Russian Hat - russian hat, hats

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This hat is AWESOME! It is so nice to be able to find headgear in my size! I have an above average sized head and have found that one size does not fit all. This hat is so warm! The temps this week have been hovering around zero and my head actually started to perspire a bit wearing this hat! It fits perfectly and looks great! Klondike Sterling Leather Bomber Hat Rabbit Fur Trooper Winter Ski (XX-Large/Black & Grey)

I had wanted one of these hats all my life and finally bought it for myself for Christmas. I have heard more people comment on how much they love it, and ladies love to rub the fur lining. Yes it is what I am wearing in the profile photo.

Just an observation.



Sportsmens Guide has this item for half the price ($29.95).



Same rabbit fur and real leather too.



Don't know about the quality, because I overpaid for this item from Amazon before I found it elsewhere. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! - Hats - Russian Hat - Fur Hat - Bomber Hat'

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Mixed Media Jewelry - found objects, metalwork

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I just picked this new book Metal Style at my local library and had to give a shout out to the author Karen Dougherty for a job well done. Unlike so many books that look like they will offer up a good range of projects and then fall short on the instructions, this book works you through all different styles of cold connections using interesting projects that you will really want to make. There are 20 projects that feature directions from many of the top metal workers around including Richard Salley and Lisa Niven-Kelly on how to make balled headpins, use resin, etching and many more fun techniques. I am a learn by seeing type of person and the step by step photos along with clear directions will guide you along your way to learning how to use wire rivits, tube rivets, miniature bolts and mesh screen. I am going to have to purchase this book or I will surly be paying library fines. Metal Style: 20 Jewelry Designs with Cold Join Techniques

Fabricating jewelry classically involves soldering at high (red-hot) temperatures. Despite its many advantages, that technique doesn't work in all cases. Some of the studio jeweler's materials, such as aluminum, resist ordinary attempts at solder. Others, including stones and many found objects can't take the heat. Soldered joints are inherently rigid, making articulated pieces difficult. Then, the tools and materials of hard soldering just aren't practical for some home studios. For these reasons and more, today's artisans want additional choices in how to construct jewelry from parts. Cold joining techniques provide a wide range of possibilities.



Dougherty and her contributors focus on two kinds of cold joining: rivets and bolts, with a bit of overlap between the two. Finished pieces in this book's gallery aspect motivate the reader. Then, well-written and well-illustrated directions guide the reader through each step of fabrication. Although I initially found riveting a little intimidating, it's become one of my workhorse techniques. The forged heads of the connectors add to the overall design of a piece, but also let me put together sub-assemblies with finishes too delicate for the torch. Machine screws and bolts add their own look, one that works especially well for steam-punk or industrial styling.



The author skips over a few cold joining techniques that I'm familiar with, however. Swaging never gets mentioned, at least not by name. It's a broad family of techniques that can include crimps and bezel mounting, where one part (usually metal) is crushed to fit around another. And, though nut-and-bolt connections appear in a number of the projects here, I never saw taps or dies mentioned - the tools used to cut female or male threads (respectively) into workpieces. I'm sure other techniques fall into the "cold joining" category but don't appear here, either. Those lacks take nothing away from the material presented here, however. The instruction and the masterworks between these covers offer plenty of inspiration and guidance, and have my highest recommendation.



-- wiredweird

I'm giving this book FIVE stars all the way, because I love it!

My favorite type of art and/or craft book is heavy on information and technique, with plenty of step-by-step photos and accompanying text to illustrate various processes that I'm interested in learning. Inspiration is important as well, but it's third on my list of priorities. I really dislike books that are beautiful and filled with inspiring artwork, but offer little in the way of practical instruction. So that's where I come from as an avid consumer of art-technique books (I spend hundreds of dollars on books every year!). Given that perspective, you will understand why I like this book so much and heartily recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning about cold connections and other basic metalsmithing techniques.

