Guy Low Price Electronic: 25 Oct 2010

Monday 25 October 2010

thickness planer - thickness planer

Ordered from CFO outlet. It arrived early and in almost new condition, barely a couple of scratches on the infeed table. Maybe one piece of wood had been planed through before. (The infeed had a lot more scratches after I used it for only a few boards.)

The product does a very smooth job at planing, and the dust collection works very well. Just be aware of snipe, and plan for that, otherwise you will be sanding this off.

I would not hesitate to order from CFO again. Factory-Reconditioned Ridgid ZRR4330 15 Amp 13-in Thickness Planer With 3-Blade Cutterhead - Thickness Planer'

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Power Tools - dewalt, power tools

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While I admit that I was a little concerned about the compact design of this drill, I was glad to give it a try in light of Amazon's return policy. However, this drill is not going anywhere. Like many other cordless drill owners I got to that place where purchasing replacement batteries was almost as much as purchasing a new drill with two batteries. I used it to for driving some 3.5" framing screws and drywalled a bathroom, laundry room, and small hallway. It has plenty of power and balances well in the hand. The LED light is also a nice enhancement for dark corners in tight workplaces. DEWALT DC742KA Cordless 12-Volt 3/8-Inch Compact Drill/Driver

Well balanced and nice weight at 3.8 pounds, it is only 7 ounces heavier than the 9.6V it replaced (probably 10 years old). Work light is useful. Love the chuck. My old 9.6V Dewalt was 'grip strength' and I sometimes didn't crank it enough such that it would open if I reversed and there was tension on the bit in the wood. The new models have a ratchet chuck that is easy to tighten.

The 12V cost little more than 2 new batteries for the 9.6V it replaced and it came with 2 batteries, not a difficult decision to get the 12V. In fact, two 9.6V batteries cost 10% MORE than a new 9.6V drill WITH 2 batteries. Go figure. The Dewalt chargers are 'interchangeable'. Multiple voltages (7.2 to 18V) and the batteries for the 12V have the same 'plug' configuration as the old 9.6V so I have 2 batteries AND two chargers.

This drill has only 1 'holder' for screwdriver bits. Not a big deal, but I did like the "one on either side" bit storage on the 9.6V.

It meets all expectations. Nothing significant will disappoint you with one caveat. There is a small light that comes on when the trigger is slightly depressed. It does not light the tip area of the driver as it should. The chuck casts a shadow exactly where you need the light. I seldom need the light but when I do it isn't there. It may work better if you can use an extension. If the light is important to you it will be your only disappointment.

Iv owned this drill for over 6 years if your looking for a drill that can do all your household needs look no further. I know its not an 18v like everyone raves about. but its light and well balanced. I dropped it many time. Iv drilled thou hardened steel with 3/8 bits and its never failed me yet. Its been a great companion iv used allot of 18v before and this thing is much eraser on the arm. of course more battery swamping but after completing a deck a few swaps is no big deal if your arm is not tired. Other thoughts i have a 14.4 hammer dewalt for larger jobs again that thing and do anything an 18v can do. just has less weight and of course shorter battery life. but again well worth it. lagging an 18v around is just stupidity if you don't need it for the job.

My old, no name 24V drill gave up his battery a while ago, barely making a short use after 12 hours of charging. I got this beauty using a gift card from a well known hardware store. I was not sure what kind of drill I needed. I am the on and off weekend handyman at home and one thing that I knew is that I wanted something light yet powerful. My wrists and my neck knew quite well already how bad it is to hold a 24V beast while trying to drill accurately on a horizontal surface while keeping balance on the friggin' ladder. So, I saw this baby on the display area, I held it and noticed how incredibly light it felt. I said, this is it. Well priced, way more torque than my crappy 24V behemot and, best of all, no more sore wrists and arms afterwards. My drill come true.

I have had a DeWalt drill for some time. I really like the chuck design which makes placing a drill bit or screw driver bit easy and almost a one-handed operation. The stop when power is shut off is a nice touch as well. The rugged good looks and attractive design seem to be just right. This new drill is smaller in size but just as powerful as my last DeWalt drill. My son now has my first drill and I have the new smaller version.

So I returned my first DeWalt Drill.

Packing was horrible, the items sit loose in a plastic box with no wrapping whatsoever. The product was so banged up with scratches that I thought it was "used". But when I ordered another one it arrived the same way.

I know Dewalt is built tough, but it doesn't have to prove it by putting their products in abusive packaging. If this was for a gift, it would have been a disappointment. Who wants to receive a banged up gift?

Anyway, good product, but your bad packaging just cost you an extra "online return", however much that costs. Please upgrade your plastic case and you'll have happier customers.

This is a lot of drill for the money. It's great for quick fixes around the house. It's powerful enough to do the job but not so heavy that I get tired of holding it. Two batteries and a one hour charger mean that it's always ready to go.

