Pipers Blog

Shop-Vac 906-71 5-to-8-Gallon High-Efficiency Collection Bag, 2-Pack Description:

Accessories - Vacuum Cleaners Type: Dual Ply Collection Filter Bag For Use With: 5, 6 & 8-Gal. ShopVac Vacuums

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2093 in Home Improvement
• Brand: Shop-Vac
• Model: 906-71
• Number of items: 2
• Dimensions: .0″ h x .0″ w x .0″ l, 2.00 pounds

Features

• For everyday fine dust, dirt and debris. *Including drywall dust, cement dust, cold ashes, and other fine dusts.

Customer Reviews:

Great for remodellng
I bought some of these (at a higher price I might add) last fall before tearing out my bathroom. Used them in the 5 gallon “quiet” model shop vac that I got from Ace Hardware on sale last fall when my 2 Gallon model burned out. They keep the inside of the vac canister completely clean, and no drywall dust getting through the filter or around the rubberband. I left the foam filter on, just in case… It stayed completely clean as well. The specs indicate these bags would also be okay for cleaning up spilled copier toner, something that most vac bags or filters will just spew back into the air. And they seem to take a long time to fill up or plug up.

At the 9.99 Amazon price I just ordered three more packs.

Great Product
Purchased three packages to qualify for the fee shipping. Amazon delieverd product in record time - great service. These bags keep the air clean and my Shoip-Vac container dirt free. Holds plenty of debris and bag material is thick and durable. Highly recommend product!

Does what it’s supposed to do…
For anyone who has ever tried to use theit Shop Vac to clean up firewood ash, drywall dust, or other fine powder only to find more dust spread over the room than in the vacuum, this will do the trick. They work flawlessly. If there’s a downside, it is that they are smaller than the tank and fill up way faster… of course, there is the fact that, unlike the tank alone with fine powder, they do fill up!

From the Manufacturer
Part # 906-71 fits all side intake Shop-Vac 5,6,or 8 Gallon Tanks. High Efficiency Collection Bags are used for the collection of debris directly into a bag instead of loosely filling the tank. It makes the task of emptying the tank a breeze. Just lift the bag off of the intake, and dispose of properly. Not for use in picking up Asbestos–Please check owners manual for further details.

Cobra CPI 1575 1500 Watt 12 Volt DC to 120 Volt AC Power Inverter Product: Buy Cobra CPI 1575 1500 Watt 12 Volt DC to 120 Volt AC Power Inverter At Amazon! List Price: $189.95 Amazon Price: $98.40 Click Here To See Amazon Sale Price Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available

Compare Prices on Cobra CPI 1575 1500 Watt 12 Volt DC to 120 Volt AC Power Inverter

• Amazon Sales Rank: #42 in Automotive
• Brand: Cobra
• Model: CPI 1575
• Dimensions: 9.40″ h x 8.80″ w x 3.30″ l, 5.90 pounds

Features

• 1500 Watts Continuous Power, 3000 Watts Peak Power
• Three grounded AC receptacles and 5-Volt USB output
• LED function/status meter
• Remote on/off capable for easy control when installed out of reach
• Two-year limited warranty

Works Great
This product works great, I have a microwave, flatscreen tv, and a toaster i hook up to it and there is no problems. One thing I wish would have been mentioned somewhere is that you need to purchase a 150 amp inline fuse to put in the power wire from the battery to the inverter. So plan on getting one of those and have it ready so you can install it. I didnt know about it and spent some time in North Dakota trying to find one. Enjoy.

12VDC Wire size and fuse considerations
This review is in response to some comments regarding wire and fuse size selections for this inverter and others like it.

In response to other review quoting a table from the National Electric Code (NEC). While the table that was posted is correct for 115VAC (household voltage) is does not translate directly to 12VDC (automotive voltage). When dealing with a 12 volt system there is less concern with wires overheating, at least in the way that the NEC considers it, and far more concern with voltage drop. When running wiring a reasonable distance (a couple hundred feet or so) there is little concern with voltage drop with AC power. But when dealing with DC, simply increasing your wiring distance 5-10′ can have a drastic effect on voltage drop. That is why this inverter should be wired with, at the very least, #4 wire and really should be installed with #2 or thicker, especially if you need to run wire 15 or 20 feet or more.

