Guy Low Price Electronic: 26 Mar 2009

Thursday, 26 March 2009

Home Improvement - combo packs, air compressors

This part works well for what its for. It is basically a replacement end for the RN46 that has about 3/16 shaved from the bottom of the tip. This allows you to set the tip of the gun on the locking flange and shoot. The tip also has a protrusion that fits in the slot but we grinded that off because the slots are wide enough to know when you are in them. It is a good addition but the price seems a little high. Bostitch VSA4 Vinyl Siding Adaptor Kit

I bought this adapter to install vinyl siding, what it is made to do. Had to grind rear of tip off to make it fit siding. Shoots about a 70% accuracy in hitting the hole. By the end of the house I was doing we went back to a hammer and nails.

The adapter can certainly work. It does require some extra monitoring to keep the nails lined up and not blowing out the vinyl siding tabs. For the expense of not buying a gun specifically for siding it was certainly worth it. If you expect to get a lot of siding jobs I would probably get a nail gun specific for the task though. - Air Compressors - Nail Gun - Home Improvement - Combo Packs'

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Speedo Biofuse

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My twin boys have used these flippers for the past two summers. Living in the South, we spend many months swimming and the flippers are still in great condition. They'll outgrow them before they wear out. We like the fact that the back is flexible rubber and comfortable on the foot. Friends kids have tried them out and wanted to know where they could get a pair because they're so much better than the strap on kind. U.S. Divers Sea Lion Jr Fin (Yellow/Blue, Size- 1-3)

Purchased the Aqua Dolfins for my 7 and 8 year old girls. Followed up with purchasing the US Divers fins. Both are very good for their needs (on a swim team practicing laps in a pool). The US Divers fins are two-tone, a little smaller in overall size, and definitely lighter. Presently, the girls are sharing the US Divers fins among them. The US Divers fins look like small adult fins and I think if they had a choice, they would prefer to swim with the US Divers fins. The most important aspect is fit. The girls have not complained about the fit of either brands' fins. Note: In Hawaii, it was difficult locating these US Divers fins for my young daughters. Highly recommneded.

My kids have been begging me for a set of fins since taking swim lessons last summer and getting to wear a pair. These are so nice and soft on their feet and ankles - they have not complained once about the fit or feel the way that I know they would if I'd bought the less pliable variety with the straps. Also, they have a big enough range in sizes that I won't have to replace them immediately, but they still manage to stay on their feet perfectly. The rubber seems extremely durable and yet soft too.

We don't go to the pool without them.

Purchased these for my novice swimmer daughter. This gives her alot of confidence since it makes treading easier and the obvious quick movement. Once she learned she can't walk fast out of the water she was doing tricks and swimming fast across the pool and even getting her underwater stamina and confidence.

These have not only been fun for my son to swim in, but they have improved his swimming. He used to run under the water ha ha...now he understands that keeping his legs straight and kicking up and down with the flippers makes him go so much faster! Even when he is not wearing them he is keeping his legs straight. Inexpensive and fun, all kids love them.

Bought these for our 6 y.o. son and he loves them. They are a little big, but don't fall off when he wears them, so just the right amout of growing room. No rubbing or hot spots, so they are perfect! :)

Joining the crowd. Excellent swimming fins for my child. Rubber material is soft enough(after a pair of plastic ones) to wear them for long time (my son practically does not take them off during the swim session (2 more hours). They fit his little feet well- true to the size. I definitely recommend them and will buy them again as soon as these are outgrown.

My 8 year old grandson loves these fins. They are well made and soft (flexible) enough for pools with liners. He was apprehensive of the water this year and the fins sparked his interest. He can beat his older brother to the opposite side of the pool. The fit was perfect for this year and hopefully next. The boot design is so much better than the straps that break so often. The price was so reasonable that I don't mind having to buy the next size up when needed.

These fins are fantastic! We kept getting the cheap plastic ones that come in a little kit at a department store but they fell apart in two weeks. So I took a chance and ordered these--for almost the same price. They are Awesome! In fact, I accidentally ordered two pair and since she loves them so much, I decided to keep the second set for backup!'

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Fur Hat - nylon, fur hat

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Ever since my doctor told me I had diabetes about a year ago, I've been doing a lot of walking. In the bitter cold winter months, when the wind is howling, this hat is just what I needed to keep me warm. And believe me, this is a warm hat. There are a number of this style hat here on Amazon, so there was no particular reason I bought this one. I wanted a large/X-large just to be sure it was roomy enough. Excellent hat. Highly recommended!! New Winter Faux Fur Pilot Trapper Trooper Ski Hat Black Medium Large

EXPERIENCE: I bought this because I wanted something to keep my head and ears warm during the freezing winter months. I have a couple of beanie hats, but they don't keep my ears warm, and I am constantly having to readjust their position on my head, to keep them down on my ears.

Incase you didn't know, the word Faux means, synthetic fox hair. So, if your buying this because you want real fox hair, your going to be disappointed. This is called a troopers hat, you may have seen them before. Infact, you may have seen the trooper in the movie "Fargo" wearing it, while drinking her cup of coffee, while also trying to solve a mystery.

