Guy Low Price Electronic: 26 Apr 2009

Sunday 26 April 2009

Skeleton Watch - automatic watch, skeleton watch

This is a good looking and interesting watch. The band is very attractive. Unfortunately it has too many flaws for me to wear it very often:

1. It has no luminescence on the hands or face so it can not be viewed at night.

2. It has an exposed translucent gasket around both crystals giving the watch a "cheap" feel & finish.

3. The self wind mechanism doesn't move well, forcing a wind by stem or else the movement stops.

4. Movement is inaccurate. Gains about 2 minutes per day (if it stays running).

If you want this watch to view the movement, go with the leather (opening band) so that you can see through the watch. In all, this watch is a good "entry level" skeleton to be worn as jewelry. If you want a timepiece, I would recommend that you look elsewhere.

Update: 7 June 09. I have been wearing this watch on a daily basis and it is starting to function better (it seems to have needed a break in). If I wear it each morning, the self wind mechanism is now keeping the watch running. It is now only gaining 1 minute per day. These things make the watch much more acceptable. I would upgrade this watch to 4 stars.

I am still bugged about the lack of luminescence though. It looks like a manufacturing oversight as there are recesses in the hands to accept it. Stuhrling Original Men's 165A.33112 Lifestyle 'Winchester Elite' Skeleton Automatic Watch

This is a great watch for the price point and I have enjoyed wearing it. Other than some minor quibbles I'm happy with the way it looks, works, and feels. After reading a lot of the reviews I thought I would first lay out what you are and are not getting when buying, and then review a few things about this particular model.

1.Understand what you are getting: This is a great watch and worth the asking price in my opinion, but know that it is NOT Swiss made. Stuhrling did start as a Swiss watch company but their operations were moved to Asia long ago. Although the factory in Hong Kong may have Swiss oversight and use Swiss designs and vintage equipment, their watches are not made in Switzerland. Were this a truly Swiss made mechanical/automatic watch the asking price would be many times higher. Note the carefully worded history advertisement above.

2. Do not pay attention to the List Price. In the watch world MSRP and list prices can be highly inflated as selling point. This is not an $800 watch. Under $200 is about right for what you are getting. When buying watches if the savings are too good to be true...

3. This watch is a mechanical/automatic watch. It's made to be wound by hand the old fashioned way, however it will also be wound by your movements as you wear it. Even if you wear the watch regularly you will still need to wind it every so often (about 25-30 clockwise rotations of the crown). I've found that mine needs to be wound every two weeks or so with regular use. The automatic feature is there to augment hand winding but not replace it entirely. You will need to fully wind it out of the box before wearing. If you look at the picture of the watch taken from the back you will see a half moon shaped piece. This is what rotates with movement to wind the watch. It may not swing completely freely but this may be due to the torque needed for winding. (This is just a guess).

4. You will need to go to a jeweler and have the bracelet adjusted for your wrist. All the links will be in place when it arrives, so unless you have a massive arm you'll need to have links removed to fit. Although some jewelers will do this as a courtesy most will charge a fee between $10-$25. Always keep the extra links you get back.

5. Mechanical/Automatic watches are not as accurate as a quartz. As with all mechanical watches this one will loose some time. A high end genuine Swiss watch may loose 5-6 seconds a day, however this watch MAY loose up to a minute or more. This is to be expected at this price point and it doesn't bother me much. Again mine has done quite well since getting it and has lost very little time daily.

6. Stuhrling will give you an extra year on your warranty if you review the watch on Amazon for a total of 3 years. I've done that but kept it honest.

Despite my gripe about iffy advertising and list prices, I really like this watch. The bracelet and casing are solid and the the moving parts are fascinating to look at. The watch itself is not too heavy (hear this Fossil?) but you know you're wearing it. As one reviewer noted the clear gasket that the Stuhrling logo floats on could have been left out, but other than that the watch looks great. There is no date function on it as the information claims. One of the things that keeps this watch more affordable is that other than the time there are no other complications like date, moon phase etc. There are recesses on the hands to take luminescence but this has been left out. I prefer it this way as it would have taken away from the older vintage feel of it.

