Thursday, 6 November 2008

brad nails - brads, brad nails


This is about the most common brad size I use in my shop. These are fairly soft, so deflection can be a problem if you are not careful about the material you are nailing. Avoid knots and obtuse angles on plywood. They hold well and can be difficult to remove once driven. B and C Eagle B18-112 1-1/2-Inch by 18-Gauge Brad Nail, Galvanized, 5000-Per Box

I purchased these brads along with a Porter Cable Nailer. The width of the heads are 10% less wide than the Porter Cable brads that I purchased at Home Depot for a cheaper price! The Porter Cable items have a better holding surface too.

These 18 ga nails are not of the size necessary for the 16 ga Porter-Cable Finish Nailer that they are typically advertised with (FN250A). They sometimes came out 2 at a time, not at all, or caused the nailer to jam. I called Porter-Cable, and acquired the correct size nails, and the problems went away. I would not recommend these 18 ga nails, especially for this 16ga nailer.

I have used these nails extensively in my Bostich BT-50 (on my 3rd box of 5000) with no problem at all. Possibly other manufacturers have lower tolerances or are not up to par with the Bostich, but the nails work just great..... - Brads - Brad Nails'


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Wandas Evil Scheme - dry erase, dryerase


I spent 10 years teaching in a blackboard and chalk environment, but I changed jobs several years ago and I've been teaching in a whiteboard and dry erase marker world ever since.



I have to admit that I was hesitant to make the switch - people don't like change, but I've come to appreciate the increased flexibility that dry erase markers can give.



I routinely use 5 or more different colors of markers in my zoology courses (black, red, green, blue, orange, and sometimes others), and I've been particularly pleased with Expo Dry Erase Markers.



I find these markers to have brilliant colors, I quite like the orange ones :-)



Of course, no marker lasts forever, and like any marker, once these start to run out or the tip dries out it's a gonner. Until then though they work great.



Likes:

- I like the fact that you can tell when the pen cap is firmly seated - a must for lengthening marker life

- I also like how the pen cap fits easily and securely into the opposite end of the marker so you don't lose it while you are writing.

- I like that fact that the color of ink in the marker is clearly indicated on the pen body.



Dislikes:

- The chisel-point tip on these markers is too fine. When a marker is brand new you have plenty of ink, but because the ink tip is so fine you have to hold the pen at a particular angle to get a wide enough like to make a bold mark that is wide enough for students at the back of a 100-seat lecture hall to see. Then by the time the pen nib gets into a workable shape to produce a nice heavy line every time you shortly run out of ink.



All in all, these are very good pens, but not without some minor issues, thus 4 stars for teaching. These would be worthy of 5 stars if they were used only for personal in-home white message board use.



I hope this was helpful.



Write-on! Expo 7-Piece Original Dry Erase Organizer Kit

The markers are dark and clearly visible, while the eraser is fairly thorough. The box comes with a plastic-molded container (as you see in the picture), with double-sided tape for easy, stable, mounting on a wall beside the whiteboard. For the low price, this is unbeatable.

They write consistantly well. Seem to last fairly long. The price is good. The eraser works as well as most other dry erase markers.



They got here fast...



I'm not sure what else to say about dry erase markers...

I use these for whiteboard teaching presentations. I love having the additional colors of Orange and Brown to the standard primary colors.

If you do any sort of technical presentation where having multiple colors is useful, this is a great purchase. I've been using EXPO markers for many years and they've never let me down. Good quality markers at a reasonable price shipped free; there's no down side to buying these.

i've been using these for a couple of weeks. At first they worked out great. Now the ones that I've used for a couple weeks aren't working so well. And whereas at first it was easy to erase the markings, now it's much harder. The ones that I've used for a couple of weeks are harder to write with and much, much harder to erase.



I understand that felt markers don't last forever, but it's only been a couple weeks.

Dido on James Stein comments.



