Overkill objects for everyday life • Hacker News Board

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#141

Post by na85 » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:28 PM UTC

Wistar wrote: post #111

notatoad wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yeah, i don't mean to say that no commercial-grade products are suitable for home use, just that you need to be a lot more careful if you're buying products for a use they aren't intended for. if you buy a product designed for home use, you can be reasonably sure that it will work in a home setting if you buy a commercial-grade product, you just need to pay close attention to what trade-offs have been made that might…

I have been, over-time, retro-fitting my home with pro/commercial-grade infrastructure items such as: quarter-turn marine-grade ball valves for the water-main; toilets, clothes washer, fridge and dishwasher; recessed sillcock valves; outdoor hose reels and hoses; sprinklers (this is a biggie as so many sprinklers are one-season junk); heavy-duty light switches; ceiling fans (the wonderful Big-Ass fans stuff); locks a…

I'd be interested in a site like that, as I have a similar appreciation for high-quality stuff that's built to last. What kind of dishwasher/fridge/laundry appliances did you end up getting?

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#142

Post by s5300 » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:28 PM UTC

klyrs wrote: post #107

s5300 wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hand operated can opener is the secret to clamshell plastic packaging

That sounds incredibly slow in comparison to a bandsaw (also cheap crap from harbor freight -- but I got mine 20 years ago and it's still ticking along fine)

Bandsaws should only be used to make other larger bandsaws per @MatthiasWandel

https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=MatthiasWandel

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#143

Post by c0nfused » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:29 PM UTC

ListeningPie wrote: post #50

The recommendation for a commercial panel which avoids built smart TV functions is one I'm taking seriously. We have an Apple TV connected and use nothing else. Does anyone have experience or recommendations? Here is a link to NEC's commercial displays https://www.sharpnecdisplays.us/products/displays#2

I am planning to replace my existing tv from one of dell's conference room line once it finally quits on me.

https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/dell-55-4k-conference-r...

The down ide is that they are up 25% in cost over 2019 but

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#144

Post by tailspin2019 » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:29 PM UTC

birdyrooster wrote: post #118

user3939382 wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tangentially related: if you do want an amazing electric coffee grinder, feel free to piggy back on my countless hours of research and go with this: Baratza Virtuoso+ It is excellent.

How much static electricity does it generate? That is my biggest complaint on burr grinders, they act like Van de Graaff generators and then the grounds get stuck all over the machine.

In my two days of usage so far…. not much. I read about other grinders having issues with grounds being stuck in the container but this one doesn’t appear to have that problem.

I think I read that the + model has a redesigned ground container to tackle the static issue - had seen some mention that static was more of an issue with the older “non +” model

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#145

Post by cjonas » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:29 PM UTC

birdyrooster wrote: post #118

user3939382 wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tangentially related: if you do want an amazing electric coffee grinder, feel free to piggy back on my countless hours of research and go with this: Baratza Virtuoso+ It is excellent.

How much static electricity does it generate? That is my biggest complaint on burr grinders, they act like Van de Graaff generators and then the grounds get stuck all over the machine.

Add a miniscule amount of water to your beans before grinding

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#146

Post by crooked-v » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:30 PM UTC

notatoad wrote: post #4

I love to use professional-grade items where i can, but sometimes "overkill" means a worse product. like the professional-grade fan - it's not just designed for a high duty cycle, it's also probably designed to be operated in an environment where people regularly use hearing protection, so quiet operation is not a consideration.

Another obvious example here given the people on this website is servers: if you're going to have a home server, unless you can go put it in a soundproofed room in the basement, you're going to want to use consumer-grade fans that aren't inherently screamingly loud.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#147

Post by SavantIdiot » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:30 PM UTC

user3939382 wrote: post #125

dkdbejwi383 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Military grade = the cheapest product that meets the spec.

Just to offer a counterexample, I have a Cammenga 3H compass that I use for camping. The thing is a beast, one of the coolest things I own.

Are you teasing us: do you actually use a compass camping? I've never met someone (who wasn't a Boy Scout) that camps so hard they need a compass! (Said in a joking yet genuinely curious voice.)

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#148

Post by totesraunch » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:30 PM UTC

notatoad wrote: post #4

I love to use professional-grade items where i can, but sometimes "overkill" means a worse product. like the professional-grade fan - it's not just designed for a high duty cycle, it's also probably designed to be operated in an environment where people regularly use hearing protection, so quiet operation is not a consideration.

Interestingly the Dyson fan is significantly louder than a cheap WalMart fan.

https://youtu.be/dS0oFmzU06g

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#149

Post by bob1029 » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:31 PM UTC

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #17

Like the Hobart mixer from this article, I always find it interesting that many of the best "overkill" objects are simply ones from the early/mid 20th century before manufacturers figured out it makes more economic sense to pump out low quality shit that will break just after the warranty expires. I'm into old school espresso machines, and there is a robust market (and some fascinating refurb videos) for older, lever…

I've been considering the economics around a startup company that exclusively produces home appliances & tools that are purely electro-mechanical in design.

I know I am not alone in saying that I would happily pay a 2-3x premium for any appliance if it were engineered properly and actually left out all the ridiculous technological bullshit it never needed in the first place. To this day, no one at Best Buy can explain to me how WiFi helps me clean my clothes better or faster.

Also consider the current economics around the chip shortage... Relays, A/C induction motors, electromagnets, switches and all other essential macro-scale components required for building a washing machine or clothes dryer can still be built by human hands in any factory on earth. Not only are all of these things available now, they are arguably the superior engineering choice when making something intended to deliver value to the end user.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#150

Post by BossingAround » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:32 PM UTC

user3939382 wrote: post #110

dan-robertson wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dishwashers are another example. You could buy a commercial one but it will come with no roll-out trays (you load up different plastic racks for different things and you can load a rack while the dishwasher is running) and it’s designed for an environment with lots of ventilation (you just open it when it is done and let the steam get ventilated away) which people are unlikely to have in their own kitchens. Other ite…

Tangentially related: if you do want an amazing electric coffee grinder, feel free to piggy back on my countless hours of research and go with this: Baratza Virtuoso+ It is excellent.

What's the main difference between Virtuoso+ and Encore? From just a quick glance, Virtuoso+ has a number of features that aren't very useful (like a timer, or LEDs/display) while having seemingly identical burr system?