All in all I think this is a solid and attractive piece and worth the asking price. This is not an heirloom piece to hand down through the generations, but it's still a solid watch that should last you a long time and look great.

This was an all-around great experience! I was looking for an anniversary present for my boyfriend, and decided to get him a skeleton watch. I originally looked at a few at Wal-mart that were $100 cheaper, but had very poor reviews--they broke a lot, had to be repaired, and didn't keep time well.

When I saw this watch, it was perfect! A great price, with a great warranty, for a great quality! It was a very fast and speedy delivery, too. The watch was well packaged--the band was completely covered, as well as the face. The picture just doesn't do it justice.

Update: A few months later, a screw came loose in the watch, causing the entire inside to shake and move around way too much. My boyfriend called Stuhrling, and informed them what happened. They said to ship the watch back, including $20 dollars for shipping expenses, and it would be fixed. Very thorough, although a little disappointed we have to cover shipping expenses. Still love the watch! - Dress Watch - Dress Watches - Skeleton Watch - Automatic Watch'

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Tool - Wookworking - tool - wookworking, bostitch

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I recently retired and have undertaken a project to build a woodworking shop-garage. Swinging a hammer has become a very tiresome chore, and I was considering the purchase of a framing nailer. Upon reviewing information from various manufacturers, I realized that a framing nailer is a very specialized tool.However, I happened to run across information about palm nailers. In reviewing the information provided by Amazon, I read that a palm nailer can be used for nailing any size nail and in many different applications. I could see where this would be a more useful tool than a framing nailer. I purchased the Bostitch PN100 kit, and immediately started using it with 16d nails in framing my new shop. I then used 10d nails in decking the roof. All I can say is this nailer is wonderful!! It drives nails quickly, at any angle, and in a limited amount of space. You do have to be careful to make sure that the alignment of the nail with the nailer is correct; if not, bent nails will result. However, with just a little practice, nailing becomes an effortless operation. I would recommend this as a general purpose nailer to anyone. I might also add that I own a brad nailer and a roofing nailer made by Porter Cable, and a 1/4 inch crown stapler, and the Bostitch nailer works as well as any of them. Bostitch PN100K Impact Nailer Kit

Bostitch PN100 Impact Nailer

Operation:

This tool will drive virtually any bulk nail, the kind sold by the pound. The smallest nail Bostitch recommends is a 5d (d=penny, a term that refers to nail size). Bostitch claims the maximum size is 75d, but the head on those huge nails won't fit in any of the nose-pieces that Bostitch offers. However, I've used it on 6d to 20d nails with great success.

Insert the nail into the PN100's "nose", where a built-in magnet holds it. Hold the nailer with either hand, press the point of the nail into the material; when the tool senses the pressure, a fast-acting piston cycles the hammer which drives the nail. It sounds like a Tommy Gun. You can drive a 20d nail in about one second, depending on wood hardness. You can also start the nail with a hammer then put the PN100 on that nail, or, hold the nail with your fingers (risky), or hold the nail with another tool (e.g., pliers).

The tool is sold by itself with the standard nose only, or in kit form. The kit includes a wrench to change from the standard nose to the included finishing nail nose or an oversized nose for nails with large heads, spare O rings, a spare magnet, oil, a leather tool cover (improves grip and comfort), and a custom case to protect the tool and accessories.

Pros:

- Particularly useful in confined spaces, such as between joists, hard to reach nails, odd angles, overhead, etc. You only need space for the tool and nail, plus room for your hand on the tool. Except for a small pin nailer, most nail guns take more space to operate than this palm nailer. Swinging a hammer takes even more space.

- For applications such as installing lots of joist hangers, this tool is ideal. If you're building a deck for example, this tool could "pay" for itself on that one job.

- The tool is not heavy and it is comfortable to hold in your hand, especially with the leather cover attached (which comes with the kit).