I really like these, because they are a nice snug fit on my head, which keeps the cold out. While they also have protection for your ears, both sides are capable of clipping together, for windy days. I find that they are very comfortable for me to wear, and help to keep me nice and toasty warm.

CONCLUSION: Weather you are trooper, trapper, mountain climber, or just your daily walker, you are going to want one of these. When the temperatures plummet bellow freezing, you'll be glad you got it. I find that the price is right, and I would not be caught dead outside without it. So yes, without a doubt, I highly recommend it, 5-STARS.

UPDATE: I just wanted to let everybody know that these hats have one problem, that I recently have come across. The strap that secures the hat onto your face, will pull itself out each time. What you want to do is, grab a small safety pin, and use that to keep the two halves of the strap secured together, so that it does not pull out of itself. I still think its a great hat though!

I always wanted one of these derpy looking hats and I finally decided on this one.

It rode proudly adorned on my head about town all winter whilst my collection of beanies were left at home.

It fit ALMOST too snugly (I would say I have a larger than average head, a full on large size might be better) and was so stupid warm and comfy that I made everyone try it on when they made jest of it, because then they, like myself, were left in disbelief of just how awesome it was.

Seriously, this thing is amazing, if I ever lose/ruin mine I will be right back here getting a new one. The super-crazy-soft ear flaps snap on the bottom, making scarves a purely aesthetic accessory.

I took this bad boy snowboarding, and trust me, the fur looks mega manly when its got ice sickles forming off of it.

2 thumbs up, I've paid 2x as much for hats that I've liked half as much as this beast.

I live in a winter country and this hat keeps me always warm. In addition, the material it is made of looks like real fur. While its earmuffs are clasped to the top, it resambles a fancy Russian Ushanka (so, you can perfectly wear it and looks ellegant if tying them with a pin. You'll receive a lot of compliments). Great price-value relation, and also delivered on time. Undoubtedly one of my best purchases in amazon. Trust me: this is not only an informal hat, but also can be used to look fashionable. HIGLY RECOMMENDED!

This hat may look like a piece of road kill when you see it (LOL) but it does the job! I bought it for my husband as a Christmas present and he just stared at it when he opened it. We soon had a major blizzard (and soon another blizzard) and he was wearing the hat and loving it! I'd buy another one in a heart beat. - Nylon - Bomber - Fur Hat - Grey'

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Porter-cable - porter-cable

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I purchased this stapler to install a 28ft X 43ft plywood subfloor. The staples were spaced every 8 square inches and I used the 1 1/4" staples.

It worked flawlessly. No misfires and every staple was properly counter sunk. Originally I thought that after this project, I would probably never use it again. But with the wide range of staples it accepts, I have begun to use it on smaller projects that I would have used my 16 guage P.C finish nailer.

For me it was a good investment> Porter-Cable NS150B 1/2- to-1-1/2-Inch 18-Gauge Crown Stapler

I compared the two Porter-Cable 18-gauge crown staplers and chose this one because for $10 more had the capacity to fire 1-1/2" staples versus the 1-1/4" capacity of the NS100B. It also has sequential fire option, that I tried and liked but have yet to use extensively. Overall, I was very impressed with this unit.

I was impressed that I was able to easily tack 3/4" thick strapping that I was using for spacers in to 2X framing as well as a secure large quantity of 1/2 inch foam board without adjusting the staple depth once I set it.

A few other features I liked:

* Lightweight and well balanced, made it easy to maneuver overhead and in tight spots

* Easy to adjust staple penetration depth

* The hanger spins from side to side, so you can hang it on either side of your belt

* There is an easy to see red warning window tells you that your are almost out of staples

* The air exhaust is routed through the handle so it blows away from you and your work

On the negative side, one small nitpick:

* You have to position the hanger at just the right angle for the case to close

While remodeling a bedroom, I decided to try something new and went with ceiling planks. Instructions said stapling was the best method. Not wanting to go the manual route, I started looking into a pneumatic stapler. After reading several articles and my past experience with other PC tools, I decided I couldn't go wrong with this stapler. Within 20 minutes (yes - I DO read the instructions...) I was putting on the ceiling planks. It's very quiet for a pneumatic tool and light enough where I had no problems having it over my head. To experiment a little, I was able to drive the staples until I hit about 65 psi. That's about the pressure where the staples are not flush to the surface. Since these ceiling planks are basically recycled cardboard, I wouldn't recommend going below 75psi on most jobs. Ceiling done, I have managed to find several other "honey-do" projects where this stapler has really come in handy. If you're a weekend handy-man and want a stapler that gets the job done, is lightweight, and easy on the budget, check out this model.

I bounced around between Bostitch and Porter Cable for the smaller nailers and staplers, and have since moved almost completely over to Porter Cable. Loading the tool is easy. Removing jams (if ever needed) is also ver simple. Well designed, well balanced, lightweight, and nice quality. All around, a very nice tool.

I own several Porter Cable tools, all of 'em are first rate. However this one is not: it "double shoots" frequently; did so from day one. One can work around that of course. It was a good buy but only because it was very inexpensive. I wouldn't recommend it for finish work.