Metal Style offers instruction on a variety of topics such as riveting and tabs, using bolts and screws, etc. plus basics like sawing out sheet metal and other materials, using different tools to texture metal, and design considerations. Best of all, it's a compilation of art from some of today's hottest jewelry makers and teachers, so as a reader I get to see their current work and learn directly from them as they offer step-by-step instruction and advice on jewelry design and construction.

I love the variety of projects in this book, from some fairly simple pieces to get you started to some very complex and challenging designs that inspire the beginning metalsmith to think bigger and bolder. If you're really interested in learning how to make creative and artistic jewelry with cold connections, I strongly recommend this book. It's a keeper!

Sharilyn Miller, author of Arty Jewelry & Arty Jewelry II

Metal Style is one of those books that just continues to inspire and delight. Dougherty has selected gifted artists who share their passion with clarity and precision. This is a must-have book! The variety and beauty of all of these designs will give you the full scope of cold connections. These are do-able projects. The don't overwhelm! They are carefully explained so all skill levels can achieve these fabulous results. Bravo to Karen Dougherty for sharing hot techniques with all of us who want to enter the world of metalsmithing. SUPERB!

I am ready to go out an buy more tools so I can make some of these projects. Good instructions and hints as to what you need to get started. I have been making jewelry for many years and appreciated the hints on how to use things I already own.

I love the designs in this book - very inspiring, including ideas to re-use found objects.



I'm a little disappointed with the directions however. They are a bit confusing, and the photos to directions aren't always clear. I found Kim St. Jean's book "Mixed Metal Mania" to have vastly more useful directions, and equally interesting designs.



Happy metalworking! - Metalwork - Mixed Media Jewelry - Jewelry - Found Objects'

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Dvr Expander - esata, dvr expander

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eSATA offers greatly increased speeds over USB or Firewire. When I gleefully purchased my 1TB Fantom G-force Greendrive Esata/usb 2.0 I did what I always do - bought an inexpensive generic cable for it. I've never had a problem with other types of cables when trying to save a few bucks, but I learned the hard way that for eSATA, all cables are NOT created equally. Learn from my mistake and do NOT waste money on cheap eSATA cables; if they work at all (cheap cable #1 was DoA), you will find the cable doesn't maintain a proper connection and drive access will be intermittent (cheap cable #2), which can be disastrous for data integrity.



I suspect a large part of this stems from the overall (IMHO) poor design of eSATA connectors in the first place. eSATA doesn't appear to snap as securely into place as firewire or USB, and whomever came up with the eSATA standard chose not to add screws or other fasteners to compensate for this. The problem is compounded by the stiffness of these cables, and in my case, the fact that I must use an eSATA ExpressCard adapter that causes the cable to extend an extra 3" from my laptop - making it vulnerable to being jarred or bumped. In addition, my setup requires a twist in the relatively inflexible cable to connect to my external hard drive, also adding strain.



Since I purchased the SIIG CB-SA0111-S1 3.3-Feet Serial ATA External Cable, I have had zero problems with connectivity. It works flawlessly despite the (again, IMHO) design flaws inherent in the eSATA standard. I highly recommend this cable to anyone for their eSATA needs. SIIG CB-SA0111-S1 3.3-Feet Serial ATA External Cable

Some other eSATA cables don't work with TiVo Series 3 machines because their connectors are too fat and stubby to fit the TiVo's recessed eSATA socket. This SIIG cable fits the TiVo perfectly - I used it to add a Seagate external drive to my Series 3 with no problems.

I recently purchased 2 1TB WD My DVR Expander external hard drives. My dvrs did not read the WD HDs and I tried over and over with no success. After reading customer reviews for the WDs I discovered that changing the stock cable to this cable had worked for some others that had the same problem. (yes, i too thought this seemed way too easy of a fix) But, YES it worked and both WDs were read the first time !!!



Note: One would think that a company like Western Digital would use a better cable rather than risk having problems ???

