Friday, 18 September 2009

Bathroom Sink Faucets


This is a great looking faucet. All metal construction, except for two little plastic discs in the valves - it is a sturdy faucet.



PROS:

- great looking

- all metal, sturdy

- very simple design, easy, in theory, to install and understand (see below)



CONS:

- no documentation, instructions, manufacturer name, or anything. This isn't a big deal, given it is so straight forward to install, and it is so inexpensive that if it ever needs replacing (or replacement parts), just buying a new faucet isn't much of a strain.

- makes quite a bit of noise when the water is turned up high. like an airplane taking off or something... although this is definitely livable.

- hardware issue #1: one of the two braided hoses that came with the faucet burst. I would recommend supplying your own hoses.

- hardware issue #2: the stem coming from the faucet down through the counter top is TOO SHORT. I'm installing on a standard thickness granite counter. There wasn't quite enough stem to allow a tight fit when connecting the T-fitting to the stem, so it leaked water. I instead installed a braided hose along with a male-male fitting between the stem and the T-fitting. The braided hose female adapter is shorter than the T-fitting female adapter, so this worked.

- hardware issue #3: the rubber washer that came with the T-fitting shredded almost immediately. I bought a new washer that solved that problem.

- hardware issue #4: the washer/nut that is used below the faucet to clamp it to the underside of the counter top is not big enough. Given that this is a narrower than usual stem for a faucet, the standard hole for the faucet in the counter is too wide for the washer/nut. I had to buy a washer that fit over the stem and was wide enough to cover the entire hole.



After resolving the hardware issues, I'm left with a sleek-looking faucet. I'm happy with the outcome. Euro Modern Contemporary Bathroom Vanity Sink Widespread Lavatory Faucet Chrome

I ordered this faucet and installed it myself just after installing a kitchen and another bathroom faucet without problems. At first it seemed to be working fine, after several hours i noticed that water was dripping even though the knobs were turned all the way off. I tried to tighten the knobs and discovered another issue, Since the knobs are rectangular if one needs to be tightened more than the other they end up like this -- / . This does not look very attractive and makes it hard to tell if they are both off. After the next day the dripping started again and I decided to return the faucet. The build quality of the faucet itself was somewhat lacking as the end where the water emerges is not rolled or finished and is rather sharp. There is no aerator so the water flow is a little erratic.

I am very pleased with this product. The modern look, quality and functionality of this faucet is awesome. I would definitely recommend ordering it. The price is 2-3 times less than you will pay elsewhere. My faucet has been installed for about 6 weeks and it works beautifully. Love it, love it, love it.

I don't think this product is inexpensive and was shocked to receive it today. It comes in a plain white box without a single indication of who made it or where. The only writing on the box is FC-WRG01-TC and the word "chrome". There is a small booklet inside called "Installation Instruction" that has a single page dedicated to a cartoon of this faucet. The booklet also does not have a company name or country of origin listed on it.



I returned mine. It is pretty amazing to get something like this from Amazon and not know anything about it - what material is it really made from? Is it really lead free? Who made it? Where? How do I contact them? What if it fails? What if it damages my home?



The item description says it comes with a "5 year manufacturer's warranty" - but what sort of warranty is that if you don't know who manufactured it?

lots of scratches, and chips....not from the mail these were obviously from the manufacturer. They didn't arrive on time. They were not very easy to install either becuase the way you have to tighten them they never get really all that tight so they will always move. the nob edges are very shape and have cut myself 3 times on them. It's been 4 months since intalling and the water that come out of them tastes very funny...like chemicals. I bought these because they were a great price but i wish i would have just spent a little more and got something from the store'


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Graphic Novel - crossover, comics


The wall between two realities is breaking down, and people are finding themselves pulled across into a different reality - a place with different cities and towns, and different heroes and villains. Facing a war of all against all, the keepers of the two realities have decreed that the super-powered beings of their realities must fight it out, the winner take all! And so the battles begin - Thor vs. Captain Marvel, Namor vs. Aquaman, Flash vs. Quicksilver, Robin vs. Jubilee, Green Lantern vs. the Silver Surfer, Catwoman vs. Elektra, and so much more. Who will win, and what will the resulting reality look like? Read this book and find out!



OK, where do I start? First of all, this is a lot of story to pack into such a small book, I could easily write one that was as thick as the New York City phonebook! What this means is that each interaction between super-beings is bound to be short, which many will find disappointing. Secondly, as neither DC nor Marvel is going to sign on to a project where their superheroes come off looking second-best, you do realize that somebody somewhere is going to pull a rabbit out of their hat.But, that said, my ten-year-old son and I both found this to be a fun and highly enjoyable read. Admittedly, when one of our favorite superheroes got defeated by a rival, we objected. But, overall we thought that they did a good job of producing a very good mega-crossover graphic novel. My son and I both highly recommend this book to you! DC vs. Marvel Comics

If you're a comic book fan you'll now how expected this crossover was, so there was no possible way to get it wrong. I'm not saying that it couldn't have been better, as a matter of fact not all fights were intresting, but the interaction of the two universes goes beyond that point. Peter Parker and Clark Kent working together, Batman fighting Bullseye, the Scarecrows terrifiying Louisa Lane, Gambit driving the Batmovile, are all exiting moments.About the fights the best one by far is Superman vs Hulk, and the most dissapointing is Wolverine vs Lobo.Claudio Castellini's pencils are AWSOME, I mean this guy draws in a very unique stylle, making even the boring caracters intresting, it's a shame that he didn't pencil the entire story.So if you like the DC and Marvel caracters you are going to enjoy to read DC vs Marvel.

