Framing Nailer - framing nailer, bostich

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I own 4 Bostitch nailers and they are all great. I like the light weight of the nailer as well as its more than adequate power. You just can't beat the ease of use for a pneumatic nail gun.



I did a lot of research before purchasing the Bostitch and I am very glad I did. It has yet to jam. The toe nailing claw is great. It really digs into the wood and allows you to drive nails at any angle without slipping.



Can't go wrong with this. Bostitch F28WW Clipped Head 2-inch to 3-1/2-inch Framing Nailer with Magnesium Housing

This product is great and it makes framing a breeze. The only problem is that the wire clipped 28 degree nails are not commonly found in a lot of the public building supply stores (Home Depot, Lowes etc.) They can special order them for you but if you need them right away you are out of luck, with that being said once you do get the nails this is one fine nailing machine that will work all day without any problems.

If you want a trouble free framing nailer this is a very fine heavy duty one Bostitch F28WW Clipped Head 2-Inch to 3-1/2-Inch Framing Nailer with Magnesium Housing

I picked this up at HD, and after using the paslode cordless, I really like the Bostitch. For it being as light as it is, it really has tons of power, and holds way more nails than the paslode. Because of it's magnesium construction, it's also lighter than the paslode, and with a lightweight airhose, this thing is versitile. The countersink feature rocks due to it's pushbutton guage, and the cleat it has on the safety works brilliantly for toenailing.



For an airpowered gun, this thing rocks!

Having been in the construction buisness for almost a decade now I've had the opportunity to use 3 different models of the Bostitch 28 degree framing nailer, the N80, the N88, and the F28, I have to say that although this gun has many eye catching features as the rafter hook and shiny buttons, the gun just doesn't perform like its predecessors. We have 2 F28s and they don't seem to fire as well, the safetys seem more finnicky causing erratic firing and dangerous operations. The entire crew prefers the N88 over the newer guns. We have had Bostitch SWAT reps check out the guns and say they are operationally fine. I would trade an 88 for my 28 any day of the week. Its still a Bostitch which means its a great gun, but nothing like its predecessors

being a pro framer, i have used many brands of nailers. hitachis are my favorite, but if you don't have the cash for them, this gun is a close second. lots of power. will nail into engineered wood. the teeth are nice and sharp making toe-nails a breeze. you won't have to pull out your hammer to finish off any toe-nails with this gun. little things about this gun are nice too. like the air exhaust can be moved in any direction without tools and comes with a rafter hook preventing some nasty falls off joists or trusses. good framing gun, not the best, but a good framing gun none the less. worth buying.



just to add to my original review; after using my gun for a few months of constant use on the job site, i have had a few problems. the rafter hook broke pretty easily so now i have to be extra careful nailing joists and trusses. also, every now and then a bit of dirt or sand will get in the housing and just sprays air out of the exhaust. to fix it i have to take it apart and clean it. it's really annoying considering how much a framer counts on his nail gun. it's still a good gun, but i'm just gonna invest a bit more next time.

I have used almost every brand and type of framing nailer over the span of 20 years. this nailer is as close to perfection as i have seen. i was afraid it may have poor durability because of it's extreme light weight, but over the last 2 years, a million+ nails, and a few nasty falls it has crushed all my fears. I can't remember one jamb, sinks nails in lvl and other lam mat. better than any other gun i've used, and i think at this point it's takenthe durability prize. my only complaint would be the smart trigger acts goofy at times since day one. maybe by now bostitch has smartend up the goofy thing. i think i bought the first one they sold. i noticed one reviewer said nails are hard to find for this gun, "special order" i think he said. maybe out west (WA?) where he is, but around here (PA) 28 wire is the standard. They are everywhere. i've even bought them at a back woods mom and pop hardware store.

CAUTION: THIS RATING IS FOR THE 21 DEGREE NAILER; THE F21PL. I would only recommend a 21 degree nailer, NOT a 28 degree one. The 28 degree nails are more expensive and hard to find.



This is the real deal. It slices, it dices, it shoots nails through everything (EVEN WOOD TO MASONRY!), it hangs joist hangers, and oh yeah, it does regular framing tasks too! I love this gun! It's not even that heavy. It feels pretty good in your hand all day. I don't want to put it down. We used to use only Porter Cable FR350A's, which are also wonderful, reliable, tough, and recommendable guns, but I like the versatility of this one better, and the extra power. I can lower the PSI on our compressors with this gun to 80-90 for most tasks.



Pros:

1) POWERFUL

2) CONSISTENT

3) TOUGH (We use this to smash joists etc. into place when we don't have a free hand)

4) GREAT AT TOENAILING!!! (This should be #1, because it sets toenails better than anything I've seen)

5) Lightweight (for its size)

6) 7 Year Warranty

7) Push Button Depth Adjustment (but not as convenient as the Porter Cable's)

8) It works even at lower pressures

9) Easy rotating exhaust

10) It shoots my favorite 21 degree full head plastic collated nails (They're usually the cheapest too)





Cons:

1) Bulkier and bigger than Senco, Max, and Paslode (You can't fit into every crevice and gap)

2) No Dry-Fire Lockout feature like Porter Cable's to prevent damage from chronic dry-firing (firing on empty)

3) You have to let the gun run out of nails before reloading with the common plastic collated nails, or nails may feed incorrectly causing jams and misfires. There is a new brand of nail coming out soon which prevents this problem completely. They're called "Lightning" something or other. They work great, and are cheap - Bostich - Bostitch - Framing Nailer - Nailer'

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Office Electronics - electric pencil sharpener, school supplies

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Before I buy anything, I do a lot of research on it. A lot. So this Stanley sharpener came to my attention. I needed for my 7th grade classroom and if I were ever going to invent something and check it for durability, I'd put it in a 7th grade classroom for about a month. If it can last that long, you can bet it'll last just about forever.

