The challenge I have with bike commuting is that my apartment building is literally on top of the steepest hill in the city. It’s an elevation gain of a couple hundred feet over the span of about...
The challenge I have with bike commuting is that my apartment building is literally on top of the steepest hill in the city. It’s an elevation gain of a couple hundred feet over the span of about 2 city blocks. I see people pulling it off and I have no idea how. I’m gasping and wheezing and sweat drenched every time.
I’ve considered the electric assist bikes, but it makes me feel so lazy.
I was in your position. In 2017 I considered cycling because my work place was only 6km away but I live in a very hilly area. I got a cheap road bike and was really struggling, just a lap around...
I was in your position. In 2017 I considered cycling because my work place was only 6km away but I live in a very hilly area. I got a cheap road bike and was really struggling, just a lap around the block left me with extreme jelly legs so I gave up. At the start of 2018 I got an ebike and started riding that to work. It was so fun I started riding it just randomly around the place for fun. After a few months I was the most fit I had ever been in my life and I purchased a nice road bike and was easily able to ride around the hills using the fitness I built up on the ebike.
Now in 2019 that decision to buy an ebike has totally changed my life. I am so much healthier and fitter than I have ever been in my life. I can keep up with the enthusiasts on carbon bikes and I ride about 40km per day and all uphill on the way home from my new place of work. I have saved so much money on bus tickets and car stuff and I have convinced some people at work to take the same path.
Just think of it this way, no matter how easy an ebike makes it for you its still so much heather than sitting in a car or on public transport. For me it totally transformed my health and lifestyle.
I have an e-bike as well, bought it in February 2017. Elevation changes, unbearable heat where I live, and not wanting to show up to work drenched in sweat were the reasons for buying one over a...
I have an e-bike as well, bought it in February 2017. Elevation changes, unbearable heat where I live, and not wanting to show up to work drenched in sweat were the reasons for buying one over a typical road bike. Not sure about you, but I use minimal or no electric assist when riding on flat streets. This is great for conserving the bike's battery and doesn't make you feel as lazy.
I live in a hilly place too and struggled with feeling lazy (or being judged lazy) by riding an electric assist bike. After a couple of years of hating public transport, I finally made the...
I live in a hilly place too and struggled with feeling lazy (or being judged lazy) by riding an electric assist bike. After a couple of years of hating public transport, I finally made the purchase, and it was the best decision I had made in a long time. It changed my entire outlook on life!
Standing up puts you in a position where you can apply a lot more power but you will quickly burn out. For a beginner it may be best to get off and walk the hill or get a bike with a very low gear...
Standing up puts you in a position where you can apply a lot more power but you will quickly burn out. For a beginner it may be best to get off and walk the hill or get a bike with a very low gear like what mountain bikes have.
But beware, it's hard on the chain and gears. I've broken two chains like this and it's seriously uncomfortable. All that body weight suddenly unsupported -- smashed my nuts both times.
But beware, it's hard on the chain and gears. I've broken two chains like this and it's seriously uncomfortable. All that body weight suddenly unsupported -- smashed my nuts both times.
I used to bike to work every day, heck I didn't own a car for about 5 years at one point in my adult life, but now I'm 30 miles from work and that's not feasible. So I take the train and walk for...
I used to bike to work every day, heck I didn't own a car for about 5 years at one point in my adult life, but now I'm 30 miles from work and that's not feasible. So I take the train and walk for that and drive places maybe once a week.
The biggest downsides are
Issue A: Weather. When it's hot/cold/rainy/windy/snowy/etc it can be seriously uncomfortable. If you're going further than a mile or two in the summer, you'll get super sweaty and need a change of clothes. Cold and wet are also pretty miserable conditions.
Issue B: Safety. Many areas are dangerous to bike in and don't have adequate (if any) bike lanes or paths to ride on. If you're in a car, you've got a shell of armor but if you get hit on a bike, there's very little protection and you are considerably less visible.
Issue C: Carrying capacity. I did years of grocery shopping with a bike and backpack, but this becomes difficult if you need to do heavier shopping for more than one person or transport anything that is large or unwieldy.
