A Handyman’s Guide on Tool Safety

* Bosch 1274DVS Belt Sanders Review

Always be aware that all tools are potentially dangerous, especially to young children who should never be allowed in or around the workshop. Keep tools locked away when not in use both for safety and as a security precaution.

Hand Tools

Do not carry tools loosely in the pockets of clothing where they can fall out, especially if working on a ladder. Instead, wear a properly designed tool apron and carry nails and fittings in nail bags.

Never operate a tool that is damaged, not properly adjusted or securely assembled. Defects such as broken handles are dangerous, as are chisels with mushroom heads, spanners with spread jaws, files without handles etc. Always ensure your tools are in good condition. Sharp cutting tools are safer than dull tools.Always use the right size and type of tool for any job. Improvising is hazardous.

Wear appropriate clothing. Loose fitting clothes, jewellery, ties and long hair are dangerous around moving machinery.

Wear goggles when using striking tools. Keep tool handles clean and free of oil and grease so they don’t become slippery.

Power Tools

Always buy reputable brands and follow manufacturer’s instructions exactly.

Don’t smoke while using power tools or any flammable substance.

Do not operate power tools for long periods without a break as fatigue reduces your ability to control the tool properly.

Always turn the tool off when you leave it, even if only for a moment. Don’t carry the tool around by the cord.

Make sure the circuits in your workshop are adequate to carry the load your tools require, and that all tools are correctly earthed. Plugs must also be correctly fused and cables should be in good order.

Double insulated tools are recommended for maximum safety.

Never use power tools on a wet or damp floor.

Never leave extension leads lying around the floor after use. Coil and store them properly.

NEVER TAMPER WITH ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT UNLESS YOU ARE FULLY QUALIFIED TO DO SO

Key Points to Remember

* Always keep your workshop locked when not in use and never let children use it as a play area.
* A pair of strong gloves will come in handy on many occasions; such as when handling chainsaw blades.
* Never use damaged tools, such as a file with a loose handle or a spanner with spread jaws.
* Always carry nails and tools in a properly designed carry bag.
* Hire a professional handyman service to make sure of the quality and safety of your handyman needs

Earthwise TC70001
Milwaukee 2207-21P
Greenworks 25022
DEWALT DCK590L2
DEWALT DCF885C2
Gardena 8803
Makita 4350FCT
DEWALT DCK290L2
DEWALT DWP611

Garmin nuvi 1300 GPS Review

I recently downloaded map updates for my nuvi 1350LMT. Previously I’d had a similar model (nuvi 1300T) which didn’t include map updates and I mistakenly forgot to get my initial free download within 60 days of turning on that older unit (my fault for not reading the manual). So within a couple of years of use, that old unit’s maps were wayyyy out of date and it would send me down the wrong roads if they’d changed in the past several years. I could have spent the $90 or so to purchase lifetime map updates for that older unit, but instead I bought this newer unit that includes lifetime updates. Hard to know if that was the better choice, but it seemed like the right option at the time.

Getting updates for your GPS is not like getting a Windows Update for Word or Excel. You don’t just download the updated part. You have to download the whole entire map file for the area your unit covers (in my case, the lower 48 states of the US and also Canada). This is a VERY large file (they told me mine was around 2 or 2.5 gigabytes in size) and you’ll have to download the whole thing. How quickly that happens depends on your internet connection speed.

In my case, I have a mobile broadband unit which gives me access to the internet (instead of wi-fi) and I’m limited to downloading 5 gigabytes a month - every megabyte after that costs me money. Everything you do on the internet (web surfing, ordering something from Amazon, getting and receiving emails, etc.) involves downloading web pages. And of course you’re also downloading when you actually get Windows Updates and install new software, etc. Maybe you have unlimited downloading with your internet service, but just be aware of what your situation is as regards limitations before you think about getting map updates. In my case, I reached my limit of 5 gig several days before the end of my billing cycle for the first time ever and it was during the month that I downloaded the map update.

Anyway, my 3G mobile broadband unit (it turns out) is a very slow way to download a big file like that, and it took over 12 hours to download. It did download successfully however. I let it run overnight and made sure the machine wouldn’t turn off due to inactivity (I usually have the power setting so it will after a while). I seem to recall Garmin said you could opt to receive a CD in the mail instead of downloading, but maybe they charge extra for that. I will investigate that option the next time I want a map update.

Anyway, I thought I’d mention these details about downloading, since people might think it’s as easy as getting Windows Updates. The Garmin guy said the download should take around 2 or 3 hours but that was not my experience. Maybe if I had wi-fi, the download would have been faster. I’d be interested to hear other people’s experience with that.

Be careful to clean the area where you stick the suction cup to the windshield (and also wipe the suction cup itself) because after a while, they both get a little dusty/dirty and the unit will suddenly fall to the floor of the car during use because the suction cup won’t hold as well as it needs to. I assume this is true with all GPS’s.

