Saturday, 15 August 2009

Ink Cartridge - pen, fountain pens


The Lamy Safari is an excellent pen: light, sturdy, attractive design that lets you monitor your level of ink. It's great if you like thick pens (I don't, but people do), and I should have gotten the fine tip rather than medium because I can empty a cartridge in eight pages of free-flowing ink.



On the other hand, it's a great pen if you're stuck with a bunch of cartridges that come from your checkered past: the sales rep says it can only handle Lamy-proprietary ink cartridges, but that's nonsense. Mine goes through Parker and Cross cartridges like nobody's business, with nary a mishap. Lamy Safari Charcoal Fountain Pen - Charcoal, Extra-Fine Nib L17XF

At first I was very skeptical about writing with a fountain pen. This is my first fountain pen and honestly, I was at first a bit disappointed. I had come from a long experience with Pilot G2 gel pens (ultra-fine point) and because it didn't "write" like the Pilot pens, I was frustrated that I had paid this much for this pen. However, the more I started to write with this pen, the more I got used to it and began to truly appreciate it worthiness. My problem was that I was comparing apples to oranges, which in this case I was all too familiar with the Pilot pens to expect this Lamy pen to write just like it. Well, I now am able to better understand that fountain pens aren't for everyone but for those that like pens that require effortless writing. All in all, a good fountain pen if you want to get into the realm of fountain pens. Hope you enjoy writing with this pen as much as I do. I also have the Blue colored Safari.

I couldn't resist purchasing this pen because of the price. I now have five Safari's (one is an all star aluminum body) and here is what I can share with you from my experience. I first want to mention if you buy a Safari, when it arrives and you begin writing with it, if it is skipping or the ink is not flowing properly (nice even full line) then there is a problem with the nib not the pen. The first one I purchased arrived and I was disappointed. I couldn't figure out why all of the great reviews. I continued to write with it trying to like it because it wasn't terrible but skipped a lot. I then decided to buy another one because I am a big fan of pink and I found a pink Safari. To my surprise this pen worked awesome, really nothing like the first pen. The ink flowed smooth and consistent on most papers (I will discuss paper soon)and I began to realize why all of the reviews were great. I had this same pattern happen with the next 2 pens so I have decided to help others that might get a pen that is not working perfect. You can either return your pen for another one or find someone who can help you adjust the nib. I know very little about the mechanics of fountain pens so I can't give any advice there. My solution was to order new nibs for the 2 pens that I had trouble with, once I replaced them I have not had a problem since.



I use 2 brands of notebook almost exclusively, Rhodia and Moleskine. I love each one for different reasons but as far as the Lamy Safari is concerned I only use it in my Moleskine. My experience has been the Safari skips and writes lousy on the Rhodia paper (some of the highest quality paper) I can't explain the reason but it holds true for all of the Safaris I have tried. On every other kind of paper I have no problems and I love to write now that I have a love for these pens. I love light pens and the Safari is very light with out the cap posted on the end. If you do prefer a heavier top end while writing you will enjoy the way this pen feels with the large cap posted.The grip is a pleasure to feel in your hand and I think the pen has a cool unique look to it. I am happy with this product and I hope this has helped you make a decision on the purchase. I wish you the best of luck.

In my household the air is dry enough to dry up all my fountain pens, even the expensive ones. Over the past ten years I have found I use this pen more than any other simply because the nib always flows immediately when you uncap the pen and write with it. It does not dry out with normal use (just put the cap on when you are not writing with it). It is lightweight and safe to carry in a handbag. I think it is a fabulous pen, especially given the low price.

I bought one Lamy Fine and one Extra-Fine. I like to have a blue and black pen around. Both are awesome, sturdy and write well. I've used the supplied cartridge as well as Noodlers Bulletproof Black in a converter (which I recommend).



The Fine pen was thin enough for my purposes. I'm able to write small notes legibly in-between lines. While the Extra-Fine pen is still a good pen, it is quite scratchy to me. That issue eliminates the smooth glide that I expect out of a fountain pen. It's also not so much thinner that I really feel there is any benefit to extra-fine over fine.



