Wednesday, 22 October 2008

Gold Toe - socks, men


These socks make me feel like I'm walking on marshmallows. They could have a bit of a snugger fit, but that has to do with the size of my foot - not the sock's fault. Overall, socks are wonderful. They allow me to sneak up on houseguests and viciously smash their faces with watermelon seeds, of which I live for. Anyway, A+++ product! A+++mazon, as always! Will buy again! Hokay, goodnight.



DD Gold Toe Men's Cotton Liners Athletic Sock, Black 10-13, 6-Pack

I have been using gold toes for years now and they have always been good. My feet are 13 - 13.5 and therefore it's hard to find socks that fit right. These do exceptionally well. After first wash the socks shrink somewhat but fit even better on my feet. My reason for the 4 stars is these particular gold toes make my feet sweat a little more in shoes. I think this is because perhaps there is more nylon in them than the usual gold toes. The more cotton, the less my feet sweat. I'll try to look up the nylon / cotton ratio and update the review hopefully that will help more.

If you're looking for low-cut socks that are both kind to the feet and the wallet, these Gold Toe socks are perfect. They are nothing fancy, but they are the most comfortable and durable socks I have owned in a while.

I started out buying Gold Toe socks for my son when he was about 16. He could wear the cheaper socks out in a couple of months but he couldn't wear these out! He's 19 now and still wearing the first purchase. I bought some for my husband this time to convince him. They definitely cost more but it's well worth it when they last that well.

These truly are no show socks that manage to actually stay on your feet without slipping down at all during activity. I have washed them several times and they are holding up great. A great deal and perfect for sneakers.



For anyone who is a US shoe size 12, debating whether to get the regular or extended size, since a size 12 supposedly fits both, get the bigger pair. I am a size 12 and the extended size fits very well - nice and snug. I can't imagine how the smaller ones would fit.

I am always frustrated after purchasing "no-show" socks. Almost always, they definitely show between 1-2 inches above my sneakers. These don't. They are comfortable, a little bit thicker than I am used to, but barely show at all above my sneakers. Exactly what I was looking for. Will buy again!

For the price these socks get the job done. They fit well and are comfortable. I've been wearing gold toe as my general purpose sock for years and don't have a complaint.



The only issue I see with this particular line is that they seem to lack a the same thickness I've seen in previous years. However, after a wash/dry they shrunk up a bit and now feel like they have a bit more substance.

I've always bought Gold Toe dress socks, so I thought I would give the athletic ones a try. I've been very impressed. The socks are the perfect height to cover your lower ankle and keep your shoes from rubbing, unlike many in this variety. They've held up very well and I would definitely recommend. - Men - Socks - Gold Toe'


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Sports Memorabilia - fishing, collectibles


Fishing Lure Collectibles: An Encyclopedia Of The Modern Era, 1940 To Present by Dudley and Deanie Murphy is an in-depth illustrated compendium showcasing the great variety of fishing lures which have been developed from 1940 to the present time. Featuring the many intricate details and specifics which characterizes each of the presented lures, Fishing Lure Collectibles introduces the reader to literally hundreds of lures along with such details as their name, date released, length, a color photograph, short notes, and a price value, Fishing Lure Collectibles really delves into an unknown analysis of the world of fishing lures and their historical background. From the Glitter Bug released in 1944 to the Redhorse Spearing Decoy in 2003, Fishing Lure Collectibles truly is the ultimate guide and encyclopedia of fishing lures since the year 1940, and is very strongly recommended to all collectors of lures, as well as general fishermen. Fishing Lure Collectibles: An Encyclopedia of the Modern Era

I am very happy with this book and another companion book by the same author. This book is a very useful reference to the range of lures manufactured through recent times. I refer to it all the time when I am buying fishing lures on ebay etc. I can't compare it to other books as these are the only lure collecting books that I own. Great photos too.

This work, as the title notes, includes lures from 1940 to a relative recent period. Do remember that lures change almost of a monthly basis with new products being introduced constantly. Also remember that NO WORK can possibly list them all. I recently added this volume to my collection and have been delighted.



