5 comments about Globe 13-Watt Ultra-Mini Compact Fluorescent Spiral Bulb (60-Watt Incandescent Equivalent), Soft White, 4-Pack #4860201.

1. I currently have these bulbs, but yet I received an email from a family member letting me know that these bulbs contain mercury, very dangerous. If dropped you have to go through specific directions to clean it up as well as disposal if they do go out.
   
   I won't be buying anymore, even though they do last a long time. :( I'm too clumsy to worry about the mercury.



2. Sure they do save on electricity and last longer however people are not seeming to mention that they contain toxic mercury, which can be ingested or inhaled when they break. Also nobody ever talks about how florescent lights are not natural lighting and can cause seasonal depression or SAD. I will stick with my full spectrum natural lighting or open the shades , its alot less toxic to my health.



3. Please read this article before buying or breaking this type of bulb!
   
   ANOTHER BRIGHT IDEA
   1 broken bulb pushes contamination to 300 times EPA limits
   Poisonous vapor so bad, researchers recommend families no longer use CFLs
   August 11, 2008
   
   © 2008 WorldNetDaily
   
   Compact fluorescent light bulbs have long been known to contain
   poisonous liquid mercury, but a study released earlier this year shows
   the level of mercury vapor released from broken bulbs skyrockets past
   accepted safety levels.
   
   Following a story reported by WND last year about a Maine woman quoted
   $2,000 for cleaning up a broken fluorescent bulb (or CFL) in her home,
   the Maine Department of Environmental Protection studied the dangers
   of broken CFLs and the adequacy of recommended cleanup procedures.
   
   The results were stunning: breaking a single compact fluorescent bulb
   on the floor can spike mercury vapor levels in a room - particularly
   at a child's height - to over 300
   times the EPA's standard accepted
   safety level.
   
   Furthermore, for days after a CFL has been broken, vacuuming or simply
   crawling across a carpeted floor where the bulb was broken can cause
   mercury vapor levels to shoot back upwards of 100 times what's
   considered safe.
   
   Following the study, the Maine DEP made eight new recommendations for
   usage and cleanup of CFLs, including the recommendation to not even
   use the bulbs in carpeted rooms where children, infants, or pregnant
   women live. The likelihood of breakage, near impossibility of cleanup
   and risk of prolonged exposure, the study concluded, are just too great.
   
   The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences website
   acknowledges that Brown University published a similar study last
   month confirming the Maine results: breaking a fluorescent bulb sends
   mercury vapor levels to unsafe levels for the elderly, pregnant and
   young - and those
   levels remain elevated for days.
   
   The NIEHS website states, "Today's CFLs underscore mercury's volatile
   vapor form, which is still a significant health concern - ventilation
   reduces but does not eliminate this toxicant. Mercury vapor inhalation
   can cause significant neural damage in developing fetuses and children."
   
   According to a Mercury Policy Project overview paper, unpolluted air
   contains 1-2 nanograms (or billionths of a gram) of mercury vapor per
   cubic meter. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established
   a level of 300 ng/m3 as the safety threshold for prolonged exposure to
   the poisonous gas.
   
   Some states, though not the federal government, have also established
   a safety threshold for a one-time, acute exposure to mercury vapor.
   California, for example, has established that any level of exposure
   over 1,800 ng/m3 has potentially harmful health effects.
   
   The Maine study, however,
   discovered that upon breakage of a CFL,
   mercury vapors can rise "with short excursions over 25,000 ng/m3,
   sometimes over 50,000 ng/m3, and possibly over 100,000 ng/m3 from the
   breakage of a single compact fluorescent lamp."
   
   In other words, the study found breaking a single bulb can send
   mercury vapor levels in a room to over 50 times the level that
   California considers dangerous and to over 300 times what the EPA has
   established as a safe level for prolonged exposure.
   
