Showing posts with label shelving system. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shelving system. Show all posts

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Folding / stacking 4 shelf Multicolormedia Storage Unit

Folding / stacking 4 shelf Multicolormedia Storage Unit, FOUR-SHELF, NATURALI purchased this storage unit because it was advertised as a multmedia storage unit. My plan for the storage unit was to consolidate my DVDs in one location (currently they are on two different multimedia storage units). If all you have are single DVD jewel cases then maybe this storage unit will work fine for you. My problem is that I have several DVD collections (Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, Star Wars, James Bond 007, etc)that are in their own little collectable boxes that are just a bit taller than the single DVD jewel cases and do not fit on any shelf except on the very top. They are just about an 1/8 or a 1/4 inch too tall to fit in the middle or bottom shelves.

It is a beautiful storage rack and went together very easily but either by design or accident they made the middle and bottom shelves too short.

There's not a lot to say. My criteria is: Inexpensive, wood, natural clear coat finish, NO Particle Board with paper laminate.

It arrived rather quickly -three days. There is no assembly. However, it's lightweight and felt as if it was going to tip over due to my rough, crude, uneven wood flooring. I pressed down a little harder to secure the feet, loaded the shelves, and to my amazement, it's quite sturdy; I set a glass lamp on top.

It looks nice against the brick wall, too. So, I've decided to get another and some bookshelves from the same series.

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Although it required absolutely no assembly just unfold and you're good to go. Stacking two is also very simple and requires no screws or tools yet is acceptably secure.

The only drawback is that the shelves are 8" high so they only fit standard size DVDs, unless you place the oversized cases on the top shelf, or stack two units which provides extra height on the shelf where they are joined.

I got the walnut finish and am very pleased with the appearance. Looks like real furniture!

P.S. Although my receipt stated that the delivery date would be over two weeks from the order date, I received them in 3 days.

Read Best Reviews of Folding / stacking 4 shelf Multicolormedia Storage Unit Here

I thought this would be a little taller and a little more sturdier. Also, the shelves are not very big. Probably big enough to put the small paperback books on, but nothing to heavy or bulky. But I can put small books on it. It will have to do.

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I have three of these and have very high regard for them. The only thing I have against these is the heights of the shelves. They are not high enough to leave in their boxes (series with jewel cases need to be taken out so they can fit in the shelves). Other than that one thing they hold a lot of DVDs.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Closet Maid Clairson 16-Inch Support Bracket, White #76607

Closet Maid Clairson 16-Inch Support Bracket, White #76607I used it for another brand's brackets it is not a perfect fit but it does enough to support overall I am happy

The shelving in our garage collapsed, damaging the brackets used for the shelving support. We have installed the new brackets and I have learned not to overload the shelving units in the future. :)

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Saturday, June 21, 2014

Guidecraft 4-Sided Library Wood Bookcase

Guidecraft 4-Sided Library Wood BookcaseI've search long and hard for just the right bookshelf for our kids. I definitely wanted something that had a display case so the kids could actually see the books and not just the spines. But display cases alone take up a lot of space and don't store as much as ordinary bookshelves. This provided the perfect solution. My next dilemma was deciding between this one from GuideCraft and a very similar one from Jonti-Craft. I made my decision on the fact that this one has 3 shelves instead of 4. The 4 FIXED display shelves would limit which books I could display. In other words, I wouldn't be able to display large books if I wanted to. When I received the library and assembled it, I was extremely pleased with my choice. It is very strong and sturdy, good quality stuff. It will last us very long and the kids won't "outgrow" it (can be used into adult years). It was also less expensive than the Jonti-Craft. http://www.amazon.com/Jonti-Craft-47-H-Media-Tower/dp/B000RTNCHW/ref=pd_ybh_22?pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=ybh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0G97HM2GW7VS828D8RYQ

As much as I like it, there is one thing I feel would have made it absolutely perfect. That is if they would have made it to sit on a turntable of some sort so it could rotate perfectly without moving the entire base. Although the wheels work fine, you have to rotate the entire library, which isn't a smooth circular motion. Hope I explained that ok. If it wasn't for that, I would have given it 5 stars.

A very well-built and solid product. The pieces are well-sanded and smooth. We are using it in our living room. Only complaint is that the wheels are really cheap, never allowed the unit to rotate well, and collapsed after a few months because we put a lot of heavy books in it. We replaced the wheels with silicone skateboard wheels and now it looks and works really well.

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The bookcase is sturdy and durable. It holds many books and its design makes it easy to access books from all sides. I especially like that there are sides to display your child's "favorite" books. It is a great piece and well worth the price.