Both of the Safari pens have a clip that I hate. I like to keep my pen clipped to my moleskine notebook. The design of the clip makes this impossible. The clip is obviously durable though, and it does work well clipped to my pocket. The upside of this is that I tend to have the pen with me everywhere, instead of forgetting it with my notebook.



So, choose the Lamy Fine pen over Extra-Fine, especially if this is your first fountain pen.

This is a great introduction to Fountain pens. I was not even a pen guy before, I prefer mechanical pencil and eraser combo. Not if I need to write something and pencil is better, I will try to accommodate to be able to use this fountain pen.



It is addicting to use this pen on several fronts. Writing in ink is very nice, there is more definition and it looks great. A word about inks, it is better to get your own ink than use the proprietary cartridges. Ink is not created equal, some will bleed through inferior paper, and have less definition, the ink that comes with this pen is the more inferior kind. This fountain pen comes with one cartridge and you will have to purchase a separate converter for $5 somewhere else. You can find an ink that will suit you.



In the process of writing, there is a satisfying feel to it. It's like you have a rapport with the paper you are writing with. There is a feeling in you hand that you are writing with authority-you can feel every stroke and characters are written how your ind intends it.



This is a great pen, of course when you get into fountains pens you'd probably tempted to buy fountain pens the price of a Rolex watches. This is a great pen, its a great buy, I know I could not have went to Office Max or Depot and gotten it there. - Lamy - Fountain Pens - Ink - Pen'


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Desk Accessories - office humor, fun gift


The dispenser arrived on time and in mint condition. It's been such a hit at the office that we've ordered four more for those that have seen it.

I was able to find it considerably cheaper through another source. The design could have been better in that it is so lightweight that you have to hold it down to use. A weight in the shoe sole would have helped. Scotch Shoe Dispenser with Magic Tape, Black, 3/4 x 350 Inch (C30-SHOE-B)

Ever since I placed this tape dispenser on my desk I've gotten one compliment after another. Women love that it actually looks like a high heel stiletto. Even the guys at work comment on it! I highly recommend this item, especially if you're a shoe nut like me.

Bought it for my girlfriend. She loves it and it looks really cool on her desk. Its not weighted though, so you have to use two hands to get the tape out. Doesn't seem flimsy as other reviewers have stated. pretty solidly built, just light weight.

Where do I begin to tell you how happy I am about my choice in buying this tape dispenser, It is hot... It's so stylish I'm the envy of my co workers who walk by desk and see it. I'm sorry I didn't get more for holiday gifts.

I expected the dispenser's plastic to be a little thicker and sturdy. The plastic is a bit flimsy but not fragile. The size of the shoe is bigger in person and was a hit in my office. Bought one for my sister and c/t wait to see her face. I know she is going to love displaying the dispenser in her office.

I like this product for looks the reason I didn't give it 5 stars the product isn't sturdy to use with one hand it's light weight. You have to use both hands so I use this one for looks and my more sturdy one for use. Because most of the time I need tape I don't have both hands available for use. I'm not saying this product can not be used it can I choose to use mines for decoration. It looks fabulous! I personally think it's a great buy! - Fun Gift - Office Humor - Fun'


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Tabletop Radio - wifi radio, grace


I have owned the Grace GDI-IR2500 now for a couple of months, and I will try to be as brief as I can with my thoughts and comments.



Build quality: Fair - not terrible, but not great. The black vinyl or plastic wrap used over the wood housing is attractive but not assembled very well, with very noticable imperfections/large wrinkles on both the top front right corner and the top back right corner. The controls are of comperable quality to those of a $10 clock radio, and will probably start wearing out after a couple of years of heavy use. The 4-line LCD display is relatively easy to read.



Setup: If you have ever setup any other wireless devices such as a laptop, smartphone or other wi-fi enabled device, it is not much different and pretty straight forward. The only area that can be somewhat cumbersome is the same issue I have in other areas of operation: the poorly functioning and designed remote control. The remote basically offers up and down keys for entering a security key, scrolling through each number and letter of the alphabet, locating the character you need, then selecting, then scrolling... you get the picture. A remote offering a numeric/ABC type of entry would be preferred, and for $130 to $150, should be included.



