Where to find common items that last "forever"
Where to find common items that last "forever"
I think perhaps that it is somewhat like retirement planning to only want to buy things once. I particularly want to do this with mundane things like toilet brushes, security lights, dustpans...
I suppose that some things just wear out. Clothing, for example. I once bought -- years ago, accidentally -- 42 pairs of gold toe socks. (When they arrived I wondered why the shipping box was so big!) I am just now on the last of these socks. Turns out it was a great idea. But my question is about things that should not wear out -- but do.
I have found that most mundane-purpose things fall apart after just a few years. (This post was inspired by the handle falling off my (expensive) toilet brush.) Cheap things (toilet brushes are probably a good example) can last forever but are ugly.
Is there a source for high quality household "stuff"?
For me, 40 years is "forever" -- and it's dropping every year!
I suppose that some things just wear out. Clothing, for example. I once bought -- years ago, accidentally -- 42 pairs of gold toe socks. (When they arrived I wondered why the shipping box was so big!) I am just now on the last of these socks. Turns out it was a great idea. But my question is about things that should not wear out -- but do.
I have found that most mundane-purpose things fall apart after just a few years. (This post was inspired by the handle falling off my (expensive) toilet brush.) Cheap things (toilet brushes are probably a good example) can last forever but are ugly.
Is there a source for high quality household "stuff"?
For me, 40 years is "forever" -- and it's dropping every year!
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Try the Buy It For Life forum on reddit.com. Or just type "bifl" into Google.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
All I can think of is: https://www.reddit.com/r/BuyItForLife.
Also maybe Consumer Reports.
Maybe companies that make products you've been happy with in the past?
Other than that I don't know...
Frank
Also maybe Consumer Reports.
Maybe companies that make products you've been happy with in the past?
Other than that I don't know...
Frank
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
I like darn tough socks which have a lifetime warranty.
http://darntough.com
http://darntough.com
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
It seems to be a trending topic on the net.
http://www.buymeonce.com
http://www.buythisonce.com
http://www.buy-it-once.com
http://www.boughtitonce.com
http://www.buymeonce.com
http://www.buythisonce.com
http://www.buy-it-once.com
http://www.boughtitonce.com
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
How about a rock for a doorstop or paperweight? Cast iron frying pans etc will last "forever" with proper care. Anything electronic, not so much (though I still have my 40 year-old stereo receiver that mostly works).
The closest helping hand is at the end of your own arm.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
One toilet brush that lasts forever? That would be gross!
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Wusthof chef's knives. We got one for a wedding gift.
Still in daily use after 48 years.
Still in daily use after 48 years.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
They are gross after the first usage. After a couple times, the "gross factor" has plateaued; I doubt if is gets any worse.island wrote:One toilet brush that lasts forever? That would be gross!
I wish I had learned about index funds 25 years ago
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Interesting topic... very boglehead-ish!
Items off the top of my head...
Weber grills - if you replace the wear items as needed. It might be nasty after 40 years, but it will work.
Honda lawn mowers - if you change the oil once a year and take care of it, they seem to last forever
Good knives
Good shop tools
Good garden tools
Quartz or granite countertops
Hardwood floors
Watches
Items off the top of my head...
Weber grills - if you replace the wear items as needed. It might be nasty after 40 years, but it will work.
Honda lawn mowers - if you change the oil once a year and take care of it, they seem to last forever
Good knives
Good shop tools
Good garden tools
Quartz or granite countertops
Hardwood floors
Watches
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
DSInvestor wrote:I like darn tough socks which have a lifetime warranty.
Or you could just darn your socks...