The idea is great and the artwork cool, but overall I have to agree that this is much too small a format for such a sprawling concept. In order to cram everything in, what should be epic confrontations are mashed the smallest possible space.



That said, I must take issue with this absurd idea that no one likes Captain America. That's just silly; Cap has always been and remains a fan favorite. I find it funny to see him refrred to as dated when Batman is as clunky and old-timey as they come!

Disappointing overall. The almagam universe was the most interesting idea and was touched on too brief like everything else in this book. The amalgam series alone is far better than this effort and I would not waste time purchasing this book. Try the amalgam trades and also try JLA / Avengers - that book is far better and keeps all characters in 'character'.

Attempting to answer the heated DC v Marvel debate, the artwork is the only reason this book gets 2 stars in this review. I'm sorry, but the writers gave way too much favour to the Marvel stars, where obvious DC heavyweights lost to their Marvel "counterparts". (((SPOILER))) How is Storm able to withstand a kick to the head from Wonder Woman????? And even if Spidey is a worldwide favourite...come on Superboy could break Spiderman in half!(((SPOILER)))



Other than the obvious Marvel bias, the story premise is very thin as if no effort was taken in dreaming up the reason why the superheroes would be fighting each other.



If you skip this book, you aren't missing much...

Truth is, I accidentally purchased this along with The Amalgam Age of Comics (DC) and Return to Amalgam Age of Comics (DC).



For you who don't know, "Amalgam" was a joint DC-Marvel project where Marvel and DC characters were actually half and half versions of themselves (Wolverine and Batman were fused into "Dark Claw", Flash and Ghost Rider into "Speed Demon", Storm and Wonder Woman into "Amazon", Elektra and Catwoman, Green Lantern and Iron Man, etc.), making for some really amazing blended characters that you'd only see in that one short run of comics. 24 comics were made in the series, half published by DC, half by Marvel. Unfortunately, only the DC collections are still in print. (Though from what I've seen the DC titles were done far better. It felt like Marvel was slacking a bit on the deal.)



Anyway, I was somewhat disappointed that I had ordered DC Versus Marvel instead of the Amalgam Age (Marvel)... Until I read it. It actually leads directly into the Amalgam stories AND resolves them. On its own it absolutely shines. There are amazing battles between some closely matched characters and wonderfully inspired moments (Spidey and Superman working on a news story together, an emergency comes up and both have a simultaneous thought bubble, and I paraphrase: "I gotta ditch this guy and get into costume"). This actually introduced me to Lobo, who I'd heard of but always assumed was a subpar Wolvie ripoff. Wolvie ripoff? - Maybe. Subpar? - Not a chance. I think I know what my next comics purchase will be.



Read it, eat it up. It's worth every cent and every minute.

When I was growing up I devoured comic books, but only those that had a super hero theme. It was the time when Stan Lee was wielding his creative magic and developing characters such as the X-Men, the Incredible Hulk, Spider Man and the Fantastic Four. Simultaneously, the DC Comics side had characters like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern. The writers of both groups also developed powerful villains worthy of doing battle with a super being. However, with very few exceptions there were no confrontations between the heroes and villains of the two publishers.

The premise of this book is that there are two universes, one containing the Marvel heroes and villains and the other containing the DC heroes and villains. Due to a bizarre set of brothers that wish to battle by proxy, some of the heroes are transported to locations where they must battle a similar hero from the "other side." For example, DC Aquaman battles the Marvel Submariner, Marvel Captain America battles DC Batman, Marvel Silver Surfer battles DC Green Lantern and DC Wonder Woman battles Marvel Storm. Although all are reluctant to fight, they are told that the side that loses the most battles will have their universe destroyed. Therefore, they go all out in their gladiatorial contests. These are not fights to the death, the battle ends when one is incapacitated, generally through being knocked unconscious. There are 11 battles in all and my favorite was one that I always wanted to see, Hulk versus Superman. For this would be a battle of strength against strength, kryptonite would not be a part of the struggle.

There is a lot of great superhero against superhero action and each side wins some and loses some. Naturally, there is a conclusion and both universes are once again safe, but the road there involves a great deal of action depicted by some superb artwork and including some dynamic dialog. This is one of the best book length comics ever published. - Dc-marvel - Crossover - Dc Comics - Comics'


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Heart Rate Monitor - charger, usb


This came with my Garmin Forerunner 405cx, but I bought a spare to keep in my travel bag.



This easily clips onto the 405 CX, and is powered via USB on your computer (the 405cx also comes with an AC adaptor for this clip). I just leave my 405cx clipped to this when I am not running so that I know that my 405cx is fully charged when I go running. If you have an iPod AC travel charger, you can use that to power this unit instead of your computer.



