Guy Low Price Electronic: 1 Feb 2009

Sunday, 1 February 2009

Hardwood Flooring Nailer - b000f3i5zy, cpo bostitch

I purchased the MIIIFS stapler to lay approximately 1,700 sq. ft. of 3/4 inch red oak flooring in my new home. After installing well over 1,400 sq. ft. here are some of my observations:1) The tool makes it very easy for a novice to put down a nice, tight hardwood floor. If the boards are laying tight an easy swing of the mallet is all it takes to fully seat a staple (more on this later). If the board is warped the MIIIFS can stand up to a solid mallet smack without any trouble. The mallet's plastic face, by the way, does not show any signs of cracking so far.2) The stapler efficiently uses the its air so you do not need a big compressor. I have been using a 1.5 hp unit with a 6 gallon tank. Output is set at 85 psi. I doubt such a small compressor could supply two nailers simultaneously, but it handles one quite nicely.3) The stapler did develop a small air leak near the top shortly after I began using it. The amount of leaking is small (based on psi drop at the compressor) but does make a distracting noise. This leak does not affect the function or reliability.4) At your starting wall you need to face nail the flooring until you get about 6 inches from the wall. After that you'll have enough room to get the stapler into position.5) As you approach the far wall the stapler can be used up to the last 13 or 14 inches.6) As mentioned earlier the tool only requires an easy mallet smack. However, if you don't swing firmly enough the staple will not seat fully. This is usually caused by crowding against the far wall and not having enough room to swing the mallet.7) The firing knob is too stiff to actuate by hand reliably - the mallet is required. It would have been nice if there was a way to trigger the stapler by hand then you could use it much closer to the far wall.8) I have not had any problems with jamming. The unit I've been using has reliably shot every staple right down to the very last one in the magazine.9) I have heard some rumors of staple-style flooring nailers damaging the floor's tongue. After closely examining several hundred staples in oak I'd say that about 2 or 3 percent show any signs of tongue damage. Some of this infrequent damage is due to stapling through a knot or due to handling. Some is due to the MIIIFS. I'm not sure how this compares to nail-style nailers. Anytime you send a fastener through kiln dried hardwood you're bound to have some occassional splitting.Would I buy the MIIIFS again? You bet I would. Despite its few minor shortcomings this tool has saved me a LOT of work and the price is lower than other pnuematic nailers that I've looked at. Bostitch MIIIFS 1-1/2-Inch to 2-Inch Pneumatic Floor Stapler

As a professional building contractor I have tried several flooring tools, and can easily state that this is the best fastening system I have experienced for both unfinished and prefinished flooring. The staples hold better than cleat nails, and result in far less tongue splits as well. Surface marring and excessive tongue splitting are caused by improper or inexperienced operation of the tool, not by the tool itself.

I run a hardwood flooring company in Wyoming and have 3 of these units running all the time...They are durable and very dependable...we have been experiencing problems with the nuts and bolts holding the bottom plate on. Several of these bolts are in hard to reach areas and come loose and fall out several times a day. I would recommend this item to anyone, but I also would recommend that you buy a bottle of LockTite at the same time, And go through and LockTite all of the bolts, Other than that this is a awesome unit, We have one that is one of the very first air assist bostich nailers and it is still running strong. Good luck!

I purchased this nailer from Amazon to lay 3/4" hardwood flooring in several rooms in my house. I have since fired about 5000 staples through it without any problems whatsoever. This stapler is very well designed ergonomically and mechanically. The mallet is big and somewhat massive in weight but there is a purpose in that. It takes very little effort and just a slight tap to drive a staple because it is pneumatic. So if a board lays nice and straight, then a slight tap will suffice, but if you have a somewhat uncooperative piece of flooring, then you will appreciate the heft of the mallet because it will cause the most finicky of boards to come together and lay tightly. The handle is long and fits well in your hand. Consequently your not bent over as much. My first floor laid was oak and I've started my second which is brazillian cherry. This wood is extremely heavy and dense. This stapler does not care how hard the wood is, it just works and flawlessly at that. After all isn't that what you want from a tool, flawless performance!