Works as a stapler, for now. However, time will tell. Until now, my tool line has been a PC advertisement and oiler promotion. This is my first Black & Decker, post-PennAir, PC addition. This stapler shares many features common to a tool line acquired by B&D (remember Dewalt?), molded plastic parts where one would expect stamped metal, paint finishes rather than polished metal, and idiosyncratic engineering changes.

I hadn't ever thought light weight pneumatic tools required integral belt hooks. Apparently, neither does B&D as they included instructions in the owners manual on how to remove it. This is more remarkable as those same instructions lack the procedure for how to load staples.

Oil free, heavy users understand the value of regular lubrication. Oiled tools simply last longer and perform more reliably. Oil free has its place. My spray gun is serviced by an oil free compressor. However, all of my nailers always have an in-line snubber/oiler at the tool inlet. If spots are a problem, then adjust the exhaust away from the work.

Steel missing from where one would expect it. Body castings lacking any distinguishing characteristics between aluminum or potmetal.

Then, of course, there are those wildly entertaining side notes, instructions obviously written by non-native speakers of english including strange safety warnings about using sharp tools. - Porter-cable'

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Rechargeable Batteries - charger, nimh

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Why should you get this charger instead of some other charger?

5 words: CHARGE, DISCHARGE, TEST, REFRESH and LCD!

CHARGE

Choose the individual charging rate for each battery, (200/500/700/1000/1500*/1800*mA).

Why choose the charging rate?

If you're rushing, charge fast and hot. If you're charging overnight or over dinner, charge more slowly. Slow charging is almost always gentler on the batteries, giving you a longer useful life.

Why set the charging rate individually?

You want this ability in case you have batteries of different capacities, partially discharged batteries, mixed brand/quality or any number of other reasons.

* Note

1500/1800mAh only available in Charge mode and only when charging 1 or 2 batteries in terminals 1 and/or 4.

DISCHARGE

This mode discharges the battery down to 1 volt then recharges to full capacity using Delta V measurement, at a user-selectable charging level*, of course.

Why discharge then charge?

This is the older technique developed to avoid capacity-robbing memory effect encountered when recharging NiCad-based batteries (which by the way are compatible with this charger, unlike the Maha mentioned below).

Why Delta V?

This is the modern measurement adopted by most "fast/rapid" chargers. While not quite as accurate as simultaneously using Temperature measurement and/or detecting Zero Delta V, as the Maha/PowerEx C-204W can do, it should be enough to prevent battery damage and insure complete, consistent charging.

* Note

Discharge rates are 1/2 the selected charging rate (max 1000mAh charging in this and other modes). Some batteries can take discharge rates this high, others can't. Most electronics don't drain batteries this fast continuously, so most batteries won't be any "healthier" if discharged too fast. Since this mode will probably take several hours to complete, do it overnight at the gentler 200mAh or 500mAh charging modes (and corresponding 100mAh/250mAh discharge modes).

TEST

Did you think that those little power strips on alkaline batteries were a good idea? I did, who doesn't want to know how much juice is left in a battery. The problem is the indicator bars weren't very meaningful and couldn't measure voltage too accurately.

Now, this charger can tell you more accurately the voltage output of your batteries (which you may interpret as an indication if it's fully charged > 1.40V or discharged < 1.20V). Still, that's just an indication of charged capacity. Why not a direct measurement?

The Test mode does just that. It measures the capacity of each battery and reports it. It initially charges each battery, discharges it (simultaneously measuring the mAh) and then recharges it, leaving you with full batteries and a record of how much juice it discharged during the test.

Why Test?

You ever pull open a drawer, find a rechargeable, wonder if it's "still any good," recharge it and then use it just to find out? This baby will do it all for you, giving you the answer for each battery as it finishes.

Another good reason is to verify the capacity of newly bought batteries. I'm using it now to check each battery in a brand 24-pack of Lenmar 2000s. It's found some clunkers which I'm saving for the next mode, which is...

REFRESH

If you're thinking this mode refreshes batteries, you're right. I haven't had the chance to use it yet, but you know I will. I've got some great candidates too, brand new clunkers from Lenmar, some good old "state of the art 1400mAh" Sanyo and Nexcell NiMH's and even some older NiCads (it may be cheaper in the short term to return them to service than to dispose of them).

You can't use this charger on alkalines or rechargeable alkalines, so don't even think about "refreshing" those in this charger.

One thing about the Refresh mode. Refreshing NiCads manually may take several cycles of charging and discharging. Not only does this charger perform the charge/discharge cycle as many as 20 times, it measures the capacity of each discharge cycle and stops refreshing when the capacity of each battery isn't improving anymore. With other chargers, you're probably overcharging some of the batteries just to get the others back up to snuff.

LCD

One thing the Maha doesn't have is an LCD readout (though their C-777 model does, maybe next year?). The BC-900 has an individual LCD readout for each battery, which you can set to alternatively display any of 4 different measurements (hours, volts, mA charge/discharge, mAh), in addition to continuous displaying the particular mode each battery is in. The LCD readout retains it's reading (e.g. tested mAh) until the battery is pulled out, making overnight "tests" possible. The LCD makes all the other charger modes informative and practical.

Shame on those other chargers that have LCD indicator bars but no numerical display (some even cost more than the BC-900).