First, I must confess that I do not use they type of lures that are featured in this wonderful book. I gave up this type of fishing years and years ago and only trout fish using flies now. Never-the-less, fishing gear, any fishing gear, absolutely fascinates me and I love looking at the stuff. But that is not the primary reason I own this and quite a number of other books of its ilk.



I have for years bought and sold these things; in part to make money, but more so because it is a nice hobby and I get to meet many nice people. When you buy and sell such things, I have found it is best to know a bit about them. This work goes along way in assisting me in this need for knowledge. There is a lot of money to be made in this hobby, but conversely, there is a lot of money to be lost if you know not what you are doing.



Secondly, I paint and draw. One of my primary subjects for still-life paintings and drawings is fishing lures. Now always having the actually lure in front of me is a bit of a handicap, and to be frank quite impossible because some of these fishing lures are quite rare and I have absolutely no access to them, but lacking the best thing, i.e. the actual lure, the photographs in this work are by far the second best thing to use. The color is extremely accurate as is the quality of the photographs; sharp, clear and detailed. I have found that the measurements provided by the authors to be extremely accurate. Using this work, I am able to reproduce very nice reproductions on canvas, paper or what ever material I choose...I have even used gourds from time to time. The clear and concise text accompanying each photograph provides invaluable information, both technical and background wise.



I like my paintings to be as accurate and authentic as possible and this work gives me the edge I need.



Now the only warning I might give to those who contemplate purchasing this work is that the prices or worth assigned to each lure can be misleading. As with any other collectable or antique, any given piece is only worth what someone is willing to give for it or willing to part with it for. Yes, the prices given here do give you a ballpark figure and a starting point, but just because the book states the lure is worth a thousand dollars and you find one in your grandfather's lure box, does not mean that you will be able to run out the door and sell it for that much. Likewise, if you plan to buy a particular piece, I certainly would not start the bargaining process at the prices given here. But all that is common sense and really does not distract from this work what so ever. NO BOOK gives you prices that are written in stone! Trust me, I know about such matters. Another warning her for the would be collector: Due to the price of some of these objects, there is a very large knock-off and counterfeit market out there right now...do be careful and do your homework. Some of these people are quite good at what they do!



The book is well arranged by manufacturer, maker or company and it is rather easy to find what you are looking for. Do keep in mind that no one book can possibly cover all of the thousands upon thousands of lures that have been manufactured or hand made over the years, but hey...you have to start somewhere. I also like the way the authors have included the history of these item which is an education within itself.



On the less practical side, this is just a fun book for those interested in such things to simply brows through. Many wintery evening can be spent going over this work using it as either a "wish list" or just for the pure joy of seeing and learning. You know, if you look at it from a certain angle, the reader can learn much concerning the minds of men and the minds of the fish he or she pursues just by looking at what has been created to try to lure these tricky critters onto the stringer.



If this is an area of interest for you, then this is one of those must have books to add to your collection and I do highly recommend it. - Gift Idea - Collectibles - Fishing Lures - Fishing'


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External Storage - 1tb, external hard drive


UPDATES IN THE LAST PARA



I have clarified a few things that other reviews had issues with and gave it a low rating.



For Starters: Since I use Both Mac & PC, I can 1000% say that it works on both these operating systems.



Some customers had issues with the drive going into sleep mode after 10 mins or so. Well, the copying process does not stop, just because the drive has gone into SLEEP mode.



You can take this SLEEP feature off by:



Process 1: Downloading a Free Seagate Manager program available on the Seagate website.

(I did not do this, I used process 2, described next)



OR



Process 2: Formatting the drive and remove the pre-installed Seagate software. Then the drive will NOT go to SLEEP Mode.



How to Format a Drive in Windows:

Plug the Drive --> Go to My Computer --> Right click on the Seagate icon--> Click "Format"



How to Format a Drive in Mac 10.4 or earlier:

Open Macintosh HD --> Click Applications --> Click Utilities --> Open "Disk Utility" --> Select the Seagate disk listed on the Left Side --> Click "Erase" tab --> Choose Volume Format to "MS-DOS" (I chose this so that I can use it on Windows & Mac).



(For the newer MAC 10.6.1 or later, I guess Format is : "Mac OS Extended (journaled)", as rightly pointed out to me by a learned customer IB...Thanks dude!)