I've had several manual sharpeners in my classroom, you know, the type you screw to the wall. They don't hold up. One was torn from its stem, the base still screwed to the wall. Another had its handle bent so much that when you went to sharpen a pencil, you'd have to crank it in an oval instead of a circle.

I didn't really want to spend too much for a sharpener, since my classes have a "reputation" for how they treat prior sharpeners. But the Stanley LOOKED heavy-duty enough. And Stanley tools are pretty rugged, right? Besides, the only other choice that seemed like it might hold up was an Xacto one, but that was over $100! I am a school teacher, after all.

So I bought this Stanley Bostich EPS12HC SuperPro 6. What sold me was that it could could take all pencil sizes and it boasted of a motor so rugged, that it actually had a FAN to cool it down! It had suction cups for feet to keep young 7th grade bodies that throw their weight against their pencils from pushing it off the table. It looked as if it could sharpen colored pencils too, something that always jammed other electric sharpeners. The only drawback I could see was it didn't really have an auto-stop feature, you had to "feel" it as being sharpened as you were sharpening your writing instrument. Oh well. Let's take a risk.



This machine is the new Class Pet. It does everything it promises and more. The kids LOVE IT. I LOVE IT. It's fast and the blades are sharp. Why, because the container is see-through, the kids actually empty it when it gets full of pencil shavings too. They've gotten over grinding pencils down to stubbs.

The only drawback is that it sometimes sharpens a pencil's wood along with the graphite, so that you either have to peel it away with a fingernail, or put it back in and twist the pencil. No big deal either way.



I would DEFINITELY recommend this machine for you. It doesn't matter if you're not a teacher - I'd get one for my home even. Worth every red cent!



UPDATE - 1 year later.

OK, so as I mentioned above, if you ever want to check the durability of nearly anything, put it in a 7th grade classroom for a year. Here's the result of having the Stanley Bostich EPS12HC used by seventh graders for 9 months.

At first, it was a wonderful machine: it sharpened pencils to a pin-point, it could handle colored pencils (something that would cause other sharpeners to bog down). But then Monica jammed her stub of a pencil into the sharpener and it got stuck. I had to use a paperclip to slide what was left of her pencil out from between the sharpening gears, after taking out the shavings bin and getting to the gears from underneath. But it was never quite the same after that. Maybe the blades grew dull; I don't know. What happens now though, is that when it sharpens pencils, it sharpens the WOOD around the point, bringing the lead AND the wood together to a sharpened spear. If you don't have fingernails to chip away the wood to get to the lead, forget using the pencil.

Also, it seems to have given up trying to get colored pencils sharp. I'm not sure why this fine-looking machine is going the way of all pencil sharpeners in my classroom. I'll see if maybe its the blades that need replacing (after only ONE YEAR?!), but that seems unlikely. Stay tuned!



Well, this is, I'm sorry to write, the final review on this pencil sharpener. It's given up the ghost and I've given up on it. So much so that I actually went out and bought a similar version made by X-acto. And I did not buy it from Amazon for the simple reason that, for less than $10, I could buy a one year, if-it-breaks-bring-it-in-and-get-a-new-one warranty. How can a 7th grade teacher beat that?! So, sorry, Stanley Bostich EPS12HC SuperPro 6, our relationship is now over.... Stanley Bostitch EPS12HC SuperPro 6 Commercial Pencil Sharpener, 7.5"h x 9"d x 5"w, gray, 1 Unit

I bought this for my classroom, after spending $20 on a new sharpener just about every month. (It still amazes me how often students have to sharpen their pencils) This sharpener is INCREDIBLE and indestructable. It's so quiet and very fast. I do a 10 pack of pencils in about 1 minute. It definitely seems like it's going to last many years...not months. I like the auto shut off feature because you can hear when their pencil is done. The dial to select a different size also comes in handy with some of the fancy pencils or thick pencils. Would HIGHLY recommend this sharpener! Worth every single penny

This is a very heavy duty pencil sharpener. My children have burned out several inexpensive sharpeners, so I wanted to find a very heavy duty sharpener. I bought this and it wonderful. It has its own fan to cool the engine. This means that when my son sharpens all of his colored pencils, the engine happily complies. No funny smells or "sick engine" sounds.



I bought it on sale for about $80 and have been using it heavily for almost 6 months. Since the cheaper sharpeners run about $30 and we have burned out 3 in 3 years, I am looking at it as an investment.

excellent sharpener. bought for my dad who has arthritis in his hands and he can use easily. It is a drag to empty as the plastic reservoir for shavings does not slide in and out without A LOT of effort.

I purchased this for our homeschool classroom after getting blisters from sharpening colored pencils by hand. We had used a battery powered one but it never worked well and completely stopped working after just a few months.