Important: Make sure that the contact points on the Forerunner are dry before attaching this unit or you may damage the Forerunner. Garmin forerunner Charging Clip

I got this charger so I can have one to leave at home and one in my gym bag. So when I travel I can charge off my laptop, with an external battery pack or in my car. Works great and minimizes the short battery life of the 405. Was even thinking it will be simple to set up on my bike with an external battery pack for long rides - and it worked!



PROS: OEM, and it works!



CONS: Wish it had a generic connection to the watch, but this works

I ordered the usb accessory within a minute of the watch and the shipping was 10 day instead of 2day... forget buying from Clever Athletics or Amazon... just go to Sports Basement or any good sporting goods store! - Usb - Charger - 405 - Fitness'


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Klipsch Image S4


CNET recently released their top 5 choices for best earbuds under $100 and so I figured since I already had the V-Moda Vibes (in need of replacing... the 4th broken pair of em) I would buy two other pairs (Klipsch IMAGE S4 In-Ear Enhanced Bass Noise-Isolating Headphone,Ultimate Ears SuperFi 3 Studio Noise Isolating Earphones (Black))and compare the three. CNET had the S4's at the top and after two weeks of solid use I couldn't agree more. Klipsch's buds seem to trump the other two in every way. The S4's cord doesn't conduct sound from rubbing like the Vibes, and isn't perma-kinked like the Ultimate Ears. The S4's are as stylish as the Vibe's though seem to be almost as durable as the rugged Ultimate Ears buds. As far as the sound goes the S4's have slightly tighter bass than the bass heavy (which I like) Vibes and more crisp highs than the Ultimate Ears. So here's the break down in my opinion.



V-MODA Vibe Earbuds - Flashback Chrome



Bass 8.5

Mids 7

High 7

Comfort 9

Durability 5 (one year warranty)





Klipsch IMAGE S4 In-Ear Enhanced Bass Noise-Isolating Headphone



Bass 9.5

Mids 9

Highs 9

Comfort 9

Durability 8? (two year warranty)



Ultimate Ears SuperFi 3 Studio Noise Isolating Earphones (Black)



Bass 6

Mids 8

Highs 8

Comfort 6

Durability 9 Klipsch IMAGE S4 In-Ear Enhanced Bass Noise-Isolating Headphones

For starters I'm going to address several key observations that need to be considered when looking at the Klipsch IMAGE S4 earphones and then tackle my "listening experience".



First: These earphones, from my experience, are possibly one of the best values in electronics today. Not just IEM, not just headphones...all electronics. Does that mean they are THE BEST in ear monitors on the market? No. But they are very, very, very good overall and outstanding once price is factored in. Based just on sound quality, comfort and features, the S4 is a 4 star item...based on that and price it's more than a 5 star. I keep seeing reviews where people are saying these are overrated because they don't stack up against model x, y, z and when you check prices on x, y, z they are four and five times the price of these. Would you expect a $20,000 car to stack up against an $80,000 car? No. But if you found a $20,000 car that stacked up against a $50,000 or $60,000 car you'd be thrilled, right? That's the S4, which is easily the best in ear monitor for under $200. That said, there are a multitude of personal preferences when it comes to earphones and the S4 may or may not meet those preferences as I will discuss later.



Second: Do NOT send these back or be upset with the sound of the S4 if you have not done burn in. For those not familiar with what this is, it means playing music through the earphones at approximately 25% to 50% above your normal listening volume (not while you are listening to them of course) for anywhere from 50 to 80 hours BEFORE using them normally. With dynamic earphones like these it is even more important and the S4 in particular seems to require it; out of the box, my pair sounded tinny with no bass and I was pretty annoyed by that (as have been some others in reviews on this site). However, after doing just 50 hours of burn in, they sound incredible.



Third: Fit will be a problem for some and even those its not a problem for due to size issues, it will be a problem because you have wear these differently than other "normal" earphones. The included eargels are, in my opinion, overly small. Even the large eargel seems a tad undersized and the small double flange and small normal (which seems more like a medium) just fall out. It's not like I have huge ears either as with most earphones there is usually an included size that is too big for me so, while I am able to get a seal with the large, I find it disconcerting that I feel like it might fall out. I attribute this to the patented design and the fact that they need to be inserted not straight in like normal earbuds, but at an upward angle; I am going to order the large double flanged eargels from Klipsch in the future in the hope it will help lock them in, but I am a little frustrated that I have to pony up another $13; they really should have included another $5 or $10 in eargels like they do on their Custom 2.



Listening Impressions:



The S4 is incredibly balanced, which seems to both win it fans and alienate others as it doesn't bias any one aspect of the listening experience; it reproduces the mix of the music as it was done in the studio. If you like large amounts of artificial bass, the S4 is NOT for you as its about realistic reproduction which means, if the track wasn't mixed with a lot of bass or doesn't have any, you won't hear any. Otherwise, if bass is part of the track mix it is plenty powerful.



Instrument definition is outstanding; you can hear the separate percussion instruments and multiple guitar lines. When someone slides their finger up a chord or a singer inhales before a high note, you can hear it. I'm amazed but what I am hearing in my music that I never knew was there before-entire parts and nuances to songs were totally missing with other headphones. Plus, you can HEAR quiet parts...especially at the ends of songs as they fade out. Some reviews speak to the harshness of the upper range with these...but I don't hear it. Maybe I'm just not attuned to that as much, but all I know is that nothing about the music I hear coming out of S4 is "harsh" in any way shape or form.



