on 4th and short) in modes like Road to Glory anymore. I appreciate all of this work.



What I don't appreciate is that every single time the AI completes a long play and then hurries to snap the ball, I'm called for offsides because my slow plodding DLmen haven't made it across the line of scrimmage yet (in the real world, they can't snap the ball until it's been set by the officials). I don't appreciate that the rosters aren't just hosed, but they're comically hosed, like someone somewhere just assumed that casuals wouldn't care, and the nutty hard-core types would just be tweaking them anyway. I don't appreciate canned animations being stacked on top of canned animations, rather than having real physics introduced.



Another year, and more fluff. Now Erin Andrews follows your career in Road to Glory. Now the Ohio State marching band will run Script Ohio in the Shoe before games. Now you can spend points in dynasty mode to negatively recruit against other schools. Now you can spend real world money on cheats (Want to always be a 5-star recruit? Want to know which recruits will sign with you? Want an extra pipeline state?). Now you can make your own schools/teams (funny, I thought that was a "new" feature like 5-7 years ago). You can find lists all over the place of the changes, my point is not that they don't update the game, it's that most people who play it would really prefer that the core game, the basic play and functionality of the game, be addressed before we load up with sugary video clips of Erin Andrews and various band formations.



I feel a little disingenuous giving the title 2 stars, because I'll play it, and I'll play it often. As a college football fan, I'll get to 'see' teams play that won't in real life, I'll get to right wrongs that happen during the season (at least in my own silly brain), and I'll get to take in some of that camaraderie that comes with immersing in college football with other passionate fans. And, like a good little addict, I'll be sure to line up again next year to secure my copy of NCAA 11 -- which won't have many of the fixes and changes fans have been clamoring for all along, but will introduce new fluff, new bells and whistles, but a whole new chorus of bugs and flaws to go along with them.



To be fair, some of the brand new issues (this year) that have most outraged fans since the games release on July 14th have been addressed with a quick patch. Online league commissioners may now prevent the use of purchased upgrades that would otherwise afford one player an unfair advantage. The rosters have been at least partially adusted. The sliders are fixed (funny how that's been a recurring issue). That's not really the point though. For what little they did from last year to this year, it simply shouldn't have gone to market with the flaws that it did. EA knows they have a captive and passionate customer base, they know people like me are going to plunk down the cash for the title year after year, perhaps there's just no incentive to really break new ground and advance the franchise when you hold a monopoly on it.



It's a great game (and that's not a contradiction of anything else I've said, believe it or not), but every year we pay the same price for it that we would a standalone title developed from the ground up. Are you seeing updates, improvements, and new features worthy of full-game cost? After so many years in development, after the "next-gen" consoles have been out in the market so long, shouldn't there have been a more meaningful and apparent evolution of the game? Season Showdown is a wonderful new feature, so it's not like I don't appreciate some of the aforementioned fluff. It's just not worth that full game price every single year, year after year, which is why I find myself writing this review, and lamenting the fact that I remain addicted, while EA continues to seemingly do the absolute minimum, and with no attention to detail, every single year.



I'll close the way I opened, because I know daring to knock the game and EA isn't going to sit well with some -- I love the franchise, I play the game religiously, and that's not going to change this year. I just wish I felt a little less like a chump with every new annual release. NCAA Football 10

**I deleted my original review so that I could give a more accurate star rating after further play (original star ratings were 4 stars for fun and 3 stars for overall)**



I will start by saying that the base gameplay is fine. It usually is minus a few annoying glitches, but the glitches have never made the game unplayable.



EA Sports has pushed me to an every other year update purchase plan due to lack of ground breaking features and addons. As others have said, they take away excellent features so they can add them back in later as new. That being said I had never played NCAA Football 09 and therefore do not know what has been updated/fixed from that version.



At first I was really impressed with TeamBuilder. This feature was excellent as it kept me from having to type information with a controller and allowed a lot of customization for a custom team (you can even create your own team logo!). You can also share your custom created teams with whomever you please.