- Works on things other than driving new nails. E.g., to drive in the built-in spike on joist hangers, nail heads that aren't in all the way, pointed ends of nails that are poking out in the wrong place, etc.

- Substantially quicker and easier than swinging a hammer, improving productivity. Drives large nails flush in less than a second, in a machine-gun burst of energy. Depending on the job, nailing could be four or five times faster than with a hammer.

- This tool shines when nailing into engineered lumber (e.g., laminated beams) or lumber in old houses, which is frequently denser than new construction lumber. The first few times I used the PN100, WOW was the word that came to mind.

- For us older guys, swinging a hammer for hours one end is murder on your muscles. With the PN100, your hand might tingle after extensive use, but that's about it.

- Tool appears to be excellent quality, but it will be years before I could attest to longevity.

- Simple to operate. There are no buttons or switches. There is no depth control either; when the nail is flush, it stops banging.

- Should be safer than a nail gun that is connected to an air hose, since YOU insert the nails one at a time; i.e., there is no supply of nails in the gun to have an accident with. In any case, it's probably best to not leave a nail in an unattended gun with an air hose connected.

- Can change nail size/type immediately, since there is no magazine; e.g., any nail with a head up to .42" (+/-) will fit in the standard nose.

- The standard nose seems to fit most bulk nails.

Cons:

- This tool is VERY loud, especially in a confined space. Wear hearing protection, even if driving only one nail.

- Of course, you will need an air compressor, as for any air nailer. Any size tank compressor should work. I mostly use a 3/4 HP Thomas portable air compressor with an operating air pressure between 100 and 125 psi. When driving lots of large nails, I frequently have to wait for that small compressor to catch up. With a larger compressor, waiting would be less of an issue.

Other:

- This tool is most practical for projects where "hammer" dimples won't be an issue; i.e., rough work such as house framing. It can be used for interior work, as long as you can deal with hammer dents, sometimes several dents per nail. (Dents are 3/16" in diameter, the size of the PN100 "hammer".) One way to avoid the dents is to pull back on the tool before the nail is driven home. You need lightning fast reflexes to do this, as the PN100 drives a nail very quickly. Personally, I use finish nailers or other methods whenever dents would be a problem.

- For professionals or anyone that drives thousands of nails, this tool will not replace speciality nail guns. Roofing nailers, pin nailers, framing nailers, trim nailers, etc., are still best for their intended application, most of the time.

- Some nails will bend, but not nearly as often as with a hammer, in my experience. Bends occur most often on smaller nails in hard wood, or if the tool isn't straight-on with the nail.

- Good value on Amazon, as our local Home Depot charges $80 for the non-kit version.

- Before using, you need to install a 1/4" quick disconnect fitting and lightly oil the tool. The only maintenance is an occasional oiling.

- If you jar the tool, the hammer could stop in mid-stroke, making the tool inoperable. All you have to do is whack the back of the tool with the palm of your hand to un-stick it. My PN100 was stuck when I first tried to use it, but hasn't stuck since.

- The fitting that holds the nose on my tool was so tight, I had to put the tool in a wood vise and use a very large Crescent wrench to loosen it the first time.

Anyone planning a large construction project (new house, renovation, addition, deck, etc.) should consider buying this tool. - Tool - Wookworking - Bostitch - Nailer - Nailers'

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Bundlemonster - bundlemonster, konad

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Yes, the glitters and beads were a little mixed up, but it's nothing that wouldn't have happened anyway. I did get quite a lot of the tiny fuchsia beads, but the rest are a pretty good variety. Can't wait to start trying them in my nail art! There was only one shape that was too big/thick for what I like, they're like yellow tulip shaped sequins, everything else is plenty small and perfect for what I have in mind. Bundle Monster 5 Nail Art Nailart Manicure Wheels w/ 3D Designs Glitters Rhinestones Beads - total over 7000pc

I bought this item because the glitters, rhinestones, and beads in the 5 nail art wheels are very pretty and great for my nail work. However, when I received my package in the box, most of the rhinestones and beads are mixed up and got into a mess all over the package. The wheels are quite loose and somehow, a lot of the tiny beads actually dropped out all over the box. It took me a long time to sort all the different beads from all the 5 wheels accordingly! The packaging of the contents could be improved!