The markers are dark and clearly visible, while the eraser is fairly thorough. The box comes with a plastic-molded container (as you see in the picture), with double-sided tape for easy, stable, mounting on a wall beside the whiteboard. For the low price, this is unbeatable.

I put this up in my room next to my whiteboard. The adhesive is small, so I had to reinforce it, but other than that the markers are new and the eraser is of decent quality. Cant beat it for the price! - Boards - Dry Erase - Dryerase - White Board'


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Wandas Evil Scheme - dry erase, dryerase white board Wandas Evil Scheme - dry erase, dryerase

3 Button Suit


I really like these and they are one of the few products that allow you to use a 3 way dimmer with two separate switches. The way they operate confuses some people but I like the idea of pressing once for dimmed light and twice for full on. Once on one press and they dim the light to full off. Lutron AB-603-ADHW-IV Abella 3 Way Dimmer Kit, Ivory'


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Disposable Clothing - levis, loose


Carhartt Men's 1889 Loose fit jean is just about perfect if you think your pants should be a pair of comfortable equipment and believe that a pair should last you a good decade. I'm 6'2 190lbs, with full thigh and hip musculature since I was a cyclist. This is the best fitting pair of jeans I've come across. I tried Lee, Levis and Wrangler before and none of them provide the range of motion and comfort level of this Carhartt. The seams are mostly triple stitched, the material is broken in and therefore soft right off the bat.

But be warned, if you have skinny thighs and hips, then these are too baggy for you. Also if you want movement-restricting and tight fitting clothes, these aren't for you. Carhartt Men's Series 1889 Loose Fit Jean, Light Vintage, 36x36

I ordered Carhartt Men's Series 1889 Loose Fit Jeans for my son for Christmas. It took me a while to get him to wear them as he prefers black jeans. Once he wore them he decided they were great! They fit him perfectly and are exactly as described. I intend to order more of this 1889 Series - triple-stitched and loose fit in all the right places. The best jeans ever!

No, they're not as good as the good old made-in-the-USA quality some of us still remember (I guess we'll only see that at yard sales and vintage stores now) but they are surprisingly good. These are made in Mexico. The seams are triple stitched. The rivets and zipper seem nicely sturdy. I would describe the fabric as medium to light in weight, but of sturdy quality. The pant legs are very wide and would probably fit over most boots. Whether you are buying these for yourself or as a gift I think you'll be pleased; I was. Carhartt is to be congratulated. It's nice to see a company where they get it that putting out a quality product is so much smarter than trying to sell cheap junk. - Levis - Carpenter Pants - Relaxed - Loose'


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Wednesday, 5 November 2008

Covers - skins, covers


The case fits the Optimus V perfectly, and feels like it would give it a certain amount of protection from small drops.



Note that the case is more rubbery-looking than in the photo, which looks like a normal plastic finish on my monitor. I like the appearance as it looks like an outdoorsy, almost military finish. It doesn't make the phone stick to the inside of your pocket (which was my fear with silicone cases), but it is easier to hold onto than the plastic of the naked phone. The contours of the case also makes the phone feel more secure in the hand without adding too much bulk.



For a couple of dollars, this is amazing value.





UPDATE 3rd June 2011

The matte layer of the case started to peel about a month after purchase, to reveal a shiny plastic layer beneath. This has happened on the corners, where the phone is most likely to rub against pockets etc. It is now looking quite tatty around the edges, and I am looking for a replacement. Hard Protector Skin Cover Cell Phone Case for LG Optimus S LS670 Sprint - BLACK

You can tell just by holding it, that this case does the job right. It comes in two pieces that snap together around the body of the Optimus S (sprint) or V (virgin mobile) perfectly. I am highly impressed at the quality for the price i paid. It looks and feels sleek and seems like it should cost more :). Get one!