The purpose of a fuse in a DC system is to protect the rest of your electrical system in the event of a short. That is why you always want to install your fuse as close to the battery as possible (no more then 3′ if you can help it). As far as the amperage goes, there is a really good quick reference chart for automotive wire size that can be found at Tessco’s web site here:[Turns out I can’t link to an outside page so I’ll paste the contents of the table at the bottom]. But to boil it down, you can safely fuse a 12VDC circuit at 150, or 200 amps, or more on #4, #2 or #0 wire.

Now this unit at full load is something like 85% efficient. So if you do the math — 1500 Watts / 12 Volts / .85 efficiency = ~147 amps, A 150 AMP FUSE IS REQUIRED. If you take peak power into account you would need to double that to a 300 amp fuse, but because the inverter cannot run at peak power for more then a moment, a slow-blow 150amp fuse may work just fine, or perhaps you could step up a 200amp. I wouldn’t go all the way to a 300 amp fuse unless you really found that you needed it and had the inverted is wired in such a way that it could handle that level current (read: installed using very heavy gauge wire). Now if your vehicle is running while your inverter is working the amperage will be a little lower because your dealing with 14.4 VDC rather then 12 volts (watts = volts x amps -or- amps = watts / volts). But at the very least, a 150 amp ANL fuse is very good idea and not at all over sized.

Just a FYI on fuses, most car stereos are installed with AGU style fuses, but they only go up to 100 amps.

You will need an ANL style fuse to get one rated at 150 amps or more. See these links for examples:
Kicker 09ANL150 150 Amp ROHS Compliant ANL Fuse - Package of 2
Scosche EWFH Single ANL Fuse Holder

Wire Gauge Selection Table 12 Volt Circuit

Wire Distance
AMPS 3′ 5′ 7′ 10′ 15′ 20′ 25′
—————————
<5 18 18 18 18 18 18 18
6 18 18 18 18 18 18 18
7 18 18 18 18 18 18 18
8 18 18 18 18 18 16 16
10 18 18 18 18 16 16 16
11 18 18 18 18 16 16 14
12 18 18 18 18 16 16 14
15 18 18 18 18 14 14 12
18 18 18 16 16 14 14 12
20 18 18 16 16 14 12 10
22 18 18 16 16 12 12 10
24 18 18 16 16 12 12 10
30 18 16 16 14 10 10 10
40 18 16 14 12 10 10 8
50 16 14 12 12 10 10 8
100 12 12 10 10 6 6 4
150 10 10 8 8 4 4 2
200 10 8 8 6 4 4 2

Excellent
The inverter is working for me exactly as described and as I hoped. I drive a truck and have it installed to replace an older, smaller model. I run a number of things including my laptop, external speakers, printer, TV and a coffee pot. The low input warning works great, and will shut down the inverter if necessary. I will be adding things soon, such as a microwave.
The meter is a great feature which lets me see how much power is being drawn by each device attached as well as the input voltage.
I highly recommend this inverter.

Algreen 81001 Cascata Rain Water Collection and Storage System, 65 Gallons Description:

Algreen Rain Barrels combine the timeless aesthetic elegance of ceramics with the enduring longevity of modern plastics. The Cascata is made of a roto molded plastic that is able to withstand extreme temperature and will not chip, crack or fade. The rain barrel features a double walled crown planter that is easily removed, a corrosion proof screen guard, brass spigot, overflow valve, elbow fitting for hose attachment, hook for hanging garden hose a 6-foot garden hose with shut-off nozzle.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #88 in Lawn & Patio
• Brand: Algreen
• Model: 81001
• Dimensions: 46.00″ h x 24.00″ w x 24.00″ l,

Features

• 65-gallon rain barrel with timeless looks and extreme durability
• Made from roto molded plastic that won¿t chip, crack, or fade
• Double-walled for extra strength and durability
• Comes with screen guard and removable crown planter
• Measures 24 x 46 inches

Customer Reviews:

A head-turner
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2SIGPMKTVFS7E Algreen 81001 Cascata Rain Water Collection and Storage System, 65 Gallons

Beautiful but needs to ship with overflow hose
These Algreen Cascata “barrels” are gorgeous. I’ve had folks knocking at the door wondering where in the world I got them. I have three and would order another except Amazon is out of them. The free shipping was also a plus.