This is a great set to get you started. There are plenty of designs, in plenty of shapes, in plenty of colors in this kit. However, they are smaller than in the picture so I am going to have a hard time using some. Especially the beads, they will come to piss you off. I recommend a small point dotting tool to make it easier to use the smaller ones. Other than that, this is a good deal. In stores you could pay the same price for a sheet of stickers. Even if you only wanted one of the designs, this bundle is well worth the price.

The wheels are about the size of your palm, there is a lot of variety that is for sure, but one wheel was a complete mess. The price is great because Sally's does charge over 5 bucks for one wheel. I was really disapointed at the one wheel's appearance. The plastic cover was not tight like the other four, and all the beads and glitter were mixed up. It took me three hours to sort through the mess. Two colors of the micro beads were mixed up so I left them as is. The picture doesn't show what kind of glitters and beads are in the wheels. A few of the glitters were of not much quantity in a few of the spaces and in others there was a lot. You can't really complain though because it is a great deal. I would suggest going to Sallys and getting 2 pkgs of 10 clear jars and seperating the glitters into those jars because the wheels are very stiff.

A set of five containers with a variety of shapes & rhinestones. There is a very, very generous amount of nail art accessories in each container. The particles are small and are not bulky. Wonderful for the inner artist in anyone who wants to dazzle their nails and add some uniqueness.

The product is way smaller than the image they have shown. The stuff was falling out the wheels all in the plastic and all over the place. It doesn't add up to over 7000 pcs like it says. It is not worth $10.99

I did read the reviews prior to purchasing this item and I do have to agree the image was a bit deceiving. The product was way smaller than the image they show. I was not bothered by the small size of the actual glitters, rhinestones and beads as I do not like big bulky items on my nails. The wheels were a little loose and several items got mixed together but none actually came out of the wheel. It is a good starter kit for the price. - Bundlemonster - Image Plates - Konad - Manicure'

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Jewelry Supplies

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These are inexpensive and worked well. If you want to buy the professional butane canisters (significantly cheaper) to refill with instead of the small ones found at discount stores simply unscrew the two screws in base so the collar does not interfere with the canister collar. Trademark Tools 75-TZ6915 Hawk Self Igniting Refillable Butane Micro Torch with Ceramic Tip

I purchased this torch with the intent to use it in making jewelry since it was recommended on a jewelry supply site. It was a waste of money, with in 4 minutes of firing the first piece on low the butane control knob and oxygen control knob had both melted and I was unable to turn the butane knob off. If you are looking to use this item for only a few seconds it will be more than sufficient, any longer than that and you will have wasted your money.

Makes me want to learn how to make creme brulee!

Of course, I only use it as a cigar lighter, and it's a hit out on the back porch when the fellas gather for an evening smoke on the weekends.

Just be careful, it's much more powerful than you need to light a cigar. You'll need to turn it down quite a bit or you'll go through all of that expensive butane in a hurry.

When I first got this product I was a little skeptical. It does not feel very sturdy. It is made out of lightweight platic for the most part. In reality though this product is plenty sturdy enough. The plastic doesn not feel as though it will come apart easily, and has not even begun to up to this point (i have had it for a few months now). The ceramic tip on this torch is a very nice touch. It prevents the torch from getting excessively hot even when on full blast for a minute (I haven't needed to go longer than this yet). The flame on this torch can get fairly long, and extremely hot considering the size of it. The sparking mechanism has been compeletly reliable, and has not failed me yet. Every time I spark it, the torch ignites on the first go. Surprisngly this torch seems fairly efficient gas-wise as well. I have only filled it up once with my can of butane, and it has been good for months. I use it almost every day multiple times a day to light hookah coals, and it is still going strong. I haven't even needed to clean any coal dust out of it, which was a problem for every torch lighter I had used in the past. overall I am very pleased with the product. It is very cheap, and works very well.'