I have used this drill/driver for over a year now and I hope to get another one soon. It has PLENTY of power for what I do. I have built and assembled complete kitchens with this tool and never ran out of power with two batteries. Good speed control with the trigger, convenient direction reversal buttons, and a very adjustable clutch. 12V is plenty and gives this drill a nice balance between power and size/weight. Fits into most tight spots. Don't know what I did before I bought this great powerhouse. - Dewalt - Cordless Drills - Cordless Tools - Power Tools'

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Highly Recommended - eye makeup remover, face wash

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This product does what it says. Dissolves all makeup, even those claiming to stay for 12 hours, in a second. Eye makeup is a breeze. This products does it all. No astringent or after cleansing products needed. It is gentle but removes every trace of makeup in one easy step. You'll never have a breakout again from clogged pores. Clean & Clear Makeup Dissolving Foaming Cleanser, Oil-Free 6 fl oz (177 ml)

My friend bought me this as part of a graduation gift. I've tried so many make up removers before and I can't believe I've never seen this one before! Usually, make up removers leave a little bit of stubborn waterproof mascara and/or get it off of your eyes, but it gets stuck in your skin, so you have to cleanse after to be completely clean. Not this cleanser! It removes make up AND cleanses your face so you don't have to do both separately. I have also used this on my eyelids to remove eye make up while wearing contacts, and it caused no problems. This is definitely my new go-to makeup remover!!

Only Makeup remover that will remove all makeup even eye liner. Also takes all the oils of my face helping precent acne brake outs. Bad things is that they no longer sell it in stores buy it threw amazon or e-bay.

This has proven to be the best makeup remover out there. It is priced very low for such great results. You really feel it working on your face as you rub it in with water. The pump makes it easy to dispense more when you need it even when your eyes are closed. You can open your eyes with this on and around it without it burning your eyes. It is very gentle and highly recommended.

This is the best stuff out there that I have found to take off my makeup with. It's gentle on your face and even takes off waterproof mascara like it was not even waterproof. It's sad to see that it's being discontinued and it's hard to find it online now. So if your like me and you love this stuff better stock up on it if you find it before me, I know I will be stocking up on it.

One of the best products I've ever used! I love how its a foam and the fact that it takes away all of my makeup including my waterproof eyeliner. One product I've used caused me to break out leaving tiny bumps all over my face. Another left my skin dry and had a buring sensation due to the salicylic acid. But with this one, I do not have any problems whatsoever. It's a shame that it is a discontinued item when this product works so well! - Acne - Eye Makeup Remover - Face Wash'

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Wastebaskets

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I bought this for my bathroom. I was inspired to make my bathroom have a black cat theme when I moved into my apartment, this inspiration came when I was browsing and found a bathroom mat, waste basket, and shower curtain with a black cat theme. This waste basket is great quality and so cute, great for anyone who loves cats or for teenagers. Retro Black Cat wastebasket

I've been looking for a cute cat trashcan for my restroom -- black cat theme. This trashcan goes purrrfectly with my cat decor. Something about it reminds me the classic TV show, "Bewitched..." not sure why.... LOVE IT!

HI:

I do like the kitty wastebasket. However I do feel that the price should be about 5 dollars less than it was. Its not made to bad but its not made to good either. It should be about $8 in a place like Target, or maybe even 5 or 6 in Walmart's. I am betting it was made in China.

Serene'

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Lotion Applicator - health, as seen on tv

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Living in the northern US, the long heating season invariably leaves my back dry and itchy. A similarly-afflicted friend and I were joking around, speculating on how one might design an item to apply moisturizing lotion to hard-to-reach areas, and spotted this item online.

I'll admit, I was skeptical about products like this. Are they effective? Wouldn't they be messy? Some offer replaceable applicator pads, but who wants to keep buying refills? Roll A Lotion has all of these concerns covered.

Unscrew the floating-ball head and load in your favorite lotion, cream, gel. Apply.

I've used mine for a couple of weeks, and it works perfectly. Nineteen rolling balls apply a nice even layer of lotion, no mess, no fuss. Thicker lotions work wonderfully; I use Curel. Keep in the shower for quick moisturizing after toweling off. To clean, remove the applicator head and rinse under the faucet.

Your back (or any other hard-to-reach part of your choosing) will thank you. As Seen On TV Roll-a-Lotion Applicator 1 ea

I have very dry skin, to the point that if I don't use lotions my skin starts to peel and looks white like a sheet of paper (much whiter than the normal colour of my skin). Using lotions has been very helpful for my skin, but I am not very flexible. I can't apply lotion to my back directly, and this left my back with rashes and constantly itching. With the roll-a-lotion applicator, I can now reach the areas of my back that I couldn't before and the soreness and itching has now stopped too. The applicator applies just the right amount of lotion, I rub it over an area a couple times and its perfect as though I had massaged it into my skin my self.

I used one of these on and off for about 6 months. It is very poorly constructed. And it does not work well anyway. The lotion is not applied well. The balls do not roll very well. some of the lotion dries up and then the balls get stuck. I got frustrated with it and left it, but then decided to try it again. I was still very disappointed. Then a piece of the side wall just broke off. I decided then I've had enough of the crap and threw it away. I would not recommend this product it all. I wouldn't even want it for free.

Over half of the roller balls were 'frozen' solid and would not turn ...I used abrasive cloth and got a few to rotate ... but many just won't roll.

The product design, production and quality control are all so low as to make the product impossible to use.

Roll on Lotion Applicator - Style 35372 - Health - As Seen On Tv - Lotion - Beauty'

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Kindle Lighted Leather Cover - kindle accessory, kindle lighted cover

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I've noticed that like myself customers have been concerned primarily with two things regarding the new lighted case from amazon. These are: 1)The weight and 2) The uneven lighting. My review will briefly discuss these two things.