Read Best Reviews of Guidecraft 4-Sided Library Wood Bookcase Here

The only thing I would caution someone about is the large footprint of this item. You can't place it too close to a wall without blocking access to some of the shelves. As long as you have the space for it though, this unit stores tons of books and toys and is very sturdy.

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This book shelf looks amazing! Yes it is big, but I love it! The wheels did not work for us since the floor we put the book shelf was a playmat material so I purchased a lazy susan bracket and screwed it under the book shelf and it spins around beautifully! I purchased the lazy susan right on amazon.com. It cost $7.77 and it holds up to 1000 lbs! My 4 yr old loves her new spinning book shelf!

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Tuesday, June 10, 2014

LifeStyle MLC-02 Mobile Laundry Ironing Center with Shelves

LifeStyle MLC-02 Mobile Laundry Ironing Center with ShelvesThis product was exactly as advertised. It is sturdy and works very well and is perfect for the area I have available. The ironing board pad cover could have been better considering how much I paid for it (it is a dull, rough cotton). Fortunately, I sew and can make or adapt another one, but someone else should consider the problem with replacing it later because it is not a standard size ironing board. The only real complaint I have is the instructions paper (yes, I meant "paper") for putting it together. There is one sheet of poorly printed paper with difficult to read pictures and not one word printed on it. Now I have put a million pieces of furniture, etc. together and was able to muddle through, but I felt sorry for someone who has never done something like this before. So as I said I was satisfied with product and would recommend it.

Not near as sturdy as I had hoped for the high price. 3 of the bolt holes had to be tapped to use screws supplied. Ironing board seems to have a good pad and design concept is a good idea. Cart easily moves with wheel brakes set on tile floor.

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This cart is very poor quality considering the price. It comes in a LOT of pieces that don't fit together well and, in some instances, the screws don't fit. I doubt it would last if we were planning to move it around much. Good idea poorly executed.

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Tuesday, May 27, 2014

KV Lazy Susan Full Round 2 Polymer Shelves 20" (Set) White

KV Lazy Susan Full Round 2 Polymer Shelves 20' White
  • Chrome plated telescoping post. Chrome beauty ring included. Textured polymer surface
  • Extra deep 1" rim height, Post Height: 26" - 32", Post Diameter: 1"
  • Set contains; 2 - shelves, Post and pivot hardware, Screws and mounting instructions
  • Independent shelf rotation
  • To see all sizes, shapes, and colors, Search: KV Lazy Susan

The quality is very good, the mounting instructions are not great. But it's fairly simple to install if you find the center with a tape measure and mount (the template wasn't the most helpful in finding the correct spot). And just to be sure it would be in the correct placement, I put the whole thing in the cabinet before actually mounting the plates. Worked like a charm. Overall I'm very happy with this Lazy Susan, it's sturdy and fit our cabinet perfectly. I would this purchase again.

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this product is a great storage solution seems very durable compliments the kitchen cabinets very well very happy with this purchase

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Ordered this item for an odd shaped cabinet we have in our kitchen, it worked out perfectly and now I have a functioning spice rack/susan that was previously wasted space.KV Lazy Susan Full Round 2 Polymer Shelves 20" (Set) White

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This is a great value and so easy to install. It's just perfect and the seller is perfect too.

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Ordered the lazy Susan after searching a while for a good deal.Found this and decided to purchase.It was just what I wanted.Thanks.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Vinyl Veneer High Capacity Wall Rack (CD-1500 Series) Oak

Vinyl Veneer High Capacity Wall Rack OakThe CD storage rack is of high quality and the finish looks much better in person than the picture shows. The CD rack comes double boxed with card board and lined with styro foam to protect the finish in shipment. Assembly is quick and the CD rack is held together sturdily as I have over 1200 CDs on it. The CD rack is finished with wood veneer even in places that do not show which is most appreciated. The adjustable shelves handle the weight of the CDs easily and lock in place so that they contribute to the over all strength of the unit. The CD rack is a nice size and fits just right in the space I have available for it. Over all I am very pleased with my purchase.

This is a great shelf. it really helps to mantain organized all my music and dvd's. Very fast to assemble, and the size is great; does not take too much room.

Thank you very much, sincerely

R.L.

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The shelf came within days. It was easy to set up, and I got it up and my cds and dvds on it in a couple of hours. For such a tall, thin shelf it is amazingly stable, and with a capacity of 1500 cds, I'll be able to fit in a lot more in the future.