This was a great feature, until I became aware that you have to be connected to the internet in order to use your custom created team. EA is either so adament about combating piracy or is so deep in bed with Microsoft that they add most features to their games that require a Gold subscription on Live to use (features that should have NO reliance on Live [statement is based on a different review]) that they decided to keep all your created teams on their servers. This means that if you don't have an internet connection your team will not be available to play with.



Another major iritant while playing this game was seeing EA's use of DLC. Yet again, they have decided to sell what is essentially cheats as DLC. I do not purchase them, but when I see a feature in a game only to be prompted to pay for that feature it gets annoying and is just...tacky. If EA feels they absolutely MUST sell cheats as addons, they should have a dedicated option on the main screen and only once you have purchased the cheat (or DLC as EA will refer to it as) is the option available from in game screens.



Again, the base gameplay of the game is fine as it has always been. It is enjoyable and entertaining while on the field...well, except for hearing the bland, 4+ year old commentary that seems to never get updated. It's when you start to stray away from the base game to their "New and Exciting FEATURES" that you really begin to see a loss in value of the game.



Thanks to NCAA Football 10, I have adopted a new purchasing plan that will have me skipping the next few releases and MAYBE picking up 14.



Perhaps EA should stop releasing updates to their sports titles every year so they can spend more time creating better games. If they were to just give roster updates every "non-release" year (preferable for free but it is EA)...they could get back to their glory days of great sports titles. - Video Games - Ea Sports - Football - College Football'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Michael Crabtree - football, ea sports college football Michael Crabtree - football, ea sports

Accessories - 18 volt, lithium-ion

Visit Store Now !!

I have owned a set of Makita tools with the LXT batteries for a couple years now and I have noticed absolutely zero power loss or any other problems. I use them quite regularly whether building concrete forms, decks, remodels, etc. I can think of three things that may be happening to the batteries of those who have commented on bad performance or longevity; (1) Occasionally, batteries can be bad from the factory (I have yet to own a milwaukee tool with the new "V" or "M" series battery that holds up past a few months. I have both V28 and M12, and have had ALL packs replaced) (2) It is possible to have a bad charger which is damaging the batteries itself, or (3) Perhaps the users are taking them all the way to the point of stalling and complete discharge, and for that the batteries are truly not made to do. It is best that once you notice the battery pack is wearing down, to grab a fresh one and put the discharged on the charger to cool down and refresh. Also, if the batteries are being stored for most of their life, it is best to keep the charger plugged in and rotate batteries through it to keep everything active and refreshed. Lithium batteries have computer chips and sophisticated circuitry, allowing them to constantly be charged without damage. Ni-Cad on the other hand are not supposed to be charged over and over again because they typically have memory effects and lifetime charging limits. It is best to mostly, not completely, discharge a Ni-Cad before replacing back onto the charger. Because a consumer only has ultimate control of this last variable, it is a good idea to read the owners manual and find out what the manufacturer thinks is best operating practices. Only those who are using the batteries and tools know how they are being treated, and you may very well be doing everything right and not fall into this third category. Being that my kit is from a couple years ago, and my newest battery packs (purchased just for continued use because I have many LXT tools) were purchased last year sometime, it is possible that the newer batteries are of a lesser quality, and that would be unfortunate. What I can say is this; I own many Dewalt tools, which I have only had to replace a couple Ni-Cad battery packs in the past 5 years. (Dewalt tools are mostly made in Mexico) I have owned MANY Milwaukee tools in which their Ni-Cads held up pretty well, but their Li-Ion line is absolute crap. Several years ago when their tools were still made in the US, their quality was impeccable. Their tools are now made completely in China. (Yes, many of the Makitas are also) I own several Bosch as well, and their batteries and tools are right up there with Makita's quality. As far as Skil, Black and Decker, and any other cheaper or knock-off brand goes, I would personally never purchase them. For one, you are supporting China, and secondly you would be purchasing a tool that is undependable. Hitachi has an excellent warranty, and makes excellent air nailers, however I'm unsure of the quality you may find in their power tools, both corded and cordless. I hope this was helpful. Makita BL1815 18-Volt 1.5 Ah Compact Lithium-Ion Battery