1)The Weight - The lighted leather case is a nice weight, sturdy and comfortable to hold. In ounces it is about the weight of the kindle itself however don't let that concern you. With the case on it feels like a medium sized paperback, however it is far much more comfortable to hold. It's easy to hold the case open like a book (nice for couch and table type reading) or to fold the front back and close it with the bungee so that the bungee doesn't hang around (this is good for bedtime reading).Closing the front back with bungee keeps the case folded in position and you don't have to worry about it bothering you. BTW THIS CASE FOLDS BACK 100% - Very comfortable. In sum very comfortable to read with the case and very sturdy.

2) The uneven lighting - Amazon's pictures don't do this case justice. The light hits the ENTIRE screen. Yes if you look closely it's brighter in the top right corner then in the bottom left but Amazon's pics make it look the top is lighted while the bottom is dark. There is good light all over the screen. Trust me I'm fussy about these things - the lighting will not bother you, your entire screen will be lighted and it is extremely pleasant to read in the dark.

*Final Thoughts - Great case, good quality, works well, kindle feels very secure and protected (I would feel comfortable slipping this case into my backpack or suitcase and I think it would sustain some mild impact). Lastly hinges are a non-issue, casing of the kindle will not get damaged with normal or even slightly aggressive use. You could damage the kindle by trying to pull the back of the case but you'd have to really force it to cause any sort of damage to your kindle. The hinges work fine and should not be a concern to any case user.

Update 1st December 2010:

Have now been using the case for 3 months. Leather still looks impeccable. Some people expressed concern that the bungee cord might loosen with use. I have not experienced any loosening so far. Quality of the product has proven outstanding. I've occasionally spilled or messed the cover, just a wipe with a damp cloth has cleaned it up, and the case looks like new. Have to admit I enjoy the feel of the case in my hand, there's just something great about taking your kindle to a coffee shop in this case, it just looks and feels so classy. Also with regard to the hinges: I have had no scratches on my kindle or any other issues, so I remain convinced that the hinges are a non issue. Kindle Lighted Leather Cover, Black (Fits 6" Display, Latest Generation Kindle)

I was hesitant to buy this cover mostly due to the pictures in its listing, which seem to show a light that doesn't even extend to the opposite corner. The fact that I have not been impressed with the Amazon's Kindle covers in the past didn't help. I went ahead and purchased it because the cover I wanted isn't available yet and I don't like to take my Kindle out and about without a cover. Now I am glad that I went ahead and bought it.

PROS:

1. The light is much better than I thought it would be. Using it in a darkened room I found that the light did the job very well. In a pitch black room, it performs even better. While the screen corner opposite the light is a bit dimmer than other areas, there is no problem reading the page at all.

2. The light gets its power from the Kindle itself, through the gold-plated hinges which attach it to the cover, so batteries are a thing of the past. When your Kindle goes to sleep, the light will go out as well. It will also turn off when you slide it back into the case.

3. The cover is slim, well-fitted and very easy to attach and detach using the hinges. The inside has good padding. The leather outer surface has a nice pebbled texture with the exception of a smooth area along the edge of the front. While stiff enough to protect the reader, the cover is slight flexible and the front easily folds behind when reading so you can hold your Kindle with one hand if you like.

4. A great plus is that the cover has an elastic cord that fits into a groove on the front of it. This holds your cover closed (unlike the original Kindle 2 cover that would flop open in your purse & let things slide into it) and easily distinguishes the front from the back--important as many owners of the Kindle 2 cover accidentally opened it from the back, which could cause cracking along the Kindle's spine.

CONS:

I haven't found any, really. The light Is a bit hard (stiff) to pull out of the cover, but then you wouldn't want it to be flopping out when you don't want to use it so that is more of a Pro than a Con.

The one concern I do have is about pulling the light in and out--I wonder if whatever wiring or conductor that is used to get the power from the hinges to the light will eventually break. But that is something to find out down the road. Right now, the more I use this cover, the more I like it.

I've been an avid Kindle user since Kindle 1, and I take my lights VERY seriously.

The problem is that the new Kindle 3 cover+light does not evenly light the screen. This results in a very bright top right corner, including the top right of the frame of the Kindle 3. And while the light doesn't glare off the screen, it does glare off my graphite Kindle 3's top right corner, making for constant distraction while reading. The light then gets fainter and fainter in a diagonal line from the top right to bottom left. It's not very fun, unfortunately.

Now, for convenience, this new cover is fantastic. I have the non-lighted one and the one with the light, and the weight difference isn't very much, and the bulk difference is truly negligible, so kudos to Amazon for this.

That said, I simply cannot recommend this cover unless you don't mind an incredibly uneven light. I will stick to my Mighty Bright. Yes, it's an addition to the Kindle, but I know that when I sit down to read, I want the pages to "disappear" as I become immersed in my reading. It's very hard for them to do so when the light is so incredibly awkward and uneven, constantly distracting. I'm happy to spend a few extra seconds clipping my light to the back of my Kindle so I can spend hours enjoying my book. That simply wasn't possible with the Kindle Lighted Leather Cover.

