WDGW – Week of March 5th, 2012, Netcast 1355 Another "two videos" show!

I went to an event called: “Leading the Charge: The Home Depot Lithium Ion Showcase.” It was all about – well you can tell from the name. Here are a few facts that are interesting. Lithium ion batteries produce a consistent charge throughout the life of the battery. Ni-Cad batteries lose power as the battery runs. Lithium ion batteries can be charged many more times than Ni-Cad batteries, and are not damaged by leaving the charger on too long. Lithium ion batteries are lighter than Ni-Cad batteries, allowing for smaller more powerful outdoor and power tools.In the Giz Wiz video I showed four of the fifty Ryobi products that use the same 18-Volt Lithium ion battery pack. Prices may vary because many of these items were not for sale yet. (As of 2/28/12.) 

The Ryobi One+ Xenon 18-Volt Spotlight features a high-intensity beam for superb lighting in dim areas. This 2,800-lumen light runs up to 60 minutes on any Ryobi 18-volt ONE+ battery (not included). Designed with a lock-on, the light can be used continuously without having to hold the trigger switch. It’s 8x brighter than previous One+ spotlight. (Look for the one with the green casing.) 2,800-lumen light output via a 35-watt high-intensity discharge (HID) xenon bulb. The battery and charger are sold separately, unless of course you have one already. It’s compatible with Ryobi 18-volt lithium-ion or NiCad batteries. Under $50.   

The Ryobi ONE+ Cordless Paint Sprayer Kit offers 2 spray patterns, including horizontal and vertical, to help maximize spray control on a variety of surfaces. A neat feature is a spray head that has an “un-clog” position. If lets you free up a clog without tools. This sprayer is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack for enhanced runtime. A flexible tube picks up paint in almost any direction to offer use at almost any angle. This kit includes an 18v lith-ion battery and dual chemistry charger. It’s compatible with all Ryobi ONE+ 18V product battery packs. Other features include: Ergonomic handle enhanced comfort and grip, on-board hook for easy storage and a quick-Lock container that locks into place to help prevent spills. $149.00

Ryobi 18-Volt Cordless Green Inflator for high-volume and high-pressure applications. The inflator offers easy-to-use controls that feature automatic shutoff for safety. Its storage compartment helps provide quick access to accessories and its cordless operation allows portability for convenience. It also has a deflation feature for larger items like air mattresses, etc. Under $80, battery pack not included.

Ryobi 18-Volt Cordless Fan – I can’t find this on the web yet, not even at the Home Depot or Ryobi website. The older ‘blue’ color version is online, but I assume this new ‘green’ version hasn’t shipped yet (As of 3/1/12), but it should be along soon. $34 without battery. Photo not available yet. You can also check the Ryobi website in a week or two:

www.ryobitools.com

The Giz Wiz Video: http://youtu.be/5XQgA0u2F3A

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1355

This show usually goes live Sunday, the day after we record it.

More power in your batteries - and no increase in price.

You don’t need power tools to enjoy the benefits of Lithium Batteries.

Energizer claims their Ultimate Lithium Batteries are the world’s longest lasting AA and AAA batteries in high-tech devices. And now, (or soon) they will be even longer lasting. The re-tooled formula includes improved materials and construction that means they will last up to nine times longer in high drain digital cameras. There is no increase in price, however. They are just starting to ship now. The way to tell the new higher energy Ultimate Lithium batteries is to look for the big “9X” on the package, as opposed to the current “8X”. Lithium batteries have other advances too. They’re 33 percent lighter than ordinary alkaline batteries and can perform well in extreme temperatures, from -40° F to 140° F. They have an amazing 15-year storage life. The press release offers this info: The new Energizer Ultimate Lithium AAs will provide the following extended runtimes, when compared to Energizer MAX AAs: Up to 9X longer in digital cameras  / Up to 3 hours longer in flashlights / Up to 30 hours longer in two-way radios / Up to 6 hours longer in video cameras / Up to 8 hours longer in GPS devices. MSRP is $9.97 for a 4-pack, but do a web search, as they’re often discounted. There are also Energizer Advanced 9V lithium batteries. The can last up to 10 years as a back-up battery in AC powered smoke detectors. Price: $6.97 for single-pack 9V.

http://www.energizer.com/batteries/ultimate-lithium/Pages/aa.aspx

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1355

This show usually goes live Sunday, the day after we record it.