I admit I did darn socks back years ago, but don't anymore
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Quite often you get what you pay for. I've been a cheapskate for much of my life but I've found that spending a little more can ensure decent quality:
- Apple computers (yes, money very well spent)
- ASUS computers, routers
- Stihl yard tools
- Honda & Toyota automobiles
- Snap on tools (very overpriced these days, but top notch)
- Teva sandals
- Quiksilver shirts
- Levi's jeans
I haven't yet found a brand of household appliances that last
- Apple computers (yes, money very well spent)
- ASUS computers, routers
- Stihl yard tools
- Honda & Toyota automobiles
- Snap on tools (very overpriced these days, but top notch)
- Teva sandals
- Quiksilver shirts
- Levi's jeans
I haven't yet found a brand of household appliances that last
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
I installed a Sears electric garage door opener in 1975. Still works perfectly...just replaced the controllers a couple of times (low priced).
Lots of tools and garden utensils I have are over 50 years old. I even have an ax from my father which is 90 years old.
Quality wood furniture lasts decades and even centuries.
My best household investment, my dear wife, is just fine after 56 years.
Lots of tools and garden utensils I have are over 50 years old. I even have an ax from my father which is 90 years old.
Quality wood furniture lasts decades and even centuries.
My best household investment, my dear wife, is just fine after 56 years.
Last edited by Sheepdog on Fri Aug 05, 2016 1:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
You're on to something. If you learn to darn (as people used to do with socks) they can last forever.DSInvestor wrote:I like darn tough socks which have a lifetime warranty.
http://darntough.com
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
We pay attention to quality and buy things we believe are quality. We still are using our Maytag Washer and dryer that we bought 27 years ago. Sadly, the newer ones are not nearly as reliable, according to all I've read and heard.
I guess I don't feel I need things to last 40+ years, as long as they are good for at least the duration. I expect and perhaps a bit more. Refrigerators don't seem to last. We are on our 3rd, I believe, in the same 27 years we've had the washer and dryer.
Hardwood floors last a very long time if given some care. They've lasted 25 years and still look similar to when they were installed.
Our cars tend to last s decade or two--that's long enough for us. I favor Hondas and Toyotas for reliability and inexpensive servicing.
Farberware and Revereware cookware pots and pans from the 80s are VERY well made and sturdy. Sadly, the newer stuff isn't nearly as good. Gerber and Wulstof knives are very well made and we've happily had them for decades. Get the knife that fits well in the hand of the person who will be using the knife!
Good hardwood wooden furniture can last a very long time, as can good tools that are maintained.
I guess I don't feel I need things to last 40+ years, as long as they are good for at least the duration. I expect and perhaps a bit more. Refrigerators don't seem to last. We are on our 3rd, I believe, in the same 27 years we've had the washer and dryer.
Hardwood floors last a very long time if given some care. They've lasted 25 years and still look similar to when they were installed.
Our cars tend to last s decade or two--that's long enough for us. I favor Hondas and Toyotas for reliability and inexpensive servicing.
Farberware and Revereware cookware pots and pans from the 80s are VERY well made and sturdy. Sadly, the newer stuff isn't nearly as good. Gerber and Wulstof knives are very well made and we've happily had them for decades. Get the knife that fits well in the hand of the person who will be using the knife!
Good hardwood wooden furniture can last a very long time, as can good tools that are maintained.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Let's never come here again because it would never be as much fun.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
A lot of things that used to be well made are now shoddy.
GE appliances, for example, which my family bought for decades, have dropped drastically in quality.
Small electrical gimcracks which used to be well made in the US are now shoddy and made elsewhere - light fixtures, etc.
When it comes to smaller things, I look on ebay for used items made when quality meant something. Tools, etc. Revere Wear.
I like NordicWare for microwave cooking dishes. I have ones several years old and still going strong with no signs of wear. Plus almost all of their products are Made in the U.S.
Etsy has some nice things, but you have to be sure you are dealing with an individual, not some overseas place masquerading as an individual. If they have 500+ products for sale, that's one clue There are good overseas individual sellers, however.
If someone knows of a source for quality fabric, I would appreciate knowing it. The fabric in fabric stores is now as shoddy as that in ready made clothes.
GE appliances, for example, which my family bought for decades, have dropped drastically in quality.
Small electrical gimcracks which used to be well made in the US are now shoddy and made elsewhere - light fixtures, etc.
When it comes to smaller things, I look on ebay for used items made when quality meant something. Tools, etc. Revere Wear.