Issue D: Ride sharing. Related to carrying capacity, I can't transport other people, nor can others transport me with my bike unless they have a pickup or bike rack or similar capacity.
Issue E: Distance. I don't live in a small town anymore. Friends and family and work and shopping can easily be more than 10 miles away. This represents a large time and energy commitment and a great deal of fortitude when conditions are poor for riding.
So this isn't as niche as perhaps it once was, but buying a mechanical keyboard was one of the better purchases I have made recently and I have zero regrets even though at the time I felt silly...
So this isn't as niche as perhaps it once was, but buying a mechanical keyboard was one of the better purchases I have made recently and I have zero regrets even though at the time I felt silly paying ~$100 for a keyboard. It is such a joy to type on, and has made using the computer honestly just more enjoyable to an unexpected degree.
On the more niche side, buying the right meat thermometer can improve your cooking so much, but its often not high on the list of kitchen items people think about when upgrading. Getting a quick read on a fast cooking piece of meat is the difference between overcooked and just perfect.
As a bit of a hypochondriac who was brought up on well done steak and bone dry chicken breast a meat thermometer has completely changed how comfortable i am eating meat that still has juice in it,...
On the more niche side, buying the right meat thermometer can improve your cooking so much, but its often not high on the list of kitchen items people think about when upgrading. Getting a quick read on a fast cooking piece of meat is the difference between overcooked and just perfect.
As a bit of a hypochondriac who was brought up on well done steak and bone dry chicken breast a meat thermometer has completely changed how comfortable i am eating meat that still has juice in it, chicken especially. As long as the thermometer shows ~80°C i can eat enjoy it without stressing about catching salmonella.
If anything esports has made mechanical keyboards a lot more popular. Last decade most if not all gaming keyboards used membrane keys but now mechanical switches seem to be the gold standard.
If anything esports has made mechanical keyboards a lot more popular. Last decade most if not all gaming keyboards used membrane keys but now mechanical switches seem to be the gold standard.
My cousin commented on my keyboard this weekend when he was over. He (rightfully) complained how noisy it is, but then I said it's worth it because of how comfortable it is - and when he tried...
My cousin commented on my keyboard this weekend when he was over. He (rightfully) complained how noisy it is, but then I said it's worth it because of how comfortable it is - and when he tried typing on it, he just went "oh my god this is amazing" lol
I debated forking out for an Ergodox EZ split ergo mechanical keyboard for about a year and finally pulled the trigger for a Christmas present. Six months later I ordered one for work because it...
I debated forking out for an Ergodox EZ split ergo mechanical keyboard for about a year and finally pulled the trigger for a Christmas present. Six months later I ordered one for work because it was so much better than a membrane board.
For instant read thermometers for fast cooking meat (pan seared, fried, etc), one of the best you can get is the Thermapen Mk4. If you watch any cooking Youtube channels you'll probably see this...
For instant read thermometers for fast cooking meat (pan seared, fried, etc), one of the best you can get is the Thermapen Mk4. If you watch any cooking Youtube channels you'll probably see this thermometer be used. It also comes recommended by Kenji Lopez-Alt of The Food Lab, which I personally consider to be one of the better cooking sites out there. In any case, I have no regrets about shelling out for it.
I just wanted to second this - very much in the spirit of the thread, there is definite best option in the niche world of instant read thermometers and the Thermapen is it.
I just wanted to second this - very much in the spirit of the thread, there is definite best option in the niche world of instant read thermometers and the Thermapen is it.
I've got a set of 4 thermometers that are hooked up to the WiFi and have an app that alerts you exactly when you need to remove the meat from the heat based on what kind it is. Sounds crazy, but...
I've got a set of 4 thermometers that are hooked up to the WiFi and have an app that alerts you exactly when you need to remove the meat from the heat based on what kind it is. Sounds crazy, but it makes it so much easier to cook things just right.
I have been using the Lavatools Javelin, and I couldn't have been happier. Very easy to use and reliable. I also received my SteakChamp a few days ago, but I haven't had the chance to use it yet....