Understand, as great as all the different modes and options of this charger are, without an informative LCD display, they would be "shot's in the dark". With the individual displays, I'm happily recharging batteries, checking the quality of each, refreshing some while storing the "truly" fully charged ones.

With the LCD, I'm getting an idea of just how good a pack of batteries (and hence brand) is.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

Transformer

The current power brick is oriented so that it may block adjacent outlets, so put it on the end of a powerstrip or AVR/UPS unit. My Nokia phone charger has the plugs on the edge so it's really low profile on the outlet.

While the transformer is thankfully a bit slimmer than most external units, it is also a bit longer than most (about 1.75in by 3). It is however Autovolt from 100-240V, although another reviewer mentioned the 3V DC output was sort of a pain.

I wish this charger had a built-in power transformer and a retractable cord.

Cooling fan

Batteries get hot from charging, they'll read hot too. A built-in cooling fan would keep the batteries cooler during charging and probably give a more accurate "just-charged" reading on the LCDs. Some other high end chargers have fans built-in, so I'd hate to see this "ultimate" charger get upstaged by lacking such a common-sense $1 feature.

Free Bag

The unit comes with a free bag which is much roomier than necessary. I could fit my Casio Exilim camera, dock & transformer for the Casio, backup compact film camera along with the battery charger, C/D-cell adapters and 24-pack of batteries in the bag. While I feel sort of silly mentioning a quirk about a free item, the bag is hardly usable as a belt bag since it is so ... baggy.

CONCLUSION

If you ever invest in rechargeable AA/AAA technology, you'll multiply your investment by getting this charger.

UPDATE 7/6/2005:

I've REFRESHed about 8 clunkers so far, 2 NiCads an officemate brought for me to work on (about 2 years old) and 6 Lenmar 2000 batteries.

The results?

NiCad

1 rated at 700, first TESTed at 256, REFRESHed to 677.

2 rated at 700, first TESTed at 344, REFRESHed to 741.

NIMH - done REFRESHing.

1 rated at 2000, first TESTed at 448, REFRESHed to 1507.

2 rated at 2000, first TESTed at 527, REFRESHed to 1820.

3 rated at 2000, first TESTed at 680, REFRESHed to 1488.

NIMH - still REFRESHing.

4 rated at 2000, first TESTed at 435, REFRESHed to 1270+.

5 rated at 2000, first TESTed at 436, REFRESHed to 1713+.

6 rated at 2000, first TESTed at 349, REFRESHed to 1813+.

More Room for Improvement?

Charging Rate Limit (wrt Terminal 1)

The charging rate selected for Terminal 1 (1-4 left to right) is the highest rate you can select for each of the 4 Terminals. I didn't think this would be a big deal, but when you REFRESH batteries at the gentlest rate (200mah charging, 100mah discharging) and the cycle may repeat as many as 20 times ... well, you do the math. I know I didn't have to set it at the gentlest rate, but I figured I shouldn't stress already marginal batteries.

Now, when the battery in Terminal 2 read full (as in Fully Refreshed), I took it out to charge one of the other batteries I had already used up. Enter the Charging Rate Limit. I am limited to 200mah charging (the current setting for the still REFRESHing battery in Terminal 1) and it's driving me nuts! I wish each Terminal had it's full 200-1000mah charging rate available independent of the settings on the other Terminals. La Crosse Technology BC-9009 AlphaPower Battery Charger - Rechargeable Batteries - Charger - Battery Charger Aa Or Aaa - Nimh'

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Outdoor Firepit - outdoor fireplace, outdoor fire pit

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We bought this form a local hardware store chain - Menards - $99.99 every day price.

ours is black, which we like because so is our iron deck furniture. so it matches nicely.

it looks good sitting on the deck. up close, when putting it together, you see some flaws. little nicks here and there, the weld where the side meats the bottom. also the protective loop does not align very well. I got picky and spent a lot of time bending it here and there to make it fit tight and flush. had to do the same with the spark screen thing too. as it was so out of round, it woudl not fit on at first.

One thing, at the end of the instructions, just when you are getting excited to fire it up, they tell you to add 5lbs of sand to the bottom. the reason being, to help insulated the surface below(grass, deck, etc) from the heat, and to keep the ash form corroding the bottom of the fire pit. DARN! I wish it said make sure to buy 5lbs of sand while I was buying it at the store! now I got to go get sand.

also, do not leave it in the rain, do not allow it to fill with water as it may shorten its life - corrosion again. I think they need to anodize these things! so make sure you cover it, or put it away, out of the rain.

nice thing, it has a nice grill, as in you can use it to cook on with the supplied grill rack. Nice! and it also has a spark screen and a poker/handle to remove a hot screen with. a lot of fire pits do not include them. Landmann 28335 Big Sky Stars & Moons Fire Pit, Georgia Clay, 12.5-inches deep

I love this fire pit.It holds lots of logs.The rustic design fits nicely in my wooded setting. .It gives the feeling of a real camp fire.I love the celestial cut outs.I have a portable charcoal grill that I set into the pit when I want to cook a small amount.When cooking is done I dump the charcoal into the pit,add kindling and logs and enjoy toasting marshmellows around the "camp fire".