Station selection: Good - but not nearly as good as some of the applications offered on iPhone, Android, and Blackberry smartphones such as WunderRadio and RadioTime. Searching for stations is also poorly thoughtout. Other than Clear Channel Communication's "iHeartRadio" offering, you can't even search stations by state, let alone city - and searching by call letters is again an entry where you have to scroll through every letter of the alphabet and enter each character, which is a pain.



Connectivity: No complaints, it starts up relatively quick once you have your wireless settings configured. Regarding connecting to a station url, it depends on the stream format... most .AAC streams begin playing quickly, .mp3 streams fairly quick, .WMA streams a few seconds longer, but none are frustratingly slow. It also played all streams consistantly for hours at a time without interruption.



Sound quality: Fair at best. I guess for $150 I expected this radio to sound at least as good as some of the $50 Sony or Panasonic tabletop radios from the past. There is no reason it couldn't on most mid-to-higher kbps streams - but Grace chose to cut costs on one of the most important aspects of any radio - the speaker - and the speaker quality is about on par with that of a $20 GE table radio. That would be OK if the radio cost $50, but for what these relatively cheap to build radios cost the consumer, I expect the materials and components used to be of higher quality.



Remote Control: Poor quality, poor layout, and many times you have to hit keys two or three times to get a response. I thought the included battery might have been old, but the Duracell replacement battery I bought did not improve the remote's performance.



The bottom line: If you want an internet radio that somewhat gives you the look and feel of your old tabletop radio, and you use the presets a good part of the time, it's an OK radio. I don't hate it, and have actually had some fun with it, but in reality it is worth about $79 tops. I would however look at the Logitech Squeezebox before this or any other internet radio. I played with one at Best Buy a couple weeks back and the build and sound quality is light-years better, and it also offers an optional battery pack.



If the old-time feel of a tabletop radio isn't important and you are wanting to just tune in stations from around the world and have decent sound quality, and if you own an iPhone, Blackberry or Android smartphone with 3G and/or a wi-fi connection, I recommend one of the many decent wireless bluetooth speaker systems (I own the Altec Lansing inMotion SoundBlade Bluetooth A2DP Speaker/Speakerphone, which sounds better than this Grace unit, operates on either the supplied AC power adapter or batteries, and cost me around $50) and install some free to very cheap apps on your smartphone such as Pandora, Slacker, Sirius/XM, iHeartRadio, Yahoo Music, WunderRadio and RadioTime. The beauty of smartphone apps is you can also use them with many new car audio systems (wirelessly via bluetooth or wired via an auxiliary in jack), at the office, at the beach, and pretty much anywhere you have either 3G data or a wi-fi connection.





February 20, 2011 note: I find it interesting that in one day my post went from "27 of 29 people found the following review helpful" to "27 of 37 people found the following review helpful"... yes, in one day, and over 4 months after the review was posted. Seems as though some Grace employees or dealers might not have appreciated my honesty. Grace Digital GDI-IR2500 Wi-Fi Internet radio Featuring Pandora, NPR On-Demand, Sirius and iheartradio

I have the IR2000 for about 18 mos. It is basically unusable now. Talked with customer support and they said to fill out their repair form. Ok--it says to include all of your credit card info, including security code and put in box with the unit(not doing that) and return it for repair $25.. Tried to call them to confirm this and got put in a loop of select sales or technical support. Select either one and it rings for awhile then brings you back to welcome. Cannot understand this, Grace was one of the best. I paid about $150 for this radio about 18 mos. ago and it worked good for awhile and now will not stay connected. I have two other internet radios and they work great. Sent another email about this, now waiting for a reply. Do not purchase a product without support.

I needed a radio that could handle weaker am stations. After some research, I decided to go the Internet radio route. I found some decent reviews on Grace products and decided on the GDI-IR2500.

What I liked:

-simple to setup, not too many options to confuse. -very easy to use, right out of the box. -Most staions I wanted to listen to are already available. -Direct access to may Pandora account is cool.

What I didn't like:

-without a keypad or a way to connect to a computer, entering info is tedious, scroll to a letter, click, scroll to another letter, click,.... -When you push the big nob, the whole radio moves, so you need to either hold it every time or have it against something sot it doesn't slide off the table.

