Fiskars 01-005692 Cuts+More 5-in-1 Multi-Purpose Scissors Review

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(More customer reviews)I love the design of these. They manage to add a massive amount of functionality with out hindering the scissors, or would have if they had thought it through just a bit further. The problem is the "power notch" this is intended to give you more leverage on a straighter sheer so you can cut rope etc. Unfortunately the profile is all wrong. It does not add as much torque as it should, and more importantly makes the blades double contact at the end of the stroke. Rather than have one sheer point travel smoothly down the blades, when you get to the end of the notch the tip on the black side of the blade slams into the edge of the silver side. This add a noticeable bump in resistance, throws off cuts, and wears down the blade ridiculously fast. I hope that they fix this soon (or that I got one from a bad batch). It is a genuinely stupid mistake which should be simple to fix, and it greatly reduces the value of an otherwise excellent tool.
As for the rest of the tool: The blades are decent steel and fairly sharp (the titanium coating is marketing BS but it does not hurt anything). The pivot is secure, detaches easily and tightens easily. The sharpener in the sheath is brilliant. And the wire cutter will inevitably save the blades at some point (I am an engineer, every pair of scissors I own has been damaged by cutting wires). The handels may be a bit small, but I have big hands. The only other complaint I have is how easily the screw that holds the pivot strips, but that can be replaced.
In terms of concept potential: 5 stars, I would knock one for a few finish issues (The screw and titanium BS) but the geometry on the blade is unforgivable. I will be sending these back, and intend to try again in a few weeks (incase it is a bad batch) and if not again in 6 months, at which point I hope they will have fixed it. I will update if and when it gets better.

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Quite possibly the world's most versatile scissors, the Cuts+More Scissors puts the power of multiple tools in the palm of your hand, helping you get more done without rummaging through every drawer in your house. High-quality blades provide excellent cutting performance on a wide variety of materials. Large, ergonomically sculpted finger and thumb loops provide excellent comfort and control when cutting. Additional features include a power notch for cutting light rope, wire cutter, twine cutter, pointed awl tip and bottle opener. You can even take the Cuts+More Scissors apart and use the titanium-coated blade as a knife. It’s also dishwasher safe and includes an innovative sheath with a built-in tape cutter and a ceramic scissors sharpener to keep the blades on your Cuts+More Scissors performing at their best. High-quality blades are ideal for cutting a wide variety of household, office and garden materials. Ergonomically sculpted handles provide comfortable use and cutting control. Power notch cuts light rope. Wire cutter makes cutting wire without damaging the blades quick and easy. Twine cutter cuts twine cleanly and quickly.Pointed awl tip is perfect for piercing small holes in cardboard, leather and more. Bottle opener makes it easy to open bottles. Take-apart design offers a titanium-coated knife that is three times harder than steel for general cutting needs. Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. Sheath protects blades, sharpens scissors and includes a tape cutter for opening boxes. Length: 9-inch. Lifetime warranty.

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Moody Pet Fling-ama-string Cat Toy Review

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(More customer reviews)My cats loved playing with this toy. Then, after a long period of supervised play, I turned the unit off and stowed the string according to the instructions on the box. However, a short time later, my cat figured-out how to pull the string from behind the rear side of the elastic band to which it is attached. She had managed to swallow most of the string, which is about 16"-18" long. Luckily, I was home, noticed what was happening and intervened by pulling over 12" of swallowed string from the mouth of my cat!
Of course, I immediately removed the toy from the door knob, studied the unit more carefully to understand how this had happened, then finally repackaged it in the box, putting it where my cats couldn't get to it.
In my opinion, there is a design flaw in the unit. Simply shutting off the toy with the string behind the back side of the belt is not enough (obviously) to prevent a cat from finding the string and then swallowing it. If the design were modified to place a solid plastic wall between the front side and back side of the belt, attaching the plastic to the sides of the belt housing, then the string couldn't be pulled back out by a curious cat.
In an effort to help improve safety and potentially to save a cat's life, as well as to help the manufacturer of an otherwise nice toy, I later called the manufacturer to advise her of what had happened and to present my suggestion.
The call was answered by a machine stating no one was available to take my call. But as I was leaving the message, a woman picked up the phone (sounding like I had woken her up. The call was placed at 10am EST on a Tuesday).
I began to tell her why I had called. Instead of sounding concerned, being willing to listen, or even apologizing, I was interrupted and told to "just wrap the string around the door knob - no cat could unwrap it." I disagreed, as I've seen cats do things no one thought they could do. In fact one of my cats does so on a regular basis.
She insisted that there was no reason to redesign the product, when people could just wrap the string around the door knob. Next, she tried to assign blame to me, telling me that the cat was supposed to be supervised when playing with the toy. (Again, my cats were being supervised while the toy was on. It was only when I had shut the toy off and stowed it according to the instructions that my cat was able to get at the string anyway and swallow it.)
Next, the woman suggested that my IQ was not as high as hers, insisting there was no need to change the design and again saying she had quickly figured out (after a couple other people had called mirroring my concerns) that all you have to do is wrap the string around the door knob.
Finally, to top off this somewhat less than desirable "customer service" experience - throughout the conversation, the woman repeatedly (no less than 3 times) stated "you can't please all customers." She's right!
Because, she didn't even try. All I wanted was for her to listen to my concern (it wasn't even a complaint) and to allow me to make a suggestion to improve safety (which, she could have thanked me for and then done nothing with, if that's what she chose.)
So, the bottom line and my reason for this review...I feel responsible to warn potential customers (since my phone call led me to believe that the manufacturer won't). In my opinion, the instructions on the box are insufficient to protect your cat. If you have one of these toys or decide to purchase one, I highly recommend that you remove it from the door knob after each use and put it away, where your cat can not get to it.
However, given that recommendation and the level of supervision required while the cats are playing with the toy, you might just want to save the money and pick-up an old-fashioned string.