   Researchers in the study broke 45 bulbs in a variety of flooring
   surfaces and then studied lingering gas levels after a variety of
   cleanup techniques. The results contradicted a number of commonly held
   thoughts on CFLs, for example:
   
   * Though proponents of CFLs often argue a single bulb only
   contains 5 mg of mercury, the study found it was an average. The bulbs
   actually range from 0.9 to 18 mg of mercury.
   
   * Though the EPA's
   Energy Star program recommends placing a broken
   bulb "in a glass jar with a metal lid or in a sealed plastic bag," the
   study discovered mercury vapor leaches right through plastic bags. "Of
   the 12 different types of containers tested during the 23 different
   tests, the plastic bag was found to be the worst choice for containing
   mercury emissions," researchers stated. "Based upon this study, the
   DEP now suggests that a glass container with metal screw lid with a
   gum seal be used to contain debris."
   
   * Though the Energy Star guidelines suggest ventilating a room for
   15 minutes before attempting cleanup, the study found that in every
   case - even in well-ventilated rooms - it took over an hour to drop
   mercury vapor levels below the EPA safety standard.
   
   * And for cleanup on carpets, the Energy Star guidelines suggest
   vacuuming and disposing of the dust bag. The Maine study, however,
   discovered that
   vacuuming served to simply stir the vapor into the air
   and "irreversibly contaminate the vacuum". The researchers,
   acknowledging it was inconvenient, recommended only one course of
   action for broken bulbs on carpet: remove the carpet.
   
   The Maine study also discovered, however, that carpets aren't the only
   problem with broken bulbs.
   
   "All three flooring surfaces in this study (pre-finished hardwood,
   short nap carpet, and shag carpet) were able to be cleaned up with
   pre-study cleanup guidance so that they looked clean. However, mercury
   vapors emanating from all three surface types were detected,
   especially when agitated, for weeks after the cleanup of a break. ...
   Flooring surfaces, once visibly clean, can emit mercury immediately at
   the source that can be greater than 50,000 ng/m3."
   
   "Flooring surfaces that still contain mercury sources emit more
   mercury when agitated than when not agitated. This mercury
   source in
   the carpeting has particular significance for children rolling around
   on a floor, babies crawling, or non mobile infants placed on the floor."
   
   As WND has reported, several countries, including the United States,
   have signed laws that will eventually phase out typical incandescent
   light bulbs and dictate their replacement with CFLs.
   
   Even the U.S. EPA, however, has recognized that recent studies show
   CFLs aren't safe for all circumstances.
   
   The Maine study may prove the most condemning of the use of
   fluorescent bulbs yet.
   
   Part of the study detailed the potential hazards posed by mercury vapor:
   
   "There are a number of studies documenting neurotoxicity as a
   consequence of inhalation of elemental mercury in adults. ... Studies
   documented changes in EEG, deficits in peripheral nerve function,
   autonomic effects, psychological and sleep changes, and deficits in
   fine motor performance,
   visuomotor coordination, visual reaction time,
   visual scanning, memory, concentration, and executive function."
   
   In children, and especially unborn children, the results can be far worse:
   
   "It is well established that the developing organism may be much more
   sensitive than the adult to neurotoxic agents. For example,
   methylmercury exposure can produce devastating effects in the fetus,
   including cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness, and even death, while
   producing no or minimal effects in the mother."
   
   Children are also more susceptible to mercury vapor exposure from
   broken CFLs:
   
   "Infants and toddlers also have a much higher rate of respiration than
   adults. Therefore they have a higher exposure to similar
   concentrations. They also are lower to the floor and therefore closer
   to the source of the exposure and presumably more apt to obtain a
   concentrated dose of mercury."
   
   The study, however,
   didn't leave out the elderly:
   
   "Elderly and unhealthy individuals may already be at comprised health
   and be more susceptible to mercury effects than a healthy individual.
   For example, mercury does kidney damage which could exacerbate an
   already existing kidney disease."
   
   Unlike many poisons that can be flushed out of the body, mercury
   bioaccumulates, which means the various tissues store the toxin in
   increasing amounts, a particular concern as the use of CFLs increases.
   