The good:

- it's fast, really fast

- it handles pencils of all sizes, including the huge 'my first' pencils and tri-writes

- it's powerful enough to sharpen dozens of pencils without stopping to let it cool down

- it handles colored pencils with ease and doesn't clog

- the shavings bin is large and lasts us through a solid month without emptying and doesn't slide out if bumped or tipped

- it's super sturdy, it's fallen on the floor many times and is still going strong; I can see it lasting through a decade or more of frequent use



The not so good:

- it's fast and doesn't turn off on it's own when the pencil is sharpened and is so powerful that it can eat through an entire pencil in 10 seconds if you're not careful

- it's too powerful for me to feel comfortable allowing young children to use it, I leave it unplugged for safety the same way I unplug the paper shredder after each use, an annoyance so I only use it when I have several pencils that need sharpening at once

- it sharpens far up on the pencil, no neat little point but a full inch of exposed wood with a super sharp point; doesn't bother me with colored pencils but I often sharpen writing pencils by hand so they'll last longer

- sharpens well when used very quickly, maybe 1/2 a second to 1 second but makes the pencil uneven if left in for more than a second

- it's really big and bulky with enough weight that it can't be left on top of a bookshelf because the cord can be pulled on and it could hit a child on the head, needs to be on a low shelf if used in a home or classroom with toddlers or preschoolers (which means it must be unplugged in case they stick their fingers in)

- must be plugged in and has a short cord which limits where it can be put, unlike battery powered sharpeners that can be put anywhere - Home Office - Electric Pencil Sharpener - Pencil Sharpeners - School Supplies'

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Blu-ray Players - hdtv, blu-ray disc players

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First of all, I really hate the saying 'WiFi Ready' Which says to me... it is ready for WiFi.. all you need is WiFi. Of course that isn't the case. It just means that it has a USB port and some on board drivers to help you part with $80 for the WiFi adapter. Save yourself some aggravation and check out the NETGEAR Home Theater Internet Connection Kit (Black). It is faster than WiFi and will work with your next Blu-Ray player too. Not to mention your xbox, networked TV, etc.



Anyway.... When I first hooked up the player the first thing that naturally occurs is the setup. Wow... it was grainy and horrible looking. I was worried. Of course this was hooked up to a brand new Panasonic VIERA TC-P42G25 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV, and I had not refined all of the Brightness, Contrast, Color, Tint, etc... settings yet. So I put in a BD and things looked good. Not great. But good. After a couple more days of tweaking the TV I came back to do some more hands on testing of the BD and Viera Cast functions. My kids watched the Cars BD, and it looked FABULOUS! Of course that disc always looks good, even on an old broken TV. Wasn't sold. Then that evening my wife and I had rented The American on DVD. This is when I got really impressed. The DVD up-conversion was truly amazing. If I had not known better, I would have thought this was a BD. Then I resumed looking at the Viera Cast apps. I haven't looked at Netflix since that is on the Panasonic TV, but I was truly impressed with VuDu. The full 1080p and Dolby Plus 5.1 signal was great. The picture was stunning, and it starts streaming QUICK. With no artifacts that I have seen. Rental prices were a little steep, but regardless I was impressed.



Other things important to potential buyers. It loads fast. There are options to reduce startup times too. This is great, because when I use my other BD player to play a movie for my children, they have lost interest by the time the player loads the film. Another nice feature is the VieraLink. This makes it work well with at least Panasonic sets. When I turn on the player, my TV switches to the correct input automatically. Very nice. When I turn off my TV, it will automatically power down the BD player. Also very nice.



I haven't tested any 3D content on the disc player yet. So I cannot comment on that. But I imagine it will be stunning since it handles other BD content well.



Cons: This is really a con I guess, but more of a CONcern. The front fascia, is a big plastic door. I just have a feeling that one day a child will rip it off. Won't be the end of the world, but it just seems a little unneeded. But I guess if it protects the buttons from peanut butter etc.. for a while it's really a plus. We'll see. Panasonic DMP-BDT110 Wi-Fi Ready 3D/2D Blu-ray Disc Player

This Panasonic DMP-BD110 is the fourth BD player that I have purchased in since 2007 (my first being the Panasonic DMP-BD10A, second a Sharp HP20, third a Panasonic DMP-BD60). As you can imagine, the last thing I really needed was another BD player, however, I just got a great deal on a 3D tv and, well, you know how it goes. :)



I am giving this product a qualified 5 stars, with this caveat: for most people, it would be well worth it to spend the extra money to purchase the the next model up (the Panasonic DMP-BDT210), which includes the wireless-n wifi dongle. These two players are essentially the same with the exception of the dongle, some cosmetic differences and the motion sensor that opens the BD tray (not something I care for to be honest). For those purchasing the BDT110, if you do not have access to an ethernet connection for internet, you will be stuck buying a dongle for Panasonic's exorbitant price (since no other dongles work). This is a big knock against this player that has been pointed out by other reviewers. For my purposes, however, the BDT110 is just splendid since my router sits right behind my tv and I have it hooked up using an ethernet cable.