3 stars out of 5. - Kindle 3 Covers - Book Light - Kindle Lighted Cover - Kindle Accessory'

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Battery Powered Ride-on - 12 volt battery, peg perego

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What can I say, this charges my 12 Volt battery. Easy use. Plug into socket and then plug into the battery. The only concern I have is that the charger heats up to a point where it is hot to touch. So I wouldn't recommend charging overnight, but just charge it for a few hours, which did the trick for me. Peg Perego 12 Volt Battery Charger

Received this charger new and ordered a new 12 volt battery for toy at the same time. Have tried charging the battery several times since receiving the charger, leaving it to charge one time for 48 hours. Charger were not charge the battery at all!!! Nothing!! Called Peg Perego back, and they want me to pay them $10 shipping and handling to replace their junk!!! I only paid $25 for the charger, why would i pay them another $10 to get another one!!!???? They sure dont stand behind their products, i have used it twice, didnt work either time, and now they want another $10 to replace what should have worked correctly in the first place????? What a ripoff!!

I've been asked to submit a review on a battery charger. My questions were 1. How much fun is this toy? --> uhmmm. it's not a toy! 2. How would you rate this toy's educational value? --> again, it's not a toy and no educational value! 3. How durable is your toy?-->need i need to answer 3. How do you rate this toy overall?--->?

My review of the battery charger is great. It does it's job. User friendly website with purchasing and received it in a timely manner. My suggestion would be to send a review with the appropriate questions or at least have an option for N/A. I can't remove the stars that I've clicked on....so it says "I hate it."

Charger died after two charges. The lights on the front don't work anymore and it will not charge either of my two peg perego batteries (one of them is only one month old). I verified the unit has 13.2V output with a multimeter, but it refuses to charge the battery. Maybe I just received a bad unit. I now use an aftermarket charger and have had no problems. - Battery Powered Ride-on - John Deere - 12 Volt Battery - Peg Perego'

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Swimming Goggles

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My daughter swims summer swim team for 8 weeks at a time, and she has had the same pair of Jr. Hydrospex for 5 years. Yes, years. I don't know how they have lasted that long, because we also swim at an indoor pool about 20 times the rest of the year. Only now, as a teenager, does she need the adult size Hydrospex.

That's a pretty good recommendation. Speedo Junior Hydrospex Swim Goggle (Pink)

One of the problems with goggles that feature silicone cups is the limited lifetime they offer. Usually, such gaskets simply won't last for more than 9-12 months unless you take extremely good care of them, and most swimmers I know usually don't.

I had a pair of these and generally enjoyed them for the first few months. They had minimal leakage and zero fogging whatsoever, which really is the hallmark and strongest feature of speedo goggles. I chose the Jr. Hydrospex because of the narrower nose piece and the smaller profile gaskets, which will fit anyone with a narrower face better than the respective adult version. The soft silicone cups make them much more comfortable to wear than swedes if you're not into that sort of thing. The strap on these goggles is one of the best I've ever had on any brand, ever.

Now for the bad; getting a good seal with these goggles will take some coaxing, especially after a few sessions in the pool. The gaskets begin getting brittle after a few swims and the unadjustable nosepiece is a MAJOR hinderance. Tightening the goggles forces the inner corner of the gasket out of place, which soon becomes necessary as the gaskets wear out. This increases leakage and discomfort for the wearer as the goggles shift out of their ideal position on the face and toward the inner corner of the eye. The nosepiece will not keep the goggles where you want them if you tighten them too much, which means leakage is almost guaranteed. After extended use, the gaskets will actually begin separating from the lenses, and at this point the goggles pretty much need to be replaced (if used daily without perfect care, this can happen after as little as 4 months).

These are the best pair of speedo goggles I've used recently, but thats not saying much. I'm simply not impressed with the quality of the eye gaskets on many speedo products lately, but if you're a speedo purist, then I would recommend these over most of the other styles. Basic Sprint style goggles are probably somewhat better, but not everyone enjoys the foam cups. IF speedo had the foresight to make the nosepiece adjustable, I think these goggles would have been much, much better.

I purchased 2 pairs of goggles for my 10 and 12 year old children. They used them for a week on vacation in Mexico swimming in the pool and ocean. Both of my children said they were the best goggle's they have had and were able to play in the water for hours at a time without having any eye irritation. Both my children have light blue eyes which are very sensative to chlorine and sea salt. I highly recommend them.

My two boys, 8 and 10 are on the local swim team and a lot of the kids use these goggles. They work well for my boys. I like the previous versions of these better when you could pull on the straps to adjust them while you had them on. Now you have to take them off and unlatch, adjust and relatch but other than that, they are great. We've owned a few of these and have to keep buying more, not because they wear out, but because they get lost.

These are the best goggles for kids! Only one adjustment needed when they are new... then they are perfect for the rest of summer. Other, less expensive goggles require so many adjustments and the straps are always fallling off. Get these goggles and you won't hear, "Mom fix my goggles!" 100 times a day at the pool! The kids love them and never complain- a big plus!

We had gone through three pairs of goggles each since last year for our children. They are on the swim team and none of the goggles would stay on them securely while diving in the pool. I overheard a mom telling another mom about the Hydrospex Jr goggles being the best goggles out there. I ordered a pair for each of my children and they work wonderfully! All three of them mentioned to me that these goggles are awesome. I would definetly buy these again in the future.

My 11 year old daughter is petite and most kids goggles fit too small and adult fit too big so she has a hard time getting a good fit. She loves these because they fit perfect. She is on swim team and needs goggles she doesn't have to stop and fix every other lap and these are great. Best of all she doesn't end up with the ring around her eyes most other goggles give her.'