I have been using the Lavatools Javelin, and I couldn't have been happier. Very easy to use and reliable.
I also received my SteakChamp a few days ago, but I haven't had the chance to use it yet. You don't actually need it if you have a thermometer like the Javelin, but it's supposed to make things even simpler.
If someone reads this and is interested in trying out mechanical keyboards, but don't want to shell out $100 for one quite yet, check out Redragon's stuff. I paid $35 for an 87key (no numpad)...
If someone reads this and is interested in trying out mechanical keyboards, but don't want to shell out $100 for one quite yet, check out Redragon's stuff. I paid $35 for an 87key (no numpad) keyboard a little over a year ago and it's still my daily driver. You can also buy CherryMX switch test boards which come with each of the switch types so you can get a feel for which one is right for you. What it comes down to is finding which switch balances tactile feel and sound. Me, I like 'em clicky and clackity, but I also work from home so I don't have to worry about pissing off officemates :)
Seconded on Redragon. I build keyboards to the point where I have my own casting shop in the basement to mold my own keycaps, so you could say I'm maybe a little too into this. Redragon is...
Seconded on Redragon. I build keyboards to the point where I have my own casting shop in the basement to mold my own keycaps, so you could say I'm maybe a little too into this. Redragon is inexpensive, but it's not cheap. I often use their replacement key sets as masters because the quality of their casting is top notch. Their clear top, black inner double shot keys make a mockery of Corsair's in terms of dimensions and finish. It's not a difference any user would practically notice, and in use it makes literally no difference, but just from a crafting perspective I'm a big fan of Redragon's work.
Absolutely agree on the keyboard thing. I'd used a cheap Dell generic membrane keyboard for years until I bought a Ducky One 2 last year (Cherry MX Brown switches), and I can honestly say that I...
Absolutely agree on the keyboard thing. I'd used a cheap Dell generic membrane keyboard for years until I bought a Ducky One 2 last year (Cherry MX Brown switches), and I can honestly say that I love typing on my PC so much more now. Best $99 I've spent in a long time!
Great topic. I find that I'm always looking for excellence in many places (especially cheap excellence), even if I have no current use for items at which I'm looking. I have a whole lotta Amazon...
Great topic. I find that I'm always looking for excellence in many places (especially cheap excellence), even if I have no current use for items at which I'm looking. I have a whole lotta Amazon wishlists for various categories of things that I add to sporadically.
A good chef's knife. Victorinox and Wüsthof make good quality, affordable chef's knives (I have the Wüsthof). That's just the beginning of the rabbit-hole.
Pots and pans. Tramontina seems to make some pretty good stuff on that front.
Military surplus clothing can be pretty good quality for a pretty reasonable price. I like their beanies. Most beanies in that price range are acrylic, not wool. Shirts are really damn comfortable and good quality, too. Socks, too.
Computer monitors. This monitor caught my eye as being relatively affordable while maintaining color accuracy and pretty good contrast for an IPS panel.
Audio monitors. Well, any pro-audio monitors are going to be leagues better than most people's standard computer speaker setup. Probably a lot better than most home theater setups, too. I'd reccomend these because they're pretty cheap but sound really good.
Turntable. I don't have one, yet, but have been eyeing this turntable for the day I'm ready.
Coffee stuff. This looks to be a good grinder. This looks to be a good kettle. This looks to be a good decanter.
Rechargeable batteries. These are supposedly better than Sanyo Eneloop batteries.
Office/computer
chairs. I'm lucky enough to work with an Aeron chair. But, I really need to upgrade my desk chair at home...
How many of these are things you've actually used? How many of these are thing you'd use as part of your work? I'm interested in your list of pots and pans. Those don't look like anything special....
How many of these are things you've actually used? How many of these are thing you'd use as part of your work?
I'm interested in your list of pots and pans. Those don't look like anything special. What makes those better?
As an electrician I wouldn't buy those strippers mentioned. Strippers These Have a wider range of wire gauge, cut machine threaded screws, crimp, cut, and have a pliers grip on the end. Klein also...