BD Playback Quality: To be fair, with the current line of players from all the major brands have excellent BD playback and they all upscale dvd's well. The technology has improved and there is no bad one in the bunch in terms of video playback. Some players are faster at loading BD discs than others, with the Panasonic being on the fast side of this equation. 3D performance is also excellent, although I can't say whether that is attributable to the TV (Panasonic L37DT30) or the player or some combination of both. I can say that the player is very responsive and I have had no issues in two weeks that I have owned it. Whatever problems the player had last spring have been fully resolved by firmware updates (which come regularly).



Viera Cast: The Viera Cast suite is terrific. My tv is equipped with viera cast as well and you would think they would be the same. Surprisingly, they are not. The version used on the BD players is MUCH better. This is particularly true for the Netflix application. The Netflix application on the BDT110 provides a search feature that allows you to search the entire Netflix database. You essentially have the same access and control over content as you would on your computer. The Playback is smooth. Movies and shows, including HD content, load quickly and require little if any time for buffering. You can skip scenes and the interface works similarly to the one on the Roku XD box--excellent. It doesn't look as sexy as the interface on the Apple TV, but it is more functional. Also available is Amazon Instant, including free streaming for Amazon Prime members (like me). Excellent quality as well and you have access to the latest movies and shows. The YouTube app is also outstanding, giving you access to your subscriptions, videos is essentially a more complete than most apps you'll find on mobile devices. I haven't really used the Fox Sports App or played games on the player, but the Viera Cast system has a lot of potentially and it's quite impressive.



The Remote: The remote is well thought out, with a dedicated netflix button (NICE!). The buttons could be a bit bigger though and less crowded. This is pretty typical for BD players these days, which have definitely cheapened the quality of the remotes.



Playback of pictures and videos from an SDHC Card or USB drive: Again, a big improvement over the version on panasonic tv. The files are layed out in an easy to search manner, line by line. The player is able to crunch through all the usual formats, including: .mkv, .mov, .mp4, .avi, .xvid, mpeg-2 etc. This player does stumble a bit on high bitrate .mkv files in 1080p, but many media players have some issues with these files (some can't play them at all). Most of us will use 720p .mkv files anyway, and those are no problem at all. Photo playback in .jpg are no problem, photos are easy to search for, load quickly and look great!



Word of Caution: Please be aware that if you are buying this player to play 3d Movies and content and you do not have receiver (AVR) that is HDMI 1.4 compliant (in other words, 3D ready), you will have to run the HDMI cable directly to the tv and then run a toslink (optical cable) to the receiver for sound. This means that if you do not have a 3d ready receiver and are using this player for 3d content, you will not be able to play 3d content through the receiver. Moreover, being limited to the optical cable for the audio feed means that you will not be able to use the lossless audio formats on the disks (i.e., no Dolby TrueHd, DTS-MA etc.). This is not a big deal for my set up, but some people will surely be disappointed. Panasonic does have a solution. The BDT310, which costs around $200 on Amazon, has two HDMI outputs, one for video to the TV and one for audio to the receiver. If you have a non-3d receiver and must have 3d and hi-def audio, this is probably your best choice (or you can buy a new receiver--which will cost a lot more than the BDT310). Just some food for thought. Please also note that this is an issue with 3d playback through HDMI 1.3 receivers and is not unique to Panasonic. It effects ALL 3D BD players--so no stars are going to be deducted. If you do not care about the 3d playback and just intend to use the player as a regular BD non-3d player it will function like any other BD player and you can run the hdmi straight to the AVR as usual and get lossless sound formats--so for you people who have not yet adopted 3d technology, you can ignore this paragraph.



In short, this is an excellent choice in BD player, particularly if you don't need wifi included. If you do need wifi access, the BDT210 is the better value. With that caveat, I give the BDT110 five stars.



EDIT 6/22/11: I have been using the BDT110 for a couple of months now and I continue to enjoy the player immensely. I have only watched 15 or so BD disks and a handful of DVDS. I have had no issue at all with playback and the image and sound quality have been more than satisfactory. I am continuing to enjoy streaming apps from Netflix and Amazon, probably for more than an hour or two a day. Both apps have worked flawlessly. I have also been using the player to view home videos of my 11 week old that I shoot with Sony HX9V cameras in fully 1080p at 60fps in AVCHD format (28mbps). This profile is beyond bluray, which limited to 1080i at 60fps at 24mbps (or 1080p at 30fps or 24fps). Again, I have had no issue at all with playback. I am extremely impressed with the image processing power of this player. If I could give this line of players from Panasonic a sixth star, I would. - Blu-ray Player - Hdtv - Blu-ray Disc Players - Blu-ray'

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Inflator - air compressor, inflator

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I've had a VIAIR 70P for quite some time and that unit is great for the small pump that it is. When I needed another small portable compressor that was able to be powered by a cigarette lighter power socket, I noticed that VIAIR had a new model and got one. This one is almost twice as fast as the 70P and every bit as quiet. The unit doesn't walk around when you're using it and the brass screw-on tire chuck makes for almost no air loss. The LED power indicator is a nice touch and I found the air pressure gauge to be spot-on as long as I turn the compressor off to check pressure. In all, another nice unit. -I just wish this was available when I got my 70P. Side note: don't throw away the box - its a means of storage since this unit doesn't come with a carry bag. VIAIR 85P Portable Air Compressor

