5 comments about Stanley 92-716 SAE and MM Combination Wrench Set, 22-Piece.

1. For the money this is a very nice set of wrenches. They have a lifetime warranty on them which partially makes up for the fact that they are made in China. Probably 5 star if made here. The storage case that comes with it is nice. It will be nice to work with wrenches that fit for a change and not keep fighting with a cresent wrench. As always, Amazon was great on their end with the shipping.



2. Good set, good price. Only downside is that the holder isn't great, but it does keep them together.



3. These are well finished wrenches for a good price and they also come with an excellent carrying holder.



4. I was skeptical abut buying these wrenches because the price was "too good to believe" for a branded product like Stanley. However, the strength and finish of these wrenches is extremely impressive and I'm delighted with the weight, feel and appearance even though I'm a bit of a tool snob.
   
   This product is made in India. This is marked on the box but NOT on the tools themselves. The tools are embossed with the classic, "Stanley" logo, which looks pretty good on almost all of the wrenches; on one of them, the embossing is a little light.
   
   For a homeowner who wants a great set of wrenches at a low cost, this is an excellent choice.



5. Just what I was looking for. Stanley tools equals quality tools
   and at a great price. Would recommend.

5 comments about Intermatic TN711C Security Timer.

1. Plug it in and off you go. Super simple to use and operate.
   Build quality is not bad considering the price.
   If you look closely at the photo, this unit only has a socket to accept a 2 prong plug. Its listed as being great for auto-switching lighting which is true as long as your lights have only a 2 prong plug. Unfortunately mine are the 3 prong type (even though the lights themselves aren't grounded), but a voided warranty, a drill and 5 minutes is all it takes to fix that (obviously not advised if you need a grounded outlet!!!)



2. Very basic timer. Works as advertised. My parents have a simliar timer built on the same winding clock mechanism and it's been working for 30+ yrs. I think it's better than the ones you need to replace a battery.



3. The timer is very good; the instructions, bad. I thought mine had broken until I went out and bought another one and had the same problem with it, when it was time to change my clocks. Well, the instructions had faded off of the first one, but were clear on the second one. One of the things I realized while reading the instructions is that to reset the time, you must turn the "setting" one complete revolution. You can't just inch it forward or back to set the right time.



4. Used 3 of these (1 in the living room, 1 in the master bedroom, and last in the kids room)while I was away on vacation. I had read reviews and saw where some where having problems. I really didnt really see where the complications came in. It was a breeze to understand. If you dont trust your settings, do a dry run a day or two before you really want to use them. I also liked how you can have 2 on/off times. This is really beneficial when your trying to fool people into believing your home. I set the living room lamp to go off at 9pm but had it come on again at 11 for an hour. I set weird times for the bedrooms, just to recreate movement in the house. This product is really useful if your worried about your home looking empty while away. Now Im using the timers to cut on the lamps in the living room 30 minutes before I usually get home from work, so that I dont have to walk into an dark house. Good product for a cheap price.



5. We use it in my son's room to turn off the light after he's asleep. We've had it a few months and now it's making a constant buzzing noise. It's so loud I don't know how my son gets to sleep each night, but he doesn't seem to mind it. I would. It's a very annoying sound.

5 comments about Milwaukee 48-11-2830 V28 Lithium-Ion Battery-Pack.

1. I order these for my brother who is in the construction trades. He absolutely gets them cheaper and on time here in florida. good quality-good value. no problem.



2. The best battery and tools on the market! This battery is powerful and charges quickly. Holds a charge for a long time seeing I use these sporadically and not a professional contractor.
   Great battery for great tools!!!!



3. I have six batteries and three chargers that power my crew's circular saw, band saw, 2 hammer drills, sawzall, rattle gun, and roto-hammer. They have been our primary tools over the last year and a 1/2 and have done most of the concrete work on one high rise and one 120,000 gallon fish tank.
   
   best on the market.
   
   the battery has enough power on the skilsaw to rip a 16ft. 2x4 down the middle. the porta-band is a juice hog. have drilled as many as 130 3/16" inch holes through 3/16" tempered steel on one battery.
   
   the lone drawback is that if the batteries are left out overnight in the cold, like in a gang box in Seattle, a full battery can go dead in minutes. but will last hours in the cold after heated up on the charger.
   
