Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Overkill objects for everyday life

neil.computer

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

301–310 of 732 posts

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#301

Post by Ekaros »

lucb1e wrote: post #255

This started off as a fun article about "what's the most overkill way I can get this?" and then looking for second-hand fighter jet seats just for the shits and giggles. I like that. But then it goes south from there, the author seems to believe that anything that isn't from the USA military must be crap: > Made in the USA from military grade [...] preferably a military supplier [...] This is the real thing, used by…

Buy expensive knife? Or I could buy 15 cheap ones and just replace them as I go... And it's not like those cheap ones can be sharpened if needed.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#302

Post by hn_throwaway_99 »

Daishiman wrote: post #236
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…

To be fair... there was _a lot_ of heavy-duty crap back that was badly designed, poisonous/polluting or novely. It's just that you don't see it now because it's all rusted away or lives in junkyards.

At the same time, there is other stuff that is good quality but that could never be produced today because of liability concerns, but if you're in a home without small children running around you're probably good.

I'm the proud owner of a La Peppina espresso machine (image: https://www.home-barista.com/levers/my-first-lever-la-peppin...). It makes great espresso, but it also keeps a kettle of boiling water suspended on a relatively small pedestal where you push down on the lever next to it. I'm glad I own one because something like it will never be produced again.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#303

Post by Grustaf »

ketzo wrote: post #294
Grustaf wrote: post #252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For me that's one of the selling points. Modern life is so ridiculously over engineered to be comfortable, we can all use some rough edges.

That's one of those things that sounds super fun when you're opting into it on a weekend. Much less so on a Tuesday night after a stressful day and your goddamn window won't close even though it's raining and you can't play music because the stereo only takes cassettes and you're not gonna listen to that one fucking Hall and Oates tape again and there's no heat and your neck is sore because the headrest is made of pl…

Well, I lived my entire 20s like that. Moved to Russia, lived in a Soviet era dorm, travelled to Vladivostok in a 4th class carriage etc. So it’s not theoretical…

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#304

Post by pengaru »

drstewart wrote: post #259
pengaru wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You seem to be conflating hiking with backpacking.

You don't need a knife backpacking either. I did 200 miles on the PCT without even bringing a knife.

> You don't need a knife backpacking either. I did 200 miles on the PCT without even bringing a knife.

I don't generally need a knife in my daily life either, but I still carry one at all times. In the same sense that I often wear a seatbelt, despite hopefully never needing one, and having driven many hundreds of thousands of miles without one ever proving useful.

It's just when it comes to hiking vs. backpacking, the calculus of what to carry changes significantly because when backpacking you implicitly are carrying much more junk than on a hike.

For me hiking is much closer to a long walk in civilization than backpacking; I encounter more people, and carry my knife just like I do around town. Hiking is actually especially unique since it tends to be done civilization adjacent, and for some idiots that's the most accessible source of cover for criminal fuckery or desperate homeless living.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#306

Post by [deleted] »

spockz wrote: post #201
Wistar wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Awesome idea! How do you distinguish professional vs overpriced normal stuff? For example, Festool, Makita, and DeWalt offer awesome products but are very pricy. All the tools from the DIY shops are rubbish. Things from Bosch are slightly better. But these are all expensive. Meanwhile, the tools from Lidl around €30-50 price point are quite cool.

[deleted]

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#307

Post by SyzygistSix »

Arch-TK wrote: post #271
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…

You need to spend at least £600 to get a decent home espresso set up but it will get you something pretty close to good cafe grade coffee. The reason those big £3000+ machines are impractical for the home is not the cleaning or even the warm-up time (as both of those factors are the same for any espresso machine even the home ones) but rather with the fact that the bar grade espresso machines expect to be plumbed int…

A commercial bean grinder is amazing but expensive.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#308

Post by sitharus »

bayindirh wrote: post #197
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…

> Dishwashers are another example. Commercial dishwashers, esp. the fast cycle ones beat the living light of any mugs/plates/etc. unless they're plain white. They use way more pressure and heat, and resulting clean is much more aggressive, shortening life of everything inside them. Only plain glass and plain porcelain came out relatively unaffected. All decorations doesn't stand a chance. This is why some mugs denote…

I wondered why dinnerware said “for domestic use only”, but I now have an ex-commercial set and it’s an entirely different kind of china to domestic.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#309

Post by systemvoltage »

goatinaboat wrote: post #257
lucb1e wrote: post #255

This started off as a fun article about "what's the most overkill way I can get this?" and then looking for second-hand fighter jet seats just for the shits and giggles. I like that. But then it goes south from there, the author seems to believe that anything that isn't from the USA military must be crap: > Made in the USA from military grade [...] preferably a military supplier [...] This is the real thing, used by…

“Military grade” means “made by the lowest bidder” in reality

Disagree. Picking any other bidder is foolish.

If you’ve ever looked into military procurement, there are a number of MIL standards and a specific list of requirements. If the product meets specifications and testing results, picking anyone but the lowest bidder accounting for other “soft” commercial aspects such as company stability, leadership, and book health; would be foolish and irresponsible.

I’ve seen several comments here that “military” grade means lowest bidder. That’s optimal.

Look at it this way - consumer market is completely unregulated, no specifications and lots misleading terminology. Any Military would crucify you for fraud.

Is it perfect? No. Is it close to perfection? Yes. Also look into medical grade things such as scissors.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#310

Post by aYsY4dDQ2NrcNzA »

DrPhish wrote: post #237
cecilpl2 wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anyone who does any backcountry camping should have a map and compass and know how to use them.

and the first thing to know when bringing a map and compass into the backcountry is that if you didn't use them (properly!) to get in, it'll be hard-to-impossible to use them to get you back out. There's more to it than you think! Orienteering is a deep enough subject to be a tool, hobby and sport. Recommended skill, just for the entertainment value

Try to aim for a spot somewhat left or right of your destination, so that when you arrive you know which side to begin your search.
Post reply on HN