Would like to see:

-a hard ethernet connector would be nice and a way to connect to the device directly over the LAN. -a stonger speaker, while the sound was clear, the max volume was not very high. Yes, I can connect it to speakers but the radio I am replacing this with is over 10 yrs old and has stronger speakers. - Grace - Pandora - Wifi Radio - Sirius Radio'


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Trail Cam - wildlife camera, game camera


This review is for the Primos Truth Cam Blackout - Model 63035, not the 63050 Model as pictured on some websites, so look at the model numbers. From what I read, I think the 63035 Model has been out a little longer than the 63050 Model, camo color, and has two less LEDs. There is not much info on these Blackout cameras, so here are some of the specs:



1. Camera is 9" ht, 7" wide, 2" thick

2. 6 volt camera and has external battery port

3. Requires 4 D batteries

4. Requires SD card - 1GB to 32GB

5. Has 60 LED - Settings allow you to use 36 LED or 60 LED

6. Takes 2MP, 3.1MP, 5 MP, or 7MP photos

7. Takes 15S High Res, 15S Low Res, 30S High Res, 30S Low Res, or 60S Low Res videos

8. At 3.1MP, the SD card can hold the following: 1GB=820 pics, 2GD=1650 pics, 4GD=3300 pics, 8GD=11420 pics, 16GD=13220 pics, 32GD=26440 pics. At 2MP, the camera will hold about a third more images.

9. Will record time, date, moon phase, temperature

10. Has a delay of 5 sec, 10 sec, 30 sec, 1 min, 5 min, 10 min, 30 min, and 60 min.

11. Has photo burst of 1, 3, and 5

12. Has 3 sensing modes: low, normal, and high

13. 1 sec or less trigger speed

14. Pictures are color during day shots, b/w at night

15. Comes with 72" strap and will except security cable lock

16. Instruction manual says batteries can last a year using minimum delay and photo burst



I just purchased the Primos Truth Cam Blackout, so I will update this review after some more use.



I put the camera out last night to test and it was very easy to set up. It has a push button digital control panel that illuminates with large digital text. Standing inches from the camera and staring directly into the blackout flash, you see a very, very, very small hint of red when the camera takes a picture, but cannot be detect if more than 8" away.



This morning I had 441 pictures on the camera. This was using a 30 sec delay with 3 burst. There were no pictures that were blank and all had visible wildlife. A couple of images had an animal or two that were blurred, but the camera remained focus within the shot.



Remember, an SD card with a faster download speed allows you to use less battery, save images faster, and will keep up with the camera trigger speeds. I didn't know this until I spoke to a photographer taking pictures at my son's football game. If you have a camera with an awesome trigger speed but your SD card cannot download the images quickly enough, you will start getting blank photos. I recommend purchasing a higher quality SD card.



So far, I'm happy with the purchase. I'm not the biggest fan of Primos, but after a lot of research, this seems to be one of the better cameras on the market for the money. I will update this review after more use. Primos Hunting Truth Cam Blackout Game Trail Camera

This is my first purchase of a wild life camera and I love it. My father-in-law purchased a similar camera same manufacture and it is awesome so I thought I would give the blackout model a try. Takes excellent pictures time after time. Copper top batteries last the longest. Left it out for three days and four night without checking it and it took over 400 pictures of the deer that visit my yard. I would recommend this camera to anyone it is great.

I purchased two of these cameras during September 2011. The first one was returned because the San Disk could not be formatted by the camera. The camera was replaced and appeared to work as advertised. However, when the camera was used during a rain and/or cool weather, the inside was found to be wet and/or damp with moisture throughout the inside including the batteries. Hunting in SE Ohio, where rain during the Fall is a regular occurrence, I decided not to take a chance on a third Primos Truth Cam, and switched to a Bushnell Trophy Brown Night Vision Cam.