I like NordicWare for microwave cooking dishes. I have ones several years old and still going strong with no signs of wear. Plus almost all of their products are Made in the U.S.
Etsy has some nice things, but you have to be sure you are dealing with an individual, not some overseas place masquerading as an individual. If they have 500+ products for sale, that's one clue There are good overseas individual sellers, however.
If someone knows of a source for quality fabric, I would appreciate knowing it. The fabric in fabric stores is now as shoddy as that in ready made clothes.
Last edited by mouses on Fri Aug 05, 2016 7:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Found a new in the box Braun juicer made in Germany juicer to back up the one my wife has been using daily for 15 years. $8 at Goodwill. We are set for life on that. Also Cuisinart food processors, one a Robot Coupe made in France. Avoid Chinese junk if you can.
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Hah! Tell me about it. Our first microwave, bought in the 1970s, was made by GE--600 watts!--and lasted something like twenty-five or thirty years. The next two, also "made by GE," lasted less than two years each and failed with, literally, a bang! and a puff of smoke. Once could be just "stuff happens," but not twice.mouses wrote:A lot of things that used to be well made are now shoddy.
GE appliances, for example, which my family bought for decades, have dropped drastically in quality.
And our GE dishwasher--the one we replaced with a Bosch last year. The main motor failed. The front control panel failed (went crazy, push one button and the light for another button lit up). Being diehard "just pay to fix it, $300 to fix it is less than $1,000 to replace it" we had it repaired. About three years later the front panel went crazy again. And... it did such a lousy job of cleaning that my wife routinely set it to "cookware" in order to get the visible dirt off, and every patterned piece we had faded.
It's not just that stuff is shoddy, it's also unpredictable. Seemingly, not only do U.S. companies not make stuff, they don't seem to exercise any control over what they slap their names on. You'll buy something and it will be well made, so you'll buy more from the same company and it will be awful.
In the case of clothing, too, each change of "real" supplier always seems to mean a subtle change in fit. It used to be that if you ordered something from Land's End and it fit, you could just keep ordering the same thing again and again... and other Land's End things with the same sizing... and they would fit, too. Not any more.
Last edited by nisiprius on Fri Aug 05, 2016 12:15 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness; Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
I use the Vermont Country Store from time to time. Their stuff is somewhat overpriced, but they do specialize in "don't-make-'em-anymore" items (which are, usually, "don't-distribute-'em-anymore" items) and they are your typical modern good-internet-service operation.
Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness; Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
I'm 100% behind "buy once cry once " and investing in quality products, but keep in mind that Survivor ship Bias influences a lot of product recommendations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivorship_bias
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivorship_bias
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
For athletic wear, Under Armour is very high quality and lasts a long time.
The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. - Thich Nhat Hanh
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Just for the record, though. Cars. They're great now. Way better than they used to be.
It seems as if they last "forever" now. Our last trade-in was eleven years old in good running condition, no problems passing inspection--we traded it in because we just wanted a new one, and because we wanted one with all the spiffy new driver-assist features. (Our old one didn't have VSC, for example, and that was starting to nag at me).
They don't make 'em like they used to, and that's a good thing.
Anyone familiar with what cars were like in the sixties, seventies, and eighties has to be astonished at the quality and durability of modern cars--and their ability to say in tune and start reliably in winter. And their rust-resistance. And their ability to last ten years and still not burn oil (although I've read that's starting to be a problem again).
My beloved 1967 Dodge Dart--and I paid extra for dealer undercoating, I was young and gullible--started to have visible rust on the hood and the bottom edge of the door and the rocker panels in just a few years. At about seven years, the floor rusted through in a spot. About a year later the hole was so big the rubber floor mat no longer seemed like adequate protection and we paid to have a plate welded on. About a year later it started emitting seriously visible and embarrassing clouds of blue smoke.
Oh, tires are much better now, too.
It seems as if they last "forever" now. Our last trade-in was eleven years old in good running condition, no problems passing inspection--we traded it in because we just wanted a new one, and because we wanted one with all the spiffy new driver-assist features. (Our old one didn't have VSC, for example, and that was starting to nag at me).