Design: Compact & Sleek. Little bigger than the iPhone, but lighter than the iPhone (8GB)



Connection: NO A/C Power outlet needed. Only single USB port is needed, everything provided in the box. So you just take it out and plug it and use it.



Compatibility: Both PC & Mac. Although on the box it says "FOR PC", it was detected by my MAC and will work with both.



Size: Though it says 500GB, we get 465.35GB. And this is the case with most hard drives.



Speed: Forget about the specifics - it is FAST!!



Well worth your money, right!!!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~UPDATE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many customers have asking me why the format process did not work for their Mac?



The reason is, I have a Mac version 10.4.1 and I clarified that in the review.I guess there are a few changes for 10.6.1 and I added that too. If your MAC OS does not fit the description, the best way to start is by finding out OS version of your MAC & then search online on how to format it OR take it to an apple store.



Basically, the STEPS on how to format remain the SAME. But you might find some different Volumes Format based on your OS version. Volume Format will change as new Operating Systems (OS) keep sprouting.



When I bought this drive, there was not a single review which spoke about MAC Compatibility, let alone the other issues. But I took the risk and bought it for $100 or so.



Also, if you compare other reviews vs. mine. My review does not speak about how many songs I have on my drive, who gifted me this, how my life has changed with the new drive, how my office folks like it, how it fits in my pocket although the it is a trouser from my high school.



No offense, they are good individually. What I mean is....one review answer about plug n play....another spoke about light weight (by how much they didnt say)...another complained SLEEP issue...But none answered MAC compatibility, Format, Weight etc



My review has even answered everything that can happen with this drive. (Except that "What will happen if it breaks down" :P ) Seagate Expansion 1 TB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive ST910004EXA101-RK

---update at end---



I purchased this drive a few weeks ago and have been very pleased with it. The only junk it was the warranty registration program. Run it then delete it. Disk comes pre-formated for NTFS. I went ahead and did a quick format to get rid of the existing folders on it. The drive goes into standby mode after 5 minutes bye default. This is quickly remedied and set to your liking with free Seagate Manager program available on Seagates website. Also this program give you the ability to do backups, and computer syncs.



Pros -

Quiet drive

very fast

small and sleek

no power supply needed

only requires use of one usb port

Simple/Custom Backups with Seagate Manager

Sync Option with Seagate manager



Cons-

Goes into standby in 5 minutes by default. Easily changeable with Seagate Manager

Case Logic Compact Portable Hard Drive Case listed as an option to purchase with this is TOO SMALL for this drive. This is an issue with Amazon not the drive itself.



Overall I am very please with this drive I have used it on multiple laptops and pcs without issue. I would suggest this over the new WD essential drives that come pre-installed with a bunch of crapware.





------UPDATE--------- 12/17/2010

First Google seagate freeagent download select the Seagate link then select Free Agent GO link. File name is FreeAgentCN.ZIP



I have have used this drive for the last year still performs as well today as it did a year ago. This is still a great buy.

I bought this drive for three reasons:

1. Large capacity in a small form factor,

2. The ability to power/access it from a single USB port,

3. It was on sale at Amazon for under $70.



I started using it on my laptop when it arrived yesterday and was impressed: small, and it worked well with the short standard mini-USB cable. Then last night I plugged it in to my desktop and went to transfer over my 400 GB movie directory. It kept failing after about 10 seconds, at which time Windows 7 would report that I had just attached it. My first thought was it was due to the "sleep" utility, so I downloaded and installed the Free Agent tool from Seagate and set the timeout to Never. Didn't make any difference. I then used the test tool in the utility software and the it reported a drive failure at about 8%, and said I should contact Seagate for an RMA. All my other small external drives (except for an ancient 30 GB) need a splitter USB cable: one end connects to the drive and the two other ends connect to the PC, using the extra USB port for power. As I had nothing to loose, I gave one of those cables a try - it works fine. So, it appears that the drive needs more power than my PC can provide on a single USB cable.



I'm tempted to send it back, but I'm off on vacation tomorrow and it is a perfect drive for that. I may contact Seagate when I get back - maybe my drive is bad?