As an electrician I wouldn't buy those strippers mentioned. Strippers
These Have a wider range of wire gauge, cut machine threaded screws, crimp, cut, and have a pliers grip on the end. Klein also has lifetime warranties, so if they rust or get damaged in normal use you can trade them in for a new pair. Couple it with a decent side-cutter and lineman's pliers and you can do almost any electrical wiring job a non-professional would encounter. Side Cutters Lineman's
Another Klein schill! Just kidding. You're the expert, so I concede. For the cutters, though, I was looking for something that'd be good for guitar string.
Another Klein schill!
Just kidding. You're the expert, so I concede. For the cutters, though, I was looking for something that'd be good for guitar string.
I have used Green Lee, Ideal, Klein and off brand side cutters and lineman's and only the off brand ones were shitty. Klein and Ideal come with decent warranties and Klein is widespread enough...
I have used Green Lee, Ideal, Klein and off brand side cutters and lineman's and only the off brand ones were shitty. Klein and Ideal come with decent warranties and Klein is widespread enough that any local hardware, Home Depot, Menards and Fleet Supply places carry them and honor the lifetime warranties so it's convenient enough for most people to exchange them. I'd use the side cutters for guitar strings also and only use the strippers on copper and aluminum.
Aside from those strippers I haven't found a better pair out of 20 other kinds I've tried. I know some other electricians buy the cheaper $5 klein but that's because they burn through so many pairs cutting live wires. My current pair have lasted me almost 2 years and that's with heavy use almost daily and my last 2 pairs lasted about 1 year each before they both got nicked cutting live wires.
I use the knife, the clothing I mentioned, the audio monitors, and the Aeron chair. The pans don't look anything special, I agree. But, they're made for professional use and I usually figure...
I use the knife, the clothing I mentioned, the audio monitors, and the Aeron chair.
The pans don't look anything special, I agree. But, they're made for professional use and I usually figure anything made for professional use will hold up. This is the actual pan I use along with this saucepan. Got a good deal on them at Ross and I've no problem with them.
These suggestions give me pause: these pans seem to be made more for the home than for professional use. Restaurant kitchens tend to use different materials which require more regular use and...
These suggestions give me pause: these pans seem to be made more for the home than for professional use. Restaurant kitchens tend to use different materials which require more regular use and maintenance, like carbon steel pans.
Politely, I don't get the sense that your suggestions necessarily elevate the experience/etc of an everyday thing that are "niche" or "specialized" discoveries—they just seem to be things you either already have by happenstance or otherwise wish to acquire, but without necessarily doing hours and hours of obsessive research on these goods.
Hey, I'm no sage! These products I've come across (after doing my bit of research) seemed to be at least above-average and pretty good for the money. The things I have haven't been acquired by...
Hey, I'm no sage! These products I've come across (after doing my bit of research) seemed to be at least above-average and pretty good for the money. The things I have haven't been acquired by happenstance, but acquired after a lot of comparison shopping/research. That said, if anything I listed isn't really up to snuff then I'm at least glad I've at least spurred some discussion and would love to be shown better alternatives like those you and @Hidegger suggested!
Also, I'm a bit against the idea of elevation without reason. Particularly in the audio landscape, where fools and their money are quickly parted on cryogenically treated cables and the like that add nothing to the listening experience. Most pro-audio gear will do the trick in accurate audio reproduction.
I'm in the market for an office chair, and have been looking at steelcase. I keep hearing people recommending to get the leap used. But when I looked on Craigslist and facebook, I couldn't find...
I'm in the market for an office chair, and have been looking at steelcase. I keep hearing people recommending to get the leap used. But when I looked on Craigslist and facebook, I couldn't find any in my area (Philadelphia). There are online retailers selling them, like Madison Seating. But I am really hesitant to get something used without seeing it first. I'm feeling like there is no option anymore other than to get it new.
Leap retails for $1k just like the aeron. They are a direct competitor and both are extremely common in large office settings. I would suggest looking on google maps for office furniture and used...
Leap retails for $1k just like the aeron. They are a direct competitor and both are extremely common in large office settings.
I would suggest looking on google maps for office furniture and used furniture supply stores.