They don't make 'em like they used to, and that's a good thing.
Anyone familiar with what cars were like in the sixties, seventies, and eighties has to be astonished at the quality and durability of modern cars--and their ability to say in tune and start reliably in winter. And their rust-resistance. And their ability to last ten years and still not burn oil (although I've read that's starting to be a problem again).
My beloved 1967 Dodge Dart--and I paid extra for dealer undercoating, I was young and gullible--started to have visible rust on the hood and the bottom edge of the door and the rocker panels in just a few years. At about seven years, the floor rusted through in a spot. About a year later the hole was so big the rubber floor mat no longer seemed like adequate protection and we paid to have a plate welded on. About a year later it started emitting seriously visible and embarrassing clouds of blue smoke.
Oh, tires are much better now, too.
Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness; Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Just as some things should last forever, other things most definitely should not. I would put toilet brushes in the latter category. Yes, they can get more gross after the first use. Bacteria multiply -- a lot. So buy a cheap toilet brush from Dollar Tree and throw it away regularly. Or stop using toilet brushes altogether. Elbow-length, industrial-strength gloves combined with Clorox wipes do a great job cleaning the toilet bowl.
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
mouses wrote:A lot of things that used to be well made are now shoddy.
The reason that it seems that a lot of things are no longer made as well as they used to be made is that, adjusted for inflation, we are paying a fraction of what we used to pay for them. If you are willing to pay, proportionately, what you paid 40 years ago for products, you will often get products that are just as durable, and likely better in performance, than their predecessors.nisiprius wrote:I use the Vermont Country Store from time to time. Their stuff is somewhat overpriced..
And many of the new and incredibly cheap products are quite good. I marvel at wrenches when I go to the big box hardware stores: you can buy a set of wrenches for not much more than you'd have paid for a single wrench eons ago, and they are well made.
We cannot absolutely prove [that they are wrong who say] that we have seen our best days. But so said all who came before us, and with just as much apparent reason. |
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Speed Queen washers/dryers
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
People keep cars - on average- longer than they keep their housesnisiprius wrote:Just for the record, though. Cars. They're great now. Way better than they used to be.
It seems as if they last "forever" now. Our last trade-in was eleven years old in good running condition, no problems passing inspection--we traded it in because we just wanted a new one, and because we wanted one with all the spiffy new driver-assist features. (Our old one didn't have VSC, for example, and that was starting to nag at me).
Items are becoming computerized and electronics-heavy. Once something happens the the circuit board, and it doesn't take much, the item is generally toast. I look for items with as few bells and whistles as possible, in the hope of having things last longer.
There is a case to made for buying "disposable" items, versus "forever" items, however. For items where you use infrequently, and where the importance of the task is low, it may make sense to buy "cheap." For me, a garden hose is one such item. I am okay replacing it after a few years, or not at all, if it leaks at the connection point or it kinks -- all for $20.
The life of an item is also greatly impacted by use and care, in addition to manufacturing quality. What I have noticed is, some people neglect their things and as a result their things neglect to function. One example is a gas powered lawn mower, which sometimes doesn't start after a long winter. If you feed the mower with non-ethanol gas, change the oil, clean, keep it indoors, it can last much longer.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
http://www.michaelsfabrics.com/ good but expensive (sometimes have less expensive but quality bulk bundles/grab bags )mouses wrote:
If someone knows of a source for quality fabric, I would appreciate knowing it. The fabric in fabric stores is now as shoddy as that in ready made clothes.
https://www.voguefabricsstore.com/ good but not cheap
Find a fabric forum such as PatternReview.com and ask a detailed question.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
That is 10,000% unnecessary.Rupert wrote: Or stop using toilet brushes altogether. Elbow-length, industrial-strength gloves combined with Clorox wipes do a great job cleaning the toilet bowl.
A toilet brush is 100% adequate.