- - - - Update - - -

It worked perfectly on my trip, and it was nice to have the space. I've now tried this drive on four PCs - my desktop, my father's desktop, and two laptops. It works fine with the single cable on all but my desktop. This is strange, as I've tried the on-board USB ports and the ports on two add-in cards (one as USB-2 with four ports, and the other a USB-3 with two ports) and the drive will only work if I use a USB splitter cable. So, I have to say that the experience I reported in this review is unusual, and I can understand why others report it works fine with the single cable. - External Hard Drive - 1 Tb External Hard Drive - 1tb - External Storage'


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New Era


I buy this hat every year at the start of the season. It was the first time I actually bought a fitted hat online. Skeptical at first, I decided to give it a go at Amazon.com. I could not be more happy! Fits perfect, looks perfect and feels perfect. Yankees New Era 59FIFTY MLB Authentic Cap - Men's ( sz. 7 1/8, Navy : Home : Yankees )

I've been buying loads of stuff from Amazon for some time now and simply do love their service & products.



Early last month, I made my very first "Made in USA" Yankees cap purchase from Amazon ... unfortunate for me, I somehow made a wrong size selection with my order, it was just too big.



Apart from my personal error, I totally loved the quality and the finishing on this product, it was exactly what I dreamt it would be.



After a couple more different size purchases made with Amazon, I finally figured out my size, it was a 6 7/8.



What surprised me with my latest order was that, this particular "authentic" Yankees cap in size 6 7/8, was marked "Made in China" ???



So, can anyone confirm if this is still a genuine product?

Hat looked good and brand new in the box. Bought a 7 1/4 hat and it fit like a 7 3/8...only time this happened is when I bought it off amazon. Suggest buying the hat in a store and not online due to this. Dont know why. But my other 5 hats are all 7 1/4 and fit perfect. Yet the only time I buy a hat offline with the same measurement its off...hmmm makes me wonder if its real or not.

This hat is the classic internet purchase. Go to you local hat shop, try on the different styles and sizes. Then buy it on Amazon. I saved approx 40 percent on what I would have paid in my local speciality store. It is the exact same product! I absolutely love this hat. Go Yankees!!!!

I didn't actually purchase this hat off Amazon, but rather over at the Lids ha store.

This hat has it's pros and cons.



Its pros are that the colors on this don't seem to fade nearly as much as my new era wool hats and don't bleed after being exposed to excessive water. Also they don't seem to shrink at all compared to my wool hats as well.

The cons are that it actually seems to heat up your head faster than the wool hats do. They don't seem to breathe as well either. And personally, I kind of miss the new era flag on the left side of the hat.



If that doesn't bother you though, go for it defiantly. It's still nice to wear in any weather and I think will actually last longer than the wool hats will.

I have owned the new authentic caps since they have come out in 2007. I recently got a new one because I needed a bigger size. The materials used have gone down in quality slightly, the new caps aren't wool & acrylic like my 2007 cap, but rather 100% polyester and made in china. I do think the cap looks good and I like wearing the same cap that the players were on field. I am a proud NYY fan and this cap fulfills its purpose. Go Yankees!

My husband loves the yankees and he has to have a yankee hat every year. This hat was terrific! A great value and the right size. Its hard to find a 7 3/4 hat! This hate is going to be worn a lot. It will make a wonderful gift.'


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Russell Athletic


Under product features it states "100% Cotton" they are actually 58% polyester/42% cotton (at least the 2 I received which were Large colors-Graphite and Oxford). They will breathe, only because they are VERY lightweight. Very thin cotton that I do not expect to last more than a few washings. I would have been better off getting basic Hanes color T's at Walmart for $3.99 each.



UPDATE 12/4/2009 - 3 years old now and they have held up fine. After researching the Russell Athletic website the gray tones are a poly mixture, the other colors are 100% cotton. If you are looking for the old-school heavy duty quality search for "Russell Athletic PERFORMANCE", these are the T's I grew up with and last for decades, but I'm overall happy with the basic line. Russell Athletic Men's Basic T-Shirt, Black, XXX-Large

I bought this item because it was really cheap. The little "R" logo on the sleeve fell off in 1 week of athletic activity, but the fabric is very good and it seems this shirt will last a good long time

These are my first choice for a basic t-shirt. I wear them alone and under other shirts. There is some variablity in the exactly what you get: some of mine are 100% cotton, while others are the poly blend; some have hot-press R decals on the sleeve, while others are embroidered. Both versions are equally comfortable.