Read Best Reviews of Vinyl Veneer High Capacity Wall Rack (CD-1500 Series) Oak Here

Monday, March 24, 2014

TSM Products Stainless Steel Food Dehydrator with 5 Stainless Steel Shelves

TSM Products Stainless Steel Food Dehydrator with 5 Stainless Steel ShelvesThe most exciting thing to enter my kitchen in a long time is this stainless steel Dehydrator. Most of my raw cookbooks recommend the Excalibur 9 tray, so I got that first. It was too big and too loud for my small house (I have an open floor plan), and frankly, I found Excalibur's customer service to be lacking.

I looked and looked and couldn't find another option until I happened to notice someone talking about the Sausage Maker on a raw foods message board. After some research, I realized TSM and Sausage Maker are one and the same. Sausage Maker originated as a dehydrator for hunters to preserve their game. But raw foodists caught on and started using their dehydrators because of their high quality. TSM realized they had another market demographic and wisely took the sausage logo off the machine.

The unit itself is very good looking. It's well built and has a sexy industrial appearance for the kitchen. It's quiet-very quiet which I didn't think would matter since I like white noise, but if you are going to have something on for 20 hours in a small space, it can be really annoying if it's too loud.

The trays are high quality stainless steel and it has a timer. A timer! This is so helpful when you have something going for many hours and is surprisingly absent from many dehydrators. Their customer service is friendly and helpful, I had to call about the temperature dial--it corresponds to the chart on the top left of the machine, raw foodists will want their knob to stay within that first space on the dial in case anyone else is wondering. Also, be sure to ask for one with a little hole in the door for a thermometer probe if you want to to monitor the temperature (and you probably will).

I'm still in the experimental stage food-wise but I have had great success making crackers and cookies and veggie chips. I give you my utmost recommendation for this model. It's the nicest dehydrator I've ever seen and I've been looking like crazy. If you are embarking on your own raw foods journey or want to upgrade from your current dehydrator, or just need a fabulous gift for the raw foodie in your life, be sure to check this out.

TSM Products Stainless Steel Food Dehydrator with 5 Stainless Steel Shelves

I have recently purchased this dehydrator after looking at reviews for other machines. I must say that I did not expect to have it running almost non-stop. Thinking of new items to dehydrate. I am particualrly fond of the banana chips I give to my pet. She looks at the machine with her mouth watering.

I am happy that I purchased the all stainless steel as over time, it will hold up to hours and days of use. I was a bit surprised at the size even though the dimensions were given. It is larger than a small microwave. Fits nicely under kitchen cabinets. Looks chic with other stainess appliances.

I have searched but have not been able to find a thermometer with a probe to fit in the front cover to monitor the temperatures more closely.

* the 12 hour timer is great

* the temp control has different colored shading no numbers/ it would be good to guesstimate of the internal the temperature as it does not come with an additional thermometer

* the square design makes adding items very easy to do without falling in the middle hole like round units

* 5 trays hold a lot of items

* I wish the small manual had more info in it as some of the other units advertise (a how to begin dehydrating book would be a better draw)

* it does not get as hot as it claims to get on the outside (good thing)

* the stainless sliding up door has cut my finger it is almost like a guillatine (sp?)

* there are no accessories (fruit roll sheet or jerky seasonings or liners) included. It would have been helpful to try to help make a buying decision as I am new to dehydrating.

* the fan sounds similar to an air purifier or small floor fan while running.

I'll update when I have used the unit a bit more.

If you can afford to spend the $$ on the SS shelves, I would definitely do so.

UPDATE FEB 1, 2011

Well,

I must say I haven't grown tired of my new best friend. I noticed it has a steady on switch if you don't want to use the 12 hr timer. Missed that before.

my favorites all without sulfites

watermelon tastes like candy

bananas leathery if you dehydrate for apprx 12 hours/ crunchy if you do 24 hours

mangoes

stone fruits apricots, peaches

pineapple

blueberries

kale chips

sweet potatoes

The unit is very easy on the electric bill minimal change in my monthly bill.

Again, very happy that I purchased the stainless steel shelves. Clean up is a breeze. The fan is mounted in the back so no messy spills get on it. I haven't had to rotate shelves as every shelf appears to get equal heating.

If you are using a food that may have a high sugar content, spray the shelves with Pam and everything comes off easily.

Purchased a jerky gun and seasonings. They are the best I've ever had.

I did decide to give raw a try. There are so many possibilities with food and DESSERTS. It is a bit expensive to start your pantry off about the cost of this dehydrator.