I've had several other portable air compressors in the past but they were always in the $20, and below price range, which in essence turned out to be "junk. This is the first time I've purchased a Viair Air Compressor. I was hesitant in spending nearly $50 for for one, but once I received it I was very impressed with its quality and efficiency. I like the fact that the air hose fitting is brass and the end screws onto the air valves of tires. Unlike the toggle type of hose fittings on the cheaper models (which leak a substantial amount of air when you attach or detach them to the air valve and are cumbersome to use), the screw on brass fitting of the Viair loses a negligent amount of air during this operation. The pump is relatively quite for a portable, and it doesn't bounce around nearly as much as the cheaper models tend do. The air gage is very accurate (readings should be taken with the air hose attached and the compressor off ). My bicycle tires were about 15 lbs low and it only took the compressor 10 seconds to air them up. My car tires were about 3 lbs low and it took less than a minute to fill them. I also like the fact that the accessories for airing up air mattresses, basketballs and the like, are cradled on the compressor. All to often I forget where I put these items when I need them if not attached to the compressor. Compared to other air compressors within the same price range, I think this is by far, a cut above the rest.

I believe that Amazon.com provides the broadest and best items available and in the widest price ranges. Their "Prestige" shipping program is outstanding, and their customer satisfaction guarantee is the best.

Item arrived quickly. The compressor is very compact and feels well built and heavy.



I verified before purchase that it draws 14.5 amps, 12v. My power sources on a 05 landcruiser are 15 amp 12v. I tested it this weekend. Started the vehicle, used the rear cargo Aux socket to fill the two rear tires, it has plenty of power and inflated quickly. I moved it to the front cabin Aux socket on dash, and it blew the 15 amp fuse. Then I used the 15 amp cig lighter socket, and it blew that too.



Its not much use if it blows the fuse when you need it most.



I'm going to look into a direct battery power adapter plug.

After reading all of the reviews, I still was not convinced that I could trust this product, so I called the company, VIAIR directly with questions. First, I got right through to their technical department, and was given very clear answers to my questions. My main question was about blowing any fuses, as some reviewers had complained about, and the technician assured me that would not happen, as long as I had the engine running BEFORE I plugged in and turned on the compressor. After I spoke to the technician I decided to go ahead and purchase the VIAIR 85P compressor. When it arrived the directions on the box were very clear about turning on your engine before operating the compressor. The compressor is extremely easy to use. The brass screw on tire chuck for the tire stem is so much more convenient and easier to use than the machines at local gas stations, because you just screw it on and you do not have to hold it in place. It filled up my tire to the correct pressure in less than a minute, and the tire gauge makes it impossible for you to make any errors in judgement as to how much or how little to fill your tire, as long as you know what the PSI is for your tires. I am thrilled that I purchased this product. It is everything that the company advertises it to be and more. Also, as one previous reviewer suggested, keep the box, it is very convenient to store the compressor in, and has a convenient plastic carry handle.

The pump works great. Very fast. The first time I used it was on my wifes car with smaller low profile tires. 8 lbs of air were needed. I didn't time it but I had to let 4 lbs of pressure off the tires because they were pumped up so fast.



It is much quiter than I expected as well.



I cannot speak to the durability of the pump. I've only had it for a month now and only used a handful of times. It seems like it will hold up well. The pump does get hot if used for any amount of time.

This compressor works great. I use it once a month to adjust the pressure for my car. It is very portable (I can keep it all the time in my car, it does not take much space), and the cord has just the right length to reach all 4 tires from the dash plug. Not too noisy for a compressor, and fast. The gauge is accurate, as long as you turn the switch off to get a reading.

High quality portable compressor for emergencies. Sure wish that it had come with its own carry case. As it is I just leave it in the box in back of the Jeep. Something that everyone should have, and is much better than those cheap plastic compressors that I wouldn't trust for anything. VIAIR makes high quality compressors and this is one of them.

I've been using a cheap $10 air compressor I bought from Walmart a few years ago, and I finally was just getting too impatient to wait 10 minutes anytime I inflate my tires. I ordered this Viair one based on the positive reviews and have not been disappointed.



First of all, it only took me a minute or two to get from 10 to 45 PSI, down from 10 minutes with my old cheap-o one. Second, the construction feels solid and durable. I like the weight it has, it mostly stays in place while operating, there is slight movement but it at least stays upright. Cheap-o inflator goes all over the place, weighs next to nothing, and can't even stay upright while inflating. Third, it has a fairly bright light on the side of it that can be helpful when inflating tires at night. Fourth, the connection is very tight. It screws on securely and loses almost no air on connecting and disconnecting. Cheap-o brand always has a big "whoosh" every time I connect/disconnect, and the connection does not feel secure. Finally, it is about 75% quieter than the cheap-o brand. Not library quiet, but tolerable (old one was deafening).



Only negative I had with this is that my Scion tC's fuse was blown when running this through the cigarette lighter power. It inflated one tire then on the second it just stopped. Not a huge deal to replace the fuse, and I believe this is more the car's fault then this product's. My other car ran this for several minutes with no issues. I'll probably buy a converter so I can run this from my garage's outlet in the future, instead of from either car.



So to summarize, this was DEFINITELY worth the $30-40 surcharge over the cheap-o brand I had before. I am considering buying a second so I can have one in each of my vehicles in case of emergency. - Air Compressor - 12v - Tire Inflator - Inflator'

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Biggest Loser - weight loss, biggest loser

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I am loving this contoured kettlebell, for a couple of reasons: 1) it makes doing moves like cleans and presses so much more comfortable. 2) the contoured shape makes the bell much easier to grip with sweaty hands when doing halos or lunges when you're holding the bell in front of you.