   6 full batteries last a crew of 5 an eight hour shift of constant use with only charging a couple of them on the 1 hour charger.
   
   the man hours saved are outrageous.



4. Wow, when I replace my aging cordless drill with the new Milwaukee V28 series stuff...breathless. The power, staying power and recharge times have been all impressive so far.
   I especially like the battery life meter.
   
   Only down side is the cost.
   But you do get what you paid for.
   So go get one now!



5. This is the best battery I've used in 30 years BUT...........
   Do not let it get wet!!!!
   I work in the rain regularly and haven't had a problem if the battery is in a tool however I had one out of the case for a short amount of time and that was it, done, dead, gone.....
   At the replacement cost you don't want to make this mistake!!

5 comments about Luster Leaf Rapitest Soil Moisture Meter #1820.

1. This is a great little product for testing light and soil moisture. Comes with a list of recommendations for many houseplants. The probe on a wire takes a bit of getting used to but is a better solution than having the probes hardmounted to the meter. I was overwatering some plants according to the recommendations so have cut back...we'll see.



2. It works as advertised.
   I'm very happy with this product, now I wont kill my cactus.
   Reading seem to be very accurate.



3. Product arrived promptly and in good condition;price was at least $9 below that charged by local vendors. Product is a great time saver when watering large numbers of plants. Determines level of moisture at the level of the roots in the soil.



4. Luster Leaf Rapitest Soil Moisture Meter #1820. Effective, versatile, accurate and inexpensive water meter. Convenient flexible cord permits holding meter in hand while probe placed in soil. Can be used inside for house plants and outside for larger plants and new shrubs. Cheaper if ordered from Denny and Kathy Ace on same page with Amazon direct order. Make nice and appreciated gift to people with garden interests.



5. Last year I planted a tree and didn't know if I was giving it too much or too little water. This year I have this handy device to help me. The directions say it's for house plants, but it's working great for my newly planted trees. I can finally tell when they need water and can avoid over watering.

5 comments about Black & Decker 18-Volt Cordless Electric Power Scrubber with 14-Foot Reach #NPS1018.

1. I bought this brush to help me clean up vandalism in my city and I take it on every clean-up trip. It has cleaned concrete walls, street signs, siding and bus stops. It saves me from having to bring a ladder. It does not replace really hard hand scrubbing, but it does a good job for me. As a bonus, when a flock of birds used my husband's car as a rest stop, I had it clean in minutes, and I used to hate washing cars.



2. I own a number of B&D's 18V tools - this is the first one I am disappointed with. It is probably going back to Amazon.
   
   The tool is underpowered even with a fully charged battery. It won't even turn in a bucket of water after a few minutes of use. I've tried it with seven different battery packs(including two fully charged "extreme" packs) all giving the same result.
   
   Nice idea by B&D but poor execution.



3. I purchased this mainly because I wanted to clean the deck and the area around the pool. It is a great little cleaner and it is true what other people have said in terms of not exerting too much force or pressure. Its like those rotating toothbrushes in that you aren't supposed to press down - the rotating head does all the work for you. I did try to clean the windows of the house, which are relatively high. I used the full extension and it was a bit awkward for me to balance. I'm medium build and weight - generally fit, but even so there a was bit of a balancing act going on whenever I used this product. I'm sure the neighbors got a kick out of it. Overall, I would recommend this product but just be careful when using the extension - especially those of you with smaller frames, weights, and problems balanacing.



4. OK, so I don't really own one of these scrubbers just yet which is actually why I logged on this evening - so that I could buy one for myself.
   
   I actually borrowed my Brother's B&D scrubber to try it out on my newest purschase, a 46 foot Hunter sailboat that I liveaboard and I have to tell everyone that this scrubber may be useful in many different places but it is OUTSTANDING for cleaning a fibreglass sailboat, especially a really big sailboat!
   