Really, these batteries provide seemingly endless power. They hold their charge for weeks with very little loss. I can use one battery for drilling and driving throughout an entire (moderately sized) project. They are extremely lightweight and charge in twenty minutes or less usually (in hot weather it takes longer). All three of mine slide on and off easily, with no issues of binding or falling off. With all the praise comes a VERY important caveat. DO NOT run these batteries into the ground. The instructions state that as soon as you notice a loss of power, stop and charge. If you over-discharge Li-Ion batteries, you can seriously degrade the life of the battery. These batteries are 1/3 cheaper on Amazon.com than at the home centers, so buy from here! Also, only the cells themselves are made in Japan, all other parts are made and final assembly is in China.

I love the drill but the battery life is a real problem. I had both original packs replaced under warranty when the charger reported them bad. Now one of the replacements is flashing bad on the charger. These have been cycled maybe a dozen times. I'll be complaining to Makita and also reporting this on the various woodworking groups I support.

I replaced a 14.4 Milwaukee NiCad with a Makita LXT and noticed that my old Milwaukee NiCads outlasted these in terms of longevity. Run time is solid, but lifespan is short. Two dead after one year, I'm only a homeowner. I've only done a few lengthy jobs such as putting cement board down in a 10x20 room, and building a deck with these, in addition to the other basic tasks of drywall, and other light construction needs. Love the light weight though. Now, I need new ones. Somewhat disappointing.

I went ahead and invested in a pair of these batteries despite the mixed reviews, figuring I'd at least get a year out of them with the warranty. So far, they've performed just fine, even on tools that are supposed to only use the BL1830. I mostly use them on the BHP454 drill (note: this is one of the tools that's keyed for the 1830 pack) and BTD141 impact driver when I'm not going to be using them for long, so the decreased runtime doesn't bother me. I also use them on the angle grinder and recip saw (after removing the little tab on the tools) for light work in tight spaces. I wouldn't want them to be my only batteries, but they're a great addition to a couple of the larger batteries if you have a few tools that can use them.



These slim packs are very handy on the drill, impact, and flashlight- the lighter weight and smaller size are noticeable, especially with the smaller (BDF/BHP452) drills. However, buyer beware when it comes to using them on the 'heavier' tools, as they are keyed for the larger batteries because they can draw more current than these smaller batteries can provide without damaging the cells. So you probably shouldn't slap one of these on your circular saw and go ripping 2x12s all day, or you'll kill the pack very quickly. Makita isn't trying to screw you into buying more batteries, they're trying to make sure you don't kill your batteries.



Another note, considering how many complaints of defective packs there are: don't run these batteries down to nothing, and try not to store them fully charged. Running them into the ground is a sure way to damage the cells, and I've read estimates of up to 20%/year capacity loss for a fully-charged pack, compared to as low as 2%/year for a pack stored @ 40% charge.



And of course, like any cordless tool/battery purchase- shop your options before buying batteries separately. I got the BHP452HW kit for only $50 more than 2 batteries. That's a cheap, easy way to have a spare drill or driver and charger for around the house, or to sell to recoup the extra cost.



I'm knocking off one star because Makita doesn't do a good job of letting people know that these slim packs only work on certain tools- and not very many, either. That's been a complaint for years now, and it's still not mentioned anywhere in their literature or website- even my local Makita dealer didn't know they weren't compatible with all LXT tools. It's not like it's standard practice- Bosch's and Milwaukee's slim packs fit their entire lineup, AFAIK. - Lithium-ion - Makita - 18 Volt - 18v'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Accessories - 18 volt, lithium-ion lithium-ion Accessories - 18 volt, lithium-ion