I've also found that these shirts don't strech, shrink, or otherwise deform like many cheap t-shirts are prone to do. They are very good at keeping their shape.

I work outdoors and like to wear a T-shirt with jeans as my usual outfit.

So, when it comes to T-shirts, I can be a bit demanding. For years I was buying my T-shirts from the Gap, but they tended to disintegrate after a short time. One day the Gap was under renovation and I need to buy some more T-shirts. I went to a sporting goods store in the Mall and bought a few Russell Athletic T-shirts.

What a difference, the cotton was twice a dense, the cut was nice and full-allowing free movement and the price was half that at the Gap.

My shirts seem to last longer and the color doesn't fade like the others.

I have bought other Russell products, and find their quality to be superior to their competitors.

I bought these for my husband and he likes them. They are a lot cheaper than at local sporting goods store chains where he previously purchased them. Being a big & tall man he'd like them to be a little longer but they are decent in that regard. He has a strong sensitivity to fabrics that are not 100% cotton. We've bought three shirts so far and waiting on two more.



Colors that are 100% cotton:



1. Black

2. Royal Blue





Colors that are not 100% cotton:



1. Graphite.





Waiting for the following colors to arrive, will update:



1. True Red

2. Columbia Blue

I recently got tired of buying 4-packs of t-shirts at Wal-Mart and having all but one from each pack shrink to unwearable sizes after one wash. I decided to try a few of the different t-shirts offered here on Amazon. I ordered this Russel t-shirt, a Hanes Perfect-T, and an Artiga t-shirt. Of the 3, this is the only one that did not shrink and/or flare at the waist after washing and drying.



The material is heavier than most cheap t-shirts. The one I received is 100% cotton, tagless and doublestitched at the sleeves, neck and waist hems. Overall, a great buy, and I will be buying several more of these to replace all the junk t-shirts I have bought over the past few years. Although the tag doesn't indicate it, I suspect that these shirts are made from pre-shrunk cotton.



I personally think these shirts are a great value considering I don't expect to have to relegate these shirts to the rag bin after a few washes. The confidence in a good product is worth the extra money to me.

Got Russell T based on Amazon reviews. Wanted an undershirt or basic color T to wear around town. Shirt holds a lot of lint when washed,and has an R logo on one sleeve which I did not care for. But for the price, I didn't expect much. It doesn't shrink too much and holds shape pretty well, it will be a good work shirt or undershirt, but it won't be used as a basic T.

I was choosing between these shirts and the ones from Old Navy for my job at Target. I already own one from Old Navy. I should've gone with the Old Navy ones since they're MUCH softer, these are made from heavy duty cotton and feel rigid. They're pretty baggy, and not fitted at all, definitely should have gotten a small. They're so long that they keep getting stuck in my PDA case at work. I'm 6' and weigh about 155 pounds. I wouldn't return them though, they're durable.'


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Powerline Ethernet - slinglink, slingbox


In a large (brand new 5-bedroom, 3500 sq ft house) it works pretty well. NOTE: my specific objective was to support a SlingBox (original) with cable Internet elsewhere in the house.



I've used SlingBox and SlingLink Turbo in two different configurations:



1. SlingBox connected directly to my router; SlingLink supporting other wired + wireless computers elsewhere in the house via a wireless router.



2. SlingLink connected the Internet and SlingLink broadcasting to SlingLink supporting my SlingBox and XBOX 360 as "slave" devices.



The first configuration is better (obviously) because SlingBox can "broadcast" up to a full 2.5Mbps over a LAN connection. The second configuration is better for everyday use since I get maximum Internet bandwidth on computers.



Findings:



1. Internet speed test dropped from 18-19Mbps down / 2.5Mbps up (Comcast w/ SpeedBoost) to 2100Mbps down / 800Kbps up.



2. SlingBox over SlingLink drops to 1.2Mbps (video quality is a bit choppy vs. perfectly smooth otherwise). I've had it spike to 1.6Mbps over the LAN.