Making a hole in one. Actually several holes.

Dennis Wunderlin (who shot the great video) and I had a lot of fun at the Milwaukee tool display. The folks there showed me the inside of one of their new Milwaukee M18 Fuel Lithium power packs. I never knew there was so much sophisticated electronics involved in what I thought was a ‘simple’ power pack. But the outcome is a power pack Milwaukee says can recharged up to 2500 times. The new M18 Fuel power pack and Milwaukee Fuel Hammer Drill develops incredible torque. Here are some facts from the company. (But watch the video to see it in action.) It features an all new brushless motor technology that delivers 725 inch pounds of torque, up to 10 times longer motor life, and 25 percent more power. It offers two speed ranges of 0-550 RPM (Low) and 0-1,850 RPM (High) for maximum application speed. Operates in temperatures down to 0° F, runs 20 percent cooler, and can handle up to 50 percent more recharges with no memory effect. The all-metal 1/2” single sleeve ratcheting chuck provides durability and bit retention. MSRP $299, but they said it would be available with a smaller battery pack for $229. Coming soon (as of 2/28/12) Home Depot website shows it now:

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-203205419/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=milwaukee%20hammer%20drill&storeId=10051

“Drill” Sgt. Giz Wiz in action: http://youtu.be/-r09OUHQepA

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1355

This show usually goes live Sunday, the day after we record it.

Leo's Turn The Table Turkey!

Leo loves Internet Radio. He even gave one to his mom a few years ago for Christmas. His latest fav is the new Grace Mondo Wi-Fi Music Player. Leo showed us the attractive 3.5" Color display that lets you see colorful station or album art while listening to your tunes. The display is also used to help you navigate effortlessly through the icon based menu system. Leo pointed out that you’ll never run out of stations to listen to with over 18,000 free radio stations and endless on-demand content from around the world. In addition to biggies like NPR, BBC, iHeartRadio, CBS and TWiT (Yep, TWiT!) you can get access to premium free music services such as Pandora, iHeartRadio and Dar.fm or premium pay services such as SiriusXM Internet Radio and Live365 VIP. You don’t need to own a computer to enjoy Interest radio, but you did need WiFi. It works with any 802.11b/g/n wireless router with an Internet connection, and the Graco Mondo operates as a standalone Internet radio. There are also many icons to help you customize your radio, such as setting the display to the exact brightness you like. There's also a sleep control, so you can fall asleep to your favorite stations. The built in handle and optional battery pack (sold separately) allows the Grace Mondo to be at home on your nightstand or your backyard patio. MSRP $179.99.

http://www.gracedigitalaudio.com/mondo-p-212.html

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1355

This show usually goes live Sunday, the day after we record it.  

Back to Dick’s Gadget Warehouse for the Repeater Steel Tape Measure

The Repeater steel tape measure was a great idea! The Zircon Repeater Steel Tape Meausre came out in 1999, some 13 years ago. Here’s how it worked. You climb the ladder to take measurements with your tape measure. Once you’re up there you realize you don’t have paper and pencil. And even if you do, once you write the figures down you often can’t find the paper they're written on when you need it! That wouldn’t happen if you had the Zircon Repeater Tape Measure. You record the measurements with the voice recorder built right into the Repeater tape measure. It’s simple to use, just press the big red record button and you can capture up to 20 seconds of measurements wherever you are. The Repeater came in 10’ and 25’ lengths. Each one had a tough plastic outer casing and locking mechanism for tape control. While the sound quality wasn't great, all you really need it to do is play back the measurements you recorded!  I did a web search and although you can find the Repeater at a few places, none of them actually have it for sale. Of course Zircon still makes dozens of useful DIY tools, including a large assortment of stud finders.

www.zircon.com

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1355

This show usually goes live Sunday, the day after we record it.