   The Mercury Policy Project summary paper quotes an estimate that the
   U.S. currently releases 2 tons of mercury vapor into the environment
   each year from broken fluorescent bulbs alone. Two tons contrasts
   startlingly with the level the EPA has established as dangerous to
   human health: a mere 300 billionths of a gram.



4. I was so excited to find these mini lights that fit our kitchen recessed fixtures. I ordered them in May, and less than 3 months later, every single one has burned out. WAY too short a life, and WAY too expensive. A good idea if only they'd be longer lasting.



5. In Arizona, local retailers sell these bulbs for under a buck.... check for local incentives from your energy company!

5 comments about JET JW1317 4" Wire Hose Clamp - Each.

1. I recommend these clamps to anyone who needs to permanently clamp their 4" hose to an outlet, adapter, inlet, etc. They form a good tight seal and do not fall off once properly tightened down.
   I would not recommend these type clamps for an application where you would be moving the hose to different tools or positions. Reason being, one you would have to get your screw driver or socket wrench out, and two because the wear and tear of the clamp tightening on the hose over and over again would eventually wear a hole in the hose.



2. These clamps work well on ventilation hose that you would use in a dust collection system. They are much cheaper and they clamp tight. Regular hose clamps slip because of the ribs in the hose.



3. I see that Amazon lowered the price back down to $1. At the time of my original review, they price was up around $4...hence the 1 star. The product itself works as advertised, so I give it 5 stars.



4. I used a whole lot of these when I set up my dust collection system, and I can say that the hype is justified. These thin metal clamps slip between the ridges on the flex hose perfectly to create a very air-tight connection. I also appreciate the phillips head on the tightening bolt - it makes it a lot easier to crank these down quickly with a drill/driver.
   
   A word of advice - I found these clamps to be A LOT cheaper at Menards.



5. Um, its a clamp. It holds things tight. Sorry I can't really write a paragraph on a hose clamp. It does what its supposed to do, and it does it well.

1 comments about Streamlight® Stylus® Flashlight.

1. This is a must have for anybody. They are extremely bright and strong.

4 comments about Black & Decker Dual-Line Replacement Spool .080-Inch #DF-080.

1. This spool is a snap to replace. Since it is designed for non-bump models of trimmers you do have to be cautious of accidently bumping the bottom on the ground. If used right you will be thankful for not having to deal with spring loaded spool replacements older bump models had.



2. I had a Grass Hog 600. It broke 4 times during the 2 yr warranty and used .065 line which is small. I got a good deal on a Grass Hog 1000 because next time the GH600 broke it was out of warranty and history.
   
   The GH10000 is a far superior product in reliability, and cutting ability. It uses .080 line which is heavier for more cutting ability of larger weeds but it is wound in 2 parts and so unlike the GH600, it is really difficult for me to wind the spools using bulk line.
   
   The picture accompanying this item is incorrect. It shows a different spool. These spools are genuine B&D , Black spool with Green line. These are a good buy especially if you get several at a time to offset shipping cost.



3. I replaced my old GH-600 with the 1000 model. It does cut a line like the Panama Canal, but it is hard to replace the line and I can't even get thru my back and front yard with 1 spool!I am going to find a different model to use, as I can't afford 2 spools a week on my yard. And we're not talking about anything but an average sized lawn.



4. There's not much to say about this replacement spool. It is easy to install (no tools required), it feeds line automatically and does the job. What more more can you ask for in a product?

5 comments about Intermatic HB31R All Weather, Outdoor Timer. Heavy Duty-15 Amp. Rain Tight Plastic Case..

1. This timer does what it needs to, very well. Low cost is key here. Not the most durable, but you can buy one for ten times the cost that will last longer. I use this as a pool pump timer works great.



2. I purchased this timer to go with my Flowtron bug zapper I ordered from Amazon. My backyard is Mosquitoville. The timer runs the zapper from 79 to 7a. Very easy installation, operation and has been quite dependable. The cord could be longer, of course, but nothing a good 15 amp extension cord couldn't fix. I highly recommend it.



