diff --git a/examples/example.js b/examples/example.js
index 9b64cb6..ce391b4 100644
--- a/examples/example.js
+++ b/examples/example.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class Example extends RxClass  {
 
 const example = new Example({
   _rx_ : {
-    handler: value => {console.log('-----------default subscription handler-------', value)}
+    // handler: value => {console.log('-----------default subscription handler-------', value)}
   }
 })
 
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ example.rxAdd('test')
 console.log('changing test to 20, 30 directly')
 example.test = 20
 example.test = 30
-example.rxSubscribe('test',(prop)=>console.log('#############late subscription to \'test\' after 30 ############',prop),'custom')
+example.rxSubscribe('test','custom',(prop)=>console.log('#############late subscription to \'test\' after 30 ############',prop))
 console.log('changing test to 40 via set')
 example.set('test',40)
 
@@ -38,26 +38,31 @@ example.another.foo = 7
 console.log('direct access of another.foo',example.another.foo)
 console.log('access via get of another.foo',example.get('another.foo'))
 
-console.log('making a deeper property \'some.thing\' reactive that did not exist')
-example.rxAdd('some.thing')
-
-// console.log('some test',example.some.test)
-
-example.some.thing=15
+console.log('making a deeper property \'some.thing\' reactive that did not exist by setting property')
+example.set('some.thing','this will be reactive')
+console.log(example.$get('some'))
+console.log(example.get('some'))
+example.set('some.thing','still reactive')
+example.some.thing='directly assigned'
 console.log('--------------------------')
 console.log('instance after adding rx to properties\n')
 console.log(example)
 console.log('--------------------------')
 
 console.log('now removing reactivity from  \'test\'')
-example.rxRemove('test')
-example.set('test',42)
+example.rxRemove('test',{confirm:true})
 console.log('\'test\' now holds unreactive value')
-console.log('now removing reactivity from  \'test\' again')
-example.rxRemove('test')
 console.log('--------------------------')
 console.log('instance after removing rx from \'test\'\n')
 console.log(example)
 console.log('--------------------------')
+console.log('now removing reactivity from  \'test\' again')
+example.rxRemove('test',{confirm:true})
 
-// console.log('some test',example.some.test)
+console.log('---------trying out raw $get and $set-----------')
+example.a = {}
+console.log('$set does to make reactive and returns value set\n',example.$set(example.a,'test.object',{do:'dah', bing:'bong'}))
+console.log('getting directy:',example.a)
+console.log('using $get with passed object:',example.$get(example.a.test,'object.do'))
+console.log('deleting do prop only', example.$del(example.a,'test.object.do',true))
+console.log('it\'s gone see:',example.a)
diff --git a/examples/traverse.js b/examples/traverse.js
index 8ad3159..4a565e5 100644
--- a/examples/traverse.js
+++ b/examples/traverse.js
@@ -34,14 +34,19 @@ example.rxAdd('test',{traverse:true})
 console.log('adding new property which is made reactive by default \'test.today.bong.why\'')
 example.set('test.today.bong.why','do not know')
 
-console.log('------\'test\', raw object ------ \n', example.get('test',true))
+console.log('------\'test\', raw object ------ \n', example.$get('test'))
 console.log('------ \'test\', values object ------\n>', example.get('test'))
+console.log(example)
+console.log('now removing reactivty from \'test\'')
+example.rxRemove('test',{confirm:true})
+console.log(example.$get('test'))
+console.log('-------------------------')
 
 console.log('now add a completely new object to root of \'foundation\' and make it reactive')
 const obj = {giskard:'daneel', hari: {name:'seldon', planet:'Helcion'}}
 example.set('foundation',obj)
 
-console.log('------\'foundation\', raw object ------ \n', example.get('foundation',true))
+console.log('------\'foundation\', raw object ------ \n', example.$get('foundation'))
 console.log('------ \'foundation\', values object ------\n>', example.get('foundation'))
 
 console.log('--------instance after doing rx----\n')
diff --git a/src/rx-class.js b/src/rx-class.js
index d80529b..cf47813 100644
--- a/src/rx-class.js
+++ b/src/rx-class.js
@@ -1,79 +1,87 @@
 import { EventEmitter } from  'events'
 import { BehaviorSubject, from } from 'rxjs'
-import { distinctUntilChanged, skip } from 'rxjs/operators'
+import { distinctUntilChanged, skip} from 'rxjs/operators'
 // ** nested object access **
-import $get from 'get-value'
-import $set from 'set-value'
-import $del from 'unset-value'
+import _get from 'get-value'
+import _set from '@uci-utils/set-value'
+import _del from 'unset-value'
 // *********************
 import equal from 'deep-equal'
 import traverse from 'traverse'
 import isPlainObject from 'is-plain-object'
 
