Products We Love...

[Boone]

LMAO its for swamp nuts John. You were in the Corps right? Then you might appreciate its value! I keep it on the same shelf as the Monkey Butt powder!

In the Corps, we embrace the swamp nuts and monkey butt

 

[RG3 Fan]

I'm legitimately afraid to even ask

I will answer, Boudros Butt Paste is great for diaper rash. Developed by a Cagan pediatrician.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

LMAO its for swamp nuts John. You were in the Corps right? Then you might appreciate its value! I keep it on the same shelf as the Monkey Butt powder!

In the Corps, we embrace the swamp nuts and monkey butt

Gold Bond is the best for the swamp nuts, and prevents chafing. I don't travel without it anymore!

 

[Elephant]

Taking a damn shower is the best thing for those situations! My wife doesn't understand how someone can take so many showers in one day so I guess I should mention that a heavy flowing shower head is a product I love!

Oh and Pete, I have heard great things about the new Makita cordless driver and drill set.

 

[Goaldeje]

Taking a damn shower is the best thing for those situations! My wife doesn't understand how someone can take so many showers in one day so I guess I should mention that a heavy flowing shower head is a product I love!

My wife says the same thing...

 

[Nobody]

I've had this set for about 4 years now, and it's never failed to do the job, day in, day out. I the course of a day, I can remove and reinstall 100 fasteners that hold on the body pannels of modern motorcycles. Makita LCT230W. Very light, fairly compact, and the led light automatically comes on when triggered. It came with two batteries, and normally make it through a day of work using only one, while the other sits in reserve. I switch them out each morning. Of course, my set isn't so white anymore.

I also use a digital microscope fairly often at work. At 51, the ol eyes just aint up to the task when working with tiny parts. I can print the images, which helps with problem customers. I'f you have a small child, for 50 bucks, you can have a blast while they learn about common things around the house and yard.
Celestron Handheld Deluxe Digital Microscope, 10x / 40x / 150x Power, LED Illuminated, with USB Interface.

Another constant use item is my pocket knife. Over the years, I've likely had 40 or 50 pocket knives. Many of them high end stuff. Out of everything I own, this is the best constant carry knife I've ever owned. I use it all day long to cut strapping on crated bikes, cut cardboard, and dozens of other things during a normal day at work. It holds an edge like no other knife I own, and is at the ready in seconds.

Kershaw Leek.

Are those new Makitas better than the old bluish green ones? I only ask, because my old boss had a lot of them. He swore by them, but they were pretty ****ty. We used them for small things like sawing off irrigation pipes, and just doing a few of those was enough to completely kill a fully charged battery. I always joked him for having 5 Makitas and 15 batteries so he could finish a job. I didn't like the lack of power either.

I hear a lot of people swearing by some of the newer cordless tools, I've just never personally used a cordless tool that was worth spending money on for what I was using them for, and it was never a big job.

I also have a microscope very very similar to the one pictured, and it was one of the better purchases I've made, I love it.

 

[Nobody]

You can never go wrong with Dewalt anything. I've never used Ridgid products though, but I hear they're badass. Milwaukee makes some crazy good stuff too. If you ever have to drill/cut/break brick or concrete, they're definitely tops.

 

[Om]

From the ridiculous but life-changing (as in, I was having to give up spicy foods--a serious life luxury since I was a kid that I was physically depressed about) ... it WORKS:

To the sublime (as in, a perfect audio solution for TV I had to mount over the fireplace in a room simply not configurable for full 5.1 surround:



Energy Power Bar Elite. It's from Klipsch. They get it.

 

[Goaldeje]

Yogurt Maker. My wife got this for me for Christmas, and it rocks. Best tasting yogurt I've had in years, and great with fresh fruit.

http://www.amazon.com/Aroma-AYM-606...8&qid=1358521873&sr=8-5&keywords=yogurt+maker

 

[Nobody]

From the ridiculous but life-changing (as in, I was having to give up spicy foods--a serious life luxury since I was a kid that I was physically depressed about) ... it WORKS:

Prilosec saved my life, no ****. Since childhood I had constant severe heartburn. I started eating multiple rolls a day of maximum strength TUMS before I was even a teenager, it seemed like even water gave me heartburn. Nothing worked though. Not TUMS, not Rolaids, not Tagamet, not Pepcid, not Zantac. So I went to an ENT to get scoped. They said I had GERD, and I had ulcerations forming in my esophagus and stomach as a result, and that it could lead to Barrett's Esophagus and esophageal cancer. So he prescribed me Protonix. I had no insurance, so when I found out that at the time it was $360 a month, I never filled it and went back to the OTC stuff. Then Prilosec came along. It was a life changer. But I hated how you could only do a 2 week course every 3-4 months. So I went back to the ENT specialist, who wrote me a script for it. I asked why the OTC had the warning, and he was giving me a lifetime script for 40mg every day (twice the OTC strength), and he said because the FDA wouldn't allow them to label it for everyday use, because of people that take it that don't really need it. But he did tell me that if you get severe heartburn every single day, it is not only safe for everyday use, but that you can take up to 2 a day. So now I've been on 40mg every day for 4 years. It's great to forget what acid reflux feels like. And the reason it saved my life is because when I went for a checkup last year, he said the ulcerations have healed, and it's due to the Prilosec. Needless to say, I love the ****



These things saved me from the possibility of having a stroke.......