GREAT FUN.

I wanted the larger model with the big platform surrounding it ... to put our feet up and/or to hold our drink glasses, but we couldn't afford it this year.

My thoughtful son bought me this one instead because he knew I'd enjoy the feminine color and the moon-and-star cutouts. I'm a "fool" for ambience, and he know I'd go ga-ga over the way they reflect the light, creating a mini outdoor show.

Now when the grandkids come over we can roast marshmallows AND keep warm in the cool evenings as well.

I love my new fireplace!

A very well made fire pit and is very attractive at night when the fire is going. The cut out moon and stars are really a conversation piece. Easy to move and I like the cooking grate, wire screen and the poker stick really comes in handy. The cover you can order to fit is a must!! It is very well made and is an excellent fit. Keeps the rain out and does not blow off at all . The cover has 2 good tie downs but it fits so well you really don't need to tie it down.

This firepit is the perfect size for a small patio. Its sturdy construction will hold up to many summers gathered around the fire. The glow is enhanced by the moon and stars cut-outs, making for a special evening event!

I settled on this Landmann Big Sky Fire Pit based on looks and due to many great reviews. To all of you that took the time to review, thank you!

This is my first fire pit for family use.

Pros

1) All needed accessories included (minus consumables such as sand and logs)

2) Beautiful appearance

3) Grill rack is actually functional

4) Rail protects burning from bumping against it, which is likely will happen eventually specially with kids roasting marshmallows. The sides do get hot so be careful.

5) The rails function as a handle to manipulate during cleaning

Cons

1) The pieces that make up the protective rail did not fit properly. Attached to each other made almost a circle, but not quite (symmetrical) and after much trial an error ended up wrestling to line up the screw holes.

2) The legs were not painted on the inside making them prone to rust

3) The paint on the inside bottom came off exposing the base metal after just the first use. I used plenty of play sand and only three logs leading me to believe the paint is not heat resistant; I did paint the interior with heat-resistant paint as another reviewer advised, but on top of the original; save a trip to the hardware store and get that quart can of paint rather than the spray can.

The family and I enjoyed it and definitely recommend to anyone in suburbia that wants to spend some time together around a fire.

I deliberated a few different fire pits and watched prices before ordering this one and I'm very happy with my decision! If you belong to Amazon Prime then it's a no-brainer, great price and 2-day shipping included. I hear they offer this fire pit in some Targets but I've not been able to find it locally. If you're thinking of getting one,just do it - you won't be disappointed! We use this much more than I thought we would - almost anytime the temp drops down at night here in FL. Because it's circular, you really get that campfire feeling with the chairs all spread around campfire-style. Even my 12 year old turns off his computer and Wii to come chill outside by the fire, drink hot cocoa and cook s'mores. It's a great way to hang out with family and friends without the TV on! And so far, I don't see any signs of rust on this pit, even left outside in the Florida humidity. If you live in FL you know what a big deal that is. I do think I'll pack it away when we hit spring though to protect it, especially since we won't be needing it with 80 degree nights :)

This is a nice quality fire pit. It is a good size for a back yard fire, and holds a substantial amount of wood. The pit looks nice, and is easy to use. I bought a demo unit so I didn't have to assemble it or anything, but I think I got the incorrect poker/lid lifter as it is a little short.

Don't expect the sun and moon shapes to cast shadows around the pit, but they do add to the ambiance from the flickering light shining through them. They are a nice addition.

Be sure to put a little sand in the bottom (5 to 10 pounds) to insulate any surface below and help the pit last longer. The sand also helps weight it down making it more stable. The pit is also light enough to easily be moved around. I store it off to the side and when I need it I pull it out along with some flag stones to set it on to keep it stable.

I am pleased with the purchase and it will help me get rid of some less dense wood I didn't want to burn in my indoor fireplace due to excessive creosote. I plan on making good use of this over the fall and summer. Great for roasting marshmallows or even for grilling. - Outdoor Fire Pit - Outdoor Fireplace - Firepit - Fire Pits'

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Corded

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I held off buying this product hoping someone else would finally write a review on it. After getting a tire blow out the night before and having trouble removing some of the lug nuts, I felt I could no longer wait and ordered this item the next morning. As soon as you take it in your hands you have that feeling that this is nothing more than a toy and it will not do the job. Much to my surprise it did take off 3 of my 5 lug nuts on one wheel and then it just quit working. This is a cheap,poorly made tool that you cannot rely on. You would be much better off purchasing a good four way chrome tire lug wrench and adding on a three foot pipe extention to it for more leverage. Thanks to AMAZON'S wonderful return policy I was able to send it right back for a full refund. Wagan EL2257 12 Volt Impact Wrench

They ought to be ashamed to call this an impact wrench! I sent mine back to the company thinking there was something wrong with it. They returned it in the same condition. It's true...You get what you pay for and I could have gotten more for a whole lot less!

I gave it 1 star cause I did not think I could post with 0 stars.