3. Additionally SlingBox over the open Internet (original intended use) maxes out at 600kbps, which is a hair below what it was without SlingLink in the middle.



4. The only real "issue" with SlingLink is probably due to home wiring (i.e. on a semi-related note I had to re-wire every cable jack and replace the primary splitter that my electrical contractor originally installed because the cheap original hardware was so bad that ).



5. Newer SlingBoxes (AV/PRO/SOLO) may be more tolerant of "spotty" Ethernet connections, considering they have newer H.264 compression chips.



All in all I'm happy. Wireline Ethernet isn't perfect and would probably work a lot better in a condominium or smaller house. A larger house would/could justify multiple cable modems. Sling Media SlingLink Turbo Powerline Kit ( SL200-100 )

This may or may not work for you. I've got it working in my house. I've got a Netgear router upstairs in my bonus room hooked up to a Charter Cable box. My Dish reciever is downstairs in another section of my house. The Slinglink Turbo works fairly well; however, if I plug anything else into certain outlets in my bonus room, the whole connection basically just fails. So be aware of what you have plugged into other outlets as it might cause the whole thing to fail.

Slingbox is on par with Apple on their packaging of there products. I have the Slingbox Pro, HD Cable, and now this Powerline 4Port link. Everything you need is in the box or was with the Pro (2nd cable) I had this thing setup and running in less then 4 minutes. You open the box and the the next most difficult thing if you are like me is opening the plastic bags that each unit is in. (I did not want to rip them in case I needed to send this back) Plug in and done. I removed the 25' cable I had running across the carpet from my router to my Slingbox. (now happy wife too, thanks Sling Media)



I am using the Slingbox with my laptop and cell phone and both have great pictures coming across. I am only using one port on the SlingLink now but can see needing the others for future components near the TV. (Santa - PS3)

Where my Internet router and the Slingbox are located are not close to one another. Since I can't do wireless with the Slingbox I got the SlingLink and it works awesome. I was a little worried because the two rooms are on different circuits, but no problems. Easy to setup and no problems!! Anyone who is looking to setup their Slingbox to their router without having to run a long cable across the floor, this works great.

It works just the way you would want the device to work. Don't plug it into a surge protector - go straight to the outlet and it will connect without an issue. Only complaint is it takes a little longer to load the channel at full KB and obviously it adds more of a delay Approx 5 sec behind. But I love it - now i have an HD tv down the hall without paying for an additional cable box plus I can get my TV at work :-P

I was using my laptop via wireless network to connect to my Slingbox HD. Would occasionally provide a quality picture, but most of the time just average. Connected the SlingLink Turbo, increased my speed by almost 10 times what I was originally getting. I now receive a constant HD-worthy stream.



Would absolutely recommend.

Sling Media SlingLink Turbo Powerline Kit ( SL200-100 )



I've had this Sling Media Turbo kit for about 2-3 years now with the single port in the bedroom co-located with the router and the 4 port doing business at the other end of the house in the living room.



When I started, I might of had a Sling Box and a pc connected and found it quite acceptable.



However, today everything is internet connected. I have the 4 port behind the LCD TV chained together with an 8 port gig switch with 11, yes 11 (ELEVEN!) internet devices connected.



HP Multimedia PC

Sony Bravia TV (for firmware updates)

Sony Bravia Internet Link (Serving up Youtube, Amazon video and about 20 other Internet items)

Sony Blueray Disc player

Dishnetwork HD DVR

Standalone DVD Burner

Netflix Roku box

XBOX 360

XBOX 360 in the family room (that is what the second Slinglink will take care of - getting rid of 50 ft of cable running around thru the house)

Skype desk phone

And something I cannot remember at this moment (Oh, yea! the original Slingbox Turbo!). It is cable madness even with decent cable management behind the Sony.



Performance? Out freakin' standing - I cannot recall when bandwidth was ever an issue. Looking forward to just plugging in the 4 port, adding the XBOX, PS2 and the Wii and it will JUST WORK.