So far, no problems with it at all. I will know a lot more about this camera at the end of the season than I do two weeks into it. Hope this help someone save a little time and money. - Game Camera - Wildlife - Security Camera - Wildlife Camera'


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Tool - tool


I bought this thinking of all of the screw heads I have ruined over the years and how I've used the old hacksaw a flat slot trick to extract them. This sounded right, so I bought it for future use. Well, it wasn't long till I had my test for it. I bought a chipper/shredder and the first time I had to remove the blades I found the screws hopelessly too tight. I know when an allen wrench is about to cam out of a slot and this would never have removed the screw. I tried good quality penetrating oil and still no luck. I ordered the bits to fit through Amazon, and when they arrived, I used this driver to get the screws out with very little difficulty. The impact shock combined with the effect of driving the bit safely down into the socket at the same moment as the torque works beautifully. Put one of these in your tool kit to save your bacon some day. Price is very reasonable. Pro-Grade 19620 1/2-Inch Driver Impact Driver Set with Holder

This is a hefty driver. All components from the case, to the bits, to the tool itself are very well made. Have used it quite successfully on a number of stubborn bolts on my bike with great success. Only beef is the case is tricky to open, the bits don't lock into place as secure as I'd like, and better grip on the base of the head would have been nice.

I bought this to unscrew a few stubborn screws to replace the Rotors on my 2009 Honda Accord and this thing worked like magic!

It managed to unscrew them without any damage to either the screws or the rotor base (I ended up using the same screws back with the new rotors).



Feels solid and overall seems like its made from good material (Used it only once so cannot really comment on durability)

This tool worked great. You probably won't use it very often but when you need to loosen a stubborn screw, it's priceless. Used it to disassemble an old motorcycle engine and it worked just fine. The bit, (phillips head) is still in good shape.

I used this tool to successfully remove to screws from a rotor. However, what I did not immediately realize is that by then, the bit had warped, causing me to strip the next screw. Now I have to figure out if I can get better bits and how I can get the screw out...



Not a quality product. - Tool'


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Framing Nailers - framing nailers, bostitch


I am editing this review a year later (14Apr08) with some revisions



I am a professional builder presently building super high end homes on the lakefront of Lake Tahoe. I have used every framing nailer made. Before I bought this nailer I was a Senco and Hitachi user. I needed another nailer so from the recommendation of another carpenter I went with this model. What sold it to me was that I liked the fact that it had another nosepiece that allowed it to be used for nailing hardware.

I have had this nailer for about 5 months now and it has a few problems.

When it was new it would tend to spark a lot when ever a nail was fired. Now that it is broken in it sparks still but much less. Edit.. It no longer sparks.

There was a part missing in the unopened box. I promptly ordered it from Bostich and it came right away. The part was a vinyl rod that adjusts the magazine for varying thickness nails.

The nailer really hammers the nail hard with a loud smack. I worry that it will wear out the hammer driver sooner. The sound with the Hitachi is much quieter and the Hitachi nailer seems to work with much less recoil when sinking a nail.

The trigger on the Bostich is very finicky and will not fire unless you depress the nose "just so" even with the bounce trigger installed. The Hitachi and Senco is an honest trigger that fires every time you depress the nose. Hitachi users say bad words out of frustration when using this nailer because of the finicky trigger.

The rubber pad on the side has a metal part that surrounds it. The metal part is thin and recently it broke. Since a nailer is often left on the side then this weak and flimsy part is in a very vulnerable spot.

The nose has a spring that can easily snag something and fly away. Without this spring the nailer will not work. I spent a lot of time searching in the powder snow once for this spring when it accidentally ejected.

This nailer does have all the modern features that some nailers lack. It has the directional exhaust port and an easily adjustable nosepiece. It will sink a 16d toenail with the depth adjustment all the way down unlike other nailers. It comes with an accessory nosepiece cover that covers the toenail teeth to prevent marring the wood. The nose cover though will not stay on very well and is easy to lose.

If I had my preference I would use cliphead nailers because the magazine holds more nails and the paper collation does not spit eye damaging pieces like the plastic collated strips for round head nailers. Cliphead nails are getting hard to find as misguided architects spec only round head nails. You must use safety glasses when using any round head nailer. The plastic shards are probably not very good for the environment either.

I give it 3 stars still because it works fine most of the time and the hardware nailing feature is nice to have.