Update April 16, 2012

Well, the dehydrator is the most used appliance in the kitchen in terms of number of hours used. I continue to dehydrate my fruits and kale chips. When making raw soups, they taste a little better when you use the dehydrator to knock the chill off. One of my better appliance investments. Instead of using cooking spay, I use parchment paper now and cleanup is even easier.

Buy TSM Products Stainless Steel Food Dehydrator with 5 Stainless Steel Shelves Now

A stainless steel food dehydrator with free shipping-could I ask for more? No! So I bought it. I wanted a dehydrator that was bpa free so I decided on this one. I was thrilled with I found this-exactly what I was looking for. The Excalibur dehydrator has great reviews but I was unsure of the material they use on their trays and fruit leather mats so I went w/ stainless and am so glad I did.

Pros

It cooks evenly-no need to rotate food/trays

It has a self stop timer so I can go to bed and empty it in the morning

It heats up quickly and the directions are clear for set up.

Things I've learned-if you remove food after the dehydrator is turned off and cool-heat it up for a minute and the food is easier to get off the trays.

Using a paper towel, lightly coat the trays w/ oil if dehydrating things like apples. They will come off a lot easier and the cook time isn't longer -even with the oil.

Look over the trays carefully for pieces of metal that weren't removed from the manufacture. I saw that this was an issue when reading online and was willing to deal w/ it b/c I wanted stainless.

Order The Dehydrator Cookbook if you're new to dehydrating

The only thing I'd change is that I'd buy the larger one. 5 trays is a lot but for the same amount of time and electricity, you can dehydrate so much more!

Next I'm going to make pickle chips:)

Read Best Reviews of TSM Products Stainless Steel Food Dehydrator with 5 Stainless Steel Shelves Here

I lived alone in our cabin in a remote area of Virginia while supervising building of a new house. Had lots of time on my hands to thoroughly research everything I was buying, from bathtub drains to food dehydrators. At least partially because of that, I made lots of good decisions

My TSM dehydrator arrived several months ago, but decided to wait to write review until my 1/2 acre vegetable garden came into full production. My primary goal was to dry tomatoes (I have 65 plants this year). The garden was has been late coming in, but is now in full swing, so I am drying tomatoes like mad!

My first impression of the dehydrator was that it was extremely well made and pretty to look at. My husband, with engineering background and company with large mechanical shop, was very impressed. (I understand that each of these dehydrators is custom made in a shop.)

Had decided to buy stainless steel, first because it appealed to me and, close second, food safety. Didn't want to heat food for hours on plastics. No problem with door edges or noise (see other reviews). Love the sturdy, ventilated trays, food dries evenly. However, because of food odors during dehydration, we decided even before using it for the first time to dehydrate on the back porch. Might not have been a problem inside, but we have room outside and it seemed like a good idea. Works great there.

Because of the few negative comments I had read about this item, called the manufacturer before buying. No problems contacting, excellent information and feedback regarding my questions. Couldn't have been more pleased or satisfied with that contact.

I am so glad that I made the decision to buy this product. Well made, good-looking, solid, does exactly what it is designed to do.

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I really like my TSM 5 shelf Dehydrator purchased Nov. 2011!

My Rating: ****

Great little unit for those who do not dehydrate a lot of foods at a time! However, five 16 x 14 racks can hold quite a bit.

Recommendations!

I find it best to have a "level" designated spot for the machine. Once filled, and set, leave it be. Removing the door lets the heat escape; so, you may not wish to do it, while dehydrating. Moving the unit, while the heating element is red hot can cause damage to your unit. Hot things tend to break more easily.

I suggest filling your machine up!

Dehydrating requires the same energy, whether you fill one rack, or all five.

Also, use parchment paper for those items that tend to stick!

Or, order Frogmats.

First Complaint!

You may wish to plan on using a calibrated 12" temp gauge, as TSM's temperature dial is a little tricky to set. Anything shorter may not give you an accurate reading. Or, better yet, take a look at Maverick Industry's wireless remote systems. The gauge-probe inserts through a small hole in the front door panel. I do find the thermometer often snags on whatever is inside.

Second Complaint!

The rear SS panel, supporting the motor tends to vibrate-rattle when the unit is on. TSM should have used a heavier gauge SS for the rear. I found the noise so annoying, I reinforced the motor bracket with a piece of flat steel.

Yes, I'd purchased this product again! Order it!

You will be glad you did!

Good luck!