I happen to live in the bay area so they are all over the place and frequently getting large shipments as companies go out of business and have been able to snag them as cheap as $200 but you should expect to pay roughly $400 for an aeron or leap (v2).
I've had both an Aeron and a Humanscale Freedom Headrest as a work chair in the past. I'm not a chair aficionado, but I've spent 9hr/day in the Aeron and up to 18hr/day in a Humanscale, and never...
I've had both an Aeron and a Humanscale Freedom Headrest as a work chair in the past. I'm not a chair aficionado, but I've spent 9hr/day in the Aeron and up to 18hr/day in a Humanscale, and never once was I ever uncomfortable in either of them. Spine support was great on both. If I'm ever crazy enough to spend four-figures on a chair for myself, I'd go with the Humanscale one. Headrests are nice, especially if you have a multi-monitor setup in which you've got at least one on top of another.
It's a pretty damn good chair. Hard for me to say whether or not I think it's worth the price tag, as I didn't purchase it! I do think it's worth investing in a good chair if you do a lot of...
It's a pretty damn good chair. Hard for me to say whether or not I think it's worth the price tag, as I didn't purchase it! I do think it's worth investing in a good chair if you do a lot of sitting, though.
I have strong opinions on the screwdrivers and pliers haha. If you spend a lot of time screwing/plying things, I'd recommend dedicated screw drivers. I've started recommending JIS screwdrivers...
I have strong opinions on the screwdrivers and pliers haha.
If you spend a lot of time screwing/plying things, I'd recommend dedicated screw drivers. I've started recommending JIS screwdrivers recently, specifically Vessel brand. I've been using them for years, and they are the best screwdriver I've ever used.
For pliers, if you plan on using them often, get Knipex stuff. The Cobra 6 and 10 inch are what I use most often. They grip anything/everything.
My favorite wrench is my Bahco 6 inch thin-jaw big-mouth. Super comfy, gets anywhere, grips everything, and the adjustment is super smooth and precise.
Only spend the money on the fancier stuff if you plan on using it regularly. I have old motorcycles (hence the JIS screwdrivers) and car projects.
Thanks for the recommendations! Not that you had anything to say about this, but I wanted to mention that I posted the particular cutters that I did because they were rated to cut piano wire and I...
Thanks for the recommendations!
Not that you had anything to say about this, but I wanted to mention that I posted the particular cutters that I did because they were rated to cut piano wire and I was interested in something that would do well with guitar string. Most cutters are rated for softer copper.
Those do look like very nice cutters! I actually had a similar issue recently, I had a project where I had to cut stainless steel aircraft wire. Most cutters are not rated for steel (like...
Those do look like very nice cutters! I actually had a similar issue recently, I had a project where I had to cut stainless steel aircraft wire. Most cutters are not rated for steel (like piano/guitar wire), and I ended up needing to get a nice pair of Knipex cutters sort of like the ones you posted. https://www.amazon.com/KNIPEX-95-61-190-US/dp/B000X4KPSA - If you need to do a lot of cutting of wire rope and things like that (some people use it a lot for piano wire), these are awesome. Lots of torque in a small package.
I'm actually probably going to purchase that same cutter you posted, that is exactly what I need to upgrade to from my cheaper cutter. I use my side cutters for wire and rubber hoses and what not.
My dad not long ago completed a very cool turntable project. My great-grandmother, who had recently died, left behind a ton of 1950's era furniture in her house, and one of the things she left was...
Turntable. I don't have one, yet, but have been eyeing this turntable for the day I'm ready.
My dad not long ago completed a very cool turntable project. My great-grandmother, who had recently died, left behind a ton of 1950's era furniture in her house, and one of the things she left was a vintage TV cabinet with a turntable, speakers, and a radio along with a black and white TV set. My dad striped out the TV (it had some toxic chemicals in the circuit board, and didn't work) replaced the broken turntable, and wired up the old speakers (that suprisingly still worked) to everything. He even replaced the radio with an aux cord, so he could plugin his phone or an old iPod to play music. The speakers sound great, and he can keep his old records on a shelf were the TV used to fit in. It turned out great. I can show some pctures when I get home. Little bit off-topic, but I thought it was a fun thing to share and it's related to turntables.