Oh, did I mention the OTHER 9 wireless devices sharing the same bandwidth? Gotta love technology and gotta love this device.



Or I just need to move the deep reaches of the Tennessee mountains and leave all this tech behind....



Get it! - Locationfree - Slinglink - Slingbox - Slingbox Pro'


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Cordless String Trimmer - trimmer, cordless string trimmer


I think this is perfect for someone who really:1) dislikes the noise and smell of the gas trimmers2) wants something fairly light3) does not want a cord to always worry about4) already has firestorm or B&D 18 volt products (batteries are interchangeable)I have used all 3 types of trimmers, gas, 120 wired, and this cordless one and I have to say the convenience is great. Instant on with a press of the switch is great. The plastic is a bit cheap feeling but it seems to do the work. I think it could've been much better constructed, but the battery life is pretty impressive and the speed/torque of the trimmer is also pretty impressive on a well grown/groomed lawn. It did have a bit of trouble instantly tackling a thick busy section of grass but after going over it 2-3 passes...it took care of it. This same spot has given me trouble even with the corded 120 volt version from Toro so this was expected. The gas one I had chewed through it easily but that's gas...I think for light to moderate work, it's fine. If you have thorny and thick undergrowth or even small plants with a fibrous stem, it'll take more work to get down than a gas.Oh..if you even TRY to 'bump and feed' this unit, you will find the spool falls off VERY easily with a solid thump to the bottom (THAT was a pain in the as* as it flew off and unwound a ton of filament that I had to rewind by hand and figure out how to put it back on!If you have 18 volt black and decker goods like I do, then you'll REALLY like having the two extra batteries and one extra charger. I have 4 batteries and 2 chargers amongst all the goodies now so I know i'll always have more than enough juice for anything around the house.I would vote 5 stars, but the plastic has a cheapy feel. Black & Decker NST2018 Grass Hog 12-Inch 18-Volt Cordless Electric String Trimmer with 2 Batteries

I just bought the B&D NST2018 trimmer along with the NS118 cordless blower. I have a corner lot with long parkways and a lot of sidewalk footage, and have grown tired of dealing with up to 175 feet of extension cables for my corded trimmer and blower. I've had a nice battery-powered mower for several years, and felt it was time to go all cordless. This new pair of tools seemed promising, particularly because of the removable battery design.After only one use I can say I'm reasonably satisfied, but not fully sold.Handling: This is probably one of the lightest cordless trimmers available and is easy to handle. The automatic feed system looks similar to the ones in other B&D models and seems to work properly. The shaft length is adjustable and the cutting head flips over for vertical edging.Power: The trimmer is clearly not as powerful as my corded one. It deals with grass and light ground cover adequately, but has a hard time on anything with thick stems. Not recommended for whacking big stuff.Battery: The batteries are compact. The trimmer comes with two of them, and I needed them both to complete one job. I guess I'm okay with this approach. It makes sense to lug around only as much weight as is necessary rather than carry a much heavier battery the whole time. If you buy this along with a blower as I did, you'll have four batteries and two chargers available for swapping. And if you happen to have a FireStorm 18v drill, you can apparently swap batteries with that system as well.Quality: Build quality seems similar to most B&D stuff, meaning it will probably work for a few years.Overall: Going cordless does simplify my work and save me time, but this tool isn't appropriate for all trimming jobs. I have a month to make up my mind about keeping it. But even if it passes muster, I suspect I'll want to hang onto my corded trimmer for the occasional heavy job.

I got this trimmer to replace a 14" corded Grasshog. Getting the cord out and dragging it around is a hassle. I had a cheap gas weedeater before and I could never get it to start, just ended up with a sore arm from pulling the cord. So I opted for this model. My first impression was that its wimpy. The string is almost too short. The battery drains quickly. It would be useless if 2 batteries were not included. But, it trims my 1/3 acre yard with hardly any juice left in the second battery. So, it does the job, but if you let your yard go for a few weeks plan on spending the weekend getting it back under control with the wimpy trimmer and anemic batteries. The auto feed, edger guide, and no cord are its best attibutes.