I've installed thousands of feet of hardwood with the M111FS and it has, so far, worked flawlesly. The hammer activated model does a nicer job than the older trigger activated one. The light mallet blow required is just enough to drive the board being fastned tightly against the existing work for a tight joint and at the same time offering resistance against the driving mechanisum to insure uniform and propper seating of the staple.

I have received (2) Staplers and both units developed identical operating problem within (5) hours operating time. A small air leak developed upper section below rubber driving cap. Shortly after air leak developed 8 to 10 staples, units stopped operating.I have checked operating procedures and have found no problem. Have discussed problem with other users that had rented unit from Home Depot and was told they experienced absoultely no problem. Even after 20 hours of hard use, rented unit operated perfectly for them. I have request another unit and am in the process of shipping these defected (2) Units back. Also have e-mailed Bostitch and requested technical support.

If you have ever used a hard wood nailer that wasn't pnuematic, you'll want all that time back once you get your hands on one of these. Fast and easy to use. I've used one for years with no problems or regrets. - Staplers - Bostitch - Cpo Bostitch - B000f3i5zy'

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Office Tools - staple remover

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Originally I owned the Stanley Bostitch Professional Magnetic Staple Remover and I absolutely loved that thing, it's especially great for someone who removes a lot of staples in a day. In any event, I lost it (or more likely a coworker stole it) and I thought I'd try something new, despite my love for that particular device.

I think we can all agree that the "gator" staple pullers just plain suck so I got the Swingline Ultimate Staple Remover. This thing felt like it was gonna snap in two just from it's first use. The plastic is cheap and hollow to-boot making it feel weak and clumsy. The piece of plastic under the blade is too thick to actually wiggle under most staples without tearing the paper. Plus the little switch that knocks out the caught staples is pointless, just PULL 'EM OUT! Unlike the voluptuous and streamlined style of my previous staple remover, this POS is just uncomfortable.

I digress... one could argue that you get what you pay for at a measly $4 and change, but the Stanley Bostitch Professional Magnetic Staple Remover isn't a dollar more and worth it's weight in gold. Not literally, well maybe... it's pretty light. Anyway, don't bother with this one. Swingline Ultimate Staple Remover, Platinum (S7038121) - Staple Remover'

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Ge Refrigerator Water Filter - refrigerator, ge water filter

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Shipped immediately, took it out of the box, ignored all the instructions and warnings as men do, unscrewed the other one, put this one in, filled up 2 big glasses of water to "flush it" and that was it.

Maybe 5mins worth of effort?

Not sure what else to say in a review of this item, worked great in our GE fridge. GE MWF Refrigerator Water Filter, 1-Pack

The item exactly matches with original filter. The original filter is type GWF "Smart Water Plus" for GE refrigerator type PSS26LGRB WW.

It took hardly couple of minutes to replace the filter. We have observed the new filter for the last few weeks and we have not faced any problem so far.

I received these filters GE SmartWater MWFINT. I ordered GE SmartWater MWF filters. These international filters will not work on GE refrigerators. I will contact Seneca river Trading. I think these could be counterfeits!!!!!

I did receive one genuine water filter for my refrigerator and it worked fine. But what I ordered (and what it stated on my invoice and on my order confirmation) was a "3-pack of ..."

I tried to contact the vendor, no response.

I tried to contact vendor through Amazon resolution web page, no response.

I filled out an Amazon claim, no response.

Amazon refunded my money.

So although the filter I did get was fine, the vendor needs to work on their customer service. I am satisfied with what happened, but still it would have been more fair if they had just refunded me 66.6% of the money I paid, or had sent me two more filters and not refunded me anything....

I also ordered the MWF and received a MWFINT. Wrote to Seneca River Trading and they replied that it can be substituted for the regular one. It may be, but if you read what it filters, it's a bit different from the "American" one. Not sure what to do.......

Ordered one MWF filter and received a MWFINT filter for international replacement only. I am looking into it to see if I can even use this filter. I gave one star because of the quick delivery of the item I didn't order. If the company handles this appropriately I will reconsider giving more stars and credit where it is due. - Water Filter - Ge Water Filter - Ge - Refrigerator'

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Pretend Play - dress-up, dress shoes

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They are on the small side, they just fit my 4 1/2 year old who wears a kid size 10 shoe and they just fit her.

