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Thursday Testimonials: LFR Slipper Conditioner Tool, Integy Hex Wrench Set, and the "Random Item of the Week!"

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Main Photo: Thursday Testimonials: LFR Slipper Conditioner Tool, Integy Hex Wrench Set, and the "Random Item of
11/21/2013
By LiveRC Staff
LiveRC.com
 
Whether it's wheel nuts, wings, tools, tracks, trinkets and/or anything in between, the LiveRC staff gives their testimonial and mini-review of each every Thursday morning! 
 
Leadfinger Racing Slipper Conditioner Tool
$24.95
 
 
 
It is only a matter of time before your 1:10 buggy or truck slipper pads get a little too hot, causing them to "glaze over". When this happens, your clutch will begin to slip, which in turn robs you of power and a consistent feel to the car. How do you fix this? Aside from purchasing all-new slipper pads, it is a well known fact that you can often "recondition" the pads by sanding off the glaze on them. Traditionally you would work hard trying to evenly sand your slipper pads front and back for upwards of 30 minutes (to do it right). Leadfinger Racing is all about going fast, and they have released their answer to a fast and easy way to recondition these pads with their all-new LFR Slipper Conditioner Tool.
 
Pros:
  • Simply lay your slipper pads in the tool, put the lid on, and twist back and forth.
  • Evenly removes debris and glaze off of slipper pads.
  • Large enough to fit almost all slipper pads on the market. 
  • Takes minimal physical effort, and saves a lot of time.
  • Includes 2 sanding disks, and carrying pouch.
  • Additional sanding disks available to purchase. 
  • Available in black or white.
 
Cons:
  • Depending on the sanding disk, a little dot of glue may be needed to keep the sanding disks in place inside the tool.
 
Conclusion:
LFR has created a very handy tool for any electric racer, as in the long haul this tool will save you time and money by reconditioning slipper pads instead of going out and constantly buying new ones. Is this tool a necessity? It all depends on how often you want and/or need to maintenance your slipper pads. Some drivers can go months and never touch a slipper pad, others change or recondition pads after every race. For us personally, this tool has come in very handy, as it allows us to easily freshen things up before each race night. 
 
Beacon Rating: 4/5 
 
 
 
 
Integy Hex Wrench Set
$42.99
 
Tools are a very important aspect of R/C racing, as whether you like or not, racers have to spend a LOT of time working on their cars. Finding a quality tool kit for a reasonable price can often be tricky. We came across the Integy 7-Piece Ti-Nitride hex wrench set for only $42.99, and we decided to give it a try!
 
Pros:
  • Includes the most popular SAE and Metric size wrenches
  • Color coded handles make it easy to pick out the right size
  • Light weight
  • Laser etched with sizes and Integy logo
  • Titanium Nitride coated tips
 
Cons:
  • We broke the two smaller hex wrench tips in the same night (one tightening a screw, and the other trying to loosen a thread-locked screw), however very affordable replacements are available.
 
Conclusion:
Overall the Integy 7-Piece Ti-Nitride Hex Wrench Set is a pretty good set of wrenches. We like the overall feel of the handles, they are in fact light weight for travelling, inexpensive compared to some, and while we did break two tips in one night...replacements are available for a reasonable price and are easy to fix. Would we trade in a high-end wrench set for these? No, but if you haven't already spent the money on high quality tools, this kit is a budget friendly way to get working on your car.
 
Beacon Rating: 3/5
 
 
 
THURSDAY TESTIMONIALS - RANDOM ITEM OF THE WEEK:
Each week outside of the R/C world we test out and use a variety of items in our daily routines that have absolutely nothing to do with R/C, and THIS is what we think of them!
 
Mother Nature
$0.00

 
Once again this week, our "Random Item of the Week" comes to us at the cost of $0. This week's item is simply mother nature. Often times in our hectic lives our minds are overwhelmed with the sounds of cars passing on the highway, cell phones ringing in our ears, bosses telling us what to do, and so on. There are some people who have found all of this too much for a healthy lifestyle, and have turned to nature for some self healing and relaxation.
 
I personally have never thought in any way, shape, or form that spending time listening to birds argue and trees blowing in the wind would be relaxing or enjoyable, but I thought I'd give it a shot anyways. 
 
In 2012, I began racing UTV's in addition to R/C cars. I have a dream of someday being a FULLSIZE offroad racer, and UTV racing was the cheapest and easiest way I could find to get my foot in the door. Tuesday night, I was doing some end of season practice sessions before the winter weather sets in. When racing R/C I have a severe problem that I call "whisky throttle". This is when you basically throw all knowledge of what you are doing out the window, and drive like a goob. This often sets in during long races and/or long race weekends.
 
After being out driving the UTV for approximately 30-45 minutes, I began to feel the "whisky throttle" kick in. I ignored it, and did my best to continue driving. I came up to a tight 180 degree turn on the track which can be taken anywhere from 10-15mph MAX. For some reason on this given lap I felt as though it could be taken somewhere closer to 30-35mph. In true whisky throttle fashion, the rear end broke loose, swapped out, and wouldn't you know it...I flipped (just like I do in R/C racing).
 
 
 
My first reaction while hanging by my safety harness was to yell "Turn Marshall!" That, however, did nothing. I unstrapped myself, and climbed out the front window. Once outside the vehicle I began to realize that I was a paralyzed guy sitting in the middle of nowhere with an upside down vehicle. Theoretically I could have crawled back to civilization, or maybe screamed at the top of my lungs for help, but knowing that I needed a "Random Item of the Week" I decided to capitalize on this opportunity and enjoy that of mother nature around me.
 
Pros:
  • Birdies singing really does relax and calm your nerves.
  • Soft grass makes for a very comforting place to take a nap.
  • The sight of an evening sunset brings a warm, tingly feeling to your soul.
  • The soft wind blowing makes you feel as though your on a vacation island.
  • The animals speak all around you, making you one of their own.
 
Cons:
  • The birdies singing were inside my head from slamming it against the roll cage.
  • Soft grass is soft...so soft that every sort of itchy critter on the planet lives in it.
  • The sight of an evening sunset means no one has found you, and that warm, tingly feeling is probably your body preparing to die out there.
  • The wind blowing was simply the air deflating out of the blown tire on the right rear.
  • The animals speak all around you, making you one of their own...one of their own items on the menu for dinner.
 
Conclusion:
Was I found? Yes. Was I alive and well? Yes. Would I spend another evening by choice with no people, only nature around me? No. I love our planet, I love the plants, animals, and everything that goes with it, but something about me enjoys the interaction with people and civilization far more than coyotes and field mice.
 
Beacon Rating: 3/5
 
 
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