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Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

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Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#21

Post by groby_b »

This depends entirely on how much money you have to waste.

I'd suggest, at the very least:

* Hiring somebody who knows manufacturing to walk you through what you need to set this up.

* Figuring out the cost of building a toaster in the USA

* Figuring out the regulatory hurdles.

* Figuring out if the people who keep clamoring for a national toaster infrastructure are willing to pay the actual money that requires.

My experience is that a large number of people who profess to want built-in-USA want this only at a price point meeting current toasters. But with much better quality.

If I were to jump into this market, I'd seriously consider running this as a lifestyle luxury item business, charging the few true believers a fortune for a "bespoke toaster hand-made entirely in the U.S.A", build them to last forever, and then maybe automate and build out into the mid-range from there.

I'd still only do this with somebody with manufacturing knowledge working with/for me. And ideally with somebody else's money.

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#24

Post by tptacek »

Slot toasters, or toaster ovens?

In an ironic way given your background, toaster ovens probably set you up against untenable competition: everybody who has ever built a toaster oven is currently jamming SBCs into them to run PID for "smart toasters". Prices are coming down and features are going up, plus these are product line extensions that create further price pressure on "non-smart toasters".

There could be room to do something interesting with slot toasters, which are sort of a forgotten category.

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#25

Post by neelc »

Maybe unrelated, but I have a Deciso DEC2752, which is an OPNsense firewall appliance. For some reason Deciso made it in the Netherlands instead of China or Taiwan. I don't know for sure how much cheaper, or more expensive it would be if it was Asian-made.

It's unique for sure. It's a bit pricey but other firewalls were less-than-statisfactory. Chinese Mini PC boxes were too little, Supermicro Front I/O boxes were too much. I don't exactly like Netgate's alternative either.

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#26

Post by ink_13 »

alexanderchr wrote: post #15
scrps wrote: post #5

In my experience and not that I have tried every model but enough to say I am guessing they all suck as badly as the ones I have had. Space to improve exist, heating elements need fresh designs and more consistant heat distribution, should also be simple, I dont want options I want toast quick and easy.

Tried this one from 1948? It’s only been downhill from there. https://youtube.com/watch?v=1OfxlSG6q5Y

If you're going to go to the effort to build a luxury/fancy toaster, this is the mechanism to use. Since the antique Sunbeam is increasingly hard to find, might actually be a compelling product, too, on top of the "Made in the USA" label.

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#27

Post by Marioheld »

vavooom wrote: post #9

I wonder if there is a way to engineer a 'smart' toaster (no WiFi or major chip mind you) that could improve the detection of burning. Maybe the use of improved PID controller / ability to brown to your desired 'shade' of toastiness. Would be interesting to see!

There is already a smart toaster that toasts the toast according to the desired browning level and not simply according to time. It even manages completely without high-tech. The only catch is that the model is 70 years old and is no longer in production. But there is a great video from Technology Connections on YouTube about it: The Antique Toaster that's Better than Yours Link: https://youtu.be/1OfxlSG6q5Y?feature=shared

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#28

Post by gnabgib »

hellbanTHIS wrote: post #23

Add a voice assistant that only talks about toast. It can answer any question as long as it's about toast.

"You know the last time you had toast. 18 days ago, 11.36, Tuesday 3rd, two rounds. I mean, what's the point in buying a toaster with artificial intelligence if you don't like toast. I mean, this is my job. This is cruel, just cruel." (Call it Talkie)

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#30

Post by SantalBlush »

YPPH wrote: post #20
kstenerud wrote: post #10

It would be nice to have an AI powered toaster that can provide me with early morning toast and light conversation.

Go on, start imagining. You wake up to make your toast, press the button down, and see: * Sorry, you must complete a critical system update before proceeding. * Wi-Fi unavailable, please check the network. * Your AccuToast (TM) subscription has expired. Please update your details on the web. * Non-genuine bread detected, please ensure you purchase AccuToast (TM) certified bread. * Tampering detected, contact manufact…

Also, the AccuToast (TM) displays ads, to "help cover costs".
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