 export default class RxClass extends EventEmitter {
-  constructor(opts){
+  constructor(opts={}){
     super(opts)
+    const rxopts = opts._rx_||{}
     this._rx_ = {
-      event: opts._rx_.event  || 'changed',
-      handler: opts._rx_.handler,
+      event: rxopts.event  || 'changed',
+      handler: rxopts.handler,
       props: {},
       hooks: [],
       root: '', // root path/namespace to added to all get/set paths
       operators:[],
-      skip: opts._rx_.skip == null ? 1 : opts._rx_.skip
+      skip: rxopts.skip == null ? 0 : rxopts.skip
     }
   }
+  // pass '__parent__' when getting objects for creating reactive prop
+  // otherwise it gets the rx prop object and/or one of it's props
+  _rxGetObj(path,prop) {
+    path = this.formatObjPath(path)
+    path = path.split('.')
+    const name = path.pop()
+    path = path.join('.')
+    let parent = path ? this.$get(path) : this  // if path is empty string return this
+    // console.log(name,path,parent)
+    if (parent === null) parent = {}
+    if (prop==='__parent__') return {name:name, parent:parent, parentPath:path}
+    const rx = this.$get(['_rx_.props',path,name])
+    // console.log(['_rx_.props',path,name],rx)
+    return prop ? (rx || {})[prop] : rx
+  }
 
   // if property exists it moves value to _ version and creates getter and setter and behavior subject
   rxAdd(opath,opts={}) {
-    const path = this._rxFormatPath(opath)
-    if (this.isRx(path)) {
-      console.log(path, 'is already reactive, aborting rxAdd')
-      return
-    }
-    // console.log('making reactive', path,opts)
+    const path = this.formatObjPath(opath)
     if (opts.traverse) {
-      const obj = opts.values ? opts.values : $get(this,path)
+      const obj = opts.values ? opts.values : this.$get(path)
       const self = this
       // console.log('object to traverse', obj)
       traverse(obj).map(function () {
         if (this.isLeaf) {
-          // let lpath = []
-          // if (opts.values) {
-          //   lpath =[]
-          // } else {
           const lpath = this.path
           lpath.unshift(path)
           // console.log(`${!opts.values ? 'existing':'new'} leaf on path '${lpath}' with value: ${this.node}`)
           self.rxAdd(lpath,{value:this.node})
-          // console.log(this.get())
         }
       }
       )
-      return
+      return true
     } // end traverse
-    const value = $get(this,path)
+    if (this.isRx(path)) return true
+    const value = this.$get(path)
     if (value === undefined ) {
       // console.log ('no current property or value for',path,'creating temporary null')
-      $set(this,path,null)
+      this.$set(path,null)
     }
-    const {parent,name} = this.rxGetObj(path,'__parent__')
-    $set(this,this._rxFormatPath(['_rx_.props',path]),{})
-    const rx = $get(this,this._rxFormatPath(['_rx_.props',path]))
+    const {parent,name} = this._rxGetObj(path,'__parent__')
+    this.$set(['_rx_.props',path],{new:true})
+    let rx = this.$get(this.formatObjPath(['_rx_.props',path]))
 
     // console.log('moving',opts.value != null ? opts.value : value,path)
     rx.value = opts.value != null ? opts.value : value
     rx.path = path
-    rx.obs = from(new BehaviorSubject({value:value, path:path}).pipe(
+    rx.obs = from(new BehaviorSubject({value:rx.value, path:rx.path}).pipe(
     // rx.obs = from(new ReplaySubject(1).pipe(
       skip(this._rx_.skip),
       distinctUntilChanged()
       // ,
       // takeUntil($get(this.$deleted,path))
     ))
+    // console.log(path,'---------------\n',Object.getOwnPropertyNames(Object.getPrototypeOf(rx.obs)),rx.obs.subscribe)
     rx.subs = {}
-    this.rxSubscribe(rx,this._rx_.handler,'_default')
-    this.rxSubscribe(rx,(opts.subscribe ||{}).handler,(opts.subscribe || {}).name)
+    this.rxSubscribe(rx,'_default',this._rx_.handler,)
+    this.rxSubscribe(rx,(opts.subscribe || {}).name,(opts.subscribe ||{}).handler)
     const self = this
     Object.defineProperty(parent, name, {
       configurable: true,
@@ -82,6 +90,7 @@ export default class RxClass extends EventEmitter {
         return rx.value
       },
       set (value) {
+        // console.log('in setter', path,value)
         rx.value = value
         rx.obs.next({value:value, path:path})
         self.emit(opts.event || self._rx_.event,{value:value, path:path})
@@ -89,6 +98,7 @@ export default class RxClass extends EventEmitter {
         self._rx_.hooks.forEach(hook=>hook.call(self,{value:value, path:path}))
       }
     })
+    return true
   }
 