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Baking Sheets - baking sheet, aluminum

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Every single other cookie/baking sheet I've owned has made that dreaded "bong" sound within minutes of being put in an oven hotter than 300 degrees. It's annoying, it makes the food slide around, and it cannot be good for the pan to warp and unwarp like that. So this time I went looking for professional bakeware. I love Nordic Ware; they make quality stuff without charging you an arm and a leg. These work perfectly. They fit well into my standard home oven (plenty of space around it for proper air circulation), they brown my cookies beautifully on the bottom, and the rolled edge seems pretty sturdy. The only negative thing I will say is the gauge could be a little thicker. I'm used to Nordic Ware products being extremely heavy; and while these are certainly heavier than your average cookie sheet, they are not as heavy as I expected. Batch after batch of holiday cooking doesn't lie, however. Everything has come out perfect, so maybe the gauge isn't such a big deal after all.

Just a side note, whenever I cook something on any cookie/baking sheet, I always cover it in parchment or foil. It makes clean up easier, and spares the pans the greasy, ever-darkening coating of oil otherwise needed. I would suggest it personally. Nordic Ware Bakers Half Sheet, 13 by 18 by 1 Inch

Sick of cheapie "cookie sheets" that buckle when you use them and only last a couple of years? Spend a little and get a pro 1/2 sheet pan. It's very sturdy and will probably last a home user a lifetime (heck, they last years in commercial kitchens). Fits in standard home ovens.

I like these pans. I know there are several other models out there, but these are about as cheap as any and are made in Minnesota. The sheets are thick, haven't warped, and are perfectly nice in every way.

I searched for a sheet pan that would meet my criteria: aluminum or stainless, NOT nonstick, made in the USA, and sturdy enough to last me at least 20 years, hopefully more. I didn't buy this with the intention of using it for cookies, only for making sheet cakes, but one day I ran out of room on my Williams-Sonoma flat cookie sheets and used this for the last batch. It outperformed my WS baking sheets by a mile! I paid twice as much per sheet for the WS pans, and after only 1 year of use they don't look so new anymore. This pan is amazing. I used it for sugar cookies today, and since I only have one I had to use one of the WS pans as well. I covered both sheets with parchment paper like the recipe called for, and the Nordic Ware went in the oven first. When they came out the bottoms were lightly browned, the cookies perfectly done. I took the second sheet out (the WS) after the same amount of time, and although the tops looked good, the bottoms were too brown. I would not have believed that a ten dollar pan (I found these for less at my local grocery store) could outperform what I thought was the best baking sheet I could find, but the Nordic Ware kicks butt! I like this so much that I plan to buy two more of them and use them as my go-to cookie sheets. They are also fantastic for baking french fries if you put a cooling rack inside, so the fries don't have to lie in their own grease. Easy to clean up and lightweight yet sturdy. You can use them to roast other fruits and veggies as well, like squash, cherry tomatoes, and even sweet potato fries. And of course, they are great sheet pans. I love this company. I plan to buy one of their bundt pans, too. Excellent value and made in America!

This pan (Nordic Ware Bakers Half Sheet) is almost what I've been looking for but not quite - hence the 4 star rating. The pan does pass the "no warping" test with flying colors, even at 425 degrees, and cookies come out fantastic. But ... it's not as heavy as expected and the sides are slanted so the pan's measurements are misleading. The 13 x 8 measurement is at the top of the pan, outside to outside. The bottom inside measurement is closer to 12 x 17 (it slants that much). My 12 x 17 CIA racks barely fit with the little feet not touching the bottom of the pan. It's such a tight fit that when I press the racks down to get them level it puts little gouges in the pan's sides. It bothers me more though that the slanted sides weren't in the description. I'm still looking for a "great commercial quality baking sheet" that is worthy of my CIA racks, doesn't cost a fortune, doesn't put slanted sides on my brownies or my cakes and still doesn't warp. Why is this such a difficult thing to find?!

It's hard to believe what the Product Description says this is "designed for commercial use". The aluminum seems too soft. My first use was to bake some hush brown at 450F for 20 minutes (using silicon baking mat). The back of the pan got scratches by just getting it in and out of the oven cinch. I also baked some brownies at 325F, greased the bottom of the pan, not using silicon baking mat. The brownie came out evenly baked, and didn't stick at the pan. But after I cut the brownie in the pan (I use a pastry scraper, tried very carefully just cut through the brownie), my pan got some cuts on the side too. This pan only weights 25.30oz. I have one 12 years old commercial use same size aluminum pan weights 40.90oz and didn't get any scratch like this one after so many yesrs of use! For the price that I paid for it, it's just an OK half sheet pan.

I purchased this sheet pan along with a CIA cooling rack. The combination is used for cooking bacon in the oven. The stove top will never see bacon spatters again. I can cook bacon to any desired doneness, and cleanup is a breeze.

Overall, these are sturdy baking sheets and better than most of the flimsy nonstick "jellyroll" pans that you can easily twist in your hands. For most baking purposes, these pans shine. I recommend parchment paper to minimize sticking issues.

