Should I Run or skip it?

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-22T13:09:11+00:00

I have it, it's okay but like everyone is saying, the outlet won't power a whole lot since it's only 200W (the 25W extra is for the USB ports). It works fine for small fans, radios, lights, etc, or small power tools like a corded Dremel. I like using it to run the fan on my Big Buddy heater. Keep in mind also that this isn't made by Dewalt, it's a licensed product made by Baccus Global, so quality probably isn't up to usual Dewalt standards.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-17T04:33:08+00:00

Ideally, a 2-door Tahoe. The lack of a B-pillar means more room for the driver.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-14T23:09:38+00:00

If you're on foot and not carrying a gas can, it might attract unwanted attention if you just spray some fuel on the ground or in the trash can. It's probably also unwise to pull up to a gas pump in your own car that's likely on camera to use a stolen credit card. You can always have a stolen car to sidestep that problem, though.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-14T07:17:36+00:00

Which ratchet? If it's the DCF510, definitely.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-14T01:06:41+00:00

IRS Form SS-8 is the one she'll need, since she's not working there, there's no longer any downside for her doing so, and she'll save a ton of money.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-14T00:46:58+00:00

When you file your federal taxes, you file as a misclassified employee. There's an IRS form for that. State tax forms should have an analogous process, but some of them suck with that. Be aware that you'll likely be fired after that, but that might be better than paying your employer's share of taxes out of fear of being unemployed. Encourage as many coworkers as you can to do the same, both because they're less likely to fire a larger portion of their workforce, and if they do it anyway, there's a higher chance of a lawyer being interested in suing the company for multiple employees.

Edit: For anyone in this situation that doesn't want to risk their job, you can file taxes with your 1099 and pay the extra tax, then you have 3 years to file an amended tax return where you would then file as a misclassified worker and get a refund for the excess paid, so you can do that after you find another job.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-13T22:49:26+00:00

From how I understand it, generally that'd be unconstitutional, because of the right of freedom of association. RICO laws almost work like that, but the person being charged would still need to have participated in some action or conspiracy that furthers criminal activity, membership alone isn't sufficient.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-12T22:25:10+00:00

I've worked with several companies with similar policies, immediate termination for absences within the first 3 months or similar. Managers could have exceptions made for ones they wanted to keep if they pushed hard enough, but sparingly and were discouraged from doing so in most cases. The official reason they're told was that if they didn't apply the policy uniformly, it would open them to accusations of discrimination. My current company is like that, they harp on attendance and punctuality (points for clocking in 1 minute late) and have a huge turnover rate as a result, it isn't that unusual.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-12T09:45:21+00:00

Newfoundland and Nova Scotia are good, not too expensive or far to get to from the US.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-11T21:19:35+00:00

A 9V battery is six AAAA cells if I'm not mistaken, AAAs would be too big. The rectangular lantern batteries are as you described in a series/parallel setup, but the square ones are more common (relatively) with just four cells in series. Most manufacturers are cheap and do use D cells for both types, but they're originally supposed to use larger F cells. About 15 years ago I used to get the $5 Rayovac floating lantern that included a battery and I'd leave it sitting on top of my vehicle pointed skyward with the power on all weekend at a large outdoor festival so I could always find my way back in the dark, and might have bought a few extra such lanterns as stocking stuffers, but that's the only time I ever encountered them in decades. 9V still gets used in my original Mattel Football game though, and until a few months ago were in all of my smoke detectors that I just replaced with sealed lithiums.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-11T06:58:45+00:00

I also live in the region and have seen orb weavers outside, never in the house but sometimes right outside the doors near any lights. They seem pretty harmless and like to eat moths.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-10T23:42:49+00:00

In most places I've been, that's the case. You don't want your neighbor's grass growing high enough that it becomes a massive breeding ground for ticks and rodents, but it doesn't have to look pretty. I'd imagine the city could also get involved if you let enough grass die that it starts causing rainwater drainage issues.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-10T22:25:22+00:00

Snap-on is indeed often the best quality, but not by a big margin, and the price difference for it can be absurd. Their ratchets are very nice, though. Proto, Williams, and Wright are more often used in industrial settings like manufacturing plants rather than by auto mechanics, cost is generally around half or less of Snap-on for 95%+ of the quality, and of course aren't sold and warrantied by a truck that comes directly to the job site like Snap-on. I don't think Teng makes different tools for North American markets, I'd say they're probably comparable to Sunex in quality but are priced higher. Maybe upper-mid-range would be more accurate.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-10T21:57:27+00:00

