My Excellent Choices

DO NOT BUY THIS, UNLESS…

Chainsaws are not toys, right? Only if you are willing to put in the time and effort to learn how to use these powerful tools safely and correctly… only then should you consider the EGO 16 Inch battery-powered chainsaw. But if you are ready to make that commitment, I think this is the one to get. I bought one and have zero regrets

I did all my homework. I watched you-tube videos. How to adjust the chain tension. How to properly fill the lubricating oil reservoir for the chain. How to top cut, undercut and notch cut. After several “clean-up” projects with some very large fallen trees, I am even more confident that I made the right decision to purchase this product.

There are safety features, but you have to learn how to use them. Electric is instant start when you pull the trigger and instant stop when you release it. There is no “pulling on a string” to start it up and no engine heat from combustion exhaust. (Don’t forget though – the chain is always sharp even when the saw is not operating.)

A lightweight battery lasts me about 30-45 minutes and recharges in about the same amount of time. I would rather have two of the smaller EGO Lithium batteries instead of a single heavier one with high capacity. They only take a few seconds to remove and replace.

The tool is easier to handle with the lighter battery, and let’s face it – A short break every so often to swap a battery and drink a little water is not a bad thing when you are working outside in the summer sun.

This saw was my first purchase of an electric yard tool. I knew that the first purchase of a battery powered replacement for the old “oil and gas” powered tools was important. Each manufacturer has their own proprietary batteries and charging systems.

My time spent in brand research paid off. The EGO saw performed exactly as I expected. I then felt confident enough in the EGO product line to buy two more of their compatible products that use the same battery/charger system as the chain saw. (See this: EGO Cordless Electric Variable-Speed Blower EGO Cordless Electric Variable-Speed Blower ‣ My Excellent Choices)

UPDATE:

After four years our two Sanitizing boxes are still working! Some newer models are battery powered, but a small recharging cord hasn’t stopped us from taking the smaller unit with us when we travel.

May 27, 2020

“Sunlight is the best disinfectant” is more than a metaphor. For for past generations and for many people today, “spring clean” means open windows, fresh air in the house, and a few hours in the sun for hard to sanitize items.

We brought sunlight indoors and bought two  UV Sanitizers from Amazon. The small items in pockets and purses that go out in the world with us everyday

The smaller unit is ideal for a small wallet or cellphone, a large unit works perfectly on tablets, eye glasses, keys & wallets and other irregular shaped objects.

We routinely place items that we frequently touch in the boxes for a quick ten minute exposure to the UV light.

It’s so simple to use! Just open the door, place your keys, wallet or phone inside and close the door! We are happy with a 10 minute exposure and those items we touch every day are ready to go again!

This is a very competitive and rapidly changing product category, so follow the link at the top let me know if you find a better value! 

UPDATE:

This is still working after four years. I just changed the battery, and I can’t remember the last time I did that. This Radon monitor just works for months at a time!

August 31, 2020

We ordered a couple of “sample and mail” radon kits for Radon surveillance from a highly recommended company with an excellent reputation. . This battery powered Radon detector was placed in the same general area at the same time as samples were collected for lab processing.

When the commercial lab results came back, we were pleased to see that the results from this electronic Radon detector were comparable, and provided a continuous 24×7 monitoring solution.

It is small, and is placed on a wall at eye level in an area that is not exposed to drafts. The batteries last for months and the light weight allows it to be placed almost anywhere with only a small picture frame tack.

Carry the cloud in your pocket! These palm-sized external storage devices plug into the USB connector and are made by Samsung in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB capacities. I bought the 2TB to keep a backup of photos, videos, documents, everything on my laptops and in my personal cloud!

It very fast compared to the USB “sticks” and memory cards that I have used in the past. I used to back up everything from my local machine to the cloud. Now, I do the opposite. Everything in the cloud gets backed up to this external USB.

Choose two or more and select different colors to quickly recognize “yours and theirs” in your family.

UPDATE:

After eye surgery both of my eyes were corrected and perfect for distance vision; but I had worn glasses for several years and I am always reading and working at the computer. While I can still recommend the clip-on readers as a good solution for folks who wear corrective lenses, my personal needs have changed.

I found these glasses with NO prescription for distance vision, and a progressive lens that transitions to computer and reading distance. I chose a pair with no visible line, blue blocking and high-quality non-reflective lenses. Visit their store with the link above and browse their latest styles.

June 19, 2020

My two eyes just aren’t the same. One is 20/20 and the other is very near-sighted.

If I read without glasses, the near-sighted eye can see the computer screen, but the 20/20 eye is blurred. (It’s needs a reading glass lens.) If I put on inepensive reading glasses the situation is revered. My best eye can read, but the near-sighted eye is even worse!

Thankfully, I have good prescription lenses that balance my eyes for distance vision, but computer screens are still a problem. It occurred to me that clip-on reading glasses (like inexpensive sunglass clip-ons) might be just the solution, and it was!

These clip-on reading glasses are available in different powers (I ordered a “1.5 and a “2”) and they are a perfect solution to my eye-strain problem.