Yes I have and I'm not too happy! I have a 6 ton 2 speed DR I purchased back in October of '06. Very limited use. This last week I needed to re-split 3 cord I finally found from a cutter for my stove. Chunks were to large for this stove. About a 1/2 cord into this pile my splitter flat lost its best busting pressure. The slower speed is its higher pressure. I go on-line and Chat twice, then called to speak to someone who might assist with knowledge about the problem and a corrective action. Well parts, like seals and gaskets are not even available! And, DR doesn't even have a 6 ton anymore. A small, low sitting 5 or a trailerable 10 ton...yes. Big bucks for the latter ones, Not to be discouraged I went on-line and spent 12 hours over a 2 days period looking for parts to this model/ design. The closest looking design was a Ryobi where the fluid resevoir is in the main body. The pump and valve are all part of this certain configuration and I could not locate ANYTHING! It's possible one option would be to buy the whole 'Main body' separately. But, this idea, along with horrendous freight charges I'm not considering! It still works if I fiddle with the faster speed/ lower pressure right close the piece. But that old, once impressive and worth bragging about busting ability is gone! I even spoke with a DR mechanic from a distributor and he admitted DR was terrible about not stocking parts...least wise for splitters. I went looking for another one splitter but I'm pretty bummed about these electrics if you can't repair the hydraulics with the things. Since '06 Ive purchased a couple skid steers for my snow removal business. I have an order in for a skid steer mounted splitter. I know, not everyone has this option and they still burn expensive fuel. But, it's simpler with just a ram, a valve and the equipments hydraulics. But, I'm staying away from the electrics. They do work, though...for awhile. Then you have nothing but a big piece of iron laying around. Repair stations will tell you the cost to repair a hydraulic issue isn't worth the money! That's what I was told!

I just don't like the personal chore of it. I don't like to go often, so I make a big plan and try to go every two weeks. It requires making a meal plan and a very thorough list to feed the 6 of us. So, I get frustrated trying to get my family to participate in the planning, getting ideas of what they'd like for meals so I don't get in a rut. They "don't care" when I make the list, but then ask for things later that I didn't get. Shoulda told me when I asked! I come home with a full minivan, it takes 3 hours, I go to 2-3 stores and take a cooler to keep cold foods. Then it takes me 1/2 a day to put it away. I hate that. But at least it's done for a while. If I am in a bad mood, I know the grocery is not the place for me. The mood will get worse, I won't stay focused, and the job won't get done right. So if I can help it, I wait until my mood improves. I might have to take a little time to myself and find my Zen, get my mind ready. ;o) Most of the time, people are polite and will correct it apologize if the commit a faux pas. Having said that, there is still one thing that will irritate the beejeebees out of me. In the parking lot, people walking diagonally across the driving lanes as slow as molassas while having a conversation. Then they slow to a stop in the middle and have a chat. They will look up, knowing full well cars are stopped waiting for them, and it's like it doesn't cross their mind they are in a parking lot not a park!! These are not physically limited people who cannot walk any faster, I am patient with that, they gotta do what they gotta do. I would get out and hold traffic for them. These offenders are young, tight jeans and high heals, toddler in the cart, bags piled everywhere, hands on their hips "I got all day to stand here and chat so that's what I'm gonna do." It is as if they are from another planet where this behavior is the norm b/c there is no indication that they know any better. Some days I just have to take a cleansing breath and remind myself that I don't want to hurt anyone. I really want to get out and explain to them "Welcome to our planet where we don't have reunions in parking lots."

I had to do a reset this morning on my vacuum. Yesterday, she started acting like a trapped animal, like she was having a panic attack. Forward, backward and circling in quick bursts, not seeing any objects, crashing into them. I cleaned all her wheels and brushes yesterday, docked her and hoped for the best this morning. No, she was still acting like a maniac so I held the "clean" button for 10 seconds til the letters "rst" showed up. Let go of the button, she made a new chime sound and she is all good again. This behavior could have been activated when I shut her in my bedroom Saturday and let her go til the battery light went amber. She felt trapped and she acted out : ). Happy New Year to all!

Jerry actually the reason I had 1200 CFM blowers was because at the time I had an indoor BBQ next to the 6 burner rangetop. VantaHood designed where and what I needed, primarily for the B BQ. Without that, I'm sure 600 CFM or less and a smaller hood would have worked. I finally took the BBQ out stored it up in the rafters in the garage and replaced the space with a cutting board. If a potential buyer wants to reinstall, very easy to do. I can install it in 10 minutes. I see a lot of houses with induction ranges and no ventilation. I think most of the need for ventilation has little to do with gas fumes but a lot to do with steam, oils etc. created by cooking. I would think those are the same issues with induction. I wouldn't mind having one hob but I thought about it and seems overkill with a 6 burner range top just so I can boil a pot of water fast. I guess if you're Italian and cook a lot of pasts, fast boiling is important.. I know you're a fan of induction cooking and you have a beautiful functional kitchen. Afraid it wouldn't work for me. I like the looks of gas burners and the functionality especially for Asian cooking. I've read too many things on this forum about induction that would annoy me to no end. The most repeated thing about the wonders of induction is how easy it is to clean and how fast it boils water. My requirements have little to do with easy to clean and fast boiling water. In addition Rocky Mtn power frequently shuts power off for extended periods of time, as 8+ hours mostly without notice.. Very annoying but a fact. I was one of the few people who used to be able to cook after a hurricane. I haven't forgotten that. Induction is also something that has electronics that can fail sooner than later. The less electronics in my life, the better. I operate a gas kiln that I fire to 2400 degrees F. Many people have switched to electric because ease of use. You just switch it on low, med and high and walk away. Not for me. The most important part of the process is the end and I'm not turning it over to this electric piece of equipment that cannot think, or produce the same results that I create with time,gas, flame and knowledge. I guess we all like different things for different reasons. Isn't it great we have the various choices available that make our heart sing! Inga