I listen to a wide variety of music: Classical (Mozart), Jazz (Pat Metheny), Bluegrass and Country (Alison Kraus, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, etc), Classic Rock (Eagles, U2, Boston), Rock (Nickelback, Vertical Horizon, 3 Doors Down, Daughtry) so I can speak to what the S4 is able to do across multiple spectrums of music. While it shines across the board, I feel the S4 is at its best (insofar as sounding MUCH better than the competition) on more complex music. I listened to Tim McGraw's Southern Voice album and Brad Paisley's American Saturday Night album back to back with Nickelback's All the Right Reasons album and Daughtry's Leave this Town album and with the former two, the detailed and intricate instrumentation jumps out of the S4 into your ears in a way I've never heard before. With the latter two, the sound quality is certainly better than others I've listened to...but its not like the "hearing the music for the first time" of the other albums because the musical arrangements are pretty simple and singular (just a lot of guitar, drums and bass all smashed together).



Finally, for a few final recommendations if you choose to purchase the S4:



The tin they come in is a little goofy. If you really want to fit the earphones in it, you have to pull out the padding that is inside or you will crush them. It's compact and its sturdy (more so than an unreinforced zippered case would be) so that is excellent, but its like they needed to make it bigger but didn't out of fear that it would be too bulky.



There have been a multitude of comments about the wires on these in that they seem thin. I agree...they seem a little thin; emphasis on little. Its not like they are the size of fishing line--they're just not fat. I will say this though...the wires, while thin, seem very sturdy. They don't bend in your hand like other lower tier wires do so I don't think breakage will be an issue if you treat them well (as you should if you are paying this much for earphones). Plus the wires are long enough without being too long so that they get tangled in everything. One last thing with the wires: they are really tightly wound in the package and, due to the sturdy material they are made of, they take awhile to naturally straighten out. I would advise you hang them from a safe place at night for a week to hasten that process along.



Finally, though this is not directly related to the earphones themselves, I feel the need to throw out some advice with regards to music quality and the S4. The S4 was specifically engineered for compressed music and it works well with it (whereas higher end phones like even the Klipsch Custom 2 make compressed music loss more evident)...BUT: please, PLEASE, if you have large amounts of music compressed BELOW 160 MP3 or 128 AAC, don't buy these-you are wasting your money. You will not be able to experience the fullness these provide with compressions that high and, in some cases, I found the S4 picked up artifacts in highly compressed music that ruined the listening experience. I had a lot of compressions in my music collection, but when I go these, I re ripped everything I had on CD to 196 AAC with VBR and it's a HUGE difference over 128 MP3 (and a pretty good difference over 128 AAC). I still have a mix of 128 AAC, 160 MP3...but the collection is 80% 196 AAC.



In the end, if you are primarily a compressed music listener (MP3, M4A player, iPod etc) who wants more clarity and definition in your music and you have (or can have) less compressed music files, then the Klipsch IMAGE S4 is, bar none, the best value in ear (and possibly the best value in any headphone) phone on the market today. I would recommend it above ANY other currently retailing under $200 today.'


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Low-cut Socks


Initially, I bought these socks because white socks look kind of goofy with my black sneakers. So, I ordered these knowing I at least wanted Climatelite (absorbant for when your feet might get a little sweaty). I wore them right away and they felt good, no slippage, they blended with my black shoes. Everything was good and a worthwhile purchase. Then I put a pair of regular socks on and I realized these socks have a little bit of support in them. I have plantar facitis and a high arch so the little extra support was noticed after wearing some of my other athletic socks. Since this realization, I have ordered two more sets. I highly recommend them for anyone with foot issues. Plus they look cool. adidas Women's Climalite X II 2-Pack Low Cut Sock, Medium Lead Marled/Graphite Marled/Graphite Solid/Mono Pink, Shoe Size 5-10'


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Books-woodworki - turning tools, wood lathes


What a GREAT book. I am a new turner and am reading everything I can get my hands on about turning. This is my second overview book on the subject. I just picked one to start as I didn't have any idea what book to try. I didn't learn what I had hope to in the first one so when I saw Barry Gross' book, I thought I would try it. Was I glad I did!



Mr. Gross' book, Learn To Turn, provides all the basic information in a CLEAR format. There are pictures to go along with the text and they are clearly label as are the parts of the machine, tools or safety measures he is writing about.



When he talks about "truing up" or other turning terms, he actually defines what that means in laymen's terms so a true beginner can grasp what he is talking about. When he discusses the various tools, he pictures that tool on the page where is he explaining how to use the tool. This really helped me to learn which tool was which and just how they should be used.



Mr. Gross discusses finishes and shows four different ones so you can choose which you would use for which project. Of course, he has a section on safety and the pictures really bring home the point of the need for safety. There is also a section on tool sharpening and a detailed description of how each tool should be correctly sharpened. Sanding is another section and I learned about a sandpaper called New Wave and Abranet sanding screens. He tells how to make a jam chuck - another one of those turning terms - and explains how and why to use it and what it is. And not book would be complete without the glossary of terms and a company resources list.