Ron B.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Racor PHL-1R Pro HeavyLift 4-by-4-Foot Cable-Lifted Storage Rack

Racor PHL-1R Pro HeavyLift 4-by-4-Foot Cable-Lifted Storage RackAfter shopping for a garage ceiling storage system, I purchased this device. I was attracted to the ability to raise and lower the platform to load and unload items. This avoids the obvious pitfalls of using a ladder to hoist large or heavy items up from the ground.

In summary, I am reasonably happy with the overall product with some exceptions mentioned below. However, I will caution potential buyers that the design of this device is unforgiving. Unless your ceiling joists are EXACTLY 48" apart (they can be 1.5" less but not more than 48"), installation will be no where near as easy as the video on the website. You may need to mount this to a rigid board first if your joists are not 48" apart. The axle is not made to be adjustable and I find this to be a major design flaw of the device.

The foundation of the system includes 3 heavy metal grates that are secured to two metal cross beams with J hooks. I had a little trouble aligning the J hooks with the holes on the metal beams. However, by far, the most trouble I had was with securing the system to the ceiling. I really did not want to mount this to a board before securing it to the ceiling for aesthetic reasons. My ceiling joists were about 49" apart (instead of 48") and this created a VERY problematic installation. You need to secure this into wood (and not just the ceiling drywall) and you cannot mount the arms of the device further than 48" apart as the axle will not be long enough. I ended up lengthening the axle by a few inches by screwing both halves of the axle together with only the first set of holes. The two halves of the axle are supposed to come together with one inside the other aligning two sets of holes on each piece. I only went as far as the first set thus making it a little longer. Then I bought some aluminum 1/2 inch metal from a hardware store and reinforced the axle by screwing it to two sides of the axle. Keep in mind that the axle is not completely load-bearing so as long as it is rigid and reinforced, the system will work fine (see my uploaded picture of the lengthened and reinforced axle).

Problems continued when I used the included hardware lag bolts to screw the arms into the ceiling joists. Using a drill, I pre-drilled the holes as instructed and used a socket wrench to screw the lag bolts to the joists. I torqued 4 of the heads off of the cheap lag bolts. Do yourself a favor and go buy some better lag bolts at a hardware store before installing this device. The included lag bolts are totally inferior. After finishing the installation, it worked as described and I loaded it with a few hundred pounds of things I had previously kept on my garage floor. I will also mention that using the included crank device to raise and lower the platform, while not overly difficult, is a good work out.

Overall, I would recommend this product IF you know your joists are no further than 48" apart (or you are comfortable mounting it to a board first) and you go buy some decent lag bolts before trying to secure it to the ceiling.

I just finished my install today. Plan on at least 4 hours for this project. The joist do not have to be EXACTLY 48" as other reivews stated. That is the MOST the distance can be. You can be as close as 46 1/2. There is play in the bar that attaches the two ends.

Here's my contribution to make this easy and keep it a one person job. Get a 4 foot piece of 1 1/4 lattic piece of trim. You can find it at any big box hardware store. This will be used as your template when drilling holes.

I have a finished ceiling Before getting started, I used the 4' lattice to outline the joist. Instead of using a stud finder, which doesn't always work, I just use a finish nail to find the edges of the joist which are 1 1/2" wide. I marked the joist at one end and measured 48" down then found the edges of the joist. I put the lattice between these marks on both ends, then traced the lattice with a pencil

In step 7, you notice the only indicate 7 bolts to be installed, but 9 in step 8. You have to remove the nylon rings in order to reach all 9 bolts, but this isn't mentioned. With the nylong rings off and the arm sitting on top of the lattice piece of wood, mark all the slots in the middle with a pencil. Make sure to mark the center of the T-bracket, too. This is critical for hanging the arms by yourself.

Since the pre-drill hole size is 1/8, make the template holes one size larger at 3/16 with a drill. With the template, use a wood screw in the center template hole to temporarily attach to the joist so you have both hands free to line up the lattic to the trace marks I mentioned before. Now drill the pre-drill holes with the 1/8 bit.

The manual doesn't mention this but there are those keyhole type of holes in the middle part of the arm. BEFORE you grab the arm in step 7, but the first lag bolt in the middle pre-driller hole, leaving about 1 1/2 inch. Now pick up the arm and angle it over the lag bolt in the middle. It takes a little wiggling, but it will eventually slide in. Now tighten the lag bolt, but not 100% Now the joist is hanging hands free from one lag bolt. Now, you are free to mount the other lag bolts by yourself.

