Rain Bird LNK2WIFI WiFi Module 2nd Generation

What’s going on guys? It’s Hai.

One thing that I really appreciate about my home is the in-ground sprinkler system. It makes watering the grass a lot easier than moving an above-ground system around. At my home, I have a Rainbird ESP-TM2 controller that’s connected to 5 different zones. This control center is pretty straightforward and easy to operate but it’s mounted at the edge of my property in an area that I don’t go to much so it’s a bit inconvenient. Especially so when I had to adjust some sprinkler heads on the exact opposite end of my property and had to walk back and forth to just get the water flowing so I can check my adjustments.

This is where the Rain Bird LNK2WIFI WiFi Module comes into play. This product is essentially a module that enables wifi for compatible controllers. The black one is the updated 2nd generation model. If you look for these Rain Bird wifi modules, you may see a grey version. That’s the outdated generation one model and I’m not sure why but it’s generally more expensive.

Installation of this module is fairly simple. On my controller, there was a little sticker that had to be removed. This revealed the connectors for the wifi module. All there’s really to do is plug the module in and it’ll boot up. From here, we can hop into the Rain Bird app and set things up.

Now, there are a good amount of things that you can do with the app so I'm not going to go over everything with you, just some of my favorites. First and foremost, the module and app will allow you to turn your sprinkler on and off as you please without having to touch the controller. You will also be able to make a watering schedule by setting frequency and duration. The app actually allows me to set longer durations per zone than the physical controller. A nice feature that the app provides is Seasonal Adjustment. With this, you set your schedule for the hottest time of the year and the app will adjust watering times based on that. It will water less when appropriate so you don’t have to do it throughout the year. From my experience, I haven’t seen the Seasonal Adjustment go down to not watering at all though. This is something that I’d like to have because here in Washington State, we can definitely hit times when there's seemingly constant rain so watering the lawn isn’t necessary. However, the app will allow me to delay my watering schedule for up to 14 days so that’s kind of a workaround.

In general, the Rain Bird wifi module is largely not necessary but it does add a lot of convenience. For about $85, it’s definitely worth it in my life and is a product that I can recommend if it’s compatible with your controller.

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Rain Bird LNK2WIFI WiFi Module - 2nd Generation

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Rain Bird LNK2WIFI WiFi Module - 1st Generation

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https://amzn.to/3sXpkdT

Rain Bird ESP-TM2

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Craftsman Versatrack

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When it comes to organization, one thing that can greatly help is to get your stuff onto the walls. It’s a good amount of space that is typically not utilized. To do this there are a variety of options but we’ll be looking at a slat board alternative, we’ll be looking at Craftsman’s Versatrack system.

The Verstrack itself is a 4’ long x 5.5” wide slat of what seems like a PVC material that has grooves that allow you to hang various accessories that themselves hang your various things.

Installation of the Versatrack can be fairly simple. All it takes is a couple of screws through the Versatrack and into your wall to hold everything up. The tracks even have grooves that indicate where you should mount the hardware. But of course, if you want things to look good and to be secure as possible, you’d probably want to level things out and go into the studs if possible. Craftsman advertises that the Versatrack can support 75lbs per linear foot and although I haven’t even gotten close to that payload, the system definitely seems very robust.

I initially invested in the Versatrack as a way to hang my ladders up on the wall. I started with one 4 foot section and cut it in half to get 2, 2-foot slats on my walls. These slats hold up my ladders just fine, even the Little Giant ladder that weighs about 30 lbs. This is surprising because I was only able to go into one stud on this particular wall and the other side is questionably held in place by a smaller drywall anchor. After seeing how well this side works, I decided to do a larger connected panel. This was a bit more complicated because there was some cutting involved to dodge a circuit breaker cover and an outlet but the project wasn’t too bad.

Cutting the Versatrack is fairly easy. I used a miter saw and it just rips through this material. The cut is very clean and I can’t tell the difference between the cut end and the factory end. I’m sure you can use any other type of saw to get a cut done but if you’re just doing straight cuts on the ends, the miter saw will probably be your best option. Then when it comes time to connect the slats vertically, the pieces have grooves on the top and bottom so everything should line up with no problems.

Throughout this process, I’ve purchased a few different hooks and accessories for the Versatrack. With this, it’s largely trial and error to see what works. Craftsman makes different types of hooks, baskets, shelves, and other accessories for this system. You can even get metal cabinets that’ll directly hand on the Versatrack. This system is quite modular and expandable so it should offer something for most people.

The accessories essentially latch onto the grooves of the slats and hang in place. They have a plastic lever that you can turn to prevent the accessory from coming off the slat but they will still be able to slide left and right.