3. Great timer for the price! Runs my pools pump 6 hours a day, no problem! Can't beat the price.



4. I am using this product under my jacuzzi skirt to run the 1 hp circulation pump a few hours twice a day. It has worked great. This could be handy for a great variety of things and is not a big bulky item requiring hard wire hook up. Anyone can use it.



5. Nothing fancy, but this was easy to set up and works exactly as expected. I use it for my bug zappers - I only wanted to run them in the evening and didn't want to have to rememember to turn them on and off every day. Within five minutes of receiving these timers, I had them set up. Sure enough, they turned on at 6:00pm and were off when I got up the next morning. They're worked reliably ever since.

5 comments about Mirka 23-615-120 5" 8-Hole 120 Grit Dustless Hook & Loop Sanding Discs - 50 Pack.

1. I worked in a custom cabinet shop for 12 years and all we used was Mirka sandpaper. Now that I'm on my own I continue to use Mirka sandpaper. It last long and does an excellent job! I wouldn't think of using anything else. I like to stick with what works.



2. I am a full-time, professional furniture maker, and over the past 20 years have tried all kinds of brands of sanding discs. These Mirka Gold discs are the best I have found, and I have been using them with complete satisfaction for the past 9 years. The grit holds up very well, and they last a long time.



3. Best sand paper I've ever used, does not clog like the cheap brands yet cost less then they do.



4. These discs are well constructed. The paper backing is the thickest that I have seen and they don't seem to wear out as fast as other discs. I had to wait a month to get them though.



5. I took a chance and tried this product. I was pleasantly surprised at how long they lasted, comparable to the much more expensive brands.

4 comments about Black & Decker 79-010-4 Workmate Swivel Grip Peg - 4 Pack.

1. The Workmate pegs are the perfect accessory for the used workmate I purchased at GoodWill. Now I can clamp small strips of wood for sanding and planing, and fold the whole apparatus away when I'm done. Living in a small apartment, I miss my full basement workshop, but the versatility of the pegs allows me to do a lot of tasks with hand tools that I could not do before.



2. I had lost one of four stops for the Black and Decker Workmate table. However, to replace it I had to buy a package of four (4) which is understandable as the stop is a small minor item. The shipping and handling cost of a small package was more than the items!



3. If you own the Black and Decker workbench, these pegs are good to have in addition to the four pegs you get with the workbench. They come in handy from time to time. Not essential but useful.



4. The new pins for my Workhorse are more flexible and easier to see. They will be more difficult to lose or break.
   
   WALT

5 comments about Bucket Boss 01056 Bucket Boss 56 Pocket Bucket Tool Organizer.

1. I waited until the 56-pocket Bucket Boss dropped below fifteen bucks from Amazon, then decided it was worth a chance. An excellent purchase.
   
   Pro: Far superior to any toolbox. Everything (and I mean everything) is within sight and/or easy reach. It was humbling to put every tool I own into this and only fill half the pockets.
   
   Con: H E A V Y. Yes, I loaded the bucket down with cordless drill, extra battery, two types of hammers, and a slew of tools. But that tiny handle makes the weight far more noticeable.



2. I just got one about a month ago and its exactly what I though it would be. I have turned a mess into an organized and easy to get to tool storage system. The best part about this bag its super easy to *keep* organized because I am not a neat freak on the job site nor do I have time to even attempt being organized, this does it for me. I have a tool in every pocket and it is a bit heavy to lug around but would go with this one rather then the extreme bag simply because the pockets are larger on the 56. The pockets aren't over sized there just right. I toss this *free* in the back of my truck and it has not tipped over yet. One tip is organize your tools evenly so that its not hard to carry. I also bought the super stacker system with the bucket boss storage lid/seat and the lid doesn't fit over this bag that well nor do the stackers! I also keep my drills in there own case that they come with and dont really think the drill pocket should be on the bag but I have some other tools in there so its not a big deal!