   In my first outing yesterday, I cleaned the sailboat's topside (deck) in around an hour and did the sailboat's hull in even less time. Since the sailboat sits in the water, the water-proof scrubber with the full extension worked wonders - even under the surface of the water!
   
   So, if I could give this product more than five stars, I would do so in a heartbeat.
   
   Bravo and my thanks to the B&D designers.
   
   Now, I will go on and buy one for myself and return my Brother's to him.
   
   TTFN!



5. This by far the easy way to wash or scrub your RV or TRUCK with that I have tried. I have told several people about little effort it take's to clean the awning on a RV. I wished I had found sooner.

5 comments about Gerber 05500 MP400 Compact Sport.

1. I bought one of these as a gift for my wife a few years ago. She really liked my L-Man Wave but complained it was too large & heavy (small hands). I shopped around and decided that Gerber's Compact Sport (weighing a little over 6 oz) would be a nice choice for her. I recall that it was well regarded then, as it continues to be now. This one has stood the test of time. My wife likes it a lot and so do I.
   
   My personal view is that the Compact Sport has most of what most people want for everyday use and recreational outings. It is a GOOD, but basic multitool. I DON'T see it as the kind of rugged survival tool that Les Stroud, or Bear Grylls (or even an amateur like "Saint Richard") would choose to rely on when "out there flapping" in the hard-lands. For THAT you'll want something more robust with more features and you will have to pay more to get it. (See my reviews of SOG, Victorinox & L-Man Multi-tools).
   
   So the Compact Sport 400 isn't (in my opinion) a full-fledged survival tool but that is not intended as a slur. Rather, it is a caution against expecting too much of it.
   
   Compared to other tools in its size and price range the Compact Sport is a definite winner. Its sliding jaw pliers seem a minor engineering wonder and add cool-factor. Its bead-blasted finish looks classy. Everything moves smoothly and works just as it should.
   
   Are there complaints? Of course but only minor ones. Those who have read my other reviews know I don't like serrations on my knife blades. At least I don't like them if there is just one blade available, as is the case here. It would also be nice if the Compact Sport had a fixture for a lanyard attachment to prevent accidental loss. Also those sliding jaws don't retract completely, meaning that you can't just throw the Compact Sport in your pocket. Try that without the sheath and those needle nose tips will dig holes in your pocket or even your thigh.
   
   But these are minor complaints that fall under the heading of personal preference. The Compact Sport 400 is still a quality product. It is what it is and it is nice. Just don't buy it expecting it to be what it isn't.



2. used mine multiple times every single day in iraq, 15 months - every single day. its worn down and the knife is sorta broken off, but it;s all good still works just fine. i love it. can definitely take a beating, highly recommend.



3. I used to own the Gerber Diesel multi-plier. However, it was just too large and bulky for what I needed it for. The tool itself was fantastic. I loved everything about it except for the size.
   
   Well, I fixed that problem by replacing it with the smaller "Compact Sport". This is perfect. The size and weight are very reasonable, and I can barely notice it on my belt. The blade is very sharp, the pliers are strong, and the scissors are awesome. The one gripe I had is that it doesn't have a file. I would have preferred a file instead of 4 screwdriver heads. I'm not sure why they bothered to include the large flat-head screwdriver... I rarely encounter flat head screws that large. It would have been better to just stick with the cross head and the 2 smaller flat heads, and use the space for something more practical. Oh well.
   
   The only other thing is that you should expect to oil it when you first get it. I just put a drop of 3-in-1 household oil on the pliers and the scissors to get them to move better.
   
   If you want a multi-tool that's not too large and heavy and still gets the job done than this is the one.



4. I have had one of these for several years, and I love it. However, this one I just received was a complete disappointment. The jaw had interference when closing it, at the wire cutter area. Also, it felt very gritty, like it was tossed around in fine dirt. I also think the case is too big - bigger than the one I currently have (and it's the same model). Unfortunately, I had to return it for a refund. Gerber, what happened to your quality?