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Scientific Experiments - homeschooling, evan-moor

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This book contains a variety of readings and exercises relating to important concepts in the human body, physical, earth, and life sciences. Key words are presented in boldface, and the activities and exercises that follow strengthen vocabulary and concepts presented in the reading. Read and Understand Science, Grades 1-2

I got this for my almost 4 year old who loves science. It covers topics like the human body, plants, solids/liquids/gases, water, air, frogs, day and night, etc. Most sections have a few questions at the end. Many of the pictures in the book can be colored, which is a really nice feature. This is definitely a fun and informative book.

The text is short and basic; perfect for preschoolers and kindergarteners. It is probably too basic for the average 1st grader and most 2nd graders. There is a book for 2nd and 3rd grade, which may be more appropriate for this age group.

As a homeschooling mom with a 1st grader, I'm always on the lookout for engaging, multi-faceted curricula. This science book is one I'm very pleased to be using since it provides not only science instruction but vocabulary and reading comprehension as well. Well worth the cost!

I purchased this book as an afterthought, but it the source I use most for my son's 2nd grade science. A second grader or an advanced first grader can read it themselves and then answer the questions following the lesson. I like that it is independent except when it comes to the simple experiments that follow some of the lessons. If you want to focus on Science, it isn't as detailed as other programs, but as a homeschooling Mom that is already reading quite a few other readers for our other subjects it is nice to have an open and go program. I like it so much that I am taking a look at other Evan Moor books as additional resources.

This is a very good science workbook. It has lots of simple experiments, and it really works on building vocabulary by utilizing word families, for example, -ape, sh+ape, c+ape, gr+ape, t+ape. There are also a lot of mini books that your child can color and read. I believe the reading ability correlates with a late first grade reading level.

This book has excellent topics and they are presented in a kids friendly way. The topics are usually areas the kids are already showing interested in or even asking questions about( ex. shadows, gravity). My kids love the hands on activities involved with the lessons while I love that it has lessons from each of the four areas of science: Earth and Space Science, Life Science, Physical Science, and Science and Technology.

This book has a "book" at grade level to read. It works well for cross curricular connections. The activities are great! Each unit comes with experiments, book suggestions and activities for hands on connections. Great homeschooling resource!

I was not that impressed. I'm using it to homeschool my son for 1st grade and it's just not creative and exciting for him. He (and I) has gotten bored very shortly after we began using it, and now it's a struggle to get him to do his science. The concepts are fairly simple, and I don't mind simple concepts at this age as long as you add in some ideas/crafts/games to make it fun and interesting. None of the subjects go in depth enough to hold his attention. - Homeschooling - Evan-moor - Comprehension - Science'

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Fountain Pen Ink

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I am no expert, this is the ink that came with my Lamy pen, so I am trying it again. Currently I have Noodler's blue on my Lamy Safary, but I do feel Lamy ink was probably better on that pen, for sure more intense color, and the amount of ink for the money is nice. I am currently using this ink on my Hero 329, it has excellent flow, good performance. Just wish I could find ink this pretty in permanent. Lamy Bottled Ink 50ml Blue W/Blotting Paper

The Lamy ink is pefection. Not only do I get the best ink available for my pens but the ink bottle has a roll of blotting paper attached. You can refill your pens anywhere anytime. The ink doesn't fade but if you do happen to get the ink on your hands it will come off with regular soap. I won't be buying any other ink from now on.

I usually get Noodler's Ink, but since I had a Lamy Al-Star, I would gave the official ink a try.

The ink is a bright blue and writes very smoothly. It drys fairly quickly but it will run slightly if it gets wet.

The bottle has a small well at the center which allows for easily drawing out the last of the ink. And the attached blotting paper is perforated so its easy to remove the right amount. One side easily absorbs ink, the other side allows you to hold the paper without getting ink on your fingers.

I'm happy with the purchase, if Lamy had more colors that could match the selection of Noodler's I would think about purchasing them.