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
We bought our home last December. It was built in '13 so the GE appliances are all of 3yrs old. In 9 months we've had to have a repairman come work on the refrigerator and the dishwasher, microwave had to be totally replaced (absolute nightmare dealing with the warranty), and we have our fingers crossed about the oven/stovetop. In the same timespan, we also had two brand-new clothes washers fail (thankfully under warranty), though they were not GE. I honestly can't remember ever having to fix or repair an appliance as an adult and I left home almost 20yrs ago; we've had 5 in 9 months in our new home. New appliances are absolute garbage, and GE in particular.nisiprius wrote:Hah! Tell me about it. Our first microwave, bought in the 1970s, was made by GE--600 watts!--and lasted something like twenty-five or thirty years. The next two, also made by GE, lasted less than two years each and failed with, literally, a bang! and a puff of smoke. And don't get me started on the GE dishwasher--the one we replaced with a Bosch last year. Oops. Too late. The main motor failed. The front control panel failed (went crazy, push one button and the light for another button lit up). Being diehard "just pay to fix it, $300 to fix it is less than $1,000 to replace it" we had it repaired. About three years later the front panel went crazy again. And... it did such a lousy job of cleaning that my wife routinely set it to "cookware" in order to get the visible dirt off, and every patterned piece we had faded.mouses wrote:A lot of things that used to be well made are now shoddy.
GE appliances, for example, which my family bought for decades, have dropped drastically in quality.
It's not just that stuff is shoddy, it's also unpredictable. Seemingly, not only do U.S. companies not make stuff, they don't seem to exercise any control over what they slap their names on. You'll buy something and it will be well made, so you'll buy more from the same company and it will be awful.
In the case of clothing, too, each change of "real" supplier always seems to mean a subtle change in fit. It used to be that if you ordered something from Land's End and it fit, you could just keep ordering the same thing again and again... and other Land's End things with the same sizing... and they would fit, too. Not any more.
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Any toy store sells Lego---and they certainly seem to last forever.
(Being engineered to be backwards compatible, even with new designs and parts, is ingenious. Bricks and plates that are 30 years old fit perfectly with stuff I bought last week. They are simply the best toy ever made, in my view).
(Being engineered to be backwards compatible, even with new designs and parts, is ingenious. Bricks and plates that are 30 years old fit perfectly with stuff I bought last week. They are simply the best toy ever made, in my view).
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
nisiprius wrote:In the case of clothing, too, each change of "real" supplier always seems to mean a subtle change in fit. It used to be that if you ordered something from Land's End and it fit, you could just keep ordering the same thing again and again... and other Land's End things with the same sizing... and they would fit, too. Not any more.
The other issue with Lands' End is that the material isn't the same as it was, even just a year or so ago.
The cotton in their khakis seems to have gotten thinner, the shirts don't feel the same, and so on. Buying clothes without trying them on is already a bit of a gamble; why does Lands' End want to make it even more of one?
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
100% adequate for what, culturing bacteria? To each his own.Mingus wrote:That is 10,000% unnecessary.Rupert wrote: Or stop using toilet brushes altogether. Elbow-length, industrial-strength gloves combined with Clorox wipes do a great job cleaning the toilet bowl.
A toilet brush is 100% adequate.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
furnace wrote: The life of an item is also greatly impacted by use and care, in addition to manufacturing quality. What I have noticed is, some people neglect their things and as a result their things neglect to function. One example is a gas powered lawn mower, which sometimes doesn't start after a long winter. If you feed the mower with non-ethanol gas, change the oil, clean, keep it indoors, it can last much longer.
The ethanol kills small engines myth, is just that - a myth.
Mowers are hard to start when you leave untreated gas in them all winter and the volatiles evaporate off and it goes stale. Best bet is to drain the carb dry before storage, rotate you gas supply in well sealed airtight cans, and treat it with stabilizer if you are going to keep it on hand more than a couple months.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
I buy all my kitchen utensils (peelers, cutting boards, whisks, etc.) at a restaurant supply store. Lower price and higher quality to be sure.
I appreciate the sentiment in the OP. I went through the saga of finding a good manual can opener a while back, and it was indeed frustrating.