The device works, but not as effective as I would like. This 12V impact wrench best operated with car running to supply 14V to make this product work better. At one impact per second or so, it takes a few seconds to wack wheel nut loose. Bottom line, it works, but for practical reasons, if it takes time to deal with the cable and its hookup, and throw in the one impact per second operation, it is just too much fuss with little reward. Better to have a breaker bar and appropriate lug nut size socket to leave in car for more efficiency. The short ineffective lug wrench supplied with most cars easily compensated by a good long Craftsman breaker bar with appropriate socket. With no assurance of how tight the lugs are when reinstalling them, a real wrench is best used anyway after using this impact wrench. However, the item is a keeper for me as home mechanic to deal with certain suspension work and long reach hardware. I would not recommend this product to the average buyer eyeing this product as an alternative to normal methods.

I purchased a Wagen EL2257 Impact Wrench for changing tires on my F-150 pickup and on my travel trailer. I have used it several times and have had no problem loosening bolts. The torque for my travel trailer wheels is listed as 120 ft-lbs. I tried to remove a wheel with a cross wrench but did not have the strength to loosen the lug nuts. I thought that I would have to buy a cheater to get the job done. After I bought Wagen Impact wrench, it very easily removed the same lug nuts using a "Start-It" 12V battery, not the vehicle battery as the power source. With a torque rating of 271 ft-lbs, I carry the Wagen with me on every trip that I take in case I have a flat. I am really glad that I bought this unit, and no, I never bought a cheater for my lug wrench.Wagan EL2257 12 Volt Impact Wrench

Well, I was able to try this for the first time when going to brakes on a Jeep. I was able to get like, 3 lugs off of one of the wheels with it, but its slooooooooow. I gave up on it. Granted, these lugs were def. over tightened, but if i had used this thing i felt like i would've been there all day.

I am very disappointed with this tool. It makes me waste time to use it on the first day. I spent over a minute to remove a lug nut while I did the same job in few seconds with the regular tire lug wrench belong with my car. If you have patience to change your tire and time to return then take it. God bless me! I can return it.'

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Oscillating Tool - multimaster, oscillating tool

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I had to install baseboard hot water into a log home. This required removing (squaring) out a section of the bottom logs so the baseboard would sit flush. I decided I needed a multi-cut tool to help with this project. I looked for alternatives to the expensive Fein and found the Craftsman 2.0 Amp Compact A/C Multi-Tool and the new Porter-Cable PC250MTK 2.5 Amp. These are both corded models which I compare below.

Features: The PC comes with a plastic case and the CR with a bag. I like the case better although too many compartments. I like a case with one area for the tool and another large area for attachments. This makes it much easier to shut the case without having to line everything up. The CR comes with a power indicator on the tool and a small built in light which may come in handy. Both tools have an easy to use variable speed dial. The CR has a vacuum port although I found it pretty useless in practice since the suction does not get close enough to the business end. The PC has a more flexible (rubber) power cord than the CR. I bet it would be less stiff in the cold as well. I really liked the quick change system on the PC compared to the hex key on the CR. Since the PC is relatively new the CR has more attachments options. In addition, I believe the CR is compatible with the Fein which has a very large assortment. Due to the quick change system on the PC other manufacturer's accessories will not fit. Besides the connection point on the blades they seem to be very similar in quality from both manufactures. The blades come marked for identification and depth of cut. These marking are painted and wear off just about on first use. Both manuals had very little useful information once you get past the pages of safety instructions. I liked the fact that the CR manual did not come folded like an old map you pulled from the glove compartment. You can actually lay it flat on a table and read it.

Ergonomics: The CR was smaller and felt good in the hand. You could certainly fit it into tighter spaces than with the PC. Vibration in the tools were about the same with a slight edge to the CR which I imagine can be attributed to smaller motor and less angle of oscillation. Both tools have good balance and seem well made.

Performance: The PC is the clear winner here for several reasons. The angle of oscillation and speed of oscillation is greater with the PC. This allows a similar blade to cut faster and the PC did seem to cut faster. My test was plunge cutting to the stops (1.5-2") into a pine log. Note: as you start to penetrate into an interior piece of wood, use GENTLE pressure which will allow the blade to work. If you try to force the tool the blade will stop oscillating with the energy transferring back into the tool; i.e. the tool with shake and it will not cut. In extended runs the PC does not get has hot at the CR. Changing the blade on the CR after an extended run can be a real pain with the hex nut, receiving housing and blade becoming super hot. In addition it takes time to back the hex nut out, install new blade or change angle and re-tighten. On the PC you simply squeeze a spring loaded lever, change blade or adjust angle and release lever to lock in place. Another advantage with the PC's blade change system is the blade stays connected with nothing to loosen. On the CR I found the hex nut to loosen with extended use, especially if you try to force the tool. I am sure this will lead to over tightening and stripping of that hex screw. In the end I kept the PC with the quick change system winning day. I would have given the CR 3 stars. Hope this helps. Porter-Cable PC250MTK 2.5 Amp Oscillating Multi-Tool Kit

I have both this tool and the Rockwell Sonicrafter. Overall, I like the PC better simply because of the quick change blades. The chuck is well designed using a heavy, trigger actuated spring that locks the blades in place. So far, I have had no problems with blades slipping and I don't envision any.