5. I had this knife for a little over a year. I was in the Boy Scouts (I have since left for college and can't really make the meetings, since they're two hours away from my dorm...) and this was incredibly useful at all of our different outings.
   I personally like how the tool opens at the flick of your wrist, and once you close it, it stays closed until you want it open. I have a similar tool that won't stay closed or completely open, either.
   I say "had" because two years ago, it was stolen from me and I haven't seen it since.
   I highly reccommend this for anybody in the Scouting program or if you do a lot of camping with your own family.

5 comments about Porter-Cable 343K 5-inch Random Orbit Sander Kit - Hook & Loop Pad.

1. Unit seems to work well overall but does seem to BOG down on occasion.
   Maybe it needs a little more capacity OR it's at my end. The tool deos
   do a nice finishing job.-----Brian



2. Having used this sander for many hours in the last year, I can say it works well. Powerful, ergonomically well designed and sturdily built. I especially lke the dust port which easily hooks up to shop vac. This makes the sander virtually dust free, a very important feature for me.



3. I am a fairly active wordworker (a hobbyist) that builds our own furniture, primarily out of cherry. I have four 5' random orbit P-C sanders along with a host of others. I find all of the P-C Sanders to be superb, reliable and durable products with only one minor weakness. I believe that the dust collection canisters could be a little stronger and that the airflow to them should be strengthened a bit. I do get a fair amount of residue on the outside of the sander that probably could be "collected" a bit better. A couple of mine have more than ten years of fairly continuous service with the only additional costs being that of the sanding pad, as the hooks seem to wear out after a great deal of us. Great products!!



4. I don't usually review items after I purchase them... especially when its been over a year. But today I became so frustrated with this sander that I just had to share.
   
   Previously, I owned a DeWalt random orbit sander which was my first. It was awesome. Maybe not quite as powerful as some people would like, but it handled like a dream. I built my entire kitchen with it and I couldn't have achieved the results I did without it. Funny thing is, I really didn't do much research when I bought it. It was affordable and in stock at my local home center, so I wen with it.
   
   Well, when the DeWalt finally died, I thought this time I would do my homework and get something even better. I mean, if I liked my old one so much without even researching it before hand, then this time I would get something even better! So I ended up with the Porter-Cable. What a mistake! One word...CONTROL. This thing drifts all over the place when you're trying to work with it. It isn't balanced well, or something and just feels terribly uncomfortable to use. I thought maybe it was my sanding discs, but after trying a couple different brands, I realized that this is just how it is.
   
   So, for the past year I've just been using it anyway (basically avoiding it whenever possible) because I didn't like the idea of throwing money down the drain. And then today something else has started happening. The sawdust collector just falls off! When I'm sanding, it just come loose and FALLS OFF! Sawdust everywhere and when I put it back on, it is so loose that it won't stay in place unless I keep checking on it. I have no idea why it is loose unless the plastic is just fatigued or something, but now I've had it.
   
   As far as all of the positive reviews are concerned, in scimming through them, it seems that this is the first or only brand sander that many of the reviewers have owned. Maybe thats why the gave it such high marks... nothing to compare it to. But I urge you to look for a different sander. The DeWalt handled like a dream and was much nicer to use than this one. Of course, the only reason I know this is because I've used it.



5. This sander is junk, and I only hope you have looked past the other high reviews and have read what other full time woodworkers have written. PC needs to spend less time trying to make "cool" looking tools and get back to making quality electric hand tools. I typically sand 450+ doors/drawers a year not to mention cabinets. I have been through several PC sanders. When my last 333 broke, I bought this newer version of what I though was a similar machine. Night and day. This sander wanders uncontrollably, leaves swirl marks everywhere, and eats through sandpaper. After 3 hours of sanding it went back in the box to be returned. Bring back the light grey workhorses you were once know for and scrap these dark grey POS's. PC will see no more of my hard earned dollars.

5 comments about MusicPower 0900-70 Solo One-USB AC Adapter/Charger.

1. Bought this to use with my iPod touch while on the road. The adapter is extremely small and light, and the fold-out plug makes the footprint even smaller. In many regards, it's more of a pain to carry the iPod cable than this adapter! Product worked as advertised to charge up the iPod. No negatives whatsoever.



2. Saw this item in a previous review and decided to give it a try. Works great. It's compact and much less expensive than recommended option. Not having to use my computer to charge my MP3 is a big time saver. Highly recommended.