In the final section of the book, Mr. Gross provides instructions for eight projects from a simple bowl to a wonderful Christmas Ornament. These eight projects will keep this turner busy for several months as I try to come close to what the author's turnings look like. For $14.95, this is a book I would recommend to a new turner or for a turning instructor as a classroom text. I know my copy will become a well-worn text in my shop. Learn to Turn: A Beginner's Guide to Woodturning from Start to Finish

This book is an excellent reference for the new woodturner. It makes no assumptions, and starts from the VERY beginning, so some may skip some of the beginning sections. However, the book is organized to guide you through the process, and includes projects to use your newly found skills. The book reads very well, and will give you the fundamental knowledge you need to get started. It's also filled with excellent photos to help clarify the text. I would highly recommend this book to other beginners (in fact, I already have).

I recently decided to give a shot at wood turning. Being a complete beginner without any time to attend any classes I started by shopping around for different books and DVDs.

In my opinion, "Learn to Turn" is by far the best book available for starting woodturning.

It is written in a very simple style and illustrated by numerous color pictures.

This book is short, well organized and go straight to the point.

The book is divided in two main parts.

The first part introduce the basics of woodturning, the tools, sharpening, sanding, finishing.

The second part is a composed of a multitude of photo essays that show you how to use each tool and drive you through several simple projects.

I bought a new lathe recently and needed to learn how to use it. I bought this book along with Taunton's book. This book was SO helpful. I found it to be direct & to the point, and full of good common sense advice. Within an hour of picking up this book, my lathe work had improved dramatically- pieces that had previously taken me over an hour to turn now take less than 5 minutes. It's amazing what a little knowledge can do! The Taunton book is good too, but I like the organization of this book a lot more; I found it easier to use and more beginner friendly.

My 10 year-old son and I love to use our wood lathe. Learn to Turn is a great book for beginners and have helped my 10 year-old to become a very good woodturner, as well as refreshing me on things I had forgotten.

I received a wood lathe at the beginning of this year as a gift and was unsure of how to use it safely, let alone what kind of tools to buy to use it. I found this book, and read it thoroughly form cover to cover. From it I learned not only what kind of tools to get for a beginner, but the author also had very detailed steps of how to setup and use each type of chisel and covers all the bases for basic turning. Once you follow his guide for learning the tools, he has included detailed steps for many projects to proper section of wood for turning, whether its from a wood store or from a tree in the backyard, to finishing your work piece (which I didn't know there was so many steps to get the sheen seen at wood craft venues). I highly recommend this book for anyone who desires to learn the basics of wood turning!

The perfect book for those who are beginners or returning to lathe work from years past. Especially good for tool use and sharpening. Detailed color photos and diagrams provide well organized instruction along with information on wood sources and sample projects. - Turning Tools - Wood Lathes - Woodworking - Lathe'


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Remodeling - milwaukee, milwaukee sawzall


I have been using my sawsall for heavy pruning work recently and the super sawsall did not disappoint me. I don't own a chainsaw and only the length of the sawsall blade limited the size of the limb I could cut up. The balance on the saw is comfortable and 15 amps cuts through just about anything (no loss of power or effective recipricating action). I also use this sawsall for more standard construction demo and rough framing work. It has more than enough power for construction needs. It is very rare that I wish I could turn the head of my saw for easier cutting access (and there is always another way), but it is common that I require enough power for heavy cutting needs. I'm glad I purchased the 15 amp saw! I'm hoping it lasts as long as my last super sawsall (on and off for 19 years)......Only (1) complaint...and a big one (that is easy to fix by the manuf)...The case doesn't have enough room for a lot of blade storage. I carry multiple sizes and types on the job and the case doesn't leave enough room after the saw is stored for more than a small number of blades. If milwaukee just made the case a bit roomier, I would be really happy! I would even by a new case if Milwaukee redesigned it and the price was reasonable. Milwaukee 6538-21 15.0 Amp Super Sawzall Recip Saw

This is the saw to use for heavy-duty, demanding work.



We bought this 120VAC powered saw for a particularly demanding demolition situation. We had to sawzall dozens and dozens of metal pipes (up to 6" diameter SCH 80) and associated supports for 3 days straight. Other removal options were not open to us on this particular job. Saw has excellent performance, it's as smooth as these saws can be, and very powerful. [Our 28V battery powered saw gives great performance, but it's not really intended for hours and hours of use, even with multiple batteries]



I've found Milwaukee stuff is usually well-thought out, ruggedly built, and gives good service life. Like with many high-end tools, this high level of performance comes at a price, but for us, it's well worth it.



If you need a heavy-duty, industrial/commercial/professional grade sawzall this is it. Highly recommended.

A bought my first Milwaukee Sawzall around 1980. I think they were around 5 amps then. (I still have it kept in reserve.) I then moved up to a Super Sawzall around 1989 and rarely used my old one because the `Super' version was so much better (Although it was bigger and heavier). It ran flawlessly with exception of brush and cord replacements for many years. It went down around a year and a half ago at which time I bought the latest incarnation of the Super version.