The Sonicrafter is a well-made tool and seems fairly heavy duty. Mine has taken quite a beating. The only complaint I could have with it is the chuck, which requires removing and replacing an allen bolt in order to change blades. This can become tiresome, especially when you are working under very dusty conditions, when the dust can get into the bolt threads and make the bolt difficult to remove and tighten.

The PC has a tough plastic gear housing as opposed to the Sonicrafter's metal housing. I don't know what the gears are made out of in either tool, though both tools are about the same weight. The only other difference I notice is that the fan in the Sonicrafter seems to push more air than the PC's. In actual use I have not noticed that either tool runs cooler than the other. Both tools seem to cut at about the same speed. I haven't noticed any other differences.

Overall, I prefer using the PC because blade changes are so much faster.

This is one of two of these that has a tool less tool changer. The other is the FEIN oscillating multi tool. This also has 2.5 amps like all the other ones. Granted the dremel one is 1.5 amp and the craftsman one is 2 amps.

Though there are not many third party tool suppliers for this one. It will change it has only been out for two or so months. I am looking forward to getting a few more of the tool attachments, especially the wood rasp attachment.

I testing it out and was surprised how fast it cut the 3/4 pine I had sitting around. It is amazing to make straight plunge cuts. It will be neat to make small mortise and tanner joints.

I have had the Porter-Cable oscillating multi-tool for a while now. I decided to buy this because I had used a friends high dollar name brand multi-tool and really liked it, but I couldn't see paying triple the price for the big name. I have used this every day for many different things including cabinet and deck work. The "no tool" blade change is great and time saving. The 10' cord is a good length. The Porter-Cable is very comparable to the Big Name Brand. The only down side is that the blades are a bit pricey and don't last very long. - Oscillating Saw - Multitool - Multimaster - Oscillating Tool'

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Kitchen Storage - kitchen storage

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I'd seen a lot of bad reviews concerning the cheap coating on Calypso products, but this one had better reviews, and for the price, I figured it was worth a shot.

Don't make the same mistake I did.

I saved a few dollars, on this. It's a very pretty color, and good-sized. It's also a complete piece of #$@%.

I *just now* opened the very carefully-packed box it came in, where it traveled a mere two days, cushioned by little air bags and tucked into a corner where it could not possibly be so much as bumped. I feel confident in assuming it had a safe journey.

Yet the coating is ALREADY in chips, in the bag. Before it ever left its plastic wrap, the coating began to flake off, over an area of about an inch and a half. And now that I can see inside, I see WHY it came off so easily: the outer coating is paper-thin. Literally. More disturbing, is the fact that it looks like it was not only the coating flaking off, but the METAL underneath, which is coming off, right along with the coating.

This would obviously never survive normal use in a kitchen. And I'm shocked enough by the quality of it to never buy another product from Calypso, again. Calypso Basics Utensil Holder, Pink

It's the perfect size to fit your utensils. Not too small that it tips, not too big that it takes up half the counter and your utensils look lost in it. I have it in turquoise with yellow utensils, and it adds a pop of cheer to a room I usually associate with drudgery.

I love this utensil holder. It is weightier than I expected, which is good. The weight keeps the holder upright even when filled with lots of top-heavy utensils. I love it! It also looks great filled with my red utensils so I'm on my way to achieving the red and turquoise kitchen I dream of!

I opted for the white one to hold all 12 of my pink kitchen utensils and it's the perfect size. I only keep my smaller ones in a drawer (garlic press, vegetable peeler, ice cream scoop and can opener).

Tall enough so there's no chance of it tipping over, and the pink utensils look nice against the white. It's possible the enamel might wear, over time, but I think it'll be fine since all my utensils have nylon or wood handles.

Here's what fits in mine (all handles down, of course):

Slotted Spoon

Spoon

Fork

Skimmer

Spaghetti Fork

Whisk

Silicone Scraper/Spatula

Potato Masher

Slotted Turner

Micro Plane

Locking Tongs

Ladle

I might have a difficult time fitting one more thing in it, but I don't think there's anything else I need, LOL.

This item arrived badly chipped at the base. It didnt look like it had been damaged in transit so it must have been very obviously consciously despatched in that state. I had waited a long time for it to arrive. I now dont have time to send it back so am stuck with it. Very disappointed.

I HAD TO DO ALOT OF RESEARCH ON PICKING A CROCK UTENSIL HOLDER BECAUSE OF ALL MY UTENSILS. I AM GLAD I CHOOSE THIS ONE BECAUSE IT HOLDS ALOT OF UTENSILS AND IT IS EASY TO WIPE OFF. I WISH THEY MADE A SMALLER ONE BECAUSE I HAVE ALOT OF SMALL WHISKS. I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT. - Kitchen Storage'

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Elimination Communication - diaper free, elimination communication

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I started putting my 6 month old son on a Baby Bjorn little potty. He started going #2 in the potty right away. When he was about 10 months old, a friend recommended this book. That is when I knew the goal was to have him out of diapers between 15-18 months.

He is 16 months old and we have not changed a #2 diaper in over a month. My parents take care of him two days a week and love not having to change messy diapers - that is not the case with my niece who is exactly one year older than him. My son was a very strong-willed infant so I knew the power struggle was going to be crazy if I waited for the readiness approach. He still screams and twists and turns when we change his wet diapers so we are VERY motivated to stick with this program.