In terms of cost, the slats themselves are very competitive and among the cheapest option that I’ve found even if you have to provide your own hardware. However, the hooks and accessories are a bit overpriced for what they are. That’s where the price can really add up if you buy a lot and invest in this system.

Overall, I would say that I’m happy with my Versatrack setup. I think it looks good and after some work, I should be able to get a lot of stuff onto the walls. This is definitely a system that I can recommend if you’re looking for a way to organize your space.

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Craftsman 2000 Series 52 in 10 Drawer Cabinet & 8 Drawer Steel Tool Chest

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I’ve been in the market for a rolling tool cabinet or a combo set like this for a while. I’ve always liked the Craftsman toolbox look so when it came time to buy, the 2000 Series was something that I looked at a lot. It doesn’t help that I shop at Lowe’s a lot so I saw them all the time.

In terms of basic specs, these boxes are constructed from 18-20 gauge steel and feature drawers that support 100 lbs of product. The drawers themselves feature soft close hinges and are lockable. The cabinet also features four wheels, two of which turn and are lockable. Both the cabinet and tool chest feature side handles. The cabinet has one handle and is not switchable from side to side. The tool chest has a handle on both sides that telescopes in and out. Both pieces should come with liners for all the drawers and top surfaces, along with two keys per lock. I say should because I was missing a liner and a key. Both of which I was able to get by reaching out to Craftsman’s customer service.

So I’ve had this combo set for a few weeks now and use it essentially every day. I don’t have all my tools moved in yet but can provide some opinions. First off let’s talk about the price. The cabinet retails for $629 but I’ve always seen it at $539. The tool chest retails at $499 but I’ve always seen it for $409. Together, you’re looking at $1128 MSRP but it’s realistically $948. In my opinion, I think that may be overpriced. This is going to be a more subjective take but I think for the money, there are better options in the market. Prior to buying, I was pretty set on this Craftsman set because I’ve always wanted a Craftsman toolbox. However, after walking into a Home Depot one day and seeing the options there, I really questioned the Craftsman. The two most common toolbox brands that you’ll see at Home Depot will probably be Milwaukee and Husky. The Milwaukee options, in my opinion, are going to be the best among the three but they cost the most. For my needs, I didn’t think the cost of the Milwaukee would’ve been justifiable. Husky, on the other hand, being Home Depot’s house brand, the prices are a bit lower and closer in cost to the Craftsman. So for me, it was between Craftsman and Husky. After a few days of going back and forth between stores and looking at the various options, I actually decided to buy a Husky combo set. The fit and finish just felt better. The liners were the higher quality kind, not the cheap perforated stuff as with the Craftsman. The Husky has plastic end caps on all the ends of the drawers. The Craftsman does not and the exposed metal edges aren’t rounded off or smooth. They can definitely cut you if you scrape them with a bit of force. But again, those are just my personal feelings.

So, why did I buy this Craftsman set? Long story short, I was able to get this particular set for 40% off. So at the price that I paid, it was a no-brainer to go with the Craftsman. My situation is pretty unique. Most people are not going to have the same opportunity so for the most part, I would definitely recommend visiting a local Lowe’s if possible to check the Craftsman box out for yourself. Then find another retailer, like Home Depot, that has some competitor options and get a feel for those. Specs written online are great but you definitely can feel the difference in quality between boxes just by playing with them for a few minutes.

Personally, if I was paying retail or even the normal sale price, I wouldn’t buy the Craftsman and get a Husky. The Husky options actually go on sale quite often and when they do, they are actually a better deal in terms of cost. Then if I wanted a little more quality and can spend some more money, I’d go Milwaukee.

Overall, I think these Craftsman 2000 Series boxes are fine. They do the job and serve their purpose but I do think that there are better options for the price. Again, I would highly recommend you check various options out in person.

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Rubbermaid Roughneck Resin Storage Shed 5-ft x 4-ft

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I recently moved into a new home and was in need for a shed. I needed one quick and from what I’ve seen, in the shed world, nothing’s faster when it comes to DIY than a resin shed. Everything’s pre-made and all you have to do is put it together. In terms of sheds, I don’t know how it could be any easier aside from buying a pre-assembled one and having it delivered to your property.

I personally purchased a 5-ft x 4-ft Rubbermaid Roughneck Resin Storage Shed and was able to assemble it by myself. So assumably, anything smaller should also be easily assembled by one person but having help will definitely move things along. Assembling the Rubbermaid shed is largely just punching out some plastic for the screws and then screwing everything together. All the screws are the same size and you can pretty much get everything done with just a drill, drill bit, and a Phillips screwdriver. The entire thing is like a giant jigsaw puzzle but one of those extremely simple ones with like 50 pieces. I don’t think putting this shed together should be any problem for someone with the most basic ability to read instructions and comprehend. Again, I put the shed together by myself and even moved it by myself with a single hand truck but if you have some help it just makes an already easy project that much easier.