Edit 13Apr08 I give it 4.5 stars now. I like this nailer because it really has a large piston and can completely sink a toenail into hard LVL. I do a lot of framing with LVL and this is the only nailer that will not make you reach for your hammer to finish driving the nail home. I am used to the trigger now and it no longer frustrates me. I did have to take apart the trigger once and clean it. The trigger started to blow air and the nailer would not shoot. A less mechanically inclined person might have sent it to the shop for a repair. No parts were very worn, it just needed a cleaning. The broken part on the side bumper has not been a problem. This nailer has held up well so far. I frame about a third of the time so this nailer has about 6 months of heavy use behind it now. Bostitch F21PL Round Head 1-1/2-Inch to 3-1/2-Inch Framing Nailer with Positive Placement Tip and Magnesium Housing

I'm currently using this sucker to frame my garage. I bought Hitachi plastic collated nails for it. It took me a bit to sort it out, but I was able to find 21 degree full round head nails at Lowes. I've been sticking with the Hitachi nails even though there are cheaper brands - the quality is good.



I used 0.131" diameter 21 degree plastic collated nails, 3 1/4" in length, for all of my framing. I was able to blast a bunch of 2x6's together in no time.



I then used 0.131" diameter 21 degree plastic collated nails, 2 3/4" in length, for all of my sheathing. The nailer handled both of these with ease. I can set the depth so I don't go splintering my OSB with too deep of a punch.



I am currently using the trigger that only allows one shot per pull. I like this feature as I don't go machine-gunning 3 nails on top of one another if I slip during the shot. Sometimes it is a little finicky, as you have to get the tip compressed just-so before you pull the trigger, or it will give you a disappointing "pphhh" and no nail. It also seems to have about a 50% ratio of actually firing the last nail in the clip. A lot of times it misses the last nail altogether. I did jam it once with the 2 3/4 nails because I inserted a partially used clip. The uneven break in the plastic collation misaligned the nail and the piston jammed the nail in the barell. I fixed it with a small screwdriver.



It's pretty light for its size. Some friendly helpers I had with the initial framing all remarked at the size of this thing. It looks big and beefy. You'll have a bit of trouble fitting it between studs that are 16" apart - it's a little bulky in tight spaces. For toe-nailing and mating studs together, I had to shoot at an angle. That's when the tip is most finicky, so you have to brace it on the back with one hand while you pull the trigger. At 90 psi or so it might not fully sink the nail on an angled shot like that. At 120 psi it sinks everything. It's kind of scary. My gun came with a protective rubber tip that is handy for things that you don't want to blemish, but without the rubber tip, the cleated gun is much easier to use for angled shots because the tip bites into the wood.



These problems are avoidable if you are careful. A nail gun is an amazing piece of machinery, as I am surprised that with the violence of each shot it doesn't go blowing apart after a few shots. Yet this thing will shoot and shoot as long as I pay attention to the clip, keep it oiled, and set it aside so I don't trip over it. I've dropped it off the ladder twice and it hasn't complained. It's also nice that you can direct the exhaust in multiple directions, as each shot will create a fine oily mist that you can feel on your arm, hand, leg, or whatever. That's just how it works with air tools. At least you can shoot it away from your face. Also, the rubber grip on the handle is slipping around slowly as I use it. That's kind of irritating, especially when it's hot, because the rubber will slide up and bunch up underneath the trigger. Eventually it will probably fall off with enough use. Could probably use a redesign.



On a final note, I bought this thing used from another online auction site that you can probably guess. It was well used before I got it and it's still kicking. For what I paid for it, I'm quite satisfied. I'd probably still be happy with it if I bought it new for a higher price.



Edit 9/6/07: I've been using the metal connector attachment. This thing is pretty handy if you are using Simpson Strong Ties or a similar metal connector for your framing. Most of the Simpson products require a 1.5" nail (so that it doesn't penetrate the other side of 2x lumber) and this gun won't go that small. I've used the 2 1/4" nails when I'm shooting into a junction or multiple pieces. It makes the work go much faster, otherwise you are stuck with a hammer. The tip for metal connectors has a triangular aligning piece that allows you to line up the nail with the hole in the connector. It works really well but be warned - the smaller the nail the better the chance that this thing will misfire. I had much more trouble with the 2 1/4" nails than the bigger framing nails. Also, I glanced off the connector more than once and shot a bent nail bouncing around all over the place - not like a bullet but enough to be dangerous. The metal connector work is much more sensitive to alignment so be careful. Also - be careful about lining up your shot, especially if you are using one hand to brace boards before you shoot. That nail doesn't care if your hand is on the other side of the board when you pull the trigger. I managed to nick my thumb pretty good at about nail number 2,327 during a 10 hour day. Not bad odds - but you'll be better off if you are constantly aware.