My fuel filter recently went bad on my Explorer, so like the multiple other filters I changed out over the years on my vehicles, I figured I could go get the filter and swap it out in a minute or so. NOPE. Ford had a better idea. I get under my truck, remove the clips, and the hoses will not budge. Rather than the usual rubber fuel line hoses, this thing had braided lines with metal spring loaded compression fittings. For a damn fuel filter.

So I went to Advance and asked if there was a special tool. They sold me some little round plastic things and said that's what I needed. They did nothing, and broke when I got so frustrated I tried forcing it to work. So I went to Pep Boys. They sold me some metal scissor looking things, said they were top notch. I get those home, and the metal on them is so thick I can't even force it into the end of the fittings, so they were useless. So I go to O'Reilly, and the guy told me about these things in the picture, but they don't sell them. He said to go to Harbor Freight Tools and they had them for around $10. So I went, and they did. I got home, tried them out, and less than 30 second later I had the new filter on. These little things are magic The best part is, they come in various sizes (all included in the set), and work for all lines on all cars - A/C, Heating, Fuel, etc.



I picked up one of these sexy bastards last weekend with a gift card I got for Christmas. I didn't install the gas mechanism on mine though, mainly because I don't have a vagina and hardwood is the only thing I smoke meat with. I did a 6 pound Boston Butt in it for 24 hours. Waking up multiple times throughout the night sucked worse than expected, but the end result was worth it.

 

[Nobody]

Seriously Mike, it's the best thing you'll ever do. Just from that sentence you wrote, it's easy to tell you have acid reflux, which is why they invented this stuff. It takes about 2 or 3 days to start working, but once it does you never get so much as a whisper of heartburn. And you will **** yourself at how smooth liquor becomes. Nothing burns, ever. When I still drank, that was my favorite aspect of Prilosec

 

[Elephant]

To the sublime (as in, a perfect audio solution for TV I had to mount over the fireplace in a room simply not configurable for full 5.1 surround:



Energy Power Bar Elite. It's from Klipsch. They get it.

Om, I know Klipsch does a great job with speakers. I currently have a Sony and I love it. Have you experienced any other sound bar or is this your only experience with one? I ask because I think it is time to upgrade since the room it will go into is a little larger than the one I have my Sony sound bar in now.

 

[Miles Monroe]

Are those new Makitas better than the old bluish green ones? I only ask, because my old boss had a lot of them. He swore by them, but they were pretty ****ty. We used them for small things like sawing off irrigation pipes, and just doing a few of those was enough to completely kill a fully charged battery. I always joked him for having 5 Makitas and 15 batteries so he could finish a job. I didn't like the lack of power either.

I hear a lot of people swearing by some of the newer cordless tools, I've just never personally used a cordless tool that was worth spending money on for what I was using them for, and it was never a big job.

I also have a microscope very very similar to the one pictured, and it was one of the better purchases I've made, I love it.

Can't say to be honest if one is better then the other, but again, I'm a professional mechanic, and use them every day a lot. I've never had a cordless saw, and doubt there's one that would make it in my environment. That's why I have a pneumatic hack saw, and other assorted cutting tools. I don't use them to drill unless it's plastic, or very thin metal.

 

[Miles Monroe]

I have had severe heartburn (to the point of vomiting) since a kid...I will have to give this Prilosec stuff a shot.

If you have heartburn that badly, you need to see a doctor. I had severe reflux, and was very close to developing the precursor to esophageal cancer, Barretts Esophagus. With a modified diet, and prescription ant-acids, I can eat and drink in moderation the stuff that's bad for me.

A good friends dad had bad reflux for years, and ignored it. He developed cancer, and came about as close as you can to kicking the bucket. Three surgeries, and he's hanging in there, but his life will never be the same. Esophageal cancer is very slow in developing. I get scoped every two years, and my last two showed improvement.

If I stopped smokin, and coffee, I likely could go off the meds. While I'm not one to lecture, get your ass to a doctor, and get checked out. Prilosec isn't intended for prolonged use unless you're under a doctors care. Pretty sure it states that right on the box.

 

[Nobody]

If you have heartburn that badly, you need to see a doctor. I had severe reflux, and was very close to developing the precursor to esophageal cancer, Barretts Esophagus. With a modified diet, and prescription ant-acids, I can eat and drink in moderation the stuff that's bad for me.

A good friends dad had bad reflux for years, and ignored it. He developed cancer, and came about as close as you can to kicking the bucket. Three surgeries, and he's hanging in there, but his life will never be the same. Esophageal cancer is very slow in developing. I get scoped every two years, and my last two showed improvement.