The Nordicware website states that this pan is rated for use up to 400 degrees. This is not printed anywhere on the label. I looked this up after permanently warping two of the sheets by using them inverted on the bottom rack of a 600+ degree oven. This is a pretty extreme usage scenario, however. - Baking Sheets - Sheet Pan - Baking Sheet - Aluminum'

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Cordless Tools - construction, cordless drill

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Pros:

- compact, short, lightweight = a joy to use

- slim handle is great for smaller hands (e.g. women, kids)

- one-handed chuck uses all types of bits

- good high end speed for drilling

- well balanced

- stands upright; belt hook

- excellent battery life between uses

- relatively inexpensive for additional battery packs (30 USD)

- powerful enough for 98% of my drilling/driving needs

Cons:

- LED lighting isn't as good as the hex chuck version of this drill

- the one handed chuck adds length as compared to the hex chuck version of this drill

- not cheap (but worth the price I think)

Dewalt was little late in releasing their compact driver drills (Bosch has had one for years), but they really set themselves apart for the rest with this one.

I think this category of drill is perfect for most homeowners. Bosch, Porter-Cable, Makita, Milwaukee, Dewalt, and others all make ultra compact 12V lithium ion driver/drills. They are all a vast improvement over previous options because:

1) Lightweight: e.g. drilling over you head to hang pictures

2) Lithium Ion Batteries: don't lose as much charge between uses

3) Compact: can fit your drill in tight places

All manufacturers except Dewalt put the battery in the handle which makes for a beefy handle and an off balance drill. Dewalt puts the battery at the bottom which balances the drill and allows it to have a more ergonomic grip. My wife tried some of the other drills with the battery in the handle and found them awkward to hold because of the size of the grip. She loves this one.

The combination of a lightweight drill with a slim grip makes this the perfect drill for many women. Even my kids can use it. My wife hates my Porter Cable 14.4 volt NiCad because it is so darn heavy that she has to use two hands and almost throws out her back doing it. Now my doesn't have to ask me to do the drilling because she can do it herself comfortably.

Dewalt is a great choice for drill to have around the house that every one can use.

If you found this review helpful, let me know with your vote. If not, then leave a comment on how I can improve the review. DEWALT DCD710S2 12-Volt Max 3/8-Inch Drill Driver Kit

This past summer the big orange box store was promoting Milwaukee 12v lithium ion 2310 inspection camera with free 2401 m12 compact screwdriver. Well, always wanted an camera (tired of poking holes in drywall and using a mirror with flashlight), but wasn't crazy about the driver. You see, I have small hands, and the handle of the driver was wide to accommodate the barrel-shaped battery. Plus, if you wanted to use drill bits, one had to get the bits with hex shank. The rep offered a free 3 ft. ext. cable - that sealed the deal!

To my dismay the Dewalt new 12v max drill/driver came out 3 months later. Never had Dewalt before, because of the weight/big handle issues. So I got it. Here are my comparisons:

Milwaukee: Fatter handle to grip.

Difficult to pull out battery (have to squeeze tabs).

Need hex-shanked drill bits.

Short enough to put in pocket.

Dewalt: Very easy grip.

Easy slide-out battery.

Stands up. If laid down on side, has rubber bumpers. Won't scratch fingers picking it up.

Belt hook. No need to put in pocket.

Yellow easier to see in dark (like attics).

So far both are powerful enough for my needs: remodeling/maintaining rentals. Time will tell which will last longer.

In all fairness, keep in mind the Milwaukee is a compact driver(hex) and the Dewalt is a drill/driver(chuck).

I'm a tiny old lady (70 yrs, 110 lbs, 5'1") and have small, arthritic hands. My husband has several Drill-Drivers and I can barely hold them with two hands, much less manage holding a screw or other item. I can actually hold and effectively use this drill with ONE HAND ONLY. WHAT A JOY! I dreaded projects and repairs that required a drill but now I look forward to using this gem. The quick load accessory is a must for rapidly changing bits or drivers. The tiny battery adds to the lightweight compactness of this tool. Don't know what kind of battery life I'll get but charging the battery for the first time was quite rapid. I look forward to years of enjoying this device.

First, I must say I am just a handy homeowner who decided after many years to upgrade to a cordless drill. Being a woman, I never liked the large drills and battery packs. When I saw this, I had to have it. It is lightweight yet pretty powerful, although I'm no expert. I did read many reviews and most are very favorable. I helped a friend hang curtain rods with it and now she says she wants one!!! Now it is my favorite tool.

This drill is a darn nice tool for its intended purpose which is well beyond occasional homeowner use. While I'm not a contractor, I operate a farm and greenhouse operation and have use for an extensive line of tools including 36v, 18v, and now 12v max Dewalt cordless. Each has its place, but I found I seldom used my two 36v drills nor my 18v drills with their truly wonderful lithium nano-phosphate batteries. Sure, for heavy portable drilling, sawing, grinding, and fastener-driving I reach for the 36v or the 18v. The higher voltage drills, though, are quite large and cumbersome compared to this new 12v max. This little guy is CONVENIENT, very confortable, and very well thought out. It has rubber bumpers to protect fine finishes should you set it down on a table for instance; the belt clip is enormously handy, the handle is properly sized for the human hand, the chuck tightens easily and firm. The battery life and torque output of these tools is impressive given their size. I think Dewalt, a little late into this competition for quality compact tools, has hit a home-run with this line-up. BTW - My favorite tool of all time is the 18v DC827 (same driver as DC826 and DC825) 1/4" hex impact with DC9180 batteries. Playing around with the new DCF815 (12v max impact driver) and this little DCD710 drill has me convinced that these new little guys will be the most reached-for cordless tools in my lineup. Amazon's prices are really terrific on these Dewalt tools at the moment, but I'd strongly recommend going to a brick and morter store to try these and other offerings by Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee etc. if you're new to the game. If you're primarily driving fasteners, think hard about an impact driver instead or in addition; they're pretty good for drilling too but vastly superior to a drill for all but finish driving. For odd jobs around the house with a single cordless tool I'd probably reach for the DCF610 screwdriver instead of either the drill/driver or impact. It's light, comfortable, one-hand bit change, terrific illumination, easy to control so it won't damage delicate screws, and it drills nicely too if you have some hex drill bits. Same thoughtful rubber bumpers and belt clip as the other tools in the lineup. - Cordless Drill - Construction - Lightweight - Drill'