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The battery operated, lean, mean string-flinging machine that cats love. No assembly required simply hang it on the door and turn it on. Works on any standard doorknob. The Fling-ama-String has two speeds for maxium kitty fun. This toy entices even the laziest of cats to play and improves eye-paw coordination. *Requires 3 AA batteries (not included).

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RSVP Modern Espresso Knockout Box Review

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(More customer reviews)You might think "flimsy and undersized" when you see this, but it's actually a very practical knockout box for an ordinary home kitchen. The heavy rubber base is a critical piece that you'd probably overlook in picking up a larger industrial knockout box, and it really is a great sound-deadening part of it. But here's the rub: that rubber sheath around the metal bar begins to come apart after six months or so, and not only ceases to keep you from banging directly on the metal bar, but decomposes into a mass of grimey rubber that partly coats the bar and partly just falls into the box. So whatya do? Take the bar down to your local hardware store and ask for a short length of rubber house to cover it. They'll help you get the right diameter. I bought 3" of handsome blue airhose (heavy rubber under blue rubber with nylon mesh to strengthen it) for $0.35 and it's been a dream.

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A knockout box allows the barista to remove spent and compacted coffee grounds from any espress filter by tapping the holder against the center bar. Grounds fall into the holder, which can then be dumped and cleaned in the dishwasher

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Kalorik CCG-23785 Magic Bean 750-Watt Personal 4-Cup Automatic Drip Coffeemaker with Burr Grinder Review

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(More customer reviews)This coffee maker is over-priced, but it is a quality product. If my frustrations below were corrected, it would have earned a 5 instead of a three. It is ideal for the person who enjoys an occasional cup of freshly ground coffee, without a need to make 2-12 cups at one time.
One is suppose to be able to adjust the coarseness of the coffee, but turn after turn of the dial to adjust the coarseness yielded little difference. Eventually, I stripped the knob, after only about 4 sessions, trying to make the beans more coarse.
A major of frustration is a single line in the manual that left me misunderstanding how the grind feature worked. The manual indicated, "... add the right amount of beans." What does that mean? It led me to believe that I had to add the appropriate amount of beans given the number of cups I wanted to make. Which, I just figured out is not the case at all. You basically fill the hopper to the top and it grinds the number of beans based upon how much water you put in and whether you want mild or strong coffee. Outside of that one line in the manual, I applaud the company for the simple instructions in the manual.

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Equipped with a built-in burr grinder, this personal drip coffeemaker automatically grinds and brews up to 4 cups of exceptionally flavorful coffee. The unit's grind-control dial makes it easy to program the amount of coffee to grind, while its strength selector offers a choice from strong to mild coffee flavor. Freshly brewed coffee dispenses into a 9-ounce stainless-steel cup. For sneaking a quick sip midbrew, just remove the cup from the machine--its automatic non-drip valve prevents coffee from dripping onto the base. In addition, user-friendly push-button controls ensure simple operation. Push the "auto on" button for automatically grinding and brewing, push the "grind" button for grinding only, and press the "brew" button for brewing with pre-ground coffee. Other highlights include a permanent stainless-steel filter, safety photo censors that stop the brewing process if the cup or filter holder are out of place, and a "coffee ready" signal. The grinder removes for easy cleaning, and a travel-cup base attachment to fit into a car cup holder comes included. The cup, filter holder, permanent filter, and coffee grinder should be washed by hand, and the plastic parts of the appliance and the base can be wiped down with a soft cloth as needed. Designed in Germany, the sleek-looking 750-watt coffeemaker measures 11 by 9-4/5 by 16-1/2 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Cuisinart CVR-1000 Vertical Countertop Rotisserie with Touchpad Controls Review