Now, like all sheds, you have some options when it comes to the base. You can build something but because the Rubbermaid shed comes with a floor, you can get away with direct ground contact in some situations. I planned to put the shed in this rocky section of the property and it largely worked until I put the doors on the shed. What I found was that if there’s a big enough elevation shift from one side to the other, the doors won’t work properly. In my case, the rocks made the right side of the shed slightly higher than the left and this caused the left door to pop completely off when both doors are closed. I could’ve resolved this by leveling out the ground by various means but I took the easiest route and just threw a sheet of pressure treated plywood under the shed. This gave my shed a flat enough base for the doors to work and some protection from the rocks.

So, at the end of the day, what do I think about this Rubbermaid resin shed? To be honest and knowing what I know now, I would buy something different or if I had the time, I would just build my own shed from wood. This Rubbermaid shed just feels like a child’s toy. The walls are pretty thin and flex with little force. If someone wanted to and had a knife, even a pocket knife, I think they’d be able to cut through the walls relatively easily. But in reality, that’s not needed at all because the doors are barely held in place. When I lock the doors together and give them a little tug, there is a lot of movement. That’s a gap of a couple of inches and I’m telling you now as someone who’s been playing with these doors a lot over the past few days, that gap allows me to leverage so much energy that not that much force is needed to rip these doors off from the shed because it’s not like there solidly held in place by anything. It’s just a piece of plastic going into a groove at the top and bottom. This is a huge problem and such a security risk to me. This is a deal breaker and I personally would say that it makes this Rubbermaid Roughneck Resin Storage Shed not worth it. It’s fine if you’re storing stuff that you really don’t care about but if you’re looking for something with a reasonable amount of security, this is not it. Look at one of those cheap sheet metal sheds if you’re looking for something relatively easy to put together and possibly even cheaper. I’m pretty disappointed in this purchase but it is what it is.

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Inspire Fitness FPC1 Full Power Cage First Impressions

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I recently moved into a new home with a good amount of garage space and I’m finally able to build my own home gym. To start things off, I bought a power rack. This particular one is the Inspire Fitness FPC1 or the Full Power Cage 1. I’ve just got this thing assembled and my other gym equipment hasn’t come in yet so this rack hasn’t been used for anything but pull-ups and dips so for this video, we’ll only do a first impression. I’ll get back to you with a more in-depth review at a later time.

First off, this rack arrived in one big box. Upon opening the box and because this is my first time assembling a power rack, the task looked pretty daunting but I assure you, assembly is as straightforward as can be. The directions are laid out clearly and this is definitely one of the easiest installs that I’ve had to deal with. I was able to put the cage together by myself and that was very doable but if you have an extra set of hands, the assembly would just fly by.

In terms of dimensions, we are looking at 60” wide, 58” in length, 85” in height, and a weight of 365 lbs.

The cage is constructed from 3x3 tubing with 1” holes for attachments. The holes are 3” apart, center to center. The cage, accessories, and hardware are all black, and we get a hint of red with the multi-grip pull-up bar.

With this cage, you get 2 dip handles, 2 pin style safeties, 2 J-Hooks, 2 outer safeties, 2 upper band attachments, 2 lower band attachments, a landmine, and a battle rope holder.

For residential use, the rack comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

In terms of a first impression, this rack looks amazing. I’ve been in a good amount of racks at commercial gyms and I can’t say that this is any worse. If anything, it’s better. Fit and finish is great. Everything lines up like it’s supposed to and the rack seems to be very robust. I’m sure it can hold up to any lifting that I’ll be doing. Also, a big benefit of this rack is the accessories that already come with it. Typically, you’d have to pay for things like the pull-up bar, dip handles, outer safeties, band attachments, landmines, and battle rope holders. Here, you get all that for an MSRP of $999 but you can definitely find the cage for less than that. I’ve seen a few sites offer it for $100-$150 off but the cheapest place that I’ve seen this rack for sale is Costco where it can go down to $400, which is an insane value. That’s where I picked this rack up and would definitely recommend you do the same if possible. The savings alone would pay for a Costco membership multiple times over, not to mention some more gym equipment.

I’m pretty excited to actually start using this cage for its intended purpose and will let you guys know how that goes. Again, I’ll make a more in-depth review video in the future so make sure to subscribe to my YouTube for that.

If you're considering buying any of the products mentioned, please support my work by using the links below.

Inspire Fitness FPC1 Full Power Cage https://amzn.to/3UerK4p

Mat Tape https://amzn.to/3BorLKh

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