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Arts And Crafts - art supply sets

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My daughter got this for her 8-year-old birthday, and she absolutely loves it. She creates many masterpieces following the style of the great master painters. This set has superb quality papers and color pencils. We are very happy with this set. Faber Castell Do Art - Modern Masterpieces

The set consists of 5 watercoloring pencils, permanent marker, a brush, booklet with instructions and four small board canvases, double tape, clear sticker hangers and black pads for mounting and hanging the ready masterpieces. The canvases have printed light helping lines to create the shown models. We did 3 of them according to the booklet, but the fourth one my daughter didn't want to follow the lines but created her own painting. So you may disregard the lines on the canvas and do your own art on top. The pencils are a very good quality and with a drop of water and a brush create a great color. The brush from the set is the only thing I didn't like since it almost ruined the first painting leaving hair on top, so I directly threw it away. You may cosider checking your brush before using it or better use another one. The set is a great surprise, good value and a lot of fun for children and adults. It opened a whole new world for my children. Now we will buy canvas boards and larger sets of watercolor pencils to do more artwork. This is one of the few art sets that deserve more than 5 stars. It is a great idea for a gift as well.

I got this as a last minute Christmas gift for my 11 y.o. daughter. She is artistic & loves to paint and draw. It is a very high quality craft and a very good value for the money I paid. Highly recommend for any artistic child of any age.

I purchased this for an 8 year old girl who loves to draw and paint. I thought it was perfect for her. One of her recent paintings went to Nationals, because of a contest she entered at school. She was very pleased to receive this as a present! If you are looking for something fun and creative for a child other than "another" toy. You won't be disappointed. - Art Supply Sets'

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Blank Book - journal, notebook

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The Leuchtturm is basically a Molkeskine - but better. I've been using the Moleskine for years. I have a whole shelf of them... But, I'll be buying the Leuchtturm instead. Why?

(1) Pages have a dot grid - The dots are tiny enough that you can ignore them as if it were blank paper. But they can also be used as a guide for drawing as if there were a grid. Finally, you can use the dots as a guide as if there were lines. Extremely flexible, practical.

(2) Pages are pre-numbered / Index in the front - I use notebooks like this for jotting down ideas, thoughts, notes about business, etc. In a Moleskine I hand-write page numbers (I know sounds crazy) so I can use a few back pages to index important ideas within that book. Great recipe on page 14, awesome quote page 23. Additionally, there are a few pages in the front of the book exactly for this purpose. Write the page number and reference to something important inside.

Finally, it has the same durable cover. There is a pocket in the back for cards and papers. There is a ribbon bookmark.

Like I said, just like a Moleskine... but better!

By the way, I've been using the Fine point Sharpie pen that doesn't bleed. It is perfect for thinner pages. It is permanent, and as advertised does not bleed. I used to use the Moleskine sketch notebooks (thicker pages) because nearly everything bled through the thinner pages on the Moleskine. These pages are thinner as well. The no-bleed Sharpie works well on nearly any paper. Leuchtturm Medium Notebook, Dots, 5.75 x 8.25 Inch (LBL14)

This has become my daily planner/notebook/journal. The dots work great, and are better than either grids, lines, or blank pages--unobtrusive and useful. I write with dark Noodler's ink and a medium nib, and the paper works well. There is almost no bleed-through, no feathering, and the drying time is good. The pages are a bit thin, so you can see what's written on the other side of the page. It's not enough to bother me, but if you're really particular about not having show-through, you'll be writing on one side only. Overall, this notebook has been exactly what I wanted, and I heartily recommend it. - Notebook - Journal'

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Bluetooth Headset - camcorder, bluetooth

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As a gadget nut, I ordered this the day it became available on Amazon and had it shipped next day (ok, so an impatient gadget nut). The concept is awesome - capture and share those expected or unexpected moments in life as I see them, how I see them. The videos you see on youtube were promising and I was in need of a new bluetooth headset, so I bought it.

First thing that I noticed was how nicely everything was packaged. I took the Looxcie out of the box and set it to charge via the wall outlet adapter - Don't want to run out of batteries on my day out! I love the design of this thing, looks so slick! After it was fully charged, pairing to my Android phone is a breeze. With the Looxcie software downloaded, it was time to put this thing on my ear and see what it can do!