If you're going to invest in audio monitors, make sure you're also doing research into room treatment. Even the high-end monitors will sound bad if you're not properly deadening echoes and such.
If you're going to invest in audio monitors, make sure you're also doing research into room treatment. Even the high-end monitors will sound bad if you're not properly deadening echoes and such.
Someone already mentioned knives, but everything involving blades actually falls under this category. You should have different scissors for every purpose; kitchen shears for food, fabric scissors...
Someone already mentioned knives, but everything involving blades actually falls under this category. You should have different scissors for every purpose; kitchen shears for food, fabric scissors for fabrics, hair scissors for hair, and craft scissors for paper.
Some of them have special features - garden shears, for instance, are designed to click when you close them so you can work more efficiently. But mostly you want to avoid using scissors on materials that may bend the blades out of shape or dull them.
Oh man, you just reminded me of my childhood. I had the scissors thing hammered (shorn?) into my head from a young age. My mom used to be a professional hairdresser, and although she'd switched...
Oh man, you just reminded me of my childhood. I had the scissors thing hammered (shorn?) into my head from a young age. My mom used to be a professional hairdresser, and although she'd switched careers by the time I was born, she's saved my family a lot of money over the years on haircuts and kept a set of professional haircutting scissors (I don't know which brand, but here's a random example of the general look). And lord have mercy on the person who tried to use her specialty scissors on anything but hair! It helped that she's the only left-handed person in the family, so the scissors were really awkward to use for anyone else. She also does arts and crafts and had a separate set for cutting fabrics.
I can't say I've entirely taken this wisdom to heart, but then again I don't do much that requires specialty equipment. Of course I don't use the same scissors to open cardboard boxes as I use to trim nails or facial hair, but that's just common sense - try doing anything requiring precision using a broad blade, or opening a box without breaking your tiny hair trimmer. Come to think of it, I should probably be using a knife to open boxes.
Positive memories, I hope. My grandmother told me this when I was a child and I had thought it was some crazy old wives tale. It wasn't until I became an adult and seen it happen firsthand that I...
Positive memories, I hope.
My grandmother told me this when I was a child and I had thought it was some crazy old wives tale. It wasn't until I became an adult and seen it happen firsthand that I realized she was telling the truth.
Maybe a bit different to what you mean but I think it's in somewhat of a similar spirit. My father works in the garments industry and once he pointed out that there's a zipper company called YKK...
Maybe a bit different to what you mean but I think it's in somewhat of a similar spirit. My father works in the garments industry and once he pointed out that there's a zipper company called YKK which essentially has a monopoly on the zipper market. He wouldn't use anything other then YKK zippers on his products since the other options had far worse value for money and producing your own high quality zips wasn't really viable. So if you ever have to buy anything with zips on it, unless it's a big brand like Nike who produces their own zips make sure the zippers are YKK.
Coincidently, just a few days ago I had noticed how a couple of the zippers from different brands all had that YKK cast into them. Though it was wired this one company had a monopoly on such a...
Coincidently, just a few days ago I had noticed how a couple of the zippers from different brands all had that YKK cast into them. Though it was wired this one company had a monopoly on such a popular/common thing -- guess it makes sense really, if they do it well.
Just checked and sure enough the one Nike hoody I've got has their own swoosh on the zipper.
That's awesome, I'm not alone! I only buy things with YKK zippers too! They really are better than pretty much everything out there. I'm sure there is some smaller company that makes something...
That's awesome, I'm not alone! I only buy things with YKK zippers too! They really are better than pretty much everything out there. I'm sure there is some smaller company that makes something awesome, but I'm not aware of them.
One of the purchases I made last year that I'm happiest with is the Bose QC 35 II. These are wireless headphones with noise-cancellation. The noise-cancellation is amazing, I can't imagine being...
One of the purchases I made last year that I'm happiest with is the Bose QC 35 II. These are wireless headphones with noise-cancellation. The noise-cancellation is amazing, I can't imagine being on an airplane without them now, and they are super comfortable. Another good feature is you can connect them to two different devices at the same time, so they are always connected to my computer and my phone simultaneously.