   // if name is only passed remove
@@ -101,89 +111,113 @@ export default class RxClass extends EventEmitter {
     this._rx_.operators[name]=func
   }
 
-  // pass '__new__' when getting props for new rx object
-  rxGetObj(path,prop) {
-    path = this._rxFormatPath(path)
-    path = path.split('.')
-    const name = path.pop()
-    path = path.join('.')
-    let parent = path ? $get(this,path) : this
-    // console.log(name,path,parent)
-    if (parent === null) parent = {}
-    if (prop==='__parent__') return {name:name, parent:parent, parentPath:path}
-    const rx = this.get(['_rx_.props',path,name],true)
-    // console.log(path,name,'reactive object',rx)
-    return prop ? (rx || {})[prop] : rx
-  }
-
   // removes obser, subscriptions, and getter and setter and make back into plain value
   rxRemove(path,opts={}) {
-    if (opts.traverse) {
+    if (!opts.confirm) return false  // must confirm to remove
+    if (!this.isRx(path) && isPlainObject(this.$get(path))) {
       const self = this
-      traverse($get(this,path)).map(function () {
+      traverse(this.$get(path)).map(function () {
         if (this.isLeaf) {
           const lpath = this.path
           lpath.unshift(path)
-          self.rxRemove(lpath)
+          if(self.isRx(lpath)) self.rxRemove(lpath,{confirm:true})
         }
-      }
-      )
-      this.delPath(['_rx_.props',path],true)
-      return
+      })
+      // all done removing the leaves so remove branch
+      this.$del(['_rx_.props',path],true)
+      return true
     }
-    let { parent, name, parentPath } = this.rxGetObj(path,'__parent__')
-    const rxparent = this.get(['_rx_.props',parentPath],true)
+    let { parent, name, parentPath } = this._rxGetObj(path,'__parent__')
+    const rxparent = this.$get(['_rx_.props',parentPath])
     const rx = rxparent[name]
-    if (rx && Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(parent, name)['get']) {
-      Object.values(rx.subs).forEach(sub=>sub.unsubscribe())
-      delete parent[name]
-      parent[name] = rx.value
-      delete rxparent[name]
-    } // else console.warn(`property at '${path}' was not reative, remove aborted`)
+    if (!rx) return true  //  // not reactive nothing to remove
+    Object.values(rx.subs).forEach(sub=>sub.unsubscribe())
+    delete parent[name]
+    parent[name] = rx.value
+    delete rxparent[name]
+    // console.log('removed rx from', path)
+    return true
   }
 
   // pass rx as object or path
-  rxSubscribe(rxObj,handler,name){
-    if (typeof name !== 'string') return
-    rxObj = (typeof rxObj === 'string') ? this.rxGetObj(rxObj) : rxObj
-    if (typeof handler==='function') rxObj.subs[name] = rxObj.obs.subscribe(handler)
+  rxSubscribe(rxObj,name,handler){
+    // if (name ==='ha') {
+    //   console.log(this.id,'making subscription',name,rxObj.path || rxObj,!!handler)
+    // }
+    if (typeof name !== 'string') return false
+    rxObj = (typeof rxObj === 'string' || Array.isArray(rxObj) ) ? this._rxGetObj(rxObj) : rxObj
+    // if (name && name!=='_default' && (rxObj||{}).path) console.log('rx object for',rxObj.path)
+    if ((rxObj||{}).path) {
+      if (typeof handler==='function') {
+        // console.log('-----------subscription made-----------')
+        return rxObj.subs[name] = rxObj.obs.subscribe(handler)
+      }
+    }
+    return false
+    // else {
+    // if (name && name!=='_default') {
+    //   console.log('*********no rx object at that path*******')
+    //   console.log('================================')
+    // }
+    // }
   }
 