Also, don’t leave the unit plugged in and attached to the windshield all the time (when you’re not using it and the car is parked). It’s not meant to spend a lot of time in a very hot car in the sunshine without the A/C on. You’re fine in the sunshine in a hot car while you’re driving on a trip however long, since you’ll either have the A/C on or the windows open. Apparently some people want to plug it in, attach it to the windshield and just leave it there forever. And then they may have charging problems or other problems with it. Leave it in your console or glove box and only take it out and plug it in when you’re going to use it. When you get to your destination, turn it off, unplug it and store it back where it was. If you do that, you should not have problems with charging. Another reason not to leave it out is that units get stolen when they’re visible - people can smash the windshield and take it. Since you should put it away anyhow so it doesn’t get too hot, why leave it out?

Another tip the Garmin guy on the phone told me was that if your unit contains maps for the US and Canada (for instance), you can’t expect to download maps for the US, Canada, Mexico, and also Alaska on your unit - it may run out of space before it finishes. I believe Alaska isn’t automatically included with the US states since it’s so large. It makes sense to only include that if you need it. Some people in their reviews have mentioned that their unit couldn’t hold the downloaded update, and I feel sure that’s why. When I did my download, the Garmin website was smart enough to only allow me to download the US and Canada, so maybe this issue has been fixed by only allowing people to download updates to the maps which their unit already contains.

FYI, my unit did come with a USB cord included to connect it to a computer to get updates. Other reviews have complained that theirs did not, so I suspect Garmin has started including them. If you have a digital camera, it surely came with a USB cord which you can use with your GPS. Garmin probably figured anyone who buys a GPS already has one of these around which can be used.

Another issue is that the Traffic information is not reliable. I understand this is a problem with all GPS’s which claim to give you real-time traffic information (and re-route you around it). My understanding is that GPS’s get traffic information from a traffic service which gets info from the police (or something like that). One problem is that there can be gridlock simply due to too many cars on the road (typical commuter problems), or 3 lanes narrowing down to 2, etc. I think the GPS is unaware of problems like that. And even if there’s an accident involving the police, the traffic service doesn’t always get notified when everything is now clear, and it shows the problem much longer than it needs to. So, I never pay attention to the Traffic information and from what I understand, most people don’t either. I would never buy a unit because it provides traffic info. It would be good if it worked well, but until the unit can get its information in a more real-time fashion from traffic cameras or something, GPS manufacturers may just as well omit that option IMO.

Other than the difficulty of downloading updates and not being able to rely on the traffic option, I do like the unit and I liked the older unit I had also. If Garmin comes up with a way to make downloading a faster/simpler thing (more like a Windows Update) and to provide realtime traffic information, I will give this unit 5 stars definitely. You could say I have 2 fairly significant gripes about this unit, but really I think they are gripes about GPS’s in general and not specifically this unit. I really do like the unit and that’s why I gave it 4 stars.

Nuvi 3490lmt
Nuvi 50lm
Nuvi 2595lmt
Nuvi 40lm
Nuvi 2555lmt
Nuvi 2495lmt
HP Touchpad Sale

LG Infinia 55LW5600 Review

Delivery -

I am impressed with the home delivery and return services of Home Direct provided through Amazon.com - both delivery and return process is smooth, friendly and hassle free. They unpacked the new TV plugged it in and made sure that it is not damaged. Also they packed the TV for the return - which I did not expect - so overall I am very happy with the delivery service

LG vs Toshiba -

I purchased this TV after returning the Toshiba 55” LED Passive 3D TV. The main reason for the return was the Smart TV features in LG is much more than Toshiba and Toshiba TV does not recognize the DLNA network, even though the manual said it does, I could not get it working and Toshiba customer support could not care less. I must say this was the worst customer support I have ever witnessed in any company. However all the other features of the Toshiba TV is good - but the LG is better except for the network bandwidth - the Toshiba had a built-in wireless adapter which was connecting to my home network at 18 mbps, the LG comes with an external USB adapter which is giving less than 2 mbps and that is the only downside I could find for this TV everything else is very very good.

Picture, sound and 3D quality -

It took me a few days to understand and adjust all the features in the LG TV, unlike Toshiba, LG gives you many more option to adjust everything and it took a while for me to understand all of them - once I did - the results are very good and magic wand (remote control) is truly magical - easiest TV remote I have seen so far.

120 Hz vs 240 Hz -

This LG TV has the refresh rate of 120 Hz and Toshiba had 240 Hz - but I do not see any difference in performance - all the sports that I watch looks the same - if you look very carefully a little bit of ghosting can be found in some of the sequences in a game however one will not notice it if they are not looking for it. This is true for both the TVs so I do not find any difference in performance for the higher refresh rate.

Smart TV Features in LG -

I am very happy with this network TV - I have connected it with the media server and able to see the photographs and home videos. Also the internet web browser works reasonably well - only downside is the browser does not support Flash Player - I guess - that is by design since they want the video access limited to customized video applications like Netflix, Vudu, Amazon etc.