3. As an apartment building owner I bought a bucket boss about 20 years ago. It worked well but finally sprouted some holes! I checked a few home-improvement stores but could find nothing comparable and certainly nothing at the price. A lot of puerile imitators! When I saw this on Amazon I thought it would fill the bill and it certainly does! More pockets, better organized. I even have a few left over! The best ever!



4. I used to have tools lying around in various places. This prodcut was able to put all my tools in the bucket holder and still allowed the room inside to add additional items.



5. I have recently ordered my fourth BucketBoss in five years and recommend it. Three of the others were well-worn but I passed them down to family members for home use. As a maintenance tech I require good quality and workmanship and find both with this product. The only drawback to me is the lack of depth in the upper pockets on the inside. My 12" Cresent wrench and 12" adjustable pliers extend too far above the bucket rim.

5 comments about Flies Be Gone.

1. Wonderful product, the flies flock to it. You can get it for 1/4 of the Amazon price at Dover Saddlery. Sorry Amazon... $40 is a ripoff when I can get it for $13 elsewhere.



2. I absolutely love this product and recommend it highly. This is my second summer using it, and it does exactly what it claims. I just hung up my third one of this summer, and have to order some more. I go through about one a month. I tell people about it all the time and how great it is. It does have a nasty smell as it gets full, but it's well worth it. I only notice the smell when I mow the lawn under the tree it is hanging in, or if the wind is in the right (wrong) direction. It's not often a product exceeds my expectations, but this one does!



3. Urban
   I have to say that this thing catches a lot of flies. The first day it caught fifty and after that it ramped up quickly to two or three hundred a day. But if you live in a city like I do you may not be able to get this thing far enough away from you. The instructions tell you to place it at least 35 feet from the area that you use. But 50 feet is probably better, as the flies are gathering in heavy numbers within 15 feet of the bait. After a few day the bait smell is also obvious at that distance. So if you have a large backyard (I do not) put the trap in the farthest corner. Or if you don't like your neighbors...
   PETS
   The bait is a smelly powdered protein meal that reminds me of dog kibble. My dog went on a sniffing frenzy when I received the box. She is also lured to the hanging bait. So if you have pets make sure they can't reach it. It's not toxic, but believe me, you wouldn't want to clean that mess.
   FLIES
   As far as the fly types it catches in my yard, 99.9% are green bottle and blue bottle flies (AKA blow flies) and a few house flies. I have observed many flesh flies lured to it but the trap cover has too narrow a gap for them to enter comfortably. You could leave the top off I suppose but the added water would evaporate quicker in the recommended direct sun. Other extremely tiny fly types I could not identify were also lured but in very few numbers.
   Yes I spent a lot of time staring at the trap.



4. The trap does attract flies,but after a couple of days the odor was so offensive I had to take it down. I live in a subdivision,1/4 acre lot. I put it in four garbage bags,one inside the other & could still smell it. I breathed a sigh of relief when my sanitation people picked up my garbage.



5. I have great results using the Flies be gone fly trap. It took a couple of days to activate, but once after that it can traps inches of flies. However, I've tried a similar product from RESCUE (which is available at local hardware stores for only $5.00) which also worked as great. Maybe I have too many flies to begin with, which makes it impossible to separate the good from the excellent, but with the local availability and 1/3 of the cost, the other product wins hands down for me.

3 comments about Makita LXT601 18V Lithium 6 Piece Cordless Tool Combination Kit.

1. I bought the six piece Makita 18v LiOn kit in December of 2006. I have been using it at work just about five days a week since then. I like it. Would I buy it again? Yes.
   
   Buying this kit reduces the price per tool a whole bunch. Compare to the other options and see.
   
   The ergonomics of the tools make my Bosch 18v stuff seem clunky. Bosch is now in the attic tool library.
   
   The drill driver, impact driver and recip saw work just fine. Nice professional tools. No issues. They do the job.
   