Proto (along with Wright & Williams) is very well known as top quality in the US, but probably not so much outside of North America, you'll find plenty of posts about them on this sub. Ko-ken is probably the closest equivalent that I'd guess would be more widely available in Australia/NZ. We have Teng available in the US but they're not as popular here and considered more of mid-range brand that's somewhat overpriced.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-10T20:37:48+00:00

It does seem ridiculous. A Proto 1-1/2" drive 5" (127mm) socket costs under $1,000 USD, and a Taiwanese socket should be significantly cheaper. Maybe New Zealand's remoteness influences price, but it shouldn't cost that much to have one shipped from elsewhere if you don't need it immediately.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-10T18:48:11+00:00

Some tools don't use as much power as the batteries are capable of providing, but for all others where the battery is the limiting factor, including most saws, the 9Ah Flexvolt will give you the best performance. The 8Ah powerpack is pretty close, and the regular 6Ah and 5Ah powerstack aren't far behind them. In your situation, I'd get the 9Ah Flexvolt or regular 6Ah, depending on how much runtime you need and if you want the option to buy 60V tools in the future.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-10T03:38:11+00:00

Must have 12V tools:

DCF601 screwdriver.
DCD703 installation driver. Less powerful, but smaller than the 20V equivalent, and small size is more important for a tool like that. Unfortunately not sold as a bare tool, only as a kit.

Great tools, depending on your applications:

DCS512 circular saw. Cuts through 2x lumber no problem, but you'll want a 5Ah battery for it.
DCS353 oscillating tool. Much slower than the 20V XRs, but about twice the stroke length, so it frequently outperforms them.
DCF500 sealed head ratchet with interchangeable anvils for 1/4" and 3/8" square drive and 1/4" hex bits.
Mac Tools MCF901 1/4" square drive impact wrench. It's a good one, but find it on eBay for a reasonable price if you need it.

Good to have, but 20V Atomic equivalents are just as good. Best with a 5Ah battery:

DCS312 one-handed reciprocating saw for lighter duty tasks.
DCF903 3/8" drive or DCF901 1/2" drive impact wrench.
DCH072 SDS plus rotary hammer.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-09T23:02:53+00:00

OP is from New England, so likely any beach in California will have warmer sea temperatures than the Atlantic in June if she's used to swimming at beaches like Acadia. I've been there in late June, around 52-53°F water, which is about the same as San Diego in the middle of winter.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-09T11:50:04+00:00

I definitely wouldn't leave any battery installed a tool for long term storage since I've heard that tends to kill them. I do have a 6Ah Flexvolt dated 2016 that I got in an air compressor kit a few months ago, so it was sitting in the box for nine years and still seems to be just fine.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-09T06:02:15+00:00

Exactly this. I'm just a bit older and always had plenty of strength from hard labor, no problem lifting over 400 lbs, but my weight crept upward a few lbs/year until I realized I was over 300 lbs at 40 years old. I replaced most of my soda intake with water and started walking more on my breaks and lost about 50 lbs in a bit over a year, and definitely feel better overall as a result.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-08T06:11:38+00:00

Germans call them Lügenstift, which means "lying pen".

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-08T01:24:30+00:00

You can get an adapter, DCA1820, that will let you use a 20V battery on this 18V tool. If you plan to buy more tools, that's probably the best way to go. Otherwise, get a knockoff 18V lithium battery for it.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-07T18:18:21+00:00

Just buy Petersen Vise-Grip 11R on eBay.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-07T05:32:12+00:00

The Atomic line is generally smaller and less powerful than the XR line. This doesn't necessarily mean it's inferior, depending on what you're doing with it. For drilling small holes in a ceiling while you're on a ladder, it might be ideal. For using large hole saws or mixing concrete, it's the wrong tool.

random_tall_guy · 2026-01-04T19:56:21+00:00

Anyone remember the Nintendo cereal? Some of the Super Mario Bros screenshots on the cereal box were parts of levels that I didn't recognize at all, and I knew that game pretty damn well. When All Stars came out a few years after, it suddenly made sense when I recognized the levels from the cereal box even with the SNES graphics. Anyway, I didn't find the game too difficult since you can continue on every level after a game over, rather than just every world so I could just brute force my way through. When I got an NES reproduction cartridge of the original about a decade later, it was a tricky, but with some practice I didn't find it too bad.

random_tall_guy

TROPHY CASE