I appreciate the sentiment in the OP. I went through the saga of finding a good manual can opener a while back, and it was indeed frustrating.
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
You can add Mason Jars (though you do have to replace the metal lids each time you can) and those US-made Kitchen-Aid Stand Mixers to the mix.
These things will last forever and are well made.
My mother has her 1980's era Kitchen-Aid mixer still going strong. Never once had an issue despite years of heavy use.
These things will last forever and are well made.
My mother has her 1980's era Kitchen-Aid mixer still going strong. Never once had an issue despite years of heavy use.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
always bought Lands End because of the perfect fit. now, not so much. gotta try things on. same with New Balance; at one time I knew any model of their 4E width was just fine. now, not so much.Random Poster wrote:The other issue with Lands' End is that the material isn't the same as it was, even just a year or so ago.nisiprius wrote:In the case of clothing, too, each change of "real" supplier always seems to mean a subtle change in fit. It used to be that if you ordered something from Land's End and it fit, you could just keep ordering the same thing again and again... and other Land's End things with the same sizing... and they would fit, too. Not any more.
The cotton in their khakis seems to have gotten thinner, the shirts don't feel the same, and so on. Buying clothes without trying them on is already a bit of a gamble; why does Lands' End want to make it even more of one?
this can be a drag on online buying when quality and performance deteriorate. maybe a good selling point for the dwindling bricks and mortar retailers. even the big stuff, appliances, electronics, buy them local and returns and repairs may be easier - I hope...
Don't it always seem to go * That you don't know what you've got * Till it's gone
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
You are partially righty, elthanol doesn't kill small engines, it kills everything that holds fuel in a carburetor.jharkin wrote:furnace wrote: The life of an item
The ethanol kills small engines myth, is just that - a myth.
I had a boat that sat for a few months and wouldn't start. Took apart the carb and there was green gunk, almost like algae inside.
Highly recommend buying an elethanol treatment and adding it to all fuel that goes into anything that isn't started weekly.
Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment - Concentrated Gas Formula 8 oz - Treats 128 Gallons https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3IEIH2/re ... PxbT8E8975
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Unless you are brushing your teeth, combing your hair, or making soup stock with your used toilet brush, it doesn't matter.Rupert wrote:100% adequate for what, culturing bacteria? To each his own.Mingus wrote:That is 10,000% unnecessary.Rupert wrote: Or stop using toilet brushes altogether. Elbow-length, industrial-strength gloves combined with Clorox wipes do a great job cleaning the toilet bowl.
A toilet brush is 100% adequate.
Besides, ten minutes after sterilizing the inside of the toilet bowel with Clorox wipes the surface is going to be covered with bacteria anyways. There is no way around it, unless you are going to commit to sterilizing the inside of the toilet after every use.
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
If forever is 40 years as defined by the OP these certainly don't fit into the category. Computers and routers get maybe 5 years of good life. After that time they are too old and slow for the latest applications and standards. Even simple web-browsing becomes a challenge on a computer that is 10 years old - slow CPU, not enough storage for anything, not enough memory, not supported by latest OS, not able to secure, etc.sunny_socal wrote:Quite often you get what you pay for. I've been a cheapskate for much of my life but I've found that spending a little more can ensure decent quality:
- Apple computers (yes, money very well spent)
- ASUS computers, routers
-
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Yes these are excellent. I hope never to replace them.obgraham wrote:Wusthof chef's knives. We got one for a wedding gift.
Still in daily use after 48 years.
Amateur investors are not cool-headed logicians.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
ddurrett896 wrote: You are partially righty, elthanol doesn't kill small engines, it kills everything that holds fuel in a carburetor.
I had a boat that sat for a few months and wouldn't start. Took apart the carb and there was green gunk, almost like algae inside.
Highly recommend buying an elethanol treatment and adding it to all fuel that goes into anything that isn't started weekly.
Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment - Concentrated Gas Formula 8 oz - Treats 128 Gallons https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3IEIH2/re ... PxbT8E8975
Again, its not the ethanol that doing the damage. The seals in all carbs made in the last 20+ years are mostly Viton, which is a synthetic rubber that is impervious to alcohol. Also in that time the industry has eliminated plastics and certain metals that are suceptible to alcohol degradation.
The ethanol itself doesnt create gunk or residue. It actually burns far cleaner than gasoline. If you dont believe that, pour a spoonful of gas on a metal dish, and pour a spoon of rubbing alcohol on another dish, light them both and watch.
The "gunk" reputation that ethanol gets is actually because of the fact that its a very strong solvent that scrubs out gunk left over from years of poor quality gas causing varnish in older vehicles and power equipment. This churned up gunk gets trapped in the small pasages of a carb. A new production engine run on nothing but a quality detergent E10 blend will probably stay cleaner inside than anything we had in the 80s.
Water is mostly a non issue except for boats where you can get so much that it would be a problem even with pure gas. People read that ehtanol is hydroscopic (it attracts water) and assume that means it will cause rust. Actually the opposite is true, water will separate out of pure gas quite easily and sink to the bottom of your tank. Ethanol can hold over 10x as much water in suspension as gas and it will help prevent water settling. Ethanol is actually the active ingredient in DryGas for this very reason!
Most of these myths get started by mechanics in small engine shops because they started seeing problems with old equipment when E10 first came out and of course it was easier to just blame the new factor - ethanol - then to research what was really going on. Then the stories get repeated over and over again in the press and any contradictory explanation is labeled corn industry propaganda.
And I say all this as somebody who is not convinced there is any real end to end environmental benefit to ethanol the way its produced today . I just dont buy the hype that its a disaster.
There is a lot of reading about this online. Some concise explanations:
http://minnesotacornerstone.com/?p=3083
http://www.enginebuildermag.com/2015/04/ethanol/
Last edited by jharkin on Fri Aug 05, 2016 11:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
I think you may be taking my comment a bit too seriously. Clorox wipes are convenient and are kept in the bathroom for cleaning other things, such as the counter top. Use paper towels if you prefer. But toilet brushes are nasty. Research it if you like; I actually have. There's no getting around the nastiness that lurks on toilet brushes. They should, as I noted, be thrown away and replaced often if you choose to use them. They're definitely not a lifetime investment item.Mingus wrote:Unless you are brushing your teeth, combing your hair, or making soup stock with your used toilet brush, it doesn't matter.Rupert wrote:100% adequate for what, culturing bacteria? To each his own.Mingus wrote:That is 10,000% unnecessary.Rupert wrote: Or stop using toilet brushes altogether. Elbow-length, industrial-strength gloves combined with Clorox wipes do a great job cleaning the toilet bowl.
A toilet brush is 100% adequate.
Besides, ten minutes after sterilizing the inside of the toilet bowel with Clorox wipes the surface is going to be covered with bacteria anyways. There is no way around it, unless you are going to commit to sterilizing the inside of the toilet after every use.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
I don't think anyone ever in the history of the universe has thought or stated that a toilet brush is a lifetime investment item. And they are nasty. My statement is donning elbow length industrial strength rubber gloves and cleaning the toilet with clorox wipes is even nastier than a toilet brush. With little gain for much more effort.Rupert wrote:I think you may be taking my comment a bit too seriously. Clorox wipes are convenient and are kept in the bathroom for cleaning other things, such as the counter top. Use paper towels if you prefer. But toilet brushes are nasty. Research it if you like; I actually have. There's no getting around the nastiness that lurks on toilet brushes. They should, as I noted, be thrown away and replaced often if you choose to use them. They're definitely not a lifetime investment item.Mingus wrote:Unless you are brushing your teeth, combing your hair, or making soup stock with your used toilet brush, it doesn't matter.Rupert wrote:100% adequate for what, culturing bacteria? To each his own.Mingus wrote:That is 10,000% unnecessary.Rupert wrote: Or stop using toilet brushes altogether. Elbow-length, industrial-strength gloves combined with Clorox wipes do a great job cleaning the toilet bowl.