I purchased this as an inexpensive way to protect my new LG Optimus V. It is a very nice case and seems well made. Installation is a snap...literally. It took about 5 seconds to drop the phone in and snap it together. It doesn't add a lot of bulk to the phone and the rubberized coating hasn't been a problem in my pocket, although I haven't tried it in my jeans. There are no problems with lint collection that I have experienced on silicon cases. I only knocked off a star because I can't figure out how to get it off. I'm scared to muscle it for fear of breaking it. For the price, though, I will just order another one for a spare and consider it disposable. If anyone knows the secret for removal, feel free to chime in.



Update - I had some issues with the phone that required battery removal...several times. Removal was easier than expected. I was able to use a thin metal strip to pry the case off. One of the comments recommended a guitar pick which would have worked even better. After 4-5 times of removing the little plastic snaps/clips started breaking. I still recommend the case, but would get a spare and tuck it away just in case.

This item arrived on time and in great shape and you cant beat the price trust me i tried but for under 3 dollars common its a steal..the case went on with no problems at all and its a very durable feeling case with a nice rubber coating for extra comfort i would recommend this product to anybody i have seen cases of much less quality selling for 5 times the price

This case fits nicely and looks good when new. But after just a week or so the case started peeling and the matte finish gave way to a shiny black in some high-use areas.

The case is made up of two parts that snap together, which is problematic because the joint area is not very smooth and it's nearly impossible to open. I broke one of the little clips that hold the two parts together the first time I needed to open it.

This review is for the LG Optimus V, which is the Virgin Mobile version of the phone. It fits perfectly, with all of the open slots in the correct location. From what I've been told, not all of the Optimus phones are the same between service companies (e.g. Sprint, Virgin Mobile, T-Mobile, etc) in that buttons are in different locations so you may want to be careful. It doesn't jostle around at all - it's a nice, tight fit.



The case feels pretty flimsy when you take it out of the package and I was dubious at first before putting it on the phone. However, once encasing the phone, it had a nice secure and durable feel to it. I was pretty surprised. I also am a big fan of the texture. It has a sort of rubberized feel to it as opposed to hard plastic. Very smooth to the touch, and enough friction to prevent it from sliding around if you put it down. Luckily I have no issues with it getting caught in my pocket or picking up lint, which are problems that often plague silicone cases.



It does add a little bit of bulk, but nothing substantial. Same is true for weight. I barely notice it in my pocket.



One thing I've noticed is that the case has already become a little off its alignment. When you first snap own both pieces to encase the phone, the edges are nice and flush with one another. So you don't feel the edges sticking out. But after a couple weeks of use, I can start feeling the edges when holding it in my hand. It's not terrible in any way and it isn't very uncomfortable, but it's noticeable. My guess is that the plastic bent a little. Also, this sucker is really difficult to take off. This is good in case you ever drop it, but it's a pain if you need to take the battery out or want to clean the phone.

This is an awesome protective case for the price. It fits my Optimus V perfectly, it even lets me still use my carrying case, as it is a very slim cover. It comes in 2 pieces that just snap over the phone without covering any of the ports or controls. The shipping is very reasonable also.

If you're looking for a nice simple case, you can't go wrong with this one. - Covers - Case - Lg Optimus V - Skins'


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Cable Management


As others have noted, this is a great product that does exactly what it says.



The adhesive is strong and long-lasting, and the clips are easy to install.



HOWEVER, (put on your "remembering" cap now because you need to remember this 10 years later when you un-install these things!!), REMEMBER, you cannot remove these by just "yanking" them off the wall.



As with all of these 3M wall hanging strips, you need to (a) pull up on the plastic clip so that it comes off and exposes the adhesive backing, and then (b) pull the little tab (it looks like the rest of the adhesive pad, but it's not actually stuck to the wall) directly downwards (pull just along the wall, NOT away from the wall). Then, the adhesive pad will stretch to about 8x its normal length, and in the process will gently un-stick itself.



It's a really elegant way to remove the pads, and it's the reason they can have such strong adhesive power without removing paint. But, IF YOU FORGET and in 5 years you just yank off the plastic from the wall, you will remove paint and it will all have been for naught.