I bought this cable because it was recommended on a forum to fix the crappy connection between the Tivo and the expansion drive with the included cable. It cured my connection issues, now the expansion drive "just works".

The SIIG serial cables might be a little more expensive than the generic cables but well worth it.

These are also not as flexabile as the cheaper cables, which I now learned the hard way that they should be.



The SIIG's have moved at least 20 terabytes these last few months and have yet to find errors after verification.



I now also use then to verify if the external HDD has any errors and utility work.



Do your self a favor and bypass lower quality cables.

I saved a few bucks and lost gigs of data due to coruption and problematic connection issues with lower quality generic cables.



Trouble shooting is imposible with bad cabels.



Works fine with a 1 TB Western Digital and Segates, as long as the external and SATA HDW has decent BIOS.

I ordered this cable because the DVR expander drive reviews say that it doesn't work with the cable that comes with it.

This cable actually arrived before the drive did which was great.



Sure enough the drive did not work using the cable that comes with the drive. When I connected the cable that I bought, the Drive was immediately recognized. Everything works as it should and I couldn't be happier.

I used this cable to attach the 1TB eSATA WDG1S10000VN hard drive to my TivoHD and it has been working perfectly for over 2 weeks now. I am glad I followed the advice of other reviewers in using this cable instead of the one that comes with the drive. - Hard Drive - Dvr Expander - External Hard Drive - Esata'

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Screwdriver - nut drivers, multi-tool

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If you imagine carrying a light tool bag because this is a multi-diameter tool, think twice. This tool is not for very tight nuts (it cannot hold them if the nuts are very tight), in general is way better than your own fingers but again, if the nut is solid tight it will not move it. Solution, get fixed measure drivers for whatever you face most times and keep this one as spare for the rest; remember, it works either in standard or metric. I inspected the tool, the technical concept is good but the holding teeth are not flat but rounded and that's what makes this tool fail. Klein Tool 632 Drive-A-Matic Cushion-Grip Nut Driver

I've owned this for 3 years and only used it once to try it out.



The sizes are very limited, and as other have said, it doesn't grip very well. You need to keep constant pressure to ensure it grips without rounding off your screws or nuts. Fixed measurement nut drivers are much better and faster. I've thrown this into my "extra" tool bag with all my other unused tools. Great an theory, poor in execution. - Multi-tool - Multi-driver - Nut Drivers - Screwdriver'

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Pc Vga To Tv Converter

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This is a terrific laptop-to-tv adapter. The composite video output enabled me to connect to older and newer TV's while staying at several different hotels on a recent trip. I heartily recommend this adapter for travellers who want to connect laptops to a variety of TV's. Sewell PC to TV (VGA to RCA) Converter w/ All-in-One Cable

Easily view streaming movies from my laptop (the reason I got it). Small font's can be a little difficult to read. Perfect compromise between picture quality and price. I love the cable setup; easy to manage. I'd buy it again!

This product works really well. Does it exactly what you expect it to, going from your VGA and headphones ports right into your TV. And what's more, all the cables are attached in a clean bundle. Most of the other products out there don't do sound. The Sewell does. I haven't had to mess with the controls on the box itself because it looked so good the first time. All I needed was to reboot my computer and change the resolution. I highly recommend!

I own a 32" Sony WEGA and I am delaying the need to switch to an LCD screen as long as possible. I was looking for a solution that will

1. Not require a monthly fee for a DVR (think Tivo, $12-$15 a month)

2. Not limit the websites I can watch shows from(think Roku or Apple TV) Roku only allows you to watch from a few websites like Hulu Plus, Amazon VOD etc. Apple TV likewise has limited sites you can view shows from.



Sewell PC to TV VGA was the best solution I had found.