A toilet brush is 100% adequate.
Besides, ten minutes after sterilizing the inside of the toilet bowel with Clorox wipes the surface is going to be covered with bacteria anyways. There is no way around it, unless you are going to commit to sterilizing the inside of the toilet after every use.
- sunny_socal
- Posts: 2732
- Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2015 4:22 pm
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Things like kitchen brushes and toilet brushes may be purchased at Ikea. Indeed they are cheap enough to be "single use" if you don't like keeping the dirty item. They're something like $1 each. And a dollar store would certainly have them for $1. Just don't buy them at your local grocery store, then they are $10!
More quality items:
- Ecco shoes
- Rolex watch (For watch lovers, the rest of you don't need to get one )
- Moccamaster coffee makers
- Kershaw and Victorinox knives
- Cutco kitchen knives
- Fiskars scissors (don't settle for knockoffs!)
- Streamlight flashlights
- Milwaukee power tools (saws, drills etc) (Avoid Black & Decker, Ryobi and other low end products)
- Miller/Hobart welders & helmets
You don't always "get what you pay for." For example BMW automobiles are the worst in terms of quality. I believe they are designed to last during the three years most people lease them and then fall apart. Everything is made of plastic. German automobiles in general are wonderful to drive but expect constant problems & expensive maintenance if you go down that road
More quality items:
- Ecco shoes
- Rolex watch (For watch lovers, the rest of you don't need to get one )
- Moccamaster coffee makers
- Kershaw and Victorinox knives
- Cutco kitchen knives
- Fiskars scissors (don't settle for knockoffs!)
- Streamlight flashlights
- Milwaukee power tools (saws, drills etc) (Avoid Black & Decker, Ryobi and other low end products)
- Miller/Hobart welders & helmets
You don't always "get what you pay for." For example BMW automobiles are the worst in terms of quality. I believe they are designed to last during the three years most people lease them and then fall apart. Everything is made of plastic. German automobiles in general are wonderful to drive but expect constant problems & expensive maintenance if you go down that road
- nisiprius
- Advisory Board
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Although your point is well-taken, let me clarify. What I am saying is that I often can find the identical item at the Vermont Country Store and elsewhere, and I bother to search--because when I do, the Vermont Country Store's price is usually higher.black jack wrote:...The reason that it seems that a lot of things are no longer made as well as they used to be made is that, adjusted for inflation, we are paying a fraction of what we used to pay for them.nisiprius wrote:I use the Vermont Country Store from time to time. Their stuff is somewhat overpriced..
By the way, a couple of years ago my wife and I were on an extended road trip, which happened to take us through Vermont, and when I said to her "So what do we want to see in Vermont?" we realized that we both wanted to see the (physical) Vermont Country Store... and we enjoyed it. I wouldn't go out of my way for it. But, for example, we both enjoyed the Vermont Country Store (and bought a couple of things), whereas we were both repelled by Wall Drug.
Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness; Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.
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Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Add MAGLITE flashlights to the list (Made to last, affordable and made in the USA)
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
I have a canister vacuum cleaner I bought at Sears sometime in the 1980s. A few years ago it sprung a leak in the hose that connects the canister to the floor attachment. This isn't just any hose; it contains some electric wiring to power the beater in the attachment, with connections on each end. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was still possible to order a replacement part, not in the original color, but otherwise perfectly serviceable.
Which brings me to the problem: any company that sells stuff like that is going to have trouble staying in business.
Which brings me to the problem: any company that sells stuff like that is going to have trouble staying in business.
Re: Where to find common items that last "forever"
Not a single source for everything. You need to do the research on each type of product you're looking into.McCharley wrote:Is there a source for high quality household "stuff"?
They're unlikely to last forever but there are still potentially different lifespans for different product options.123 wrote:Anything electronic, not so much (though I still have my 40 year-old stereo receiver that mostly works).
Quite often quality comes at a price but price doesn't guarantee quality. Don't assume based solely on price.sunny_socal wrote:Quite often you get what you pay for.