3M has a variety of related products for hanging pictures and posters and what-not. I recommend them all. Command 17379 Cord Organizer Pack

I ordered these for training cables at the office but love using them at home as well. They stick forever but come down by just pulling the tab. No marks left on the wall.

This is one of those items that just does what it is supposed to and nothing less.

Order these if you need to train cables at home or office. I HIGHLY recommend.

This is a really nice assortment. You will probably want to go ahead and order 2-3 of this item. You'll love using them.

Still sticking. I had used these in my old place,too. They are easy to remove, and do not damage the surface. The loop holders can brake if they are exposed to too much force. Forces like being walked on a lot(took me 2yrs.), but even then they can still hold in place.

The only time I have had problems with the 3m Command Cord Organizers not adhering to a surface is in my kitchen (On oily Formica/oily paint-cleaning could not remove all the old tenant's worth of oil). When these pads do not stick, they really just do not stick at all! I pulled out my magic eraser, removed some paint layers with lots of oil. Then the cable holders seemed to semi-stick to my kitchen walls.

If I wanted the normal strength stick I'm use to, I'd buy new adhesive pads and try fresh. So, watch out for cooking oil! Other wise, I've bought these cable holders more then once, and will look for them again when I move to a new place.

This 3M hook removal system is wonderful. I've been using some of the decorative hooks and velcro-like pieces for a few years now, so when I started looking on Amz for wire management, I started with 3M. Beside the handy removal tabs, these little hooks are easy to open and close, while still being very sturdy. They don't have a huge amount of extra plastic, so they look OK on the wall. They also don't stick out very far. The large loop piece is downright cool. I have an extension cord with two adapters - one very heavy - hanging from this loop. For the smaller clips the package comes with small and medium sizes. They could use a large.

I bought a pack of small wire clips at our local hardware store to use in hanging a new Moravian star light on our front porch for Christmas. Before installing, I read the instructions on the package and saw they're not recommended for use under 50 degrees, meaning basically indoor use only. Ruh-row, it was about 28 outside when I was running the wire. I decided to try them anyway because I liked how the little clip fastens shut around the wire. Figured I could always use some heavier duty mounting tape if they came loose.



The light had a 5' cord so I needed to run a light extension cord up the corner post on my front porch to complete the connection. Needed three clips at the top to run the wire along the aluminum soffit along the porch roof. I made sure the soffit was clean where I was attaching the clips. Then, per the instructions, I pressed the pad firmly for 30 seconds when attaching to the clip, and again when I attached the clip to the soffit. They seemed to be holding solidly, and I couldn't pull them off while tugging on the wire.



To run the extension cord wire down the post, I attached four clips about 2' apart onto the white aluminum downspout next to the post. I used a white extension cord, so the job was nearly invisible when done, and the clip was just large enough to close around the extension cord wire.



After 3+ weeks of exposure to wind, rain and single-digit temps, the clips are still holding firmly. I'd originally intended to use this as a temporary fix for this holiday season, and put in more permanent hooks and wire channeling during the summer. But if these things are still holding when warm weather arrives, I'll leave them up and see how long they last.

These worked great to organize all the wires behind our entertainment center that run to the stereo and TV. Just make sure to let the hooks seat themselves onto the surface of where ever you install them before you put the wires in place. We waited several hours.'


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Yanks Yankees Baseballfan - yankees


The quality isn't as good as I hoped. It only has the top 2 holes for fastening to the vehicle. The frame does not lay flat, so it rattles when you close the hatch door. I still have it on my SUV. Go Yanks. New York Yankees Chrome Frame

This Yankee frame has been on the car for a month. It looks great and seems to be holding up fine. Of course, a Mets one would be better, but what can you do when the boys of the family are Yankee fans.

Shipment of item very prompt and ahead of schedule. Item itself great quality with detailed writing. I had this frame on my vehicle for about a month and the shine is as new when I first install it. Highly recommend this item to any avid Yankee fan. R.I.P G.M.S. - Yankees'


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