Last week, I had him in his training pants and he ran out of the room. I found him trying to sit on the potty. I pulled off the pants and he sat down and peed. He felt good and I felt good. It was a win-win.

People will be negative and judgmental just like a lot of these posts - especially your own family. Surround yourself with positive people and this can be a great experience. I love to sit and read books to my son while he does his business. He puts bowls on his head and calls it a hat or plays with foam bath letters. We have a great time.

I am going to work with him when I am off work over the holiday (he will just have turned 17 months). I will update this post on our progress.

Update: I did work with my son over the holidays and now at 17 months he has gone eight nights in a row dry. We now do not have him in diapers at all even at night. We have an occasional "miss" during the day, but it is usually a little pee in his training pants, he pulls at them and says "wet". We then go to the potty and finish our business. We are very very happy and have no regrets with doing this program. It is also saving us about $1.50 a day in the cost of diapers.

Update2: My son just turned 22-months and he hasn't had a diaper on since he was 17 months, even at night. We cannot recommend this program enough. We are so thankful that we raised our son this way. Diaper-Free Before 3: The Healthier Way to Toilet Train and Help Your Child Out of Diapers Sooner

Let me say first, if I'd come across this book when my daughter was a newborn, I'd probably rate it five stars. I'm rating from the perspective of a parent starting later.

As a parent who has a toddler-aged child, I found this book to be very long (extremely long!) on research and "why-to," but lacking in "how-to." I didn't particularly need the "why-to" sections -- that's why I bought the book in the first place! The "how-to" portions of this book are geared almost exclusively toward those starting training at a very (six to nine months) young age, and the rest of us have to figure out on our own how to apply Dr. Lekovic's methods with an older child (my daughter is 20 months old).

I wish I'd found this book when my daughter was younger. Since I didn't, I would love to see Dr. Lekovic write a book (or supplement/article even) about how to work with an child who's already past 18 months.

I have read several books about early toilet learning, and I have to say that this was definitely not my favorite. The author does give a lot of evidence that supports early potty training, but does not give a lot of practical advice for implementation.

I would give Chapter 2 a 5 star rating, and without this chapter the whole book probably would have gotten only 1-2 stars from me. In Chapter 2, she gives a really great, detailed history of how traditional potty training progressed to "readiness training" in the US, and how nobody has ever given sufficient evidence that there are any benefits to waiting until the child shows interest in learning to use the toilet. This section is a great resource for anyone who is scared that by exposing a child to the potty early you are psychologically damaging him or her.

I liked that the author recommended taking the leap to underwear fairly early. I think that this is important and it is a hard step for parents to take because it can be messy, but it really is the best way to help your child to be more aware of his or her body, and super-absorbent disposable diapers just don't do that.

The advice that the author gives regarding the potty training process implies that there is only one way to do it - starting at 6-12 mos, which actually is actually LATE when you compare cross-culturally. There are positions that you can use to hold a tiny infant to help cue them before they are able to sit unsupported. Some people believe that babies lose some of their awareness of their elimination by 6 mos. If you plan to use this method and you have a child on the way or who is younger than 6 months, I highly recommend that you read Ingrid Bauer's Diaper Free! The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene and any of Laurie Boucke's books, such as Infant Potty Training: A Gentle and Primeval Method Adapted to Modern Living, and Christine Gross Loh's book The Diaper-Free Baby: The Natural Toilet Training Alternative. These books also contain some useful information about how to start this process for younger and older children and are more flexible in terms of when to start and how.

Something that I found disturbing, yet fascinating, about this book is that it is written from a perspective that overlooks and/or dismisses other parenting practices that seem to go naturally with this process: She gives a "lecture" that there are certain inconveniences that a parent should be willing to do for the well-being of their child, yet (1) she spends several pages in the book discussing details of bottle feeding and barely glosses over breastfeeding which is so much healthier for babies in so many ways including digestive system health. Although she does not discuss her personal reasons for not breastfeeding, it was apparent to me that she did not really think that it was important and I am frustrated to see that attitude from a pediatrician who is advising parents of young children. (2) She discourages cloth diapering because she finds that inconvenient. As a mother who has used cloth diapers AND early potty awareness with my child, I found this quite ridiculous. It is SO much more effort to take a child to the potty several times a day than to wash cloth diapers every couple of days (UNLESS you don't have a washing machine or you have a shortage of water), plus, if your child is using the toilet successfully you will have much less diaper laundry. I guess we all have our priorities, but I found this contradictory.

One small pet peeve of mine is that, in the section where she talks about nutrition, constipation, and avoiding juices, she reiterates the old "8 glasses of water a day" myth, which is just not true (how could children and adults of all different sizes have exactly the same requirement, anyways?). In fact, we get most of our water from the food that we eat and only need to drink water when we are thirsty. For more information, do a search at Snopes or type in "8 glasses water" on your favorite search engine.

There were definitely some interesting things in this book other than what I have listed, but overall I think that most of the useful information can be found elsewhere. This book is not one that I would recommend to people who are considering early potty training. - Elimination Communication - Diaper Free - Potty - Toilet Training'

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