Idk I think the package cam is cool. With my Reolink doorbell I can see people great but not much of the stoop or small packages very well.
It does give a nice view of the packages, even if it's a small one leaned up against the corner by the door which is partially out of frame, however it seems to do such a good job of properly detecting and "flagging" people/activities in the software that I'm already going to have been able to be alerted/review the footage of the delivery being dropped off that I'll know it's there. There is some sort of "package" specific alert/trigger that it looks to be able to do, so that may be something I will look into that could use as a trigger for a light flashing or a light bulb going to a different color signaling a package to be retrieved.
I do need to do some more learning then fine tuning on the software, as of now I haven't really touched it and it's picking up every car driving by on the street as an event....not something I'm looking for. But looks to be some zones and "lines" I can setup so that alerts/recordings are based on what I want and not everyone driving past....interesting looking heatmap showing it's "vehicle alerts" and the zones where it's being picked up:
So it at least makes it very obvious where I need to exclude vehicle detections which is handy
But with a few last "unscheduled" days left, dropped the kids off this morning and headed south to KC to visit a family member and had enough time on the way back to stop at what should be considered as close to "cool tool Taj Mahal" as it gets....Harry J. Epstein! It's been several years since I've had a chance to visit in person, but I often get in an online order or two a year but for those unfamiliar with it....if there was every a Garage Journal Punchcard of places members should visit....this is on the list! More details at their website:
https://www.harryepstein.com/
I spent 45 minutes or so in there this time and made sure to wander all the floors. The first floor is a lot of the "new" stuff with probably the largest in stock selection of Wera and Koken I've seen but also tons of other great tools, primarily USA made but including some quality Euro and Japanese stuff here and there. I grabbed some pictures of some of the more "unique" things I saw....
Anyone need big sockets? Made in USA Wright
Still got tons of Malco Eagle Grip made in Nebraska Locking Pliers
If you haven't tried these....they're nice. I picked up a number of them on a Epstein sale a year or so ago...they look and feel so good in the hand!
Their new tool selection is great, but to me the fun part is poking around the basement and floors 2 and 3 to see what less common, overstock, liquidation type stuff they've got.
I laughed more then I should when I saw this ammo can in the basement with some of their loose/misc sockets
It was, as expected...empty!
One of the upper floors...just all kinds of cool stuff and you're free to wander thru and look at your leisure
Should've held this up to take the picture...10.5 lb deadblow...and from their website I missed the even bigger 12 lb one
In case you want one:
https://www.harryepstein.com/products/hammers-soft-face-hammers-25757?variant=47458569945385
Entire create of 24" machinist squares:
Story on these was they were slightly out of tolerance to be sold new, so they got several crates in a close out/liquidation style opportunity. I had already grabbed a 12" square from the same source off the 1st floor, and when I saw these I knew I had to have one if price was right. $75/each was right enough
The .002 written on the blade is how much it was measured to be off....so more accurate than I am for what I'm doing! I'll try and get some better pictures of the squares and the new Vessel screwdriver set I picked up later.
In short....the store is seriously cool for anyone who enjoys tools or the "thrill" of the hunt to just wander and look around. The crew there is exceptionally nice and helpful and if you're around on the last Saturday of the month they put on the aprons and do pancakes from 9 to 1! Hard to beat something like that....so if you're passing thru or in the area and never been...look them up I think you'll find it's worth the time!
In garage related updates....back to trying to chase "cheap" fixes on the truck P06DD oil pressure fault had me changing oil/filter last night as some online reports had that clearing it out. Unfortunately it came back on the return trip from KC so cheap fix there didn't work....so going to have to learn more on what the actual fix here is