-  _rxFormatPath(path) {
+  // takes several formats for a path to an objects property and return only the . string
+  formatObjPath(path) {
     if (path==null) return path
     if (Array.isArray(path)) {
-      path = path.filter(Boolean).join('.')
-    } else path = path.replace(/\/:/g, '.')
+      path = path.filter(Boolean).join('.')  // Boolean filter strips empty strings or null/undefined
+    }
+    path = path.replace(/\/:,/g, '.')  // replaces /:, with .
     return path
   }
 
+  // checks for getter and the corresponding rx object
   isRx(path) {
-    const { parent, name, parentPath } = this.rxGetObj(path,'__parent__')
-    const rxparent = this.get(['_rx_.props',parentPath],true) || {}
+    if (this.$get(path)===undefined) return false
+    path = this.formatObjPath(path)
+    const { parent, name, parentPath } = this._rxGetObj(path,'__parent__')
+    const rxparent = this.$get(['_rx_.props',parentPath]) || {}
     const rx = rxparent[name]
-    // console.log ('rx parent path',rxparent, rx, !!rx && !!Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(parent, name)['get'])
-    return (!!rx && !!Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(parent, name)['get'])
+    // console.log (path, 'rxparent,rx', !!parent, !!name, !!rxparent, !!rx)
+    if (!rx) return false
+    // console.log(Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(parent, name)['get'] )
+    return !!Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(parent, name)['get']
   }
 
-  setObjPath () {return $set(...arguments)}
-  getObjPath () {return $get(...arguments)}
-  delObjPath () {return $del(...arguments)}
-
-  delPath(path,confirm) {
-    path = this._rxFormatPath(path)
-    if (confirm) $del(this,path)
-    else console.warn('must confirm to delete path',path)
+  $set () {
+    let args = [...arguments]
+    if (args.length < 2) return false
+    if (args.length === 2) args.unshift(this)
+    else if (!args[0]) return false
+    args[1] = this.formatObjPath(args[1])
+    // console.log('in $set',args[1],args[2])
+    return _set(...args)
+  }
+  $get () {
+    let args = [...arguments]
+    if (args.length === 1) args.unshift(this)
+    args[1] = this.formatObjPath(args[1])
+    return _get(...args)
+  }
+  $del () {
+    let args = [...arguments]
+    if (args.length < 2) return false
+    if (args[args.length-1]!==true) return false
+    if (args.length === 2) args.unshift(this)
+    args[1] = this.formatObjPath(args[1])
+    return _del(...args)
   }
 
-  get(path,raw){
-    path = this._rxFormatPath(path)
-    const value = $get(this,path)
-    if (!isPlainObject(value) || raw) return value
-    let obj = {}  // return a copy with actual values
-    traverse($get(this,path)).map(function () {
+  get(path){
+    path = this.formatObjPath(path)
+    const value = this.$get(path)
+    if (!isPlainObject(value)) return value
+    let obj = {}  // return a copy with actual values instead of getters
+    const self = this
+    traverse(this.$get(path)).map(function () {
       if (this.isLeaf) {
-        // console.log(obj,this.path.join('.'),this.node)
-        $set(obj,this.path.join('.'),this.node)
+        self.$set(obj,this.path,this.node)
       }
     }
     )
@@ -191,16 +225,19 @@ export default class RxClass extends EventEmitter {
   }
 
   set(path,value,opts={}){
-    if (!opts.noRx || !this.isRx(path)) {
+    // console.log(path,value,opts,!this.isRx(path))
+    if (!opts.noRx && !this.isRx(path)) {
       opts = Object.assign(isPlainObject(value) ? {values:value,traverse:true} : {value:value},opts)
       this.rxAdd(path,opts)
+    } else {
+      const curValue = this.$get(path)
+      if (!equal(curValue,value) && value!==undefined) {
+        // console.log('in set', path,value)
+        this.$set(path,value)
+      // console.log('value that was set',this.$get(path))
+      }
+      return this.$get(path)
     }
-    path = this._rxFormatPath(path)
-    const curValue = $get(this,path)
-    if (!equal(curValue,value) || !value) {
-      $set(this,path,value)
-    }
-    return $get(this,path)
   }
 
 }  // end  class