Edit 7/12/08: My F21PL is still going and my garage is pretty much done except for electrical and painting. I took this thing up in my attic to build a knee wall around the perimeter so that I could install foam backer board to keep insulation from spilling out onto my soffits. My attic is full of old fiberglass blown-in insulation, so it's nasty and dusty up there. I used my nailer for a few days and it stopped working. After messing with it I figured I had gotten dust inside and perhaps ruined a seal. I finished framing my knee wall with the Bostitch palm nailer (see other review on here - great little tool). I was able to download a rebuild kit from the Bostitch website instantaneously. There are also blow-up diagrams of all of their tools. I bought several rebuild kits and downloaded the diagram, and I was able to successfully rebuild the nailer and get it functioning again. I expect that with my rebuild kits I will keep this nailer going for the rest of my life. Great product support. - Bostitch - F21pl - Bostich - Framing Nailers'


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Hitachi Brad Nailer - finish nailer, finish nailers


These nails work perfectly with my DeWalt D51275K 15 gauge angled finish nailer, and the size/shape of the reuseable plastic case they come in is handy for holding extra nails in the tool belt or even your back pocket.



Not mentioned in the Amazon description is the following included with the nails: "Fits SENCO SFN40; AccuSet A250FN; Craftsman 18432, 18442; DeWalt D51275K; Porter-Cable DA250A." There are 700 nails in the pack. I can't speak for the other brands, but I know the DeWalt can be finickey about nails, and it definitely likes these.



I purchased my DeWalt nailer from Amazon, and at the time they were offering $25 off purchases over $199. To hit that number, the only thing I could think of was to get a variety of nails, so I added these AccuSet 2-1/2" nails, along with a pack of 2" nails and a pack of 1-1/2" nails to the shopping cart. A variety of nail sizes that work good with my nailer practically for free. Can't beat that. Senco A302500 15-Gauge x 2-1/2 Inch Bright Basic Finish Nail

THE ACCUSET 2 1/2" NAIL WAS PERFECT FOR NAILING DOWN MY SUB FLOOR IN MY NEW DINING ROOM,ALSO I NEEDED TO HANG THICK WIDE CROWN MOLDING AND THIS ACCUSET NAIL WAS THE PERFECT SIZE FOR THESE JOBS..LET ME ALSO SAY THE FLOOR OR MOLDING AINT GOING ANYWHERE WITH THESE NAILS SECURING THEM DOWN

Nail never jammed , worked like it stated, everything I needed it to do it did ... If you are looking for a good, reliable 2.5" finish nail , then this is it... not a sexy review, but not a sexy product... this nail does what it is suppose to do - Brad Nailer - Finish Nailers - Nail Gun - Finish Nailer'


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Hitachi Brad Nailer - finish nailer, finish nailers brad nailer Hitachi Brad Nailer - finish nailer, finish nailers

Zippered Bags - tool bags, accessory bag


I liked these so much I purchased a 2nd set. I use them for everything but tools. With the colors I know what is in them without opening them up. I use one to carry my medical supplies another for personal belonging, shaver and supplies and I use the bright orange one for carrying my GPS unit, cell phone and wallet so I did not have to leave them in the car. The bags are strong canvas with a strong metal zipper. Klein Tool 5140 4-piece Set of Canvas Zipper Bags

I like the Different colors to help with realizing what's inside them. Only wrench I can't fit in them is my 1" Open End Craftsmen wrench, so they are of very good size, and of high quality. They should last me a long time.