...And that's where things started going downhill! First of all, the Looxcie does NOT fit on my ear correctly. I tried all 3 sizes of ear buds and on both ears (in case I had a deformity in one ear of which I wasn't aware) and with my glasses on and off. I read the instructions and my Looxcie did look bent as shown in their images anfter several attempts. Perhaps its the weight of the camera boom, but the Looxcie just droops down such that the camera is not eye level (aiming more at my jaw line). I would have to walk around with my head tilted up in order for the camera boom to be level with the ground. I had my wife try it as well, maybe its the size and shape of my head and she experienced the same issues, no matter how we shaped the flexible ear-piece.

After much fiddling to the point where my outer-ear was a bit sore, I managed to get the Looxcie on at an acceptable viewing angle. Any quick head jolts and I risk having the camera boom shift slightly downward again. Now comes the other fitment issue - Being that the Looxcie was on my right ear, anything that was happening to my left would not be picked up. If I held my hand out in front of me, the camera eye would not see it until my hand was about to cross my nose. They really should have included some sort of curvature to the camera boom to contour to the face because as of now when it is at eye level, it points to the right (on my right ear).

I love the fact that I can use my phone's screen as a viewfinder! Going into it, I knew the Looxcie's recording specs and frame rate so my expectations were low but the resulting videos I took were even worse than expected. I tried several activities from driving, to walking to just standing and panning my head back and forth. The video I get from the Looxcie is very choppy, I would say even worse than the 15fps they claim. I was walking through the mall in one video clip. I turned to look at a dog that was there and turned my head back (more than a 1 second look) and in the captured video, I don't even see the dog because of the choppiness of the video (although I can clearly hear myself talking about it).

The other thing is battery life - the Looxcie is rated for 4 hours but after a full charge and playing with the unit, I would say its more like 2-3 hours of video use tops. This should definitely be improved.

I do have to say that I like the ability of reviewing and editing video clips on my phone, then e-mailing or posting to Youtube, Facebook, etc without having to be at a PC. That is a key feature of this device!

I would have to say my expectations have not been met with the Looxcie. The concept and idea is there, but due to the lacking design, ergonomics and quality of video I am fairly disappointed. The price-point is good if they can deliver a quality product that will actually fit, stay on my ear(aimed properly) and take video where I don't miss any of the action (true 30 fps PLEASE!). I honestly wouldn't mind the low-resolution of the video if the frame rate was there and I could record for an actual 4-5 hours as claimed.

Once these issues are resolved, perhaps they can look into adding features such as retaining the last 10-30 seconds of video before the record or instant-clip button was pressed. :D

Likes:

-Concept of sharing the every-day

-Visually pleasing design

-Mobile editing/emailing of video thru an Android phone

Dislikes

-Device Fitment/Aiming of camera boom

-Recorded video quality lower than expected

-Battery life Looxcie Wearable Bluetooth Camcorder System, Android Compatible (Black)

UPDATE: As of today Looxcie updated the firmware on the device and added a new phone app and new desktop app. This is a major improvement to the device as it now adds the ability to record in 480p @30fps which I've tested and is a HUGE improvement. You can also save clips directly to the phone's SD card now instead of just on the Looxcie device. They also allow livestreaming now which is awesome.

Ok, so I was extremely excited to get this product and ordered it as soon as it became available. Since I've had it I've probably recorded about 2 hours of video with it at various places with varying noise levels. So here's my impression.

For the price it is a really nice piece of hardware, I've had no trouble with the build quality, it's comfortable and very light when wearing and adjusts to fit virtually any way you want it. The video quality is exactly what I expected it to be. Nothing great but not horrible considering the size of the device. I love the Android app that this device utilizes, you can use your phone as a "viewfinder" and Looxcie is very easy to pair with your phone (Nexus 2.2 in my case). You can save notable clips on the device by pushing the clip button making 30-second clips or make custom length clips through the app. Once you make the clips you can hook Looxcie to the computer and do what you want with them there, or upload them to the place of your choosing through the Looxcie App. Playback in the app is a little choppy but much more smooth on the computer. Using the device as a bluetooth headset has been great for me. I usually run into problems where the volume is never high enough but my Looxcie is so loud it hurts (luckily you can turn it down). Call quality is good and I have no problems hearing anyone or with them hearing me when talking through it. It's very useful to be able to use this as a "dual-purpose" device.

My gripes:

-As of now the clips you "save" are saved to Looxcie and not your phone's SD card. So viewing clips while away from your Looxcie are impossible unless you've uploaded them somewhere through the app. Now this can be fixed through an App update but just something to be aware of.

-Audio: While playing back my clips on the computer what I've noticed is that (since both microphones are on the bottom of Looxcie) I can hear myself talking fine, but whenever someone else in front of me is talking I find it difficult to make out what they're saying. I CAN hear them but if you're anywhere but in a quiet room with a couple people it can get difficult to hear anyone other than yourself. This is the only real problem I have with Looxcie.

My likes:

-Easy to use App interface, easy to pair

-Portable, wearable camcorder, letting me have my hands back. Great for when I go fishing/snowboarding or anything else.

-Look/Build quality of the device is wonderful!

-Battery life is very good considering the size of it.

-So many adjustment options makes it very comfortable and adjustable for any size/shaped head.

-Recording length (5HRs)

-First of its kind/cheap for what you get.

Overall the Looxcie is definitely worth the price and I would recommend it to anyone who is tired of always "holding the camcorder" and missing out on the action. Very useful, easy to use, and fun device even though placing one of the microphones in front would've been a wise decision. (And no I don't work for Looxcie in case you're wondering) - Video - Bluetooth - Camcorder - Mobile'

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