I also recently ordered a Breville Barista Express espresso machine to up my espresso game. Haven't received it yet, but it is supposed to be the best in its price category. Now, the only thing I need is to find better quality, medium-roast coffee beans where I live.
I have the very same Breville Barista Express, and I love it. It brews quite well, and I make 2 double shot drinks per day with it. If you're new to espresso, figuring out how to dial in a good...
I have the very same Breville Barista Express, and I love it. It brews quite well, and I make 2 double shot drinks per day with it.
If you're new to espresso, figuring out how to dial in a good shot is absolutely worth your time. Start off by getting a cheap bag of starbucks/etc beans, because you'll start off with enough bad shots just by figuring out the nuance of adjusting dosage volume, grind size, etc. Only once you learn the machine, switch to the good freshly-roasted beans.
The grinder is decent, but is the weakest part of the machine. One click can be enough of a difference between under extraction and over extraction of your espresso—depending on the quality of your coffee and the size of the beans, you might have success with half clicks (the dial is analog, despite it having pre-set detents). I find the pressure needle is actually pretty trustworthy for when the actual shot is being pulled, but don't worry about it moving too much/too little during the pre-infusion stage.
Another trick that is probably more superstition than skill: I use my finger to lightly rotate and press the grounds into place after grinding, so it doesn't spill over. Then, after my first tamp, I use the tamper to lightly tap the side of the portafilter to get the grinds that are pressed along the walls of the portafilter to drop down to tamped grounds, and then tamp and twist once more. I think that gets me more consistent shots and easier clean up.
Wow, I really appreciate all the info, thanks a lot! I was using a Delonghi Dedica before the Barista Express, so I've had some experience with adjusting different parameters to pull a good shot,...
Wow, I really appreciate all the info, thanks a lot!
I was using a Delonghi Dedica before the Barista Express, so I've had some experience with adjusting different parameters to pull a good shot, but I'm in no way an expert. So, your tips are super helpful.
I'm really looking forward to getting better at this to the point that I can consistently pull a great shot of espresso at home.
This concept is what I wanted out of /r/BuyItForLife (but usually didn't find). One of the more interesting things I found was when someone went down the rabbit hole of nail clippers to find the...
This concept is what I wanted out of /r/BuyItForLife (but usually didn't find).
One of the more interesting things I found was when someone went down the rabbit hole of nail clippers to find the best ones. Something that probably doesn't need that depth - but still interesting and I have a much higher quality pair now.
Nail clippers! Definitely worth finding good ones. Personally, I enjoy this style of nail clipper the most. They seem to create more clipping force than traditional nail clippers.
Nail clippers! Definitely worth finding good ones. Personally, I enjoy this style of nail clipper the most. They seem to create more clipping force than traditional nail clippers.
Lindstrom Cutters: https://www.bahco.com/en/p/diagonal-cutter-rx-series/05-13-ed-2b-d7-88-9a-1c-7f-24-65-46-95-58-6f-7e/ They have a few different versions - you'll have to chose which one you...
They have a few different versions - you'll have to chose which one you need. If you spend 8 hours a day building PCBs you want excellent cutters, and lindstrom are excellent. The handles are comfortable, the springs are replaceable, the box pivot is rock solid and lasts for thousands of hours of cutting, the blades are hard and maintain an edge for years.
I don't know if the cost of these make sense unless you're working in production and need to use them for many hours a day. For screwdrivers the important thing is to use the right size and type for the screw, and you can do that with the cheapest set of bits and a handle.
Headphones are definitely one of the areas where diving in a bit can get you a much better product. Most people are used to using the earbuds that come with their phones, or the $15 pair they...
Headphones are definitely one of the areas where diving in a bit can get you a much better product. Most people are used to using the earbuds that come with their phones, or the $15 pair they picked up at a department store, and while there's nothing inherently wrong with these, you can do much, much better. Springing for a nice pair of headphones from a respected company (e.g. Sennheiser, Grado, etc.) is worth the money if you listen to a lot of music, and especially if you listen to music while focusing on the music rather than as the background to something else.