I was a little put off by a few of the reviews I saw saying they are now made in Taiwan and are plastic and cheaper. But I bought it anyway. Over the years I had tried a few other brands that were out on jobs and they were all 'junk' compared to the Milwaukees.



After using this latest 15 amp version of the Milwaukee Sawzall I am impressed with the extreme power, smoothness (low vibration), speed, and lighter weight. A superior experience from a superior line of industrial grade portable power tools.



This has been the best Sawzall yet.

I borrowed this from a friend of mine to take some old cast iron plumbing out of my crawlspace. All kinds of folks tried to talk me into using something else to cut the cast iron drain pipes (2"+ thick).



I bought the Diamond grit black blade for this, and it -D-E-S-T-R-O-Y-E-D- those pipes. In a good way. Sliced through it in maybe 3 minutes (i had read some people say a sawzall would take me an hour to do each cut). Cut through some 1-1/2 in copper pipe as well. Super clean cut.



I will be purchasing this soon, and all i can say is nothing in my house is safe, haha

Heavy, powerful, aggressive, and tunable...



This saw will plow though just about anything or it can be configured to be gentle and precise. The orbital action is completely tunable for zero to full orbit. The stoke speed can be controlled by dial & trigger. The saw is solid and well built. It shreds through wood & nails & just about anything else.



The worst thing I can say about the saw is that the case is not amazing. I miss the old metal case from the original Sawzall.



In short this is a great saw.

Bought this saw, and was impressed... then, after about 27 days and about an hour of use, the motor burned up... Used amazon's return system, and sent a replacement 2-day fed-ex. I was very impressed with the way amazon took care of the issue. Still haven't put more than an hour of use on the saw, but seems to be good.

I had no reservations purchasing this saw and was extremely happy with the results. I've used this saw at work so I knew going in what to expect. I wanted the most amp for the buck and was not disappointed at all. I bought an exterior door for my house for $100(cheap I know, it was a returned item) but I had to enlarge my rough openning. Something I was hesitant about tackling. This saw made short work of it and it couldnt have turned out better. I saved enough on the door to more than cover the cost of the saw and now I have an excellent saw for the next decade of work. This saw is very balanced but with awsome power to cut through studs, nails, metal or anything in your way. So happy with this saw and Amazon. Highly Highly recommend. Oh and I have all of my fingers, something my wife said wouldnt happen, not even any blood letting. (Most of my projects involve some type of DNA marking)

I have cut thousands of lbs of #1 steel with this saw without a problem. I've been clearing out all the steel stantions, iron water pipe, etc. from our old milking parlor most recently with it. If your planning on using your sawzall for hours on end and for heavy duty work this is the sawzall for you. Yep it is a bit on the heavy side but it gets the job done when other sawzalls would burn up. Milwaukee blades are ok but I've found that Bosch blades are better especially their heavy metal cutting blades. For those of you who find yourself using up metal cutting blades quickly, try bosch and turning the speed down on your sawzall. Also note that this is a 15 AMP sawzall and shouldn't be used with extension cords over 75ft no matter what gauge. You'll eventually burn out the motor due to low current. Plan on buying a 50ft 10 gauge extension cord for use with this saw unless you plan on working right next to an outlet all the time. - Reciprocating Saw - Recipricating Saw - Milwaukee - Milwaukee Sawzall'


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Knee Support - knee, knee strap


If you've got a lot of mileage on your knees like I do, and need a little support now and then, this will do the trick. It's a pretty color, and supports your knee by means of velcro straps, making it not too difficult to put on.



Not as bulky as some braces, this is one you can wear under your pants if you like as you go about your daily routine, and the mesh around the kneecap gives a little ventilation as well. Definitely worth a try if you're in the market for one. Those who have knee arthritis might also be interested in Treat Your Own Knee Arthritis. Wellgate for Women Gel-Comfort Knee Support, 1 Size

I bought this product based on the reviews which I thought were pretty favorable. Many said the product was way too big which would suit me fine since I have big knees, but this support was way too tight for me. I should have purchased something which gave precise measurments. I think this would be a good support for a woman between 145 & 180 lbs. By no means is this a one size fits all.

I have owned two Wellgate knee supports over the last year (Patella Subluxation) and was happy with them until I wore them out. I couldn't find a replacement in any of the stores so I looked to Amazon. When I ordered this one I thought it was a new model but when I got it turned out to be the same one I've been wearing. I'm not unhappy, was just hoping for a thinner material that wouldn't show through pants too much, and this one is not that bad, and it's still the best brace I've owned, and I've owned many over the last several years. This brace stays in place and keeps my kneecap in place, others I've had roll or need to be pulled up frequently. I can see where a very thin or large limbed person may have an issue with the size, I am neither but in other braces I've always had to have a large size. This one can be adjusted to the upper and lower leg with the velcro straps so there is some flexibility here and it doesn't bind you in the back of the knee as others often do. If you wear one everyday it will probably last you about 6 months as the velcro will wear out.

I purchased this based on the reviews and the fact that many reviews said it was way to big for them which is what I need. I have a larger knee with a larger thigh and calf and thought it would work for me. I am 5'5" and weight 190 lbs. so it is definitely not suited for the larger woman (size 16-18). I feel like I need a brace that would fit a football players leg. I will have to keep looking for the right knee support.