The stock lag bolts are junk. I shredded two when installing. I did install the stock lags so I could line up the two arm properly, but came back later with high quality lags of qty. 12 5/16" with a 3 1/2 length lag bolts. Trying to enlarge this existing gaps don't work very well. What I recommend is drilling BETWEEN the existing slots. First use a smaller bit to get thru the metal easier and create a pre-drill hole. I think I used a 3/16". Then I used a slightly larger bit like a 7/16" to cut a hole to allow it pass thru the new hole in the metal. Make sure you use eye protection and cover your forearms. The metal shaving are burning hot! Don't attach the 5/16" lags until Step 9 alignment is done.

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This is a great storage solution for garages with high ceilings. Once installed the heavy lift works very well.

One drawback is that many garages have a double layer of 5/8" drywall on the ceilings as mine did. The mounting lag bolts are only #12(the metric equivilant) screws 2" long which is woefully short if the extra thickness of drywall is considered. The only easily available lagscrews I could find that were longer were 1/4" by 3" long. These were too large in diameter to fit through the #12 mounting slots in the ceiling brackets, so I had to drill new holes which was very labor intensive and cumbersome.

Secondly, The order of operations as described in the installation instructions is not very usefull if you are installing the lift by yourself. It is much easier to loosely mount the center of each ceiling bracket to the ceiling first and then attach the extension arms one at a time. If this is done first as indicated in the instructions, the assemblies are prety heavy, and cumbersome to be holding over your head while up on a ladder, pre-drilling holes through the bracket, and then installing the lag screws. This cost me at least an hour to assemble, and then dis-assemble the brackets just so I could handle the peices.

Thirdly, the instruction have a flat out error when it comes to the order of operations for installing the winding shaft. If you follow the instructions as written, you will again have to dis-assemble what you are instructed to do. The winding shaft must be inserted through both ceiling brackets first, through the gear box brakcet, and back into the bearing bracket. Following this the gear box can be installed.

Lastly, it is very important that the brackets are not installed too far apart. I did not calculate the tolerance available, but ran into a problem when my available ceiling joists were between 49 and 50 inches apart. This rendered my lift incapable of being assembled without modification.

So far I have installed 2 of my 3 lifts, and each lift had one nut which had no threads in it. This left me one nut short for each assembly. If this is a standard piece of hardware for the installation, there were no self tapping screws included for this nut. I ended up needing a different solution for holding the winding crank together.

The drawbacks of this lift are pretty typical of most "low cost" products these days that are being manufactured "off shore". This is a great device with many quality oversights, including the lack of a mastery of the English language.

Read Best Reviews of Racor PHL-1R Pro HeavyLift 4-by-4-Foot Cable-Lifted Storage Rack Here

If you want to make this product work without fail or doubt purchase two 2x6x12 (I hung side by side heavy lifts), find center of boards and pre-drill either a 5/16 or 3/8 inch hole and measure out 16 inches from center which is where your studs will be. Then use either the 5/16 or 3/8 size 5 1/2 or 6 inch steel lag screws. Secure the 2x6x12 into the ceiling with lag screws and then use the smaller screws provided to add some "extra insurance". I ended up with 8 lag screws into the 2x6x12. I also had to drill (3) 5/6 inch or 3/8 inch (which ever size lag screw you choose)holes into each pulley/arm assembly to get the lag srew through the metal arm assembly (there are slots where the manufacturer wants you to put the small screws through and into the joists). I mounted the center of the board lag into the stud and then measure out 16 inches on each side and drilled my 5/16 inch hole for another lag. So, with some real simple modification you can make this a great item, otherwise I wouldn't hang my coat on the heavy lift with the screws they supplied. I couldn't believe it when I read in the instructions to "wait one hour" to make sure it was going to hold. I assure you that if you attach with the screws provided it will fall to the floor if you hang 250 pounds from it. By using long lag screws that are hefty in size you are really adding some strength to it. I would recommend using some lock tite on the nuts just to keep you from having to "check" the nuts and bolts. The crank works great. To give you an idea of the strength you gain by using the large lag screws, I hung a small sears craftsman pushmower, a gas powered edger, a bag with logging chains, four gas cans, a weedeater, gas powered blower, and a chainsaw (all on one heavy lift). I probably could have added more but didn't have anything else to add. If you secure it "right" you won't have to do something stupid like pick all you crap off of the garage floor because you used the rediculous screws they send with the kit. Otherwise, pretty cool item.

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Great design, very cheap hardware. I read several Amazon reviews before installing, so I saved myself some trouble by buying good hardware prior to installing. The lag bolts were junk, so I replaced them with 5/16" x 3 1/2" lag bolts. Had to drill out the slots on the arm assemblies to accomodate the bigger lag bolts; would have been easier to drill if they were holes, not slots.