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(More customer reviews)Our first rotisserie was an older compact Ronco with a cylindrical cooking chamber and a horizontal spit, a nice enough product that delivered fine results -- but it was a hassle. The chicken had to be very carefully and tightly trussed, because of the side-to-side orientation of the spit. The quad spikes that made up the spit had to be very carefully centered on the bird, so that the relatively weak motor wouldn't hang up as it tried to lift the heavier side, a process complicated by moving bird parts if the chicken wasn't perfectly trussed. Anything more than a 3.5-4 pound bird ran the risk of brushing up against the drip tray on every rotation, and in general, we found the whole process to be more trouble than it was worth. We just didn't use it very often.
Enter the Cuisinart CVR-1000. Everything that was wrong about the Ronco was right about this one. The vertical spit, the spacious interior cooking space, the ability to choose different temperature settings, even the clean lines and stainless exterior. The cooking process couldn't be much easier and more convenient. Because it's a vertical spit, you just truss the legs together (or not), and slide the cavity of the bird down over the central support. That's it. No sharp metal spikes to drive through the bird, no trying to properly orient the weight of it all, no trying to match the ends of the spikes to metal sockets on another round disk. The support sits in the round drip tray (looks like a small cake pan), and both come out of the oven easily. So you can set everything up on the counter, slip it right into the oven, turn it on and an hour later you have a wonderfully cooked bird.
Cleaning is a cinch. There's a polished heat reflector behind the heating elements that just slides right out. The drip tray catches all the juices, so what's left is just a quick and easy wipe-down on the glass door and interior walls.
The oven sports an interior light, which is really more novelty than tool, but it's nice to be able to see a little more clearly how dark the skin may be getting.
I try to avoid superlatives in reviews, but with products like this one, it's okay to fail sometimes. This is the best rotisserie I've owned. Performance and aesthetic appeal matched with wonderful ease of use and convenience. I do highly recommend brining your birds before cooking. While rotisserie chickens are often juicy and flavorful without, you can end up with some absolutely amazing results with. A delicious maple brine we use consists of 2 quarts water, 1 cup dark brown sugar, 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/2 cup real maple syrup, 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons sea salt, 5 whole cloves garlic (peeled), 4 whole bay leaves, 2 large sprigs of thyme, 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns. Mix it together, bring it to a boil and cook it until all the sugars are dissolved. Let it cool to room temperature before adding the bird. Refrigerate both together (bird fully submerged -- this is enough brine for one 4-4.5 pound chicken) for between 5.5 to 6 hours, then toss it in the rotisserie according to the included instructions (about an hour + 5 minutes for that sized bird). What you'll have at the end is a subtly flavored smoky sweet very juicy and flavorful bird, superior to anything you might find at typical groceries or rotisserie fast food places.
Love this machine, and will highly recommend it to friends and family.

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Enjoy the benefits of an electric roaster without losing valuable counter space thanks to this unique, vertically designed rotisserie. One of the fastest, most efficient ways to prepare meat, the appliance can roast up to 8 pounds at a time, basting meat in its own juices as it rotates, while draining away unwanted fat and grease into a removable drip tray for healthier results. The unit provides simple touchpad controls with an LCD readout and five preset temperature settings: 325, 350, 400, 425, and 450 degrees F. Cook anything from chicken, salmon, or pork roast to shish kebabs or a medley of summer vegetables with the included accessories, which include an eight-piece skewer set, a roasting rack, a poultry tower, and a multi-purpose basket. Not sure where to start? A recipe book comes included with easy-to-follow dinner ideas. Other highlights include a removable chrome insert that reflects heat as the rotisserie turns to keep the temperature consistent, a three-hour countdown timer with automatic shut-off, a generous door handle, a viewing window, an interior light with an on/off switch, a nonstick interior, and dishwasher-safe parts for quick cleanup. Beautifully housed in brushed stainless steel, the countertop rotisserie measures approximately 16 by 15-3/5 by 17-1/2 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty. From the Manufacturer Easy-to-Use Control Panel Features & AccessoriesBringing the Good Life Home Cuisinart products are designed to make life delicious all day long. Specialty items, like the CVR-1000 vertical rotisserie, offer today\'s consumers a variety of menu options, and fun and easy new ways to entertain family and friends. Cuisinart first came into home kitchens over 30 years ago when it introduced the now legendary food processor. People discovered that routines could be broken and creative cooking quickly became part of the new lifestyle. Preparing fresh ingredients with products that offered easy and interesting new techniques meant healthier meals and more free time. Today Cuisinart develops products to make every meal memorable. From breakfast toast and coffee to elegant five-course dinners, the preparation and cooking have become a pleasurable part of the total experience. Today\'s relaxed lifestyles and the convenience of Cuisinart products make it easier than ever to Savor the Good Life, right at home with family and friends. END

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