This support is very well made, is more comfortable, and relieves pain better than other brands I've tried, helping me to get more exercise. Its material is soft, non-irritating, keeps the joint warm, and allows flexing of the knee when properly put on (not too tight!). My physical therapist was also impressed with its quality. If you're on the small side, or need a greater degree of support, you may need to do some tugging to obtain the correct fit, taking care to keep the flexible mesh centered over your kneecap, and it helps, I've found, to put it on with your knee straightened. Once you've put it on to achieve your best fit (and a breaking-in process takes place as well), the support can be worn all day. If you have less pain, the Wellgate for Women knee strap may be enough for you, and is a superior product as well; I've used both successfully.

The Wellgate For Women Gel Comfort Knee Support, 1 size is not for all. I read reviews before ordering but after receiving this item, if you are a larger woman don't depend on this to fit. I read where smaller women were having problems because it was to large for them. I'm sure it works for some women that are in the middle of small and large it fits perfectly. Not happy with it.

I purchased this after having to return two knee supports that I purchased at the drug store and a sporting goods store. Both were size small but too large for me and would end up down around my ankle. This one is perfect, adjustable but doesn't bunch up and not very noticeable under pants. And definitely fit for a woman's body. Highly recommended, in fact, I'm going to buy more of their stuff just in case I ever need it!

I was happy with the brace until I got an allergic reaction to it. Before I purchased it I read all of the information very carefully to see what the composition was and was unable to find it. I knew I had an allergy to Neoprene and wouldn't have made the purchase had I known. The return was easy enough but I didn't receive payment for shipping.



Dolores

I have patella-femoral syndrome as part of hyperlaxity ("double-jointedness"), so my kneecaps are always in pain because they are moving "off track," bending "backwards," and rubbing against other bones and grooves, thus becoming inflamed.



I purchased two of these knee supports (they are sold individually, in case that wasn't clear in the product description) in the hope that they could relieve my leg pain, as well as help me target and work with muscles that will keep my kneecaps properly in place, thus relieving my condition at least a little.



I've only worn these braces while hanging around the house, but so far I am very happy -- they are a dream! The supports make my kneecaps feel like they are securely in place, but still moveable, in the right way. They relieve sooo much pressure and allow my kneecaps to rest in the proper location, which feels so good, it's almost unreal!



The design construction is very sophisticated, yet they are easy to use and very comfortable to wear. I have even worn these while taking a nap, because in the past my knee pain could be so intense that I would have trouble sleeping. So they definitely pass the sleep test, which is great.



I haven't tried working out with these yet, but so far, they are worth it just for everyday comfort and pain relief. They're not too stylish to look at, and they are a little pricey, but they are totally worth it for me. - Knee Braces - Knee Strap - Knee Support - Knee'


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Historical Adventure - peter otoole, miniseries


Masada is one of the most eagerly anticipated DVD releases of the year. This Classic TV 1981 miniseries is arguably one of the greatest ever produced in its genre, and garnered a lot of awards in its day. It is MORE than highly recommended!



It is well written and has a stellar cast that more than lived up to the script. The series, based on Ernest K. Gann's historical novel The Antagonists, is a dramatization of a documented revolt by nearly a thousand Jerusalem Jews against Roman oppressors in A.D. 72 to 73.



Epic in its scope, the actors bring nobility and pathos to the ultimately inspiring and tragic story. Following a city-wide siege by Rome's soldiers, Jewish Zealots move into a desert fortress in the mountains of Masada of Judea. It is from that remote location that they make their last stand against the tyrannical Roman Empire. Amazingly, their defensive battlement is strong enough to convince the enemy to negotiate after a two-year battle!



The brilliant Peter O'Toole, portrays Cornelius Flavius Silva, commander of the Roman legions, while Peter Strauss (who was cast in several miniseries in the 80's) portrays the Zealot leader Eleazar ben Yair, who end up developing an improbably respect for each other during the life-and-death struggle.



O'Toole, is fresh from the Roman conquest of Judea. Exhausted emotionally and physically, he has been affected by the constant warring, but remains the ruthless Commander of the elite Tenth Legion. He yearns to return home to Italy, but is prevented from doing so by a violent uprising of a small band of courageous Jews led by the volatile renegade soldier, Eleazar ben Yair (Strauss).



Silva is ordered to capture Eleazar and his followers. He is beset by internal strife because the brutal desert conditions have his legion teetering on the brink of mutiny, while he finds himself falling in love with a Jewess (portrayed with sensitivity by Barbara Carerra.) At the same time, Pomponius Falco, portrayed by David Warner, is working to steal his command.



Inside the fortress, Eleazar is struggling to keep his followers together. A diverse mix of defected soldiers, wanted criminals along with women and children totally about 900, they struggle to find enough food and water to survive their courageous stand against impossible, truly hopeless odds.



The actors leave nothing on the cutting room floor in their heart wrenching renditions of their unforgettable characters. Somehow, O'Toole brings humanity to his character, while Strauss is integrity, fury and courage personified.



Both of their characters believe the negotiations are real, and represent each side in good faith, struggling to find a way out of the deadly situation.



Unfortunately, neither realizes that Rome has no intention of yielding, but instead sends thousands of soldiers in a horrible seige of Masada resulting in one of the worst tragedies in Jewish history.