Step 10 of the instructions says use locknuts to assemble the winding axle-there are no locknuts in the box. In fact, there are no lock washers either. Probably would be a good idea, given the constant load and the vibrations from the garage door opener. I recommend putting lock-tite on the threads of bolts. I put lock washers on the bolts that fasten the grate to the cables.

One of my bolt heads shore clean off while assembling. Same junk hardware.

Between step 12 and 13 of assembly-don't put the fender washer on yet... it will be impossible to put the cable ring on the gear drive end of the axle. Instead, install both ends, complete with the cable rings, then go back and install the fender washers on the ends of the axle.

Another tip when choosing the location on your ceiling: don't put the gear drive end of the assembly up close to a wall-you won't be able to fit your body between the lift and the wall. Instead, put the gear drive on the open side.

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Saturday, March 15, 2014

Kitchen Cart with Stainless Steel Top Base Finish: White

Kitchen Cart with Stainless Steel Top Base Finish: WhiteStainless top came STAINED, magnetic closure does not stay closed and pops open every time there is the smallest air pressure change. Handles are NOT metal, they are plastic painted to look like metal. If it were easier to return, I would have. But since it doesn't look like a TOTAL piece of crap overall, I gave it the extra star.

This cart is perfect for a tiny kitchen, however, it needs to be about 6" deeper to be fully functional. It was also hard to put together. The directions were not clear and the materials are so flimsy that they split when the screws were inserted. Overall, it looks good and you get what you pay for.

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The item came faster than I expected but the package was damaged. I don't think it was from the company though I think it was from UPS. Anyway my husband put it together pretty fast and we kept the wheels off to place it as an kitchen island. All in all I love the cart and and even though I read the reviews I decided to try it for myself and im glad I did.

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This cart looks nicer than it is. I bought it since I have a pretty nice one from two years ago and wanted to match it. It's a hair more than that one was, but time had passed.... but wow, this one is flimsy, many holes were inaccurately drilled (making it difficult to assemble with right angles and good tolerances), not all parts bags were marked correctly (nor all pieces) and the instructions were quite poorly translated/written.

If I hadn't put together the previous incarnation two years ago it would have been a lot harder to put together. The flimsiness/shoddiness of the materials is the real kicker, though.

The back piece of the cabinet is even thinner tagboard than before, and several of the pieces, even though pre-drilled, cracked as soon as the screws went into them to put together, before tightening. The pre-drilled holes for the casters were not straight, and some were too large and the screws won't tighten.

I live extremely rurally and needed the cart, so I glued and made do, but I would not purchase this item if there were any remotely similar item available. Several of the bags of screws and parts were missing items, and I had to use some of my own hardware to finish the assemlby--I could not leave a partially assembled cart in the middle of the kitchen for weeks waiting for replacement screws to arrive.

Now that it is together, it's holding up ok, but I would not try to stack a lot on the inner shelf nor load the bottom shelf with too much, either, making it not as useful as I had thought it would be.

If you're handy and cheap, this is OK; if you have more money to spend, get a different item.

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Looks fine...but mine came with some wrong parts. I got 3 hinges for the left door and 1 for the right. I was able to take the pin out of one of the hinges and make new screw holes to get it to work. Also, the hinges didn't fit right so the doors wouldn't shut all of the way. I had to bend the hinges and raise the doors slightly to keep them from pinching.

It works decent now and looks fine, but definitely not worth the money.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Nexera Deco 2 Door Wardrobe Armoire in Natural Maple

Nexera Deco 2 Door Wardrobe Armoire in Natural MapleWardrobe was easy to assemble. Looks exactly like picture. Sturdy. Smells nice. If I were to purchase again, I would probably order one that was taller. My long winter coats touch the floor and it would be nice to have more space on the bottom for shoes, etc. However, there is a shelf above the bar, providing some room for storage.

I bought two of these wardrobes due to the lack of closet space in our new home. Customer service was great. They will make sure you are satisfied with your purchase.

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Monday, February 17, 2014

Home Styles 5061-73 The Orleans Multi-function Vintage Storage Unit

Home Styles 5061-73 The Orleans Multi-function Vintage Storage UnitThe shelves are easily put together and very sturdy. We did not have enough washers/bolts. It seems that they forgot one package. We are in the process of contacting Home Styles to see if they would send us the missing pieces. We were able to get all of the shelves together, even though we were short on the washers/bolts.