Here is why:

I follow several TV shows like Private Practice, Greys Anatomy, The Mentalist, HGTV's Property Virgins etc. I was choosing between buying Tivo, Roku, or Apple TV to be able to watch these shows on my TV. Tivo was the best solution but it charged a monthly fee (12-15) and required a down payment. The other possible choices were Roku and Apple TV. For Roku, you have to watch the TV episodes on certain websites like Hulu Plus, Youtube, Amazon Video On Demand etc. The problem with some of these sites is they are not always updated with the latest episodes of the shows I watch. If you want the latest episodes, you have to pay a monthly fee of 7.99 a month on Hulu Plus! Some shows in Hulu are not very up to date as well. For example, on Saturday, I tried to watch the latest episode of Private Practice (which was aired three days before), but Hulu says the episode is coming soon. I have not tried Apple TV, but I have heard about shows limited to the ones available in the Itunes Store. Do correct me if I am wrong.



With Sewell PC to TV VGA, I can simply go onto the various TV network websites, and watch the latest episodes from there for free. If I want to go to Amazon or Netflix, I can still do so. I have the option of going to any website I want.

Note, however, the picture quality not the same level as cable TV (brightly lit scenes can appear very saturated in the background). The color and lighting settings are adjustable, and you have to tinker around to make sure the settings are optimized for viewing on your TV (took me 5-10 minutes to adjust the settings). Overall, unlimited website options, a decent viewing quality and the lack of a monthly subscription fee made this product the best choice for me.

I purchased the PC to TV converter expecting to stream movies from the Web. It does that quite well!



Did have an issue initially as the VGA pass through left the monitor some what dark. I contact Sewell support and they offered to replace the unit no problem. I decided I would rather use my work around instead. I had a VGA splitter cable and just paralleled the display - problem solved.



Since, then I picked up a dual display video card and use one port for the PC to TV Converter and the other to drive my monitor directly. Works like a champ!



I use the VGA to composite video output with my 52in rear projection TV 15ft away still works great. And while it's not HD I can still read the text displayed on the screen. Adjusting the Color/Brightness/Contrast/Saturation is not easy. Controls are fine it may well be the operator! and I have found that some movies lack contrast and brightness. I don't think it's due to the converter. More likely the pirated movies found on the net!



For the price, coupling your PC to your TV gives some great entertainment!! With a DSL connection with at least 1.5 meg sustained download speed you get streaming video on demand!

When I went into Best Buy, I was told a box like this didn't exist. I was skeptical when I saw it was only $30, but I went for it and let me tell you it was worth it. The focus controls are completely useless because the first time I plugged it in, it looked great on the screen. While competitors claim to do the same thing, most don't have sound and don't have the S-Video option which I find very convenient.



Pros:

- Decent sound quality for the price

- Works on pretty much all TVs

- Cables are bundled in a very portable way



Cons:

- Text is very hard to read, but that's what the focus button is for. However, I wouldn't try to read email with it.



Overall a great product that I would buy again and again.

This adapter does exactly what it states. You connect it to your PC (desktop or Laptop's) VGA port, connect the USB cable for power and the audio cable to your headphones port all on your computer. Next connect the RCA cables (Not supplied) from the adapter to your TV. I purchased 25FT RCA cables so my laptop doesn't need to sit right next to the TV for convenience. Works great, very nice picture quality. You can stream Netflicks, Hulu, etc. from your PC to your TV or put up anything thats on your PC screen to the TV for presentations etc.

Sewell PC to TV (VGA to RCA) Converter w/ All in one cable



The product from Sewell, their PC to TV converter works as advertised. The all in cable is also very handy by reducing the need for multiple separate cables. This cable also eliminates the need for external power from an AC adapter. Other converters I have looked at did not have this option. The on screen menu provides enough tweaking, if needed, to get the best image.



I have used this product a handful of times and have had no issues. I would recommend this device as a great way to get a computer hooked up to a TV, if HDMI is not option.'