Pro:
1. Beauty. Drop dead gorgeous.
2. Strength. Planter is double lined. Body is strong and should hold up fine.
3. Easy assembly. You’ll need one slotted screwdriver.
4. The planter at the top. This is great with fuschia, for example.
5. Will hold 65 gallons. This is 10 gal. more than my other barrels.

Con:
1. Drain hose is cheap; it crimps. Replace this with a decent hose.
2. Does not come with an overflow hose. You’ll have to get a pool overflow hose at Home Depot or Lowes, plus a hose clamp, if you don’t want it to overflow on its own foundation, causing major problem.
3. Planter is great to have, but it could be deeper. You’ll need to line it with moss, or else hole drill for drainage.
4. This is not the type of barrel you’d want to string together with other barrels, probably, but if you did want to, you couldn’t unless you mounted one barrel lower than the first one.

Overall: I’d buy another one in a second it they were available. This is the best looking barrel out there for the front of your home. True terra-cotta color. The company is Canadian, and the quality is quite high. I love mine.

Beautiful and Easy to use
I received my rain barrel in just 3 days. It is HUGE. Unlike the ugly recycled plastic rain barrels for sale elsewhere, this is a beautiful piece that adds to the aesthetics of my garden. It looks like a terra cotta planter. I planted strawberries in the top, so they can hang down the sides but not take over the garden. I bought a 1/2″ boiler drain spigot, sprayed it with WD40, and inserted it into the overflow tube. Very tight fit. Then I attached a length of garden hose to the spigot and ran it away from the house. This solved most of the overflow problem. However, the overflow tube is not big enough to drain fast enough during a really hard, long rain. Water will escape by flowing between the top of the barrel and the crown planter. Prepare the foundation accordingly and do not place the barrel in a place where your basement may be easily flooded.

Amazon.com Product Description
The Algreen Cascata Rain Water Collection and Storage System combines the timeless aesthetic elegance of ceramics with the enduring durability of modern plastics. This 65-gallon rainsaver is constructed from tough, roto molded plastic able to withstand extreme temperatures and will not chip, fade, or crack over time. The environmentally friendly rain barrel comes with a 6-foot garden hose with shutoff nozzle, corrosion-proof screen guard, brass spigot, and easily removable crown planter on top. It’s double-walled for supreme strength. The hose hangs neatly on the attached hook. The rain barrel measures 24 x 46 inches.

Oregon Replacement for Craftsman Spindle 187292 Fits 54″decks. Poulan Pro 46″ Twin Blade Mowers. Husqvarna 532187292 Spindle Assy Description:

Complete Spindle Assembly Easy to Install

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1751 in Home Improvement
• Brand: Oregon
• Dimensions: 4.75″ h x 4.75″ w x 7.50″ l, 2.90 pounds

Features

• Fits 54″ mowing decks.
• (update) also fits Poulan Pro 46″ twin blade mowers.
• Replaces Craftsman # 187292 AYP # 187292 or Husqvarna 532187292
• Oregon Brand Part

Customer Reviews:

Well designed spindle
My riding mower has 3 such spindles on the mower deck. They work very well and would rarely give problems except for the grease fitting at the top which tends to come unscrewed and fall out. The only reason I had to replace the spindle was that the fitting came out and allowed the bearings to dry up and ground up the bearing into metal filings. One of the others lost the fitting but I caught it in time.

Craftsman Spindle Assy Replacement
Excellent service and Price. Great communication after the order and shipping information and confermation

Kyoto Gallon Sand-Stone-Look Rain Barrel, 75-Gallon Description:

This unique rain barrel combines the contemporary aesthetic elegance of authentic stone with the enduring longevity of plastic. The rain barrel is manufactured by rotational molding plastic process and is able to withstand extreme temperatures.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2878 in Lawn & Patio
• Color: Sand Stone
• Brand: Kyoto
• Model: RBSS-75
• Dimensions: 45.50″ h x 23.00″ w x 23.00″ l, 17.50 pounds

Features

• Unique Stone-look appearance
• Corrosion proof screen guard
• Brass Spigot easily accessible to fill watering can
• Over-flow spout
• Drain Plug to drain water and sludge at the bottom of the barrel

Customer Reviews:

Polder 90-05 Double Bathroom Shelf and Towel Rack, Chrome Description:

Polder has been offering everyday products with extraordinary design since its launch. The company was established in 1976, delivering better quality European-styled housewares to the U.S. market. Polder found early in success in ironing and storage, and also launched the industry’s first line of digital in-oven thermometers, equipped with a long cord so consumers could digitally monitor food without removing it from the oven. Through the years, Polder has built an eclectic collection of core home categories, including kitchen timers and thermometers, laundry and ironing products, kitchen scales, and a variety of other storage solutions. Polder products are tested and certified for their consistent high quality by independent standards labs.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1740 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Chrome
• Brand: Polder
• Model: 90-05
• Dimensions: 12.00″ h x 23.50″ w x 12.50″ l, 7.00 pounds

Features

• Chrome plated steel construction
• Mounting hardware included
• Measures: 17-3/4-inch-by-10-2/5-inch-by-21-2/5-inch
• Each shelf measures: 16-1/4-inch-by-9-inch deep
• Great gift idea.

Customer Reviews:

Perfect in my bathroom
I bought this years ago, and it’s been in three different bathrooms of mine. I couldn’t leave it behind when I moved - it’s fabulous. It holds so many things, I can’t imagine living without it. (It does need to be mounted into studs or something, so when you take it down, there will be big holes.)

Great purchase!! Be careful when assembling.
I bought this after debating over several different hotel-style shelves. I’m definitely happy that I chose this one! The shelves are the perfect size for towels. They even fit full-size bath sheets!!

This product comes un-assembled. It only took me 5 minutes to get it together. Super easy!
Tips: Make sure you put the hanging racks in place BEFORE you finish screwing it together.. and start by just finger-tightening the screws. Once you have everything together, then you can go around and finish tightening them down. I didn’t do this, and it ended up kind of lopsided. After I loosened a few, and got it all straightened up, it was perfect! (The screw-holes were even placed the exact width of my wall studs haha)

Definitely worth the money! I get compliments on it all the time. My mother-in-law even wants it!!

Space Saver
Assembly was really easy! My towels were up and ready in less than 20 min.

Bissell Steam Mop Water Filter For Models 1865 and 1867 Product: Buy Bissell Steam Mop Water Filter For Models 1865 and 1867 At Amazon! List Price: —- Amazon Price: $7.95 Click Here To See Amazon Sale Price Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available

Compare Prices on Bissell Steam Mop Water Filter For Models 1865 and 1867

Bissell Steam Mop Water Filter For Models 1865 and 1867

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3943 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Bissell Steam

Satisfied Customer
Product as advertised and I did not have to shop all over town to locate what I wanted. Received in a timely manner.

Wiremold CMK50 CordMate II Computer and Home Entertainment Cord Cover Kit, White Description:

kit for hiding and organizing loose cables along a wall or baseboard * includes four 30″ paintable wire channels, channel couplings, and two “elbow” corner pieces * channels attach to the wall with self-adhesive backing * channel’s interior dimensions: 7/8″W x 3/8″H *

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4183 in Home Improvement
• Brand: Wiremold
• Model: CMK50
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.38 pounds

Features

• Ideal for speaker cables, video cables, power cords
• Easy, peel and press installation
• For hiding several cords
• White, paintable

Customer Reviews:

Attractive but very expensive
It seems to me that any time you go into an electronics store that the accessories are where the stores profits are made. Just look at the prices on anything that says “Monster Cable” on it.
This product is no different, to run a coax cable over one door I had to buy three sets of these. Its as if the maker knew that if he only included 4 lengths of the product you’d be buying multiple sets to do any job. Therefore it looks inexpensive at first……………….

From the Manufacturer
Home Entertainment cord and cable covers, great for low capacity wire applications

Rust-Oleum 243898 Designer Metallics Spray, Oil Rubbed Bronze, 11-Ounce Description:

mfr: RUSTOLEUM AMERICAN ACCENTS METALLIC SPRAY Popular designer metallic oil rubbed finish High quality coverage Creates a soft, elegant metallic luster Chip resistant finish Excellent color retention Ideal for indoor & outdoor wood, metal, masonry,- unglazed ceramics, plaster and clay Aerosol 243898 SP OIL RUB MET BRONZE SIZE:11 Oz. Spray COLOR:Oil Rubbed Brnz

• Amazon Sales Rank: #714 in Home Improvement
• Size: 11-Ounce
• Color: Oil Rubbed Bronze
• Brand: Rustoleum
• Model: 243898
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 7.31 pounds