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Sunday, December 29, 2013

White 5-tier Leaning Ladder Book Shelf

White 5-tier Leaning Ladder Book ShelfItem can early and was easy to assemble ( I did it by myself). I'm extremelly happy with the shelf it looks great in my dining nook with, being used as more of a plant holder and seems sturdy so far! Would def reccomend !

I bought four of these and put them together myself. The wood is not very heavy, like it's hollow or made of a very dry pine or something. But, because it's thin and not heavy I could put it together myself even though the directions recommend two people assemble it. The package comes with wall fasteners, which I did not need and an extra leg for the bottom shelf. Very easy to assemble and can be a bit rickety. But, once in place they stay put.

Things you will need: screwdriver, a sense of geometry! and carpeted floor. Even the directions recommend a carpeted floor. The directions are horribly written and illustrated, btw.

Note: the longer piece on the side of the shelf is actually two pieces and you can see a seam in the middle.

These shelves are made in China and have the feel of mass production. You may see a flaw in a rough edge or seam not completely flushed when put together, or a dibit in a corner that you would only notice because you assembled it yourself. However, overall, they're very nice looking shelves!

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This is a steady shelf. I used it in my bathroom for towels and toileties, so I can't comment on if it would give any troubles had I use it to hold books and other heavy-like objects. It is a pressed wood, but it is of a great quality. It was also relatively easy to assemble--one person will do the job. I was worry when I saw the photo if this would be wobbly like any other pressed board furniture from Walmart or KMart, but to my surprise, this turns out nicely and I was presently surprised. Amazing for the $50-ish price and thank you to Amazin Prime for free 2 day shipping! This would be sold for at least $100-$150 at Walmart for a much cheaper quality. Would be about $200 at target on sale.

Great buy and im thinking about getting an additional one when I have the money. Highly recommended.

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The shelf is very sturdy and looks great in my daughters room. Before, we couldn't keep all of her books together and now they fit on one shelf and stay up nicely. I am trying to find more things to put on the other shelves!! I am pleased with my purchase and would recommend the shelf!

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I put the shelf together quickly even with having to redo the bottom part when I realized it wouldn't match up correctly with the top part. Make certain they will go together the right way before you put the screws in! I placed my graduated-sized treasure chests on each shelf and it looks spectacular! I couldn't have found a better way to display them. My husband likes how it looks, too. Oh, I did have my husband look for a different screw when one of them just wouldn't fit right. This company should send a few extra pieces of hardware, just in case.

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Monday, November 4, 2013

SEI Black Metal Entryway Storage Bench with Coat Rack

SEI Black Metal Entryway Storage Bench with Coat RackThis was a great addition to a corner in our dining room. It has collected the daily shoes, bookbags and coats that were scattered everywhere. As with anything you buy you want it to be super sturdy. This one could be a little better but if you have a small space and need to confine the clutter its wonderful! Definitely recommend it for the price.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this product!!!

This was super easy to assemble in an hour or less. It is very nice looking and super functional. This was definitely worth the investment because it allows a person to place their hat, coat and/or purse right at the door's entryway and take off shoes while sitting comfortably. And it doesn't require attaching anything to a wall! We move every few years so this was perfect for us as we can take it with us without leaving holes in the wall!! It also fits in a narrow entryway very well, conserving what little space there may be.

My only complaint was that it came with a very strong odor. I imagine it has to do with whatever was brushed on the metal. Initially it made me feel really sick, like my heart racing and head aching, but I wiped it all down and let it air out for a few days and it was much improved. Within a month, I think the smell was no longer detectable.

Also, be sure to check that all the little knobs connected to the coat hooks are still attached before you throw the box away. Since attaching them was not part of the assembly instructions, I didn't notice that one was missing before I threw the box away!

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I saw this on Kohls website for $70 more than Amazon was offering this

and it's by the same company! This is so convenient to hang coats (lots of hooks)

and the top part is easy for me to reach(I'm 5'5)my doggie bags when I take my dogs for their walks.

We keep shoes on the bottom part. It is black metal so no chipping of paint.

The cushion is wonderful to sit on while putting on shoes. The item is very nice, easy to assemble

and EXTREMELY STURDY (no wobbling-sturdy for several heavy coats and to sit on).

A very lovely piece for an entryway or mudroom.

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This is exactly what we needed and has worked out really well. It's sturdy and well-made for the price. You really can't go wrong with this!

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I needed something that could fit into the space by my front door to hang coats and hats and put shoes on, this fit perfectly! I put it together all by myself and it is still fine and secure even though my teenage son throws things on it.

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