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Cpo Bostitch

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Used this tool last weekend. It did what it was intended to do, and was comfortable doing so. Only issue with it was I couldn't easy find staples for it. The Stanley and Arrow staples I orginially purchased (narrow crown) both didn't work. I finally found some Bostitch staples at HD. Bostitch PC2K Power Slam Hammer Tacker 1/4-Inch to 3/8-Inch Manual Construction Stapler'

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Weightlifting Gloves - weight training, weightlifting gloves

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Pros:





- Covers the proximal interphalangeal joint area (the joints closest to the knuckles) to reduce calluses associated with heavy pulling exercises like weighted lat pulls, or deadlifts. This is the area most weight lifting gloves do not cover.



- Quicker to put on and take off than gloves.



- Rubberized grip does not slip.



- Pad does cover palm area when your hand is wrapped around a bar.





Cons:



- Because the thumb does not receive any padding, it takes a little bit of getting used to initially when you are doing dumbbell presses. I rarely use gloves for those anyway so being able to take them off quickly and put them back on between supersets of pushes and pulls is convenient.



I recommend searching for gripad on google and looking at the video on the website to figure out how to properly put on the grips. One of the previous reviewers mentioned threading your thumb through the grips. You do not thread your thumbs. The thumbs are left free. The biggest loop is for your index finger, then following that goes your middle finger and ring finger. Gripad Workout Grips, Black

I had them for about 2-3 weeks and they worked amazing! best weightlifting equipment I ever had. Only problem like everyone else have stated is that they are poorly made. I would use them for shoulder presses, weighted dips/pullups, bench press, and for deadlifts and squats. i'm really disappointed that the padding is tearing apart on mine, but i love them so much that i'm getting another pair until i can find a better replacement. any recommendations?

This is the second set of Gripads I have ordered. The first is still in use. This second set broke the second time I used them. I see the company touts how they have grown, but from my perspective, when they were small and trying to gain business, they put out a great product. Now too much goes into telling us how great they are instead of showing us with a great product. It's a shame, as the product worked great the first time.

After years of going through full lifting gloves some with wrist wraps and others as minimal as I could find I happened upon these amazing gloves in a little store attached to the Powerhouse Gym I work out at.

The store is gone but I fell in love with these simple and VERY useful gloves. The padding is very nice and it covers the entire palm so you have a great grip. WOOT Very happy! I love these grips!

These grips are really great!

No heat, no sweat, no blisters, and the callusses are gone.

The first pair lasted about 5 months (I do crossfit 4-5 times a week) and I just got my 2nd pair. Received an Email from the company that the new production is even more durable which make me even happier with Gripads.

Highly recommended! Great product!

I want to like these - they are super comfortable, compact, and great grip. Unfortunately the finger loops got torn apart in 3 crossfit workouts.



With some better materials/sewing these could be great.

love the grips but the seams/stitching got caught on one of the clips on the machines and pulled off the seam/stitching off the grips. it wasn't torn it just became loose. now im stuck with this ugly string hanging out of the grips.

ive only been training with weights for about 6 months (im 27) and got these about 2 months ago. they have helped me improve my form with every exercise. in addition, my calluses are gone. the grip pads are especially helpful with shoulder and chest presses. you can really squeeze tight and it really enables you to focus on using good form. there is a nice soft cushion. its not like the other pads that are just a thin piece of sticky material. these have a small amount of cushion that you can really squeeze onto. personally, i wear the right on my left and the left on my right, putting my pinky, ring and middle fingers through the holes. my fingers are long and skinny and my palm is pretty wide so this is the grip that i like best. im buying 2 more cause my original pair is starting to show signs of wear.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Just used these for the first time. I'm used to using a pad (no finger holes) for certain exercises. It helps with the "mind muscle link". Anyway, these gloves bridge the gap between gloves and pads. I could use these for any upper-body exercise. Admittedly, I haven't done any bench-pressing with them, but I think they'll work fine. I definitely recommend them! - Weight Training - Weight Lifting Gloves - Weightlifting Gloves'

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