These bags are amazing, and far bigger than I was expecting, so check the measurements. I use them for storing small tools, paintbrushes, even pens, pencils etc. Planning to order more in the future, and one or two of the bigger Klein tool bags for storing bigger tools. I like to refinish furniture, but I also like that area to look as neat and livable as the rest of my home, and these bags are perfect. Perhaps this shouldn't matter but they also look great and I like the colors, especially the orange.

These are heavy duty canvass bags. I have about 8 of them now. Ive been using them for storing tools and storing electronic cords during motorcycle trips. Ive had this set of bags for years, using them in my work vehicle and besides being dirty, theyre working like new. Heavy duty canvass with heavy duty zippers.

So far, everythinh I had brouth from Amazon, was delivered accurately and in good shape.

I may pay a little more with shipping, but in the end,it was well worth it.

I am Field Service Eng. and those bags are a "home" for my tools.

Klein products are allways reliable and sturdy.

These top quality canvas storage bags are ideal for transporting tools, accessories,

or small parts. They are made of tough canvas, with a brass zipper which also has an

good sized handle. I am using all four of these bags within my tool box, and I find

their quality hard to beat. Looking for quality? Choose Klein. - Tool Bags - Accessory Bag'


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Zippered Bags - tool bags, accessory bag tool bags Zippered Bags - tool bags, accessory bag

California Innovations - soft cooler, california innovations


We used this cooler on a trip around California. Used to carry soft drinks, food and beer between motels and hotels, cooler was completely waterproof and kept all items cold for a full day with a bucket or 2 of ice. California Innovations1-70366-00-05 36 Can Soft Collapsible Cooler With Easy Ac

Large enouth for two gallons of milk with 2 cold packs to keep them cold. This cooler is always in our car and van. It is lightweight and portable. Nice looking and durable. The pocket on the front is handy for all sorts of extras (napkins, plastic utensils, snacks) you need on hand. Great quality, also.

Wouldn't leave home without it! Really a neat cooler.

We are always buying a cooler when we reach our vacation spot, so we decided to try a collapsible cooler that would fit into the suitcase. Some reviews on other products were not favorable, so I tried this cooler and I was not disappointed. It did not leak, it kept the contents very cold (and in 85 degree weather for 2 days!). The lid on top was convenient and it collapses to a very manageable size. I would recommend this product wholeheartedly!!!

I ordered this cooler. When it arrived it wasn't blue but red and gray which, is fine i guess. It had alot of great features but, when i actually used it, it leaked. I had some ice in it with food and once the ice started melting it started leaking a good amount, and that kinda sucked. There was no holes or tears in it but, it still leaked.

At the second oportunity to use this piece of garbage, I fill it just with ice in squares not bigger than 1x1 each dice, and no longer than 1 block walking with, it went ripping out by the left side showing the lining out. If you buy it this garbage is like throw your money in a rubbish cannister. Avoid to spend your money in this stuff. I remark than 1 star in my review is obliged it. This product doesn't deserve neither half a star.

Bought this to take when we go on cruises. This is the maximum size Carnival allows. This cooler is actually very well made and is really pretty large. When it's full of ice and drinks it gets quite heavy. And then it's so nice that it folds up for suitcase ride back home! Would highly recommend as a cooler no matter where you use it.

Received this as a Christmas present and enjoyed using it on a couple trips. Nice and compact for travel. Unfortunately, just noticed one of the bottom edge seams is completely torn. Insulation box is still intact, but without outer shell support, is only a matter of time. Never had more than 10-12 beverages with ice in it, so very disappointing. So far, Company has been unresponsive to my request for warranty coverage. Too bad. Will update if I hear more.

Can't go wrong with this bag. We use it for pool, beach, long car trips, trips to the aparment complex grill, and days we are out and about running errands. Holds the temp very well, has a large pocket for extras, and an easy access top pouch to retrieve items from the top. This item has allowed us to not only be more cost effective in a terrible economy, but we are eating more of what we like and is healthy rather than fast food junk. No complaints.

I work 12 hour shifts and have to eat every two hours or so. This cooler holds alot and is durable. I like the big Dry Pocket for magazines and pills and such. Bought two since this style seems to come and go. Some have a small dry pocket and this is not magazine friendly. - California - Soft Cooler - California Innovations - Cooling'


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