3. This product works great. I use it with my 80GB iPod Classic (6G) and it charges it much faster than hooking it up via USB to the computer.



4. This is a great charger. Just returned from trip to Europe. Used it with a converter to keep my Ipod charged and playing. Very satisfied.



5. This thing is awesome, works perfect and if you happen to have a USB hub, you can plug that in and then power more than one item at a time. The fold down plugs makes this about the size of a package of club crackers. Great for travel, no need to take the whole lap top with you just to charge your MP3 player and if you have a notebook lamp, you can make a neat night light on the go in a hotel room, the combinations are endless.
   Only CON is minor, I wish there was a power light on once you've plugged it in, but other than that, I should have gotten one of these years ago. I'll buy one more for my daughter to use with her MP3 player this Christmas.

5 comments about Measuring, Marking, and Layout: A Builder's Guide.

1. This author is in the dark ages with respect to the use of the metric system. As a country, we've been there / tried that. We can't help it if the rest of the world is backwards using the metric system! Why was at least a whole page WASTED in talking about this? How ridiculous! It is an okay book, but mostly black and white drawings and lots of text. Perhaps if the author, and Taunton, had spent more time with the content of the title and included some color in a book that is the same price as their other titles with LOTS of color, they would have had a good book.



2. This is a well written book, in plain language. It will help any amateur considering building, or constructing brick, or wooden structures, or extensions. John Carroll makes the reader think about accuracy when approaching any building project. He provides many simple easy-to-understand methods on how and what, to measure.
   
   He shows many examples of how simple miscalculations can result in costly errors. Unlike other American DIY books, that pretend the metric system does not exist, Carroll covers imperial for the home market and metric conversions for the rest of the world. This factor, and his humble writing style and experience as a craftsman, will make this book an international best seller for anybody who will pick up a saw, rafter gauge,or masonary hammer. The book is a must for anyone who needs important tips on construction methods. In conclusion this excellent book makes you think and visualize what you want to achieve before you start the job.



3. Learn to layout. Really just a good reference book. If you are a carpenter then you must know how to layout correctly. Different techniques, good practice.



4. Stop reading these reviews and buy this book right now. It is indispensable. Once you get it, read it. Read it again a few years later.
   
   Saying this book is outdated is like saying the Pythagorean theorem is outdated. Some of the techniques in this book are centuries old and some are tricks developed by builders of the 20th century. The point of this book is to understand the fundamentals so you can be effective, efficient and flexible at any project you are a part of. It is geared toward home building and carpentry but anyone in construction would benefit from it, even if you use a laser theodolite.



5. I was a bit dissapointed in this book. Being in the building trades I was hoping to get a couple of good tips or techniques i hadn't come across. Much of the information and processes in the book I would consider outdated or too inaccurate for commercial use. May be fine for the novice home improvement crowd.

5 comments about Dremel 231 Shaper/Router Table.

1. product is a good addition to my dremel collection. ONE WARNING: tool models 400 and 800 require a special adaptor! Dremel corp will send you one at their expense-you just need to call them. other than that the accessory rocks!



2. Theres not much to say, its a typical Dremel product. Well thought out,user friendly and efficent. Worth having in your shop



3. This is an excellent mini router table for scale model making. I use it for building architectural models and it is a great addition to my 6x4 workshop. It works perfectly fine. If you're going to use this table with Dremel 400, you need an adapter. Just call Dremel customer service and get one for free.



4. This router table works very well with my Dremel MultiPro tool. I have been making a lot of grooves and notches in wood, and the table keeps the cuts consistent. There is an adjustable fence for precise wood placement as it passes through the bit, as well as an up-and-down adjuster for cut depth in the wood. I have a very specific application for this table, and I've been able to get my grooves and edgings precise every time, which is essential for my project. This router table is a must-have for anyone who uses their MultiPro for routing applications.



5. I have used this product for several years and it has become one of my favorite tools. Its easy to set up and easy to use. It works with almost all of the Dremel motors. I highly recommend this to anyone who works with small wood projects. Too bad the router bits get dull so fast.