Lamy AL-Star Ocean Blue Extra Fine Point Fountain Pen - L28EF'

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Leopard - blanket with sleeves, as seen on tv

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I finally received one of these Snuggies recently. I had always kind of scoffed at the idea and figured a fleece would be just as good. After trying this out I must say I was wrong. Snuggies are way cooler than fleeces. I can't wait until the weather gets colder so I can use this more. Snuggie Original Fleece Blanket with Sleeves, Camel

love it! i dont like the fabric though, but i guess all snuggies are like that.

theres a brookstone snuggie.... but the fabric is even worse! ive washed it more than 15 times and if cleaned w other items, the others get a million of those little cotton balls horrible to take off. and u gotta wash it cause the fist two times, even when u wear it the fabric sticks to what u are wearing.

i havent had to wash the snuggie yet but it kinda smells like when u store clothing for a long time and it smells like old. but actually the fabric is so wear im scared to wash it.... maybe febreeze! - Fleece - Blanket Wrap - Blanket With Sleeves - As Seen On Tv'

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Wall Mount - home theater component shelf, home theater wall mount

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I wanted to mount my TV on the wall, but with my DVD player and DVR on separate shelves underneath. This is the only product I could find that "fills the bill". Instructions took a little studying to understand fully, as there are no words; only photos. But we got it installed w/o much trouble. AVF ESL422B-T Tilt and Turn TV Mount with 2 AV Shelves, Cable Management System for 25-Inch to 40-Inch TV (Black)

This was a little hard to hang only because it was hard to determine how high the tv was until you put the whole thing up. It looks great we also bought something to hide the wires. It looks clean and the price was GREAT. I would recomend anyone thats looking for a mount to by this one!

We bought this for around $80 and it worked perfectly. The only issue is you may want to buy some hex-style lag bolts to use instead of the phillips-style screws that are provided. You want to make sure the mount is securely bolted to a stud and the included screws can easily strip. Other than replacing the bolts, this mount was exactly what we were looking for.

Once you get it installed, it's great!

The instructions are very hard to read. The install is not easy; had to shave down a few of the parts to make them fit in their designated holes...

Beautiful and easy to use once mounted/installed.

The unit went together well, and does a fine job of holding the TV plus a cable box and game console.

At first glance from the stock photo, it would appear this is a free-standing unit. Could be misleading to someone. Assembly pictures were ok, but a little written instruction would have been nice.

Overall, worth the money and I would recommend.

We bought this product for a Samsung 40" LED TV. Everything about it is great, except for the fact our TV takes M8 screws to mount and this mount only came with M4 & M6, so needless to say I'm having to improvise by purchasing the correct screws and then widening the opening on the mount itself so they will fit through to the back of the TV. Also the directions are HORRIBLE unless you've never read a word in your life and only comprehend bad pictures to figure everything out (that means there is only pictures and no real instructions) Not that I couldn't figure it out but when your mounting over $1000 worth of electronics on the wall, I'd rather not have to guess at it. Also, the main bracket bar is two pieces, WHY?? I have no idea, all this did was create an issue attempting to get it level, it should really have been one solid piece. My only thought is to save room in packaging. So to sum it up, it's ok but far from what it could be with a little extra effort on the manufacturer part.

This bracket fit the 37" T.V , dvd player, and remotes we had perfectly. It wasn't too difficult to figure out and is so worth the price we paid for it. Recommending this to anyone that needs to save space.

We like ours and it is exactly what we wanted. However, the instructions are terrible and missing some steps, but my husband was able to figure it out! The shelves are fine and hold our stuff, but they seem a little less secure than I would like. I like that we can adjust the TV from side to side and tilt up and down.

Keep in mind if you have a TV closer to the biggest size this unit will hold (40"), you are going to have less shelf room on the top shelf than it would appear in the picture. Our TV is 37" so the top shelf doesn't have a lot of room, but it's enough for our slim DVD player. - Home Theater Component Shelf - Glass Tv Component Shelf - Tv Mounts - Home Theater Wall Mount'

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