Overkill objects for everyday life • Hacker News Board

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#181

Post by nbernard » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:52 PM UTC

thequux wrote: post #81

wyager wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

RS components is good - I used them in HK and I think they serve EU as well. Not quite the same but pretty solid.

RS doesn't deign to even talk to people who don't have VAT IDs here :-( It's a shame; as far as I can tell, the only reasonably-priced source for bulk machine screws that I've been able to find was Aliexpress/Alibaba (depending on quantities), and even that has gone to shit with the new import tax rules. (I'm not opposed to paying import taxes. I am opposed to paying a €20 processing fee in addition to €0.30 tax for…

In France, they have a different website for the general public ( https://www.rs-particuliers.com ). Its search function is terrible: you basically have to look up the RS ID of whatever your are looking for on the pro site first. But you even have free shipping when ordering during the week-end.

Don't they have similar sites for other EU countries?

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#182

Post by criddell » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:52 PM UTC

kube-system wrote: post #19

villasv wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree. “Worse” considering the scenarios where your needs are not exactly the ones that guided project development. A simple example would be gloves. What would be the pro version of a glove? The ones used in steel mills? If you want a glove for riding a bike, you’re better of with regular biker gloves. If it’s a glove for winter, maybe skier gloves and so on.

Work/utility gloves are a good example where the commercial-grade options are awesome compared to what is at Home Depot. For example, Ansell HyFlex gloves are standard issue in Amazon warehouses and they’re awesome for chores around the house too. They fit really well (and come in more sizes), they’re durable, and they are comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ansell-Glove-HyFlex-11-542-Light...

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#183

Post by stepanhruda » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:54 PM UTC

crooked-v wrote: post #174

To make my own recommendation along these lines, Bluffworks pants: https://shop.bluffworks.com/pages/technical-pants I've found them excellent for travel because they remain wrinkle-resistant and looking like I've just stepped out of an office no matter what conditions I put them through, up to and including a month backpacking with constant wear on hikes and irregular sink-washing.

Looks cool, but is it in the same category as anything in the article? This just seems like a good brand.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#184

Post by defterGoose » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:55 PM UTC

ftio wrote: post #31

As an espresso enthusiast with a rather robust prosumer setup, I considered 'overkill' commercial options, which are widely available and roughly the same price (sometimes less, with work). The overkill options...well, they're not made for home, which actually makes them worse for home use cases. Sure, a La Marzocco Linea can pull a thousand shots a day with extreme consistency and temperature stability. My Lelit Bia…

| regular Joe

I see what you did there...

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#185

Post by p_l » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:55 PM UTC

msla wrote: post #71

A sentence I never thought I'd say: Gee, that ejector seat doesn't look very comfortable. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it feels fine even if you sit in it long periods of time. However, I'm sure that it only comes in one size, that size being the right size to pilot a plane with an ejector seat. Anyone too big or small wasn't considered in its design because they'd never make it into the relevant flight program to begin wi…

Heavily depends on model, and well, its designed to sit in some heavy duty clothes.

Some ejection seats are supposed to be sat in, continuously, for over 10 hours. While letting you still function.

That said, the cockpits tend to enforce certain posture.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#186

Post by snth » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:55 PM UTC

rsync wrote: post #3

I appreciate the link and summary for McMaster-Carr[1]. It is so pleasing to use this site and it is simultaneously full of utility as they stock a wide array of fixtures and hardware that are difficult to search for elsewhere. If you place an order before noon (typically) the box of goods will be in your hands the next day. The user interface is a wonder. It's too good to be true. In fact, using the UI actually sadd…

And you can find stuff like "Nuclear Grade Duct Tape": https://www.mcmaster.com/fastening-tape/nuclear-grade-duct-t...

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#187

Post by NegativeLatency » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:56 PM UTC

BossingAround wrote: post #150

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.

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?

I have one of these, the LED is dumb but the digital timer is really nice for repeatability in how much you grind.

Wasn’t willing to pay even more for one with a scale

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#188

Post by evil-olive » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:56 PM UTC

joan_kode wrote: post #22

Love my infrared thermometer for steeping tea at exact temperatures. These things are terrible for medical purposes since they only measure surface temperature, but they're perfect for diagnosing industrial machinery and tea. Also more versatile than those expensive programmable tea-brewing contraptions!

As a bonus, those infrared thermometers often have a little laser pointer built-in, which means it can double as a cat toy.

Laser pointers marketed as cat toys are often tiny little things that require annoying & expensive button-cell batteries.

My infrared thermometer / cat toy has a pistol grip so it's easier to hold, and runs off a 9V battery that lasts much longer.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#189

Post by NegativeLatency » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:57 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.

Depends a lot on the roast for me. Darker ones seem to lace less flaky floaty bits after grinding

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#190

Post by spitfire » Sun, May 30, 2021, 6:57 PM UTC

abeppu wrote: post #85

> The average consumer wants this stuff. It sells. They want pizzaz over functionality and durability. What is functionality though? What is pizzaz? When are they the same and when are they different? E.g. the famous Emeco 1006 chair, which won a contract to supply the US Navy by being thrown out a window and not breaking. It became a design classic, and now sells for $600 each. It gained a kind of following, which i…

It's apparently useful for police departments. Or so says every police show ever...