Masada was brilliantly directed by Boris Sagal (The Omega Man), and the musical score is unforgettably moving. Masada - The Complete Epic Mini-Series

As a teacher of ancient history, I am well aware of the theories surrounding the fall of Masada, as well as the cited inaccuracies in this film. However, for sheer entertainment and quality of performance, Masada is still one great movie! Be advised that the shorter version (2 hours) omits a great deal of material included in the much longer mini-series format. Nevertheless, for the average viewer, the abridged version is packed with enough epic drama to suit just fine. Peter O'Toole's Flavius Silva is peerless. His emotionless eloquence is an excellent portrayal of the general of Rome's undefeated tenth legion challenging the 900 Jewish raiders who have fled to Masada's heights. Peter Strauss (Eleazar) nearly matches O'Toole's brilliance as the fiery leader of the Jewish rebels, who prefer to die 'stealing victory' from the Romans rather than surrendering.I have been to Masada twice, and honestly--it was nearly impossible to tell that the film really wasn't shot at the site! The highlight of the film is the massive siege engine's ascent up the Roman ramp, and the battering ram's assault on the wall. The concluding suicide sequence is handled with reserve and tact. The final forty minutes are underscored by an exhilarating musical score that serves to heighten the tension as the inevitable outcome nears. The end is replete with superbly written dialogue, as well as attention to detail in evidencing the engineering expertise of Ancient Rome.Because much of what is known about the real story of Masada is speculation, the less one knows about the incident, the more one can enjoy the film. Seen for what it--great entertainment, and not a history lesson, Masada will not fail to please.

Ive bought Masada in its single VHS and its 4 VHS version. I own the soundtrack. I'm a MASADA-MANIAC. I scooped up the DVD on first sight, although the DVD art looked a little.."unofficial" by comparison with the lavish 4 tape box set. It seems that MASADA is owned by MCA-Universal, but this release is put out by KOCH Entertainment. Okay, I thought, so the cover art is a bit flat...at least it's out on DVD! Well, I watched it, and it looks REALLY good. Not restored or even cleaned, mind you. You can see scratches and damage to the negative, but its only minor and to be expected with anything that's been in the vault since the 80's. However, what I was aghast to notice are gaps in the scene where Silva is deciding to torch the wall of Masada or not. The scene is clipped short on the DVD. In the original film, Silva (Peter O'Toole) says "Burn it!" to his engineer, and storms off. Then we see the archers setting their fires. Before he says that line on the DVD, the screen goes black, and they cut to the archers shooting fire-arrows into the wall. Hmmm. I dug out my 4 tape VHS to be sure. Sure enough, his "Burn it!" line is missing from the DVD. Indeed, I noticed there is other dialog missing from this scene as well. Silva asks for suggestions other than fire from his officers. When no one speaks up he tells them he doesn't blame them, and would probably keep silent if he was in their place. Those lines aren't there either. Now, this is just ONE scene I noticed, but I suspect there are probably other bits missing as well. While its not the end of the world, I am disappointed. Why couldn't MCA have just put out a decent and COMPLETE version of Masada themselves? Suffice to say, Im holding on to my 4 tape VHS set, which I have to recommend over this DVD release. Sorry folks. Keep your fingers crossed, maybe next time they'll get it right. - Peter Otoole - Masada - Roman Empire - Miniseries'


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Hide A Key - gardening, fake rock


We have 4 grown children and no one seems to be able to keep track of their key to our house. We feel confident that the extra rock in our flower bed looks innocent and is safer than leaving the key under the door mat. HIDE A KEY Realistic Rock Outdoor Key Holder - As Seen on TV

These blend in with some stones I have so work well . I did put the key in a small plastic coin bag to make sure it stayed dry and didn't rust . I bought several of these and the bottom cover (white) had corners showing on two of them . Took a file and filed them down so they aren't visible now. Covered two of them up with other rocks stacked on them since they are well made . If one has a little more white or light color than you like use black Magic Marker to touch them up . I am well pleased with them .

The price of this key rock is perfect. The key rock is hard to detect when placed among other rocks or outdoor material. We've had one for 20 years, and it looks the same as the day we started to use it. This was purchased for a relative who needed to place a key outdoors. No need to spend a lot of money for something so simple and easy to use.

This item is useless. It is not the item pictured on Amazon. The item received looks nothing like a real rock. You'd do much better to just stick your extra key in a zip-lock bag and hide it under a real rock.

The rock shipped to me was not the one pictured. It looks like an obvious plastic toy. Not even remotely realistic in appearance. It looks so bad it might actually attract unwanted attention if placed near real rocks or a garden.

The idea of being able to hide a key in the rock is great. I've bought it for other people, however this product arrived broken in the mail. The edges were broken into little pieces. I glued them back on because the price + shipping for this product wouldn't be worth it shipping back and going through all this trouble. Whoever wrapped it didn't do a good job.

This rock gets the job done. My wife and I stuffed our stockings this year with "As seen on TV" goodies, and this was one of the gifts. It's useful, hard to break, and would be the most appreciated gift if gaining entrance to the house is needed. - Gardening - Hide Key - Hide-a-key - Fake Rock'


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