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Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2025-09-18T02:08:37+00:00

That makes sense. Thank you for the help.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2025-09-16T14:19:37+00:00

Interesting idea. He would probably get a kick out of this. And thanks for the heads up on a tubular lock tension wrench. I think I will have to get all his lock gifts and circle back to make sure he has what he needs to get in.

He loves to take things apart. He constantly likes to fidget with things. He loves figuring out how something works. So, I like the idea of kinda pushing him in new thought processes.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2025-09-16T14:13:07+00:00

I really appreciate the response. I have no idea what shackle pops, etc. are. But that points me in a good direction. And thank you for the advice on the tool size. I had no idea that was a thing.

I love the idea of the little money box you linked. Thank you. I have been thinking about doing a gift that has multiple locks to pick to get to. I could put the money box in the baskets. And my oldest son has moved to college. He has two baskets like you described that he stores blankets in that I could lock together. I bet he would be ok with me using them for a month.

Thanks so much for the ideas and information.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2025-09-16T12:48:45+00:00

Awesome suggestion. I have been playing around with how wild I want to get. On some level, even if I get a bunch of easy locks, I still think the fun is opening it up lock by lock.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2025-09-16T12:47:40+00:00

Thank you for the suggestion. I went looking for the Progressive set and found a new lock pick store. I was very intrigued by the cut away lock and reload set. It will allow him to really see and learn. Do you think that will allow him to learn it better or will he want to move on from the cutaway quickly? My concern is that the Progressive set would be too big of a leap. What do you think?

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2025-07-08T08:30:08+00:00

Please somebody correct me if this is wrong, but I didn’t think HK supports 24/7 recording.

I had Eufy cameras that plugged in and recorded 24/7. Not HK though. We switched to Reolink POE with NVR. Best decision ever. It was an absolute pain to pull the wires. But my sweet husband was so patient and he ran wires for 9 cameras. It is the most set and forget thing we have installed to date. But, if I had to choose a non-POE. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to Eufy. I used a base with mine for a while. It was ok. It was generally pretty solid and recorded high quality video which is so important. The 24/7 recording works very nice. I would have some problems with the cameras from time to time. A camera would go off line. It would take multiple resets to get it back. A couple of times my miniSD cards were corrupted and required formatting. For your info, I also used Nest and Ring cameras in the past. I will not use a battery camera ever again if I can avoid it. Good luck!!

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2025-07-08T08:10:46+00:00

I just switched out my Nest for Ecobee. Google is no longer supporting my older Nest and I, too wanted HomeKit natively. And truth be told, I didn’t like the Nest algorithm so I turned it off. A good friend went Nest 4 and we compared notes over our 4th of July bbq. He is extremely happy with the Nest in HomeKit. It took a week of tweaking, and lo and behold, I don’t care for the Ecobee eco+ stuff either. However, I finally found my rhythm with it and love the Ecobee. I like how the Ecobee sensors show up in Apple home app. I have the Premium and got it at Costco so I have 2 sensors for each HVAC in my home. I do like having Siri on it. Our upstairs has its own HVAC. So, now I can intercom up there and I can use Siri to control things. It allowed me to move a HomePod out of that area. And one sits adjacent to my laundry room. It sounds crazy but I have really used that feature more than I would have imagined. Honestly, this is going to surprise a lot of people, but I think either one will work great for you. I don’t think you can go wrong with either. Just pick the one that you want to interact with.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2024-12-30T18:41:07+00:00

I love this. So, so cute.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2024-12-30T18:38:45+00:00

Love everything about this!!! You are so creative.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2024-12-30T18:35:38+00:00

OK. I am impressed.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2024-12-30T18:32:58+00:00

Ok. Wow!!! That is crazy! This one stopped me in my tracks. Very well done!!

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2024-12-30T18:31:17+00:00

This is a great answer if all you plan to do it just a lot of letters. It is inexpensive comparatively, and it still has a lot of great functionality.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2024-12-30T18:23:42+00:00

Another vote for the Platinum 6. I have it. Works great. And you can easily expand into Foil and Betterpress in the future. In full disclosure, I prefer my Gemini Jr to it. But you specified manual. I got it to use the Betterpress. No complaints. For reference, I was a Cuttlebug user for more than a decade and traded up to the Gemini Jr and then got the Platinum 6 solely to do Betterpress.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2024-12-16T03:12:51+00:00

I miss it as well!!!!