They aren't the highest quality - so you kinda get what you pay for. It's cheap for 3 pairs and the bag that it comes in is really cute. Overall, she likes them, but doesn't love them. Pretty Little Princess 3pk Dress-Up Shoes in Bag

I had looked around for some play shoes for my 20 month old as her friends had some and she was crazy for them. All i had seen was very expensive Disney ones, until i came across these.

She and i are very very satisfied with them. They are a great price, come in a nice little bag which you can keep them in too, and look really cute.

She plays with them all the time and they are still in pretty much the same condition they were new. So durable and long lasting.

I would recommend them and like i said, are, i think great value for money. I know i could't justify $30 for a couple of pairs of plastic play shoes, now you dont have to worry about that.

These shoes were a gift to my daughter for her birthday last December. She just turned 4. The shoes are very cute, but do not fit her (very small) feet well at all - she has average width feet, and these seem to "squish" her feet when she wears them. The ribbons on the shoes started to fray within 1 month of use (she does wear them almost daily!) and the fluffy pink marabou broke off of the one pair within a week. Now 2 pairs no longer have their decorations. I am also very concerned that she is going to twist her ankle in these. They do not provide any stability and she is constantly half "stepping off" of them.

With all of that being said, my daughter LOVES these shoes. They have replaced, for the most part, the "real" princess shoes - ones I bought that are meant to be shoes to wear on special occasions - with sparkles, sequins, and little heels. She is quite content to run around in these new heels and her princess dresses everyday! She will be very sad when they disappear in a few months because they don't fit anymore!

Recap:

Pros:

Daughter Loves Them!

Very Cute

Fairly inexpensive

Multiple pairs in package

Cons:

Do not fit well - they run VERY small

poor quality - falling apart after 1 month of use, also paint chipping off of show in shoe pad - where fot sits

Dangerous - could easily twist an ankle or fall wearing these - VERY minimal stability for feet/ankles

I'm not sure I understand anyone complaining that these are "cheap", etc. As a previous reviewer mentioned just getting one pair of Disney play heels will cost you more than twice what these THREE pair WITH the cute storage bag will cost you. We got these for my four year old who has size 9 feet and she has plenty of room in them. All three pair are slightly different (you can't tell that from the photo so I wasn't sure when I ordered). They're a little slick on the bottom, but that's easily fixed by just scuffing them a bit outside. (I'm 37 and have to do that with my own heels sometimes!)

I'm astounded at what you get for the money with these and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone. - Dress Shoes - Dress Up - Dress-up - Princess'

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Battery Packs - makita, lithium-ion

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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. - Makita - Lithium-ion - 18v - 18 Volt'

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Flower Girl - wedding, flower girl

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I ordered two of these necklace and bracelet sets for my flowergirls. The necklace and bracelet are what I expected, plastic and appropriate for 4 year olds.

The packaging is really cheap, the poem is printed on what looks to be cardboard, and I'm definitely going to remove the necklace and bracelet from the package and put them in a nice gift box before I give them to the girls. Plastic Flower Girl Necklace and Bracelet Gift Set

I received this with the box all twisted, which sort of defeats the purpose of the cute box/card combo on the front. I will be opening it and re-packaging the jewelery myself. Not a great buy even for as inexpensive as it is. I find better at Wal-mart...sorry.

I agree with previous reviews. It is pretty cheap packaging, and I will be putting them in a different box. As for the necklace, it certainly is plastic, but it looks nice and seems pretty durable for a little girl. Also, it was a very reasonable price so for how much it costs it certainly is worth it.

Purchased these for my flower girls (toddlers). The price was perfect and the product met/exceeded my expectations. The necklaces look like they are real and if they somehow get damaged or lost there will be no crying over spilled milk. - Flower Girl - Wedding'

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Memory Card Wallet - memory card wallet, sd card

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Case is very well constructed but the internal arrangement and accommodation of SD cards was not as described or as depicted in the photo. As noted by another reviewer, my case included internal space for 16 mini SD cards, but was arranged differently than depicted in the photo, and made no accommodation for the standard SD cards (the pictured product accommodates both types of cards). Although product number was correct (9010), it looks like manufacturer installed the incorrect rubber storage inserts in the case; it appears to be the insert intended for the model 0920 case. Unlike the other reviewer with the same problem, I did not try to re-cut the rubber inserts to hold SD cards, but rather returned the product to Amazon. Ordered a second unit (model 9010) and it came with the same incorrect inserts. Would reorder if I could be assured of the correct rubber inserts for the 0910 model. Great build quality.