Features

• Great for ever-popular craft and seasonal decorating
• Quick, rich look of precious metals
• Resists chipping and peeling
• Acrylic formula good on wood, metal, plaster, masonry and unglazed ceramic
• This item is not for sale in Catalina Island

Customer Reviews:

Oil rubbed bronze
If you are looking for the most beautiful color you have FOUND it.. you most likely WON’T find this color in home depot or lowes, even though it’s new, but you can give the product number and order a case from either store, a case is 6. TRUST me, I have framed out my mirrors in my bathrooms with this ( painted on wood) I am in the process of spray painting my wall of photos in frames with this color, my sister spray painted her bathroom cabinet ( vanitiy) and cried when it was done she loved it so.. IT’s NOT black it’s so pretty and rich a case will do you good. Make sure to get the little spray paint adaptor thing which has a trigger to attach to your spray paint can, you can just spray away without getting a cramp in your finger. I LOVE this color

Great color and pretty easy to use!
Love the look! Remodeling our bathroom, I bought new faucets and towel racks, etc. in the oil rubbed bronze color. This made the existing fixtures look outdated. So with this product, I updated the door handle and shower accessories to match. It looks great. Saved me a lot of money by not having to replace fixtures not to mention the price of a plumber etc. This led to doing other rooms in the house as well.

Makeover in a Can
This stuff is the BEST! It is a bit pricey but will save you a ton in the long run. I replaced all our brass doorknobs with oil-rubbed bronze ones. Instead of buying new hinges ($3 each) for our doors, I just removed them, painted with the Rustoleum then put them back on. If you do this, be sure to mark the hinges so you can return them to the exact same door location. You can see the cost savings. $12 versus $150. I also painted our ugly brass cabinet knobs. Now they are like new. If you do the proper prep work, this stuff will not flake or rub off. Another cool trick it to paint plastic outlet covers. Just prime first with a brown or black colored paint for plastic (I used Krylon Fusion) then recoat with the Rustoleum. Instant metal effect. I do wish this paint was more available. They used to sell it at my Home Depot but they stopped carrying it. Can’t imagine why. It’s worth ordering though.

From the Manufacturer
Rust-Oleum American Accents Designer Metallic spray gives a richer more sophisticated metallic paint effect to furniture and all kinds of décor enhancing accessories

Clapham’s Beeswax 870-3008 Salad Bowl Finish, 8-Ounces Product: Clapham’s Beeswax 870-3008 Salad Bowl Finish, 8-Ounces Lowest Price! List Price: $19.15 Amazon Price: $17.24 Click Here To See Amazon Sale Price Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available

Compare Prices on Clapham’s Beeswax 870-3008 Salad Bowl Finish, 8-Ounces

Clapham’s Beeswax Salad Bowl Finish - 8 ounces (228 grams) for Salad Bowls, Butcher Blocks, Wooden Spoons, Children’s Wooden Toys & Cribs, etc.  Designed by polish maker Roger Clapham, this edible mineral oil and beeswax finish is suitable for salad and fruit bowls, butcher blocks, cutting boards, wooden spoons, kitchen cabinets and more.  Also, perfect for children’s wooden toys and cribs.  Safe and Effective! (See details…)

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4106 in Home Improvement
• Brand: Clapham’s Beeswax
• Model: 870-3008
• Number of items: 1

Features

• For salad bowls and butcher blocks
• 8oz container
• Made in Canada
• Safe for wooden children’s toy
• Easy to apply

Like nothing else on earth
There is NOTHING better for sealing and preserving wood utensils, cutting boards and the like. Similar in look and feel to Vaseline, but with a pleasing honey scent. A little bit goes a LONG way.

Great sealant for butcher block countertops
We recently installed new butcher block countertops and wanted a good sealant that wasn’t linseed oil, which is just plain messy and stinky (we used it in our last house). This is very easy to apply and although it doesn’t repel every single thing immediately (i.e red wine), the countertops are looking nice after 2 months and it is easy to reapply. A little goes a long way. For 34 linear feet of countertop, this 8 oz jar is more than plenty, with extra for reapplication. Roger Clapham was very helpful through email when I had questions about application and quite entertaining as well. It is nice to support a family business.

Great stuff for butcher blocks
We have a dark walnut Boos butcher block counter. This stuff adds a great luster and water resistant seal. It’s not too oily but provides a nice barrier to water drops. I will definitely re-purchase this in the future.