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Ask HN: What are some of your “buy it for life” purchases?

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Re: Ask HN: What are some of your “buy it for life” purchases?

#51

Post by MarkusWandel »

Estwing claw hammer. Forged out of a single piece of steel. I think it's theoretically possible to destroy one but it'll last a lifetime or two.

Cast iron frying pans. The old kind with the machined (not just raw sand cast) inside bottom. You can destroy them by heating them red hot and then quenching, or dropping onto concrete (I know of both being done). Barring that, will last lifetimes.

Any decent kitchen knives - don't have to be showy brands - my favourite one is a Cuisinart. But if the handles hold up they're worth sharpening indefinitely.

Any kitchen stuff made out of tempered glass - casserole dishes and the now collectible coloured glass Pyrex bowls. Again you can destroy those by shattering them, but if you don't, they'll outlast you.

Re: Ask HN: What are some of your “buy it for life” purchases?

#52

Post by karmelapple »

wrp wrote: post #16
puskavi wrote: post #6

Fiskars scissors. Never seen broken ones.

I was going to say a pair of quality scissors. Someone gave me a nice pair for Christmas when I was a teenager. At the time, I was thoroughly unimpressed with the boring gift, but 40-odd years later it's still in my desk and regularly used when most other things of my youth are long gone. A related, and cheaper, thing that becomes very handy once you are accustomed to having it at hand is a portable paper trimmer. (…

Along the same line: a good stapler. Just like Milton from Office Space, a proper metal Swingline stapler has been the best in my experience. Unlike that movie, I never found a red one that was as good as a black one.

I still have it over 30 years later, although my need to staple these days is exceedingly rare.

Re: Ask HN: What are some of your “buy it for life” purchases?

#54

Post by 082349872349872 »

MarkusWandel wrote: post #51

Estwing claw hammer. Forged out of a single piece of steel. I think it's theoretically possible to destroy one but it'll last a lifetime or two. Cast iron frying pans. The old kind with the machined (not just raw sand cast) inside bottom. You can destroy them by heating them red hot and then quenching, or dropping onto concrete (I know of both being done). Barring that, will last lifetimes. Any decent kitchen knives…

> I think it's theoretically possible to destroy [an Estwing] but it'll last a lifetime or two.

Bruntons, OTOH, are a little less sturdy.

Re: Ask HN: What are some of your “buy it for life” purchases?

#55

Post by mongol »

schiffern wrote: post #23
gadders wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

when do you wear this?

Indoor public spaces, and sometimes outside during bad air. With ~zero hedonic disincentive, it's easy to wear whenever I feel the need. I get about one inquiry a month, usually at the store. People seem to like it, especially when I mention the comfort.

Do you live somewhere where the air is particularily bad?

Re: Ask HN: What are some of your “buy it for life” purchases?

#56

Post by jasonkester »

karim79 wrote: post #43

My Fender Stratocaster Ed O'Brien edition. Probably the last electric guitar I'll buy in this lifetime.

Indeed. I bought mine maybe 25 years ago and still play it all the time. I could probably sell it for a lot more than I paid for it, but I’m not going to do that.

I’m trying the same thing with a Les Paul now. I’ll let you know how it goes in 20 years.

Re: Ask HN: What are some of your “buy it for life” purchases?

#57

Post by wrp »

Just looking down at my desk for things I've had 30-odd years and still using:

Pentel Kerry mechanical pencil (https://www.pentel.com/products/sharp-kerry-mechanical-penci...)

Concord nail clippers (https://www.amazon.com/Concord-Black-Executive-Nail-Clipper/...)

Leatherman Micra (mine is made in USA) (https://www.leatherman.com/micra-20.html)

Re: Ask HN: What are some of your “buy it for life” purchases?

#58

Post by hosteur »

4ad wrote: post #36
habibur wrote: post #22

A good knife sharpener.

Which one?

I like the Tormek systems. I think the T4 (https://tormek.com/en/products/sharpening-machines/tormek-t-...) would be good for most who just wants something to be able to sharpen knives once in a while.

If knives and sharp objects are your thing, you probably want to go with one of the bigger models.

Re: Ask HN: What are some of your “buy it for life” purchases?

#59

Post by 4ad »

listenallyall wrote: post #46
trophycase wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes but cutlery that actually feels good in the hand, has proper sizing (fork length, spoon capacity) and also proper weight balancing is much harder to find. Personally I really like Oneida, I found a set with spoons that IMO have the perfect balance and capacity.

Not that hard, IKEA sells terrific stuff. Pleasant to look at, solid weight, no unnecessary ornaments.

I disagree profusely, IKEA cutlery is horrible. The fork tips are dull, the spoons are too shallow and too big, the spoon soup is completely the wrong shape, the handles are extremely unergonomic, the weight is not solid at all, they look and feel cheap, and they are ugly.

Re: Ask HN: What are some of your “buy it for life” purchases?

#60

Post by schiffern »

mongol wrote: post #55
schiffern wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indoor public spaces, and sometimes outside during bad air. With ~zero hedonic disincentive, it's easy to wear whenever I feel the need. I get about one inquiry a month, usually at the store. People seem to like it, especially when I mention the comfort.

Do you live somewhere where the air is particularily bad?

I'm very fortunate! Mostly good, except when neighbors fire up woodstoves or fire pits.
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