UPDATE: Pelican acknowledged some assembly problems that put the wrong insert in the 0910 case. They sent me the correct replacement case. Great product. Pelican 0910-010-110 Secure Digital Memory Card Case

If you are looking for a GOOD Memory Card Case this case by Pelican won't disappoint. It is very well made and deserves the Pelican name. It has a good weather seal and keeps a good grip on the SD cards I have placed in mine. Some of the other cases out there seem to be a little on the "cheap" side. This guy is sturdy!

This item was exactly what I was looking for to store my SDHC cards for an upcoming trip. I read all of the information that Amazon had on this item and the one that bother me was the size. They have the following listed: Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6 x 1.5 inches ; 8 ounces. This just seemed way to big for what I was trying to store. I looked around for this item elsewhere and they had the dimensions as something smaller. When comparing the two it looks like Amazon had the right dimensions but they should have been centimeters instead of inches (close to the centimeter dimensions). I wrote and asked Amazon about this and they told me that this is all they had on this item. If I needed more information that I needed to get with the Manufacturer. Amazon had it for $22.81 with free shipping. By the time I looked around and found the manufacture's information and that this was indeed centimeters instead of inches, I ran across the same item for $14.22 and $2.92 shipping for a total price of $17.14. Not a bad deal and the place was fast. Too bad Amazon didn't have time to actually look up this item and tell me the correct measurements because I would not have gone any further and purchased it from them. It is still a good deal at $22.81 but if your customer service can't answer a simple questions, and I have to go somewhere else to find the information that I needed, then I will purchase at the lower price at the place that gave me the correct information.

Here are the actual sizes from the place I purchased this item for those who would like to know:

Exterior Dimensions: 5.00" x 3.30" x 0.95"

(L x W x D) (12.7 x 8.4 x 2.4 cm)

Interior Dimensions: 4.20" x 2.30" x 0.56"

(L x W x D) (10.7 x 5.8 x 1.4 cm)

Lid Depth: 0.26" (0.7 cm)

Bottom Depth: 0.30" (0.8 cm)

Total Depth: 0.56" (1.4 cm)

Weight w/Foam: 4.48 ounces .28 lbs. (0.13 kg)

Weight w/o Foam: 2.72 ounces .17 lbs. (0.08 kg)

Colors: Black

Great storage for SD cards as well as micro cards.

Liked it so much, I bought a second one. I didn't want to discover if SD cards work after a couple of hours in the pocket of my hiking shorts. As a long time user of other Pelican products, I knew this was the solution. Last weekend, I dropped on a flooded trail, no problem. Pelican, when you really want the insides to stay dry.

I purchased this product after considerable online review of multiple types of media cases. This case is truly a great choice. I have not had one problem with the cards dislodging from their locations. They are in place every time I open this case. It was well worth the cost.

I have to say I was impressed, the pictures don't do it justice. This is a Heavy Duty case. I needed a better case than the soft cases that you usually find. I lost an SD card by having it in the softcase and accidentally siting on it, the SD card did not survive. I've had a few of the metal case card holders and have squeezed them enough that they no longer close, those are so much scrap aluminum now. This case has a great weather seal and a sturdy locking latch. It is a tad on the big side, but I take durability over size any day. I don't think it would survive me driving my truck over it, but that's not on my agenda today. If you need a sturdy all weather SD/Mini SD card case, this is it. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.

Once again Pelican gets it right. This case is water resistant and you can drop and even beat the hell out of it and your cards remain safe inside. If you want a memory card holder that offers more than a little cushioning, this is your case. I have several other items from Pelican (various flashlights and cases) and none of them disappoint. They are one of the few brand loyalties that I have.

This case is a very handy idea if you have multiple SD Cards. I was using the individual cases that the SD Card usually comes with so there was a level of protection. However, if you use these cards on a consistant basis and have multiple cards it's easy to forget where you left them. This case holds 8 SD Cards and is a great way to protect and keep track of your cards. - Memory Card Wallet - Memory Card Case - Sd Card - Sd Case'

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