I bought this trimmer because my old toro 7" 6 volt cordless trimmer finally died. This one has a ton more power,and the one I bought came with two batteries. The batteries are of the type that you can leave on the charger without damamging them, they are kept at full charge. I got about 30 minutes of continuous use out of the batter after its first 9 hour charge. Subsequent charges take 3 to 6 hours. The unit is also lighter in weight than several other models and the adjustable shaft is nice because my wife and I both use it and we differ in height by several inches so we can both use it compfortably.

A new era of my life was begun this summer when I bought my own grass trimmer/edger and lawn mower. After five years of hiring one lawn service after another, I decided to mow and tidy my own lawn. Mind you, I am a senior citizen on the young end, a woman, and not a lover of machines with sharp edges that I must handle (not the edges, the machine). Just to make sure I could do this, I borrowed my brother's equipment. He showed me how to use them and I buzzed away.



On July 4th, I declared independence from lawn services by buying my own lawn mower and grass trimmer. I was nervous at first, but now I get out there and have the best time.



Here are the reasons that I like this particular trimmer (Black and Decker 18-volt cordless electric 12-inch Hog String Trimmer/Edger):



1. It is electric! That means no cord! When I was using my brother's corded unit, I kept thinking, wow, the person who invents a cordless unit will make a ton of money.



2. Other reviewers expressed dissatisfaction with the cordless machine because it was not strong enough or didn't last long enough or took too long to charge. Here are my findings:



a. Strong enough to do my job--didn't find this complaint true for me

b. I couldn't believe the unit faded out just as I finished. True, a yard any larger would require more charging.

c. The instructions say to keep the unit on the charger all the time. My unit is always ready to go when I am!



3. One of my biggest complaints about lawn services and one which they totally ignored me concerning was stripping the grass blades to just strings. These poor blades never got over the shock nor did they ever grow again. Since the lower part of my yard slopes, rain water washes the top layer of soil down the yard every time, creating a barren look. I could never get the grass to build up or soil to stay put. There are no stripped blades now!! The same is true wherever they trimmed: along brick edgers, around night lamp, and the area around my gigantic oak tree. Grass now grows right up to the roots which project from the trunk.



When I want to edge, I flip that shield over and edge away. Of course, one should always wear protective goggles.



Another great aspect of this trimmer is its spools of string. When I used my brother's, I had to restring the unit several times because the string became loose. My unit has already-strung spools to go with it. I can't believe how wonderfully this works! And no more bad words!



This trimmer is incredible and works only as well as the person in control! Plus, best bonus--my yard looks great! - Trimmer - Cordless Weed Whacker - Cordless String Trimmer - Black And Decker'


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Cordless String Trimmer - trimmer, cordless string trimmer black and decker Cordless String Trimmer - trimmer, cordless string trimmer

Sheathing Staples


I am the proud owner of a Porter Cable MS200 stapler. I have installed several hundred sheets of roof and side sheathing using these staples exclusively. Not one mis-fire. As I build mainly custom homes, most has been 3/4 stock. The holding power of just a few staples will make a believer out of anyone.... B & C Eagle SDM-2 2-Inch by 16 Gauge by 7/16-Inch Medium Crown Galvanized Sheathing Staple (10,000 per Box)

I've used nearly 20,000 of these staples in home construction projects, mostly by stapling plywood to joists. There have been no jams/misfires/double fires (with a Porter Cable stapler). The only "trick" to using them is to press the stapler nose into the wood as you pull the trigger; otherwise, the staple may not seat all the way due to the gun's "recoil". Try not to change your mind once you've stapled something, as they are coated with something to make them hold tight. These staples are first-rate, and both of my orders arrived undamaged.

Having limited experience with medium crown staples (MCS), I have had no problem with these at all. They have not jammed in my stapler as yet. Some one else commented that they arrived with the box broken and staples falling out, as did mine, but mine were still intact unbent and as usable as if the box were not broken - no big deal then. My problem is, as a DIYer, and not a professional, I had to buy 10,000 staples. I don't even know if I'll use this many in my lifetime.

Received these 10,000 staples in a 6 inch by 15 inch by 20 inch box.All the staples were loose and when the UPS man handed the box to me it sounded like a box of broken glass. Half of the staples were broken. They were in a Amazon Box.'


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