   The flashlight lights up. What can I say. You get one in most kits so they can call it a tool.
   
   The grinder is a bit tender. You cannot lean on it like you would a 120v tool. However, it can grind things where there is no job power and getting job power would be a real pain.
   
   The cordless saw is great. It has been the primary saw every day on this roofing job (89 marsard roofs and occasional 120v service) since November 07. An elegant tool.
   
   The jobsite radio is a loser. I have the old green model and some clueless dweb did not include an mp3 jack. It does have a snooze alarm. Obviously the designers had considerable experience at job sites. The foreman will now wake you from your nap. The new white version has this jack. Myself, I use an MP3 player.
   
   To add to the kit, I bought a bare jigsaw when they came on the market in this country. (Could get them in England a year earlier.)
   
   Every year I buy a two pack of batteries. So far they are all working, but they do have a finite life.



2. I bought this set for about 2 weeks.
   
   A new version to replace LXT600 / LXT700 (both were retired). Look at the spec and here's the difference:
   1. BHP452 maybe less powerful than BHP451 (just by spec; I don't own BHP451 to compare);
   2. BSS611 is 0.2 lb lighter than BSS610; (Dewalt circular saw blade (18 tooth) made finish smoother in this set.)
   3. BJR182 is 1.875" shorter than BJR181 and w/o the LED front light;
   4. BTD141 has 50 in-lbs Torque more than BTD140 (I don't like the cheap silver plastic at the body, but not enough to make me deduct a star from this set);
   5. DC18RA 30 minutes rapid charger vs old DC18SC 45 minutes charger.
   
   Forget the LXT700, you don't want to pay $100 more for a on-site radio. You can have it free through rebate if you bought this set on/before 5/31/08.
   I rather Makita offered an extra battery (even it's cheaper), but there is no choice. As another reviewer pointed out MP3 is a better choice.
   
   You can still go to LXT600 to see all the users' reviews.
   
   Best price/quality/size/weight/completion comapre with other brands like Dewalt, Milwaukee, Ridgid (no cordless grinder), Bosch, etc.
   Prefect if Maikta replace the flashlight by a Jig Saw. Every brands practice to make money/looks better by placing a flashlight in their combos. What can I said...
   
   I used to own Dewalt DC4PAKA combo kit but found the Ni-cad battery didn't last long so returned it and decided to go Lithium-ion.
   IMO Dewalt quality is excellcent but the weight (me not a big guy) and price is too heavy; Milwaukee just too heavy and I don't like its hand-feel. Ridgid has lifetime service guarantee (including battery) but I'm not sure the quality of both tools and service. Tools look and feel good in HD but offer no cordless grinder.
   
   So far every tools included are doing their job as what they suppose to. Again I compare this set with Dewalt Ni-Cad 4 pc combo set, not any other cord/cordless tools.
   
   One LXT600 reviewer said the recipro saw is a pc of junk. I don't know but for me it did what Dewalt recipro saw capable to, only the weight is much lighter.
   
   However, I did extended research before my decision and much appreciate opinions from all reviewers.



3. I absolutely love the impact in this set, I'm in the HVAC industry and work with a lot of metal so it is always in use. The drill is good but doesn't have as good of torque as a DeWalt. This drill is not the same as the one that comes with the 2pc., its smaller and less powerful. The grinder and circular saw are too under powered to do any real work. The reciprocating saw is good, but drains the battery in about 5 min. of good use. The flashlight is great, runs about 6 hours on a fully charged battery, is very durable. The Batteries are amazing! extremely light and have a fast, long lasting charge. I can run my impact for 2 days of heavy use per charge. the light on the impact and drill are indispensable, they make my life so much easier. all the tools are very light and extremely durable. my impact survived an 18 ft. fall to a concrete floor and only had a small scratch on the battery, nothing else. the bag is just impractical, its way to big to be carrying anything around in.
   I would just recommend getting the 2 or 3pc. instead, and use corded saws and grinder.