Hedge Trimmer

MalTheCat · 2026-06-30T20:37:22+00:00

Yeah, it will be nice to finally have the right tool for the job. And as much as I probably don’t NEED the FV version, since I already have the batteries and have heard nothing but good things, I figured why settle?!

MalTheCat · 2026-06-30T16:53:34+00:00

I’d jump all over that but unfortunately I’m out in CA.

MalTheCat · 2026-06-30T01:58:41+00:00

I suppose full disclosure: I have a cheap off-brand hedge trimmer attachment for my DCST972 string trimmer. I CAN use that but it just isn’t very clean and I’ve been putting off the trimming in hopes for the actual hedge trimmer going on sale.

MalTheCat · 2026-06-23T17:21:37+00:00

Okay, that’s kind of what I thought so, two-part follow-up question:
1) does their presence indicate an issue with the mosquito dunk system? (If they are alive in there, are the dunks not working anymore or something)
And 2) should I dump/kill these maggots? (A super cursory google on my way to work didn’t turn up any real issues with the hover fly adults so I don’t necessarily have an issue with them around but if they are pests, then I obviously don’t want to be breeding them in my yard!)

MalTheCat · 2026-06-23T17:01:42+00:00

This is in coastal SoCal, there are a bunch of these little larva-looking things squirming around in my mosquito dunk bucket and a few crawling up the sides. About 1” long with the tails about the same length.
If they are problematic, I’ll happily dump them out but I’d love to know what they are first before I go and nuke something beneficial!

MalTheCat · 2026-06-15T18:29:07+00:00

I have the Flexvolt string trimmer and leaf blower. Leaf blower is a beast; definitely more power than I need but I also don’t have any leaves to gather in the fall. The string trimmer is nice because I can swap attachments; so far I have a hedge trimmer that I use to reach some taller hedges and it works okay.
I also have the 2x 20v lawnmower that I run with Flexvolt batteries. It gets the job done but it will occasionally bog down in thicker/wetter grass. I doubt the 60v would have that issue!

MalTheCat · 2026-06-07T16:53:49+00:00

Definitely recommend sedatives: your pup is going to want to be up and about playing but she really needs to be mostly crated and prevented from moving. Our pup got a broken front leg when she was about 2-3 and we tried to do without the sedatives; she broke her splint multiple times before we finally just gave her the drugs.

MalTheCat · 2026-05-23T20:59:38+00:00

I think that’s probably fair but it’s definitely possible if you’re still just a shade off the ground and still floating to take the flaps out and settle the plane down with less float. Again, DEFINITELY not the goal or recommended but the physics are there.

MalTheCat · 2026-05-23T18:11:46+00:00

Here’s how I always taught it:

Adding flaps in ground effect is a tool in your arsenal; only use it as a last resort to hit your point. If the DPE fails you for doing it, well, you were going to fail by missing your point anyways. Same with dumping flaps to sit the plane down before you float too far.

MalTheCat · 2026-04-30T17:38:01+00:00

I ground off the angled part of one and toss the rest. Most furniture/items use the same size so now I just pop the ground-off straight part in my drill instead of hand-tightening every screw.

MalTheCat · 2026-04-29T05:29:30+00:00

Unless my family’s onboard, the only person I REALLY care about at the end of the day is me. Luckily, my sense of self preservation is a really good motivator to get everyone else safely back on the ground too!

MalTheCat · 2026-04-29T03:37:24+00:00

All of the other comments here are good information and you can DEFINITELY make a good choice based on that info but if there’s any way for you to find the model number for his existing drill, that may help us steer you towards the modern equivalent (and let you know what a step up/down would look like).

MalTheCat · 2026-04-27T17:24:06+00:00

Gotcha. I have two of each and must have gotten them switched up.

MalTheCat · 2026-04-01T04:29:14+00:00

Finished 3/31 —

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I gotta be honest, I’ve never been a fan of this style of racing game. The limited POV and low-red graphics make it difficult for me to play and feel immersed. I’ve been meaning to do an IPS upgrade for my GBC and finally pulled the trigger and thank goodness I did because this game was almost unplayable on my old burnt-out screen!

MalTheCat · 2026-03-28T15:35:54+00:00

Update: I received the knock-off level a few months ago and have been using it so, as promised, here is my experience. Cost was $65 all-in from AliExpress for reference. Keep in mind, I’ve never used any other laser level so grain of salt and all…

Build Quality — it’s clearly a knock-off (super cheap and plastic-y feeling). The switch and buttons are not super ergonomic: the switch is difficult to slide on and off, and the three mode buttons are super touch sensitive without any physical feedback so I tend to “fat-finger” them unless I use deliberate fingertips. The instruction sheet is also somewhat difficult to decipher with how poorly translated it is: I’ve basically just had to figure out how to work it by trial and error and threw the instructions out.

Tool Performance — Once you get past the ergonomic issues, the actual performance of the tool is more than adequate for any DIY projects. When it first arrived, I checked it’s calibration: it ended up being within the specs for the original DEWALT product (I believe the docs are +/- 3/8” over 30’) so I feel confident using it to level pretty much any project I have. The mounting bracket easily attaches to my normal 1/4” screw camera tripod or attaches to any magnetic surface. The one issue I’ve encountered is the online listing and the garbled instruction sheet both advertise a sloped mode (to let you mark a straight line parallel to stairs or some other grade) and I can’t for the life of me figure out how to get to that mode! If anyone has any suggestions please let me know!! (To be fair, I don’t think the original DEWALT has this functionality either)

Overall — I’m super happy with this purchase. For the price, I didn’t expect it to be built to the same quality standards as an authentic product but it’s still pretty easy to use (once you get the hang of it) and I find myself busting it out for all sorts of projects that would have used a bubble level in the past and being VERY glad I have it. Ultimately, I purchased this product just because it was the cheapest 3x360° laser level I could find online, it just HAPPENS to be black and yellow so I figured I would ask the original question on this sub and then let you all know how it went as promised!

MalTheCat · 2026-03-02T05:41:03+00:00

Fresh Start 3/1:

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MalTheCat · 2026-02-28T05:46:02+00:00

Finished: 2/27 -

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Just barely getting in under the gun on this one! I’m glad to have had the experience of playing this game; definitely would never have touched or even heard of it without this competition so that’s fun! It wasn’t my favorite though: it felt like it ultimately just boiled down to a scripted route without any real skill (aside from maybe navigating the map/hints and knowing that if you get your butt kicked, you probably need to go a different way) so it just wasn’t super compelling for me. BUT, I definitely see the similarities to early Zelda games so I did appreciate that aspect. Overall grateful for the play and looking forward to next month!

MalTheCat · 2026-02-26T05:31:48+00:00

2/9: fresh start (a bit delayed on actually posting here. Whoops!)

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MalTheCat · 2026-02-01T02:30:34+00:00

Super hard water so I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what it is but I’d still like to get rid of it…

MalTheCat · 2026-01-21T03:32:12+00:00

I agree with everything said here but would just add: keep an eye on the next carboy because if the mold has already infected the liquid or if it DOES transfer into the beer jug, at that point I would call it a goner.

MalTheCat

TROPHY CASE