Final Comment -

I have this TV for 3 weeks and I am impressed with the performance - the only complaint is the network band width of the wireless adapter - for which I may need to put in a wired connection - otherwise - this is a very good TV at a very reasonable price - I would say - this is the best value for money for any budget concuss buyer on Internet today.

Pioneer Vsx-53
Pioneer Vsx-52
Sony XBR65HX929
Samsung UN55D8000 Price
Samsung UN60D8000 black friday
Black friday Samsung UN55D7000
Sony VPLHW30AES
LG 55lw5300
JVC JLC32BC3000

Philips 22PFL4505D/F7 Great Little TV!

Overall I’m satisfied with this TV. Its flat screen & light weight sure beats the back breaking heavy TV’s of the past. Setting it up was easy. When I hooked it up to the cable it downloaded the channels similar to when you download something on your computer. I get some channels I don’t get on my other 2 old fashioned TV’s like channel 12.2 for example. It sounds great as I’ve got it hooked up to my stereo equipment. I have only one minor complaint. Sometimes it is hard to turn it off with the remote. Sometimes when I turn it off with the remote, I think it’s turned off but then it suddenly turns on again. Apparently you’ve got to aim the remote just right at the TV. Also when you turn it on, there is a screen that says “Philips” for a couple seconds before going directly to whatever’s on. I’ve never seen a TV like that. I like that the remote has a feature that lets you jump back to the channel you were watching before, as I like to watch other channels when commercials come on. So far I think it’s a good small TV at a good price. I needed a TV to replace my very old RCA 20-inch CRT that my ex took when she was moving out, and I found this one. It’s light, widescreen, and does the job of a basic television quite well. “Installation” is easy — you literally just put two screws through the stand to mount it, and plug it in. I don’t have cable, but I have an RCA 1500 flat antenna that was very easy to install (simply screw the antenna cable into the port on the back of the TV), and within five minutes out of the box, it had already been set up, channel-scanned, and I was watching television.

There are a few minor issues worth mentioning, however: yes, it’s very light. It’s not shoddily-constructed or anything (in fact, it’s constructed quite well), but the TV itself is less than ten pounds, meaning if you have small children or rambunctious pets, you should obviously take precautions in where you place the TV as it could be easily knocked over and go crashing onto the floor. Because of this I suggest immediately filling out and mailing off the warranty card in the box, just in case.

Many consumers here who have bought the TV have complained about the sound quality as well, citing that they needed to buy a sound system (or, barring that, a set of powered computer speakers) to hear the TV properly. I understand what they’re saying to a certain extent, as the TV’s sound is quite low — I have the TV set up in a 12×15 foot living room, and my comfortable volume levels for the TV are usually between 55 and 60 (out of 100). Keep in mind this is not a *large* television anyhow, and that its sound (as well as viewing quality) isn’t meant to be spread through multiple rooms, or even a room bigger than my 12×15 living room. This sort of television is best used in a small room such as a bedroom or kitchen for the best sound quality.

Picture quality, for the price, is mid-range; yes, it’s only 720p, but to get your brightness and color saturation levels to your satisfaction, you’ll more than likely have to adjust them manually in the TV’s settings menu. This only takes a few minutes, however, and is worth your time just to see what suits your viewing preferences the best.

Overall, this is a great little TV for the price; no, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that more expensive models do, but if you’re looking for a lightweight, basic TV with a lot of functionality, this one’s hard to beat — especially when comparable models are selling for $230-250 in stores. I got mine on here for $179.

Canon sx150
Seiki lc40g81
Westinghouse vr6025z

Garmin nuvi 1490LMT GPS Great Screen - Great Fratures

I bought my LMT1490 at Amazon. Let me say up front I love this GPS and don’t know how I lived so long with out it. I chose this model because of a reviewer who said spend the extra money, I am glad I did. I bought this for a trip from CT to NC. While it did make a couple mistakes none were on a major hiway. I still bring my paper maps with me anyway.

Pros that I liked
Battery Operated - you can bring it with you anywhere but also get it ready in the house BEFORE you leave.

I know which lane to get in for an upcoming exit and how many lanes go off the exit.
It not only has your speed but the speed LIMIT on the road you are on.
The RH part of the screen you can have up to 4 indicators there.
I have Arrival Time, Altitude, Miles to go, & something else ;)
You can even find your fav restaurant when away from home and many other things too.

Cons -
The Traffic option never worked for me. We ran into a massive traffic jam on Rt 84 in Danbury, CT and this thing had NO clue.
It took me 3 days (on the internet) to get the maps updated and learn to use ’some’ of the many features.
The first map update took an unusually long time for some reason. The following updates were much faster.
Why do you need the internet (and a computer) to update a satellite device? Prob the reason most people never update their maps.
Some days the clouds obstructed reception.
It didn’t come with a paper manual.

Garmin 2595LMT
Garmin 50LM
Garmin 2455LMT
Garmin 3490LMT
Garmin 2555LMT
Garmin 40LM
Garmin 2475LT
Garmin 3450
Garmin 2495LMT
Garmin 2455LT
Garmin 3450LM
Magellan 9165T

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