# Legitimate products that just don't work **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 29, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734 "2005-07-29T13:59:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/21 "2005-07-29T18:49:40Z")
> [@Max Torque](#): > > Must disagree. I have a Black & Decker model, and it does a mighty fine job, both when whacking weeds and when edging. How long can you whack on a single charge? How long to fully charge a dead battery? Do you work for B&D? ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/22 "2005-07-29T18:50:46Z")
monarchy ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/23 "2005-07-29T18:53:43Z")
> [@Padeye](#): > > I’m curious, what don’t you like about the Mags? They just don’t illuminate adequately from a distance. Up close I guess they’re ok, but 5 feet away, it’s just not enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/24 "2005-07-29T19:22:33Z")
😕 Five feet is pretty close unless you’re talking about a penlight. Which maglight do you have, that is how many of what kind of cells? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/25 "2005-07-29T19:26:14Z")
> [@Padeye](#): > > 😕 Five feet is pretty close unless you’re talking about a penlight. Which maglight do you have, that is how many of what kind of cells? Well, we have that hand-sized one that you can carry on your belt in a pouch, but we also have the one that’s about 18 inches long and has a slew of fat batteries in it. Probably C cells. I guess I’m just expecting too much. I like BRIGHT ILLUMINATION. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/26 "2005-07-29T19:32:13Z")
For me, it’s headphone earplugs. Maybe it’s because of my small ear canals, but those earpieces just never fit comfortably in my ears and they keep falling out. The ones that are on the end of a headphone cord never stay in place. I need to wear a wraparound headphone in order to not have the plugs fall out all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/27 "2005-07-29T19:33:55Z")
You might try getting a replacement bulb. Mag light makes bulbs specific to the number and type of cells so make sure you get the right one. Krypton bulbs are not supposed to do this but bulbs can darken over time as particles from the filament deposit on the glass. I find the problem is particularly bad with the AAA and AA lights and the one in the belt pouch is probably one of those. Something is seriously wrong if the big light isn’t bright enough for you. FWIW I upgraded my AA mag light to an LED module from Nite Eyez. It replaces the bulb with 3 LEDs which have about the same light but won’t darken over time and are virtually impossible to burn out or break from shock. If you want serious bright light then look at some of the Surfire offerings. The only downside is that they use Lithium CR123 cells which can be pricey. I get mine in 12 packs direct from surefire for $1.25 each. If you want an extremely bright pocket size light the K2 is only $34 . ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/28 "2005-07-29T19:54:46Z")
You also might already have a replacement bulb. All my maglights came with a spare bulb wrapped in foam inside the spring in the endcap. ---
**Author:** ![THespos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@THespos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/THespos)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/29 "2005-07-29T20:09:53Z")
Fishing lures. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/30 "2005-07-29T20:20:17Z")
> [@Padeye](#): > > You might try getting a replacement bulb. Mag light makes bulbs specific to the number and type of cells so make sure you get the right one. Krypton bulbs are not supposed to do this but bulbs can darken over time as particles from the filament deposit on the glass. I find the problem is particularly bad with the AAA and AA lights and the one in the belt pouch is probably one of those. Something is seriously wrong if the big light isn’t bright enough for you. > > FWIW I upgraded my AA mag light to an LED module from Nite Eyez. It replaces the bulb with 3 LEDs which have about the same light but won’t darken over time and are virtually impossible to burn out or break from shock. > > If you want serious bright light then look at some of the Surfire offerings. The only downside is that they use Lithium CR123 cells which can be pricey. I get mine in 12 packs direct from surefire for $1.25 each. If you want an extremely bright pocket size light the K2 is only $34 . I’ll pass that on to the “light of my life.” He shares your fetish. He’s got one of those double-lamp yellow lights for in the garage (for working on cars & stuff). Nice tripod, TONS of light…he’s smitten. ---
**Author:** ![akira5822](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@akira5822](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akira5822)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/31 "2005-07-29T21:16:09Z")
> [@THespos](#): > > Fishing lures. You too?? … here i thought it was just me. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/32 "2005-07-29T21:33:58Z")
Goretex, on cycling waterproofs, the rain just gets pushed straight through. Cycle dynamos/generators, if you need real light to see with, and not just to show other road users you are there, then you need rechargeables, and big ones too, and lots of light power, its not cheap, it is heavy, but dynamos do not give enough power output, slip in the wet, even the very expensive dynamos just don’t cut it. Motorcycle visor demister treatments, none of them work, the only thing that genuinely does in nearly all conditions is the laminator layer sold in the UK under the name of ‘Fog City’. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/33 "2005-07-29T21:35:51Z")
Skunk-scent removers. None of them work. NONE OF THEM. Ask my dog. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/34 "2005-07-29T21:40:21Z")
> [@Ghanima](#): > > Skunk-scent removers. None of them work. NONE OF THEM. Ask my dog. Um…that’s okay. You ask him for us. We’ll just stand over here. Upwind. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/35 "2005-07-29T22:23:10Z")
> [@Ghanima](#): > > Skunk-scent removers. None of them work. NONE OF THEM. Ask my dog. I held my nose and asked him, and all he said was “woof”. Seriously. Why not use tomato juice? Big cans of it, enough to fill a bathtub. The only thing I’ve ever heard of to take care of skunk stink. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/36 "2005-07-29T22:28:06Z")
Tomato juice doesn’t work very well, either. It makes it a little better, but not much. Nothing works really well on a direct skunk attack. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/37 "2005-07-29T22:28:28Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > How long can you whack on a single charge? I’ll take “Out of Context Phrases” for $1000, Alex. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/38 "2005-07-29T22:31:17Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > Ummmm…I was actually considering buying one of those. Do you think that your disappontment with them is more a commentary on their design or your nose/ear hair? Maybe he should try one of those cordless weed-whackers… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/39 "2005-07-29T22:49:36Z")
Iron-on clothing repair kits. In fact, adhesive _anything_ in which the traditional version involves other fastening methods. For example, stick-on picture hooks are asking for trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734/40 "2005-07-29T23:05:32Z")
I love our cordless Black and Decker weedwhacker. However, we have a very small yard and I am pretty lazy, so the longest I have whacked is about a half hour. I have never whacked twice ina short period, so it always recharges for me. Oh, by the way, if you think “whacked” is funny, try the British term. They call it a Strimmer, apparently. I have also had good luck with drain cleaners for partial to complete blockages in the tub. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-products-that-just-dont-work/314734.md?page=3)