Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money • Hacker News Board

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#531

Post by kareemsabri » Sat, May 07, 2022, 4:52 PM UTC

mr_mitm wrote: post #526

kareemsabri wrote: post #509

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's weird that men still shave at all to be honest. The world is casual enough that you're not expected to have a "close" shave. I use a Wahl Peanut with no guard, takes maybe one minute. Costs $65 and lasts 5 years easily. You can also use it to give yourself a buzz cut, if you're so inclined, and save even more money.

Believe it or not, some men like the look and feel of a close shave. And for many, saving money is not a number one priority when getting a hair cut.

That'a fair, I believe it. I've tried it and do like it.

But the marginal gain in closeness I get from a wet shave versus the method mentioned above, when paired with cost, razor burn / irritation / breakouts, and cuts, doesn't seem worth it to me.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#532

Post by 4oo4 » Sat, May 07, 2022, 4:52 PM UTC

If you keep a piece of old denim or cotton fabric around, you can keep resharpening the cheap cartridge razors for an extremely long time. I can basically keep using them until the plastic parts start to fall off. A pack of cartridge razors can easily last me more than a year when I do this.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#533

Post by mr_mitm » Sat, May 07, 2022, 4:53 PM UTC

algoatecorn wrote: post #343

sagaro wrote: post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you could always cast something to the TV from your computer or phone with no ads.

My worry is that TV manufacturers will have the capacity to overlay ads natively on the screen.

They already do. I've seen it this week in my hotel room. It was a brand I've never heard of before. But at least when watching cable TV, the picture would turn into a PIP and ads were displayed in the frame.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#534

Post by kcplate » Sat, May 07, 2022, 4:53 PM UTC

radicalbyte wrote: post #503

neltnerb wrote: post #437

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And it's worth noting that a blade razor usually removes a bit of the top layer of skin, causing irritation, ingrown hairs (on top of avoiding injury from cuts). There are some really fantastic electric razors that are cheap and get close enough that it makes no visual difference, except they don't cut the hairs under the skin so I haven't had an ingrown hair in years and years.

I haven't had ingrowing hairs since I switch to a Merker razor with Feather (Japanese) blades. You have to be very light handed, mind. Blades cost $0.25 each and I use about 10 a year.

I use a Merker safety razor with feather blades too. Definitely recommend not just for the shave, but for the value.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#535

Post by coryrc » Sat, May 07, 2022, 4:54 PM UTC

aksss wrote: post #461

dghlsakjg wrote: post #412

Earlier quoted context omitted.

a flap disc. Seems like overkill though. You could probably just hand sand it to be honest.

Probably, random orbital sander would do the trick, but slower and chew through a lot of sanding discs. It took me years to finally acquire a grinder - just no real need between sanders and saws. Once I started working on concrete and metal it became necessary, and now it seems like a luxury for all the little things which I probably should have been enjoying a long time ago. But IME, most people under 40 don’t have…

I didn't even wear out one disk using my 5" ROS sanding a 12" lodge skillet, though I started at 80 grit and worked my way to 220.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#536

Post by moron4hire » Sat, May 07, 2022, 4:54 PM UTC

diogenescynic wrote: post #374

ElevenLathe wrote: post #259

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what do you do with the angle grinder?

I wouldn't bother with all that. I'd recommend finding an antique cast iron pan (local thrift store, flea markets, Etsy, or eBay) and restoring it (there are services for this or you can do it yourself fairly easy) and using that. The antique pans are just way better. Or you can try carbon steel which is more forgiving than cast iron. Blanc Creatives makes a great carbon steel pan/skillet.

I was not able to find an antique pan for less than the price of a modern pan and angle grinder. So I recouped my tool investment on the first pan alone.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#537

Post by chmorgan » Sat, May 07, 2022, 4:55 PM UTC

I use one of those Philips rotary electric shavers and while it doesn't get nearly as close it also lets me get hundreds or more shaves before I finally give in and get a new set of blades. I even wonder if the fact that the blades are against the metal shield means they effectively self sharpen, since it goes so many shaves.

I'm amazed there is so much waste with these exposed blade shaving systems. Even if they could be sharpened and re-used a dozen times you'd cut the waste down to 1/10th....

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#538

Post by asdff » Sat, May 07, 2022, 4:56 PM UTC

shiftpgdn wrote: post #111

GingerMidas wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've seen that video, the takeaway was the difference in price is so miniscule you might as well use what you're comfortable with.

His video about dish washer pods explain they also work significantly worse since your dishwasher was designed with a pre-rinse area to use soap twice during a cleaning cycle. A pod will not be able to be used twice and leaves dishes dirtier.

I don't understand, the pod goes into the same spot as the powder though? It shouldn't matter if its wrapped in a little membrane since a the end of the day you are putting in the same amount of powder into the same spot. The cascade pods at least are just powder aliquoted out for you.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#539

Post by drgvond » Sat, May 07, 2022, 4:57 PM UTC

jader201 wrote: post #398

Why is a thread on electric razors not the top comment on a post about the expense/waste of straight razors? I get that they have some downsides, but if we’re talking about the expense/waste of straight razors, then it would make sense to consider electric razors. I’ve seen so many ads about companies trying to “invent” the most effective, lowest cost straight razor and it still confuses me, given we already have ele…

> Why is a thread on electric razors not the top comment on a post about the expense/waste of straight razors?

The post doesn’t even mention straight razors [1].

Also, I’m not sure electric razors are the less wasteful solution. Any electric appliance is likely to be much more environmentally costly to manufacture than a simple gadget. It certainly can’t compare with safety razors (or double-edged razors, as called in the article).

I won’t comment on the convenience of electric razors. My very limited experience with them (and not only mine) is that they don’t work on all beards, or if you don’t shave every day.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_razor

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#540

Post by coryrc » Sat, May 07, 2022, 4:57 PM UTC

wbsss4412 wrote: post #527

sandworm101 wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> season and care for cast iron So they need more work and skill than other pans. In other words: they are in fact less convenient . Cast iron also has multiple issues when used with induction ranges, which are by far the most efficient/environmental cookers.

> Cast iron also has multiple issues when used with induction ranges, which are by far the most efficient/environmental cookers. This is the first I’m hearing of this. My understanding is that pans only need to be magnetic to work with induction, in which case cast iron are prime candidates for induction.

My issue is the induction area is smaller than my pan and cast iron conducts heat poorly, so only the middle ~7" of my 12" pan is hot, the rest is downright cold.

Though my cast iron wok heats properly, for almost the same reason!