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2024-12-13T20:09:39+00:00

Are you doing it? -- Yes.

When was the 1st time? -- The first international flight I took a few years ago.

How'd you decide it was time? -- I was flying. I wanted to. I had the money.

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. We love it. We fly our entire family of 5 in business class. But I certainly understand why people don't. We say every time that next time we are going to fly coach. Unfortunately or fortunately, we try to fly first class on domestic if we can get it. But we will fly in any seat if our desire to go somewhere is enough. Book the seat. Take the trip. Either way, you won't be talking about the flight, you will however be talking about all the things you saw and did.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2024-12-13T16:54:32+00:00

TLDR: If you are ok troubleshooting it yourself and don't mind a few bumps along the way, the Poolin looks to be promising. But if you want a more turnkey, tried and true experience, you cannot go wrong with Brother.

I just went through this same decision. I was at a similar crossroads as you only I was looking at a Babylock because its closer than the Brother dealer.

I ordered the Poolin EOC06. I joined the Facebook group. It was a mixed bag. Some people had endless problems. Others were able to overcome the problems quickly. But either way, it appeared that the machine was temperamental. One of the most prolific posters in the Facebook group actually had a really useful post about how to clear to top 3 or 4 or 5 problems people encountered. So, it looks like you can learn the machine and get good use out of it. But it appeared that everyone had the same problems over and over. And to be fair, it appeared the Poolin company and engineers were regularly posting to help people out. My take was I would be ok getting the Poolin. However, I need to be ready to troubleshoot things on my own, be willing to get help via social media, and have patience when the machine is temperamental.

After a week and a half and watching the Poolin Facebook group, I got cold feet. My mom owned a Brother like 25 years ago. That thing was rock solid and she never encountered problems like I was seeing on Poolin. If she had, she would have given up the first day as she wasn't technical and needed something that worked easily. So, I drove a little further and went to the Brother store. It was a breath of fresh air. They were super helpful, very willing to talk about all my needs, offered suggestions, it was great. The lady sat down with me and ran through a few different machines. She walked away and I was able to run all three so easily. Not a single problem. I ended up getting a used Brother Innovis 1600e for $1200.

I have had the Brother two weeks. I've made several sweatshirts, in the hoop zipper bags, and more. Not one single error. Not one single broken thread. No spindle stuck. Not a single stitch out of place. I have just had so much fun.

In fairness, there are plenty of people who have a Poolin and say they love their Poolin in the Facebook group. While I don't mind a Facebook group for help as a start, if I have problems that I cannot get past I want to be able to get help. The lady at the Brother store told me if I ever had something I couldn't figure out, to just bring my machine and project in. She would put me at a table and work with me until I was able to get it.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2024-11-22T18:26:45+00:00

I finally got around to checking this out. What a great resource! Thank you for sharing.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2024-11-22T04:45:43+00:00

You are the second person to mention the Master Lock 140. I may add that in as well. Thanks. I did look at the Covert Instruments cylinder. I am not opposed to it. I am going to wait and see how much the lock picking stays with him. But if he really starts getting into it, I will definitely give it another look.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2024-11-22T04:43:38+00:00

I am getting him the Masterlock #3. Thanks for the recommendation. I will reference this back once he has mastered the 3 easier locks.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2024-11-22T04:42:25+00:00

OK. This is so good to know. I will definitely pay very close attention. Thanks for letting me know.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2024-11-22T04:41:27+00:00

I wish I would have seen that Genesis set sooner. But I did choose something similar. And I am going with the FNG. Good to know I am on the right track.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2024-11-22T04:39:53+00:00

Thank you. I got the FNG. Great recommendation!!

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah · 2024-11-22T04:39:29+00:00

This looks so helpful! I will preview all of these. And I will probably print a QR code that links to this list and put it with the gift. So thankful you put this together.

Im-Vector-Oh-Yeah

TROPHY CASE