If I stopped smokin, and coffee, I likely could go off the meds. While I'm not one to lecture, get your ass to a doctor, and get checked out. Prilosec isn't intended for prolonged use unless you're under a doctors care. Pretty sure it states that right on the box.

I'm in the same boat as you. I clarified in my post earlier the reason my doctor says they put those instructions on the box. I've been on twice the OTC does every day for over 4 years.

As far as esophageal cancer goes, it's crazy. It can take 50 years to get it, but when you get it, it can take you out quicker than any cancer there is. People rarely survive it unless it's caught very early and surgery is done. Unfortunately, it's usually very late being caught, and as a result has a 5 year survival rate that is absurdly low - 3%. For those who catch it very very early, the 5 year survival rate is still only around 30%. of course there are people who are extremely strong and can beat it completely, but it ruins your quality of life from what I hear.

 

[Nobody]

Useless this time of year, but it's a knee, back and hand saver in the warmer weather. And the pro strength is the kind to use, not that wussy watered down homeowner grade crap. Either Lowe's or Home Depot started carrying the pro strength last Summer, so it is available. No need for a homeowner to buy this size bottle though. it would run you around $75 and last until your great great grandkids are old. They sell smaller bottles for around $15. Spray on weeds or grass when the weather is warm and dry, and it kills it root and all in 4-5 days, and takes weeks to come back.

 

[Burgundy Burner]

I'm surprised it became otc. That and claritan. Makes you wonder what is next.

 

[Nobody]

I'm surprised it became otc. That and claritan. Makes you wonder what is next.

I think the medicine going OTC that surprised me the most was Allegra. I've had severe allergies my entire life, and tried for over 25 years to find a medicine that would work. Everything they have in stores now I took when they were prescription only. It's even how I found out I was allergic to Benadryl - how bad does that suck? But Claritin was great until Zyrtec and Allegra became available for prescription, but I never liked how Zyrtec can knock you out in the middle of the day, so Allegra is awesome. And if you have problems with Spring allergies, taking an Allegra every morning as soon as you get up will prevent you from ever feeling the effects of the pollen, I love it.



Another product I love.....

Makes the best cup of coffee you'll ever drink.

 

[Om]

Om, I know Klipsch does a great job with speakers. I currently have a Sony and I love it. Have you experienced any other sound bar or is this your only experience with one? I ask because I think it is time to upgrade since the room it will go into is a little larger than the one I have my Sony sound bar in now.

There are 5 levels of soundbars....

1) The stupid expensive ones that are a waste of money. Martin Logan has one....Definitive Techonology. Big sound, but not worth that kind of scratch. If you're going to invest $2-3k, get a frickin' decent amp and speakers already.

2) Bose's 1SR is it's own level. ALMOST pulled the trigger on it because it's my first choise by a mile---the ADAPTIQ auto-calibration feature (reads the size/shape of you room and adapts the sound accordingly), plus Bose's signature full-range clarity had me this close. But at $1500 I ended up not being able to justify it.

2a) But only because I discovered the Elite. VERY good clarity at mids and trebles, and enough kick and depth in the wireless sub to fill the room when properly motivated. Also retains full range clarity at standard TV levels, which for the living room where we end up watching the news and night for instance is key. At $600 it's not "cheap" but to me worth every penny. There are others in that range--Harmon Kardon makes a nice one, but of the ones I looked at seriously the Elite was a hands down winner.

4) Next level down drops to the $300-400 range. best of those I've found for sound depth, range and clarity (plus sweet Bluetooth streaming capability to stream tunes from your mobile device) is the Sony HT-CT260. Not quite the clarity and distinction between lows and highs as the next level up, but still a very viable option. I was close to going with this one over the Elite simply to save a few bucks, but I knew I'd be kicking myself about it later. Plan to have the Elite for many years.

5) Final level is the basic soundbars like you'd want for a bedroom or something. Insignia (Best Buy brand) as a decent bar (no sub, but has a sub out option so you could add one) at around $80 that has enough bass and clarity to at least be serviceable. Frankly though, if that's the way one is thinking of going price-wise I'd recommend something like a Logitech 2.1 computer speaker system over a soundbar. Have one of those in the bedroom downstairs and it's not horrible.

 

[Elephant]

Yeah, I was thinking about the Samsung at 300 bucks, but would buy a Sony again. $600 is not justifiable, I need too much camera gear. My room is not big enough to justify that cost either when I am sure the Sony would be more than enough.

Thanks for your input... This thread really is a great idea.

As for the cordless driver/drill set by Makita. I have several contractor friends who went with them and are blown away by the power from the battery and the size of them. One of them told me when he first got them, he looked for the driver for about 15 minutes and couldn't find it. It was hanging from his work belt the whole time. These were guys who swore by DeWalt simply because of the bang for the buck. My brother, a master plumber, used a panasonic set for almost 10 years. He has made the switch to these Makitas too.