Now, with this said, there are some caveats.
First and foremost is that, if you go into the audio quality rabbit hole, things can get very complicated and very expensive quickly. Soon you'll be buying an amplifier and expensive shielded cables and learning how to rip your music to high-fidelity lossless files and using different pairs of headphones for different genres/types of music, and it can get overwhelming fast. I think a nice (but not complete top-of-the-line) pair of headphones is the simplest switch that gives people the most bang for their buck.
Second caveat: audio quality matters. With the advent of digital media, especially in its early years, and then again with YouTube, we got used to badly compressed audio. The best headphones in the world won't matter if the source is a low-quality hissfest. Thankfully, we're past the days of 96 kbps CBR MP3s being traded on Napster, and we're mostly past the days of the YouTube video having a crap audio stream (though this is still present in some older ones). Most streaming services also offer their audio in decent quality, but just know that nice headphones will make compression artifacts on badly compressed music stand out a lot more. This doesn't mean all compression is bad, and people often overstate the impact it has1, but it's still worth noting that there's enough poor-quality digital audio out there that you'll likely still run into some.
Third caveat: audio mastering matters. I never understood what people were talking about with this whole Loudness War thing until I got nice headphones. There were some albums that were genuinely fatiguing to my ears because they were at a 10 the entire time. For some reason it didn't seem to bother me as much on lower-end headphones, possibly because I wore those when I was working or doing some other task in addition to listening to the music. But when I sat down to focus my attention on the album and the album alone, the impenetrable wall of sound was awful. It was the aural equivalent of staring at a bright, white screen for 45 minutes. Thankfully, this was a trend that seemed to peak a while ago and is less prevalent now, but it's still something to be aware of.
110ish years ago I ran some personal ABX tests on myself and couldn't tell 192 kbps VBR MP3s apart from lossless files on my best pair of headphones, so the people that tell you FLAC or bust either have amazing ears or are making a bigger deal out of lossy compression than they really should.
A while ago when I was really curious about lossless vs. lossy audio I took a few tracks of music each with various forms of compression and one lossless file and I'd put the lossless and one...
A while ago when I was really curious about lossless vs. lossy audio I took a few tracks of music each with various forms of compression and one lossless file and I'd put the lossless and one compressed track into Audacity at which point I inverted one of the tracks, lined them up properly, and rendered them together. The resulting file would show the difference between them. Not so surprisingly, it's mostly the very high end of the frequency spectrum (i.e. cymbal "presence") that's missing. There is also some added noise that compression adds. Kind of an underwater, warbling sound. But, it's mostly inaudible in actual music. In fact, it seems that a lot of this audiophile stuff is marketed towards those that enjoy classical music, but I found that that area of music suffers the least from lossless compression! I found it a useful exercise and even though the differences were negligible, I still like the idea of having my music collection stored losslessly. Though, these days I've given myself over to streaming and whatever quality that stuff comes through as.
Personally, l feel the lower inaudible sounds still add to the feeling of listening music; not because you can hear them but because they still make the air vibrate noticeably, as well as vibrate...
Personally, l feel the lower inaudible sounds still add to the feeling of listening music; not because you can hear them but because they still make the air vibrate noticeably, as well as vibrate your furniture through contact noise. It's usually subtle but it adds a whole new dimension to listening music.
That's assuming your speakers can reproduce those frequencies. Not many get down to 20hz, which is in fact audible by (most) humans. But, yeah, if you have speakers that can handle them, those low...
That's assuming your speakers can reproduce those frequencies. Not many get down to 20hz, which is in fact audible by (most) humans. But, yeah, if you have speakers that can handle them, those low frequencies definitely add a felt "thump."
10hz to somewhere up in the 40k range l think. No idea about higher frequencies and their effect on vibrations, but l know low frequencies can be felt.
10hz to somewhere up in the 40k range l think. No idea about higher frequencies and their effect on vibrations, but l know low frequencies can be felt.
Interesting. It sounds like Groupon's original model. I tried looking at the site but everything's behind