The beginner video that comes with it is great as well. If you've never done any of Bob's other workout videos, it gives you a really good feel for his non-Biggest Loser style, which I think is great. The people in his videos actually sweat and exert effort, they're not just skinny and pretty, but are some seriously fit women. I also enjoy the non-club-type music, basic sets and his straightforward, no sissying around approach.



I work out quite a bit, I've run a few half marathons (currently training for another) and lift weights and do yoga several times a week. The first couple of times I did the beginner workout included with the bell, I was SORE. But in a good kind of you-know-you-worked-it way. Perfect length and level of difficulty for the beginner to novice. I tried one of his longer kettlebell DVD's this morning (Sculpt) and loved that as well. GoFit Contoured Single Vinyl Coated Kettlebell With Bob Harper Training Dvd (Yellow, 10Lb)

I was very out of shape so the video was tough for me, couldn't do all of it and couldn't do every move, but that's what I was looking for. The evening after my first workout my glutes and back of my thighs were so sore I just knew this was going to be a very effective workout for my more needful areas. Working with the kettlebell is totally different than using regular barbells. I highly recommend the Bob Harpers Contoured Kettlebell and the dvd that comes with it. It's a cardio workout integrating the contoured kettlebell.

I love the contoured kettlebell for its shape! It's easier to manipulate than other kettlebells and is a great tool for increasing strength and stamina. The DVD is helpful for introducing proper form and safety, but will not last you long. I found myself only using the DVD twice and then I moved on to other workouts with more variety and increasing difficulty.

I love the contoured kettlebell, before I was using a adjustable weigh one and it left me with bruises all over my forearms, this one is much more easy to use and comfortable when resting on my arms. Challenging workout too!

Am new to KBs, but after hefting a few at the store, chose the contoured bells in several sizes. My hands are quite small, and the contour makes them easy for me to grasp. Found the instructions on the DVD lacking, not enough warm up/joint loosening before and after for me, but ok as an intro. If you want a DVD on KBs, go to Lauren Brooks. As for the contoured KBs, I highly recommend.

I've purchased 4 contoured bells at different weights: 10, 15, 20 and 25lbs. and the quality of the handles are poor to say the least. One arrived with a large crack in the handle on the lower portion of the horn ( I kept it but really should have returned it) and the latest one (20lb) arrived with such a bad handle that I had to shave it down with a dremel for half and hour just so that it would not shred my hands (large sharp bumps plus it contains extremely uneven ridges. The quality really sucks and I am really disappointed but I love the concept of them being contoured which is the reason why I can't give the product a one star rating. There is just no way that I can do these on a daily basis without using gloves (yes I have a ton of calluses and expect them but I'm talking "cutting" the hands). I think this is the end of the road with contoured bells from GoFit. Also in the back of my mind when I look at all of the air pockets that show underneath the vinyl is the thought that these come from China and I wonder how much filler and lead are contained in these bells.

This was my first kettlebell and it seems like a well constructed one. I like the design and the vinyl coating. I can recommended the kettlebell and would buy one again. The DVD is a good start for a beginner like myself, but it isn't really a workout you'll want to do over and over. Bob Harper takes time to explain each move, and once you've seen the video once you don't really need all that instruction. I believe the purpose of the DVD was just to show you proper form, but you are still left having to devise your own workout routine. The DVD also doesn't show you that many movements, it mainly focuses on the swing.

I bought a 10lb Kettle Bell at Big 5 Sporting Goods but I like the one that comes with Bob Harper's DVD (same price but no DVD). One, the flat bottom helps it stay put between moves and somehow it "flows" differently than my other one (maybe the shape??). The DVD, OH MY GOD, get ready!!!! I didn't think much about a 30 min workout, until I could only get through 10 mins the first time. I had a serious decompression surgery (Chiari Malformation) a while ago, and I noticed the exercises, though I can't do all, really help with my hand, arm & overall strength. I wish I'd known about Kettle Bells before I bought a Medicine Ball for my physical therapy................

Really enjoying Bob Harper's 30 min. kettlebell workout. It's easy to do & offers quick results. I recently injured my knee & was concerned about whether I could do this workout, but I have no problems. I can only do about half the workout, and definitely have gained tone & strength. I thought the 10 lb bell would be too light at first, but am happy that I started with that weight. I really feel it the next day!

Just received this yesterday and did the instructional video that comes with it. The kettlebell seems to be very well made and the design of it is very smart. I also enjoyed Bob's dvd and found it somewhat useful. - Jillian Michaels - Weight Loss - Kettlebell - Biggest Loser'

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Cordless Drill

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I've owned this Makita impact gun for over three years and still love it. I'm a professional carpenter/handyman and this tool by far is the one I use most. It's the most comfortable cordless drill I've ever handled (and I've owned at least seven). It will drive 3 inch screws into hardwood over and over. Squeeze the trigger and the light comes on.. a joy, especially during winter work days when it gets dark early. The small size gets you into tight places like narrow cabinets or under sinks (where again that light is great)!

After using this tool a while, it becomes second nature - how much pressure you need to squeeze the trigger for just the right amount of torque. The impact feature is handy for backing out soft brass screws without stripping them (like those tricky high end Baldwin hinge screws).

The quick release is simple to use.. the belt hook is handy when you go up a ladder with your hands full.. the batteries last a long time and are easy to change.. the charger is quick.. it will accept vix bits and drill bits with a hex shank (so you can drill holes too)!

C'mon.. what else do you need in a drill/screwdriver???

Get one and you will soon realize what you've been missing.. Compared to those bulky Ni-Cad non-impact guns, this one beats them hands down! Bare-Tool Makita BTD141Z 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Impact Driver (Tool Only, No Battery)

A friend of mine had this driver drill on a window installation job. After using it I went right out and bought my own. I do lots of handyman work and this is now my go-to drill that I reach for first. It's smaller and lighter than the full size Makita drill, but drives and drills as well or better than its big brother and takes the same battery packs. Highly recommended!

I have been using impact drivers professionally since they were introduced many years ago (they were 9.6 volt, nicad). I rarely use them for drilling but for fastening, it is the tool of choice. This is my 3rd Makita, from the 9.6 to the 12 and now the 18 volt and I have never worn one out completely. Batteries, yes, many. Nicads didn't last all that long in number of cycles, NiMH were much better and now L-Ion which are a vast improvement. Now for this tool. Makita also makes this in a 3 speed model with brushless motor for considerably more money. The 3 speeds of the other tool are unnecessary; I have absolute control of the tool thru the variable speed trigger. As for the brushless motor. They are more efficient, delivering more torque and longer lasting. That means more fasteners per charge and subsequently longer battery life. This is important if you are a professional and putting the tool into production use. All day, every day. Would I prefer it? Yes, if that was the only tool I used but I have many and cost is always a factor. And I have never worn out the tool or replaced brushes in the other Makita's. The other tool on the market that I have experience with is the Panasonic, which is at least equal to the Makita. And Panasonic has their own battery technology (they achieve the same performance using only 14.4 volts) They have the selectable 3 speed and brushless motor but are substantially more expensive. So, for less money I don't feel that I have lost. The Makita name has served me well.

The BTD141 is a 2008 update/improved version of the BTD140: some improved internal parts (slightly higher max torque), slightly different appearance (mainly the plastic gearbox shroud), and a different chuck(This chuck allows you to push in a hex bit without pulling out the sleeve.) Not much difference from the older model, but I felt good about having the latest model when I bought this in the last week of May 2009.



A week after I bought this, Makita releases the evolutionary Bare-Tool Makita BTD144Z 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Impact Driver (Tool Only, No Battery) with brushless motor on the US market. There is a reason why the BTD144 is the first tool in the Makita line-up to get the brushless technology: Impact drivers are known for their torque but not for their finesse. With the digital electronic control that brushless motors allow, you can have buttons that reduce the speed and torque instead of having to feather the trigger pressure(like you have to do on the BTD141). Even though it is $75 - $100 more than the BTD141, I would have probably sprung for the BTD144. Regardless, what's done is done.



The BTD141 has loads of potential torque and if you are not careful/skilled you can torque fasteners way beyond where they should be. I needed some practice with the trigger and doing short bursts to make a 3" screw flush with a wood surface. Getting the right pressure on the trigger as you are driving a screw does not come naturally, especially if you've only used a drill as a driver.



The ergonomics on this, as with all Makita LXT tools, is superb. Very comfortable and balanced with "grippy" molded rubber in all the right places.



It is loud, but it's supposed to be loud; it's an IMPACT driver.



You can use this driver with the smaller 1.5 amp Makita batteries without making any modifications. (See user picture above) Thus, it can virtually become the smaller, lighter BTD142HW.

I own my own contracting and handyman business so i need quality tools from reliable suppliers. I am very pleased with the Makita BTD141Z 18-volt impact driver i purchased through Amazon.com. This was my first online purchase, yea, i've come out of the cave, Amazon.com made this process very easy for first timers like me, Thank you Amazon.com. This won't be my last purchase online, i shop Amazon.com 2-3 times a week for all my needs and wants. Nobody in my area compares when it comes to pricing. I highly recommend Amazon.com for your next purchase.

Lots of power even at half charge. Fast charging and the quick release is the best, I cant wait to get the 1/2" gun. p.s it will tighten lugs to 95 ft.lbs. I checked with my torque wrench and thats the best i could get, NOT complaining...im happy with it.'

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Impact Driver - lithium-ion, 18 volt

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I've been using this kit heavily to finish a basement room. I did some shopping around originally to upgrade my old 9.6 V cordless. I had narrowed it down the Dewalt DC720KA, the Milwaukee 18v compact, or the BDF142 when I came upon this kit. I never used an impact driver before this, but I discovered all the pros now do their screw driving with these. I'm glad I decided to give it a try!



Impact Driver: I will never drive wood screws with a drill again! Significantly less pressure is required to keep the phillips bit in contact with the screw head. I've driven 3" wood screws all week and not a single stripped head. It can install a fastener in tight places where a drill or hammer/nail just can't go. Superior torque will bury the screw (head and all) as deep in the wood as you want to go. I will use this more than any other tool in the kit. It is a little beast!



Drill: Good combination of power and speed. Enough to push a 1 1/4" self feeding bit through 3 1/2" of pressure treated lumber the high torgue setting. 5/8" self feeding bits eat through studs in a flash on the high speed setting. It is light like a cordless tool should be, and has the best power/weight ratio of any cordless by far. It comes with a quality chuck and plenty of torque. I think the drill is slightly better than the compact 18v Milwaukee and just a shade behind the Dewalt DC720KA which are both fine products.



Light: Has four convenient head angle adjustments from 0 degrees to about 110 degrees and a strap for hanging. Not a primary reason to buy this kit, but it's come in really handy for me.



Kit positives: Nice compact case has room for drill bits and accessories. Batteries do charge in 15 minutes. These tools have serious power. The combo of the drill and impact driver is unbeatable at this price. You would spend twice this to get the equivalent from another manufacturer. All three of the tools are a pleasure to use. The led light on the drill and impact driver does come in handy when you are working in dark corners.



Kit negatives: Run time might not be enough for heavy duty users. Not a problem for me; quick charge time makes up for it. I can use the impact drive all day on two full battery charges. Most of the black on these tools is rubber except for the raised Makita logo, which is paint. I've jammed the impact driver into some tight places which has caused some of that paint to scratch off. You can buy belt clips for these tools off e-bay which is only a minor inconvenience.



Overall: Considering what you get for the price, this is a five star kit. Makita LCT300W 18-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 3-Piece Combo Kit

First off, I'm a professional fabricator, and i've been typically really hard on my tools, especially cordless tools, but these have far exceeded my expectations. I bought this setup when i was in a jam, my heavy duty 18v Milwuakee crapped out after only 2mos of service, and only a week back from its first warranty repair (I'm no longer a milwuakee fan, sadly). Well, needing to finish a project for monday, and stuck looking for a new driver/drill on a saturday night, I picked up the combo kit at a Home Depot minutes before closing, figuring it would get me through the project, and the impact driver might come in handy for some light duty projects later on.



Well I was amazed after working with these for 4 mos solid. So small yet so powerful, and far more rugged than i would have expected for their light weight and plastic-y feel. And wow, did i say they are small? I mean i can put the impact driver in the side pocket on my cargo shorts, or back pocket of my carhartts and comfortably climb a ladder like that. They seriously lighten my load when I'm lugging a bag of tools to a gig outside the shop, too.



The only drawback I've found is an entirely acceptable compromise for the light weight and easy handling, which is short battery life between charges. But Makita makes up for this by including a sophisticated and fast charger.



In short, this works really great for the sort of work that cordless tools do well for; tough intermittent tasks where access is tight. Sure it doesn't have all of the brawn of some of the full-size makita 18v line, but really when i need that sort of power, I'll want to be using something Pneumatic or AC-driven.



Buy it if you need a lightweight tool for intermittent use. If you need something to replace a corded/pneumatic tool out in the field, you might want to bump up to the full size (lxt) line.

Have had this kit for just under a year. The weight of the tools is phenomenal. Very light and excellent balance. The impact gun is pretty impressive. The drill, however, doesn't really have the ooomph I was hoping for. And if you are doing a lot of drilling, expect your batteries to get very hot, and also to take a very long time to cool down before the charger will start charging them. I've had these guns heat up quite a bit while under heavy use, so much so that I've had to put gloves on. This is drilling into steel, by the way. These are great guns for the price and the weight, but under heavy usage (I'm a scenic carpenter in the entertainment industry), the drill is less than impressive. And the clutch just died on it. I'm going to stick with Makita, but I'm going for the more powerful guns.

The new LiOn driver usually runs near two hundred by itself. Add the impact driver that goes for close to this price AND include the spotlight and you definitely have a winner.



I've used the driver myself and it is a joy to use. It is very lightweight and the batteries charge in 15 minutes. So even if I'm using the drill full time, I can't run out of juice.

Anyone as confused by the compact vs regular lithium technology in these Makita Drills as I was?



I have used both the compact and the LXT version of the Makita Lithium cordless tool sets. Mostly the impact driver and drill/driver. I am a electrical contractor and am pretty hard on my tools.



First both sets worked great. However, I did find that I spent considerable amount of time fetching new batteries with the compact version of the drills. I found this to be irritating, and prefered to use the LXT lithium drill as it lasted twice as long and had maybe just a little more UMMMPHHH to it.



One of my employees who has long struggled with tendonitis in his arm will use nothing else besides the compact version. It is about a pound lighter and it makes enough difference, of course he gets paid the same whether he changes the battery pack ten times a day or five.



Bottom line, both drills work very well. The compact is so light it makes it worth it for people doing lighter use, difficult position, or constant ladder work. But overall I would say it is better suited for the serious homeowner/weekend-warrior rather than the full time contractor. The regular LXT(non-compact) tools, although just a little heavier, are still much lighter than previous technologies and feel like a bag of feathers in comparison to a Dewault. They also lasted longer on a single charge(twice the storage capacity in the battery cells), which was the key selling point for me and the little extra power (insert Tim the toolman grunt here) was well worth it. Then again, if I am light duty user/homeowner and not using these tools daily, the compact version would certainly fit better into my budget and would still do everything I needed it too. - 18 Volt - Lithium-ion - Drill - Impact Driver'

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Impact Driver - lithium-ion, 18 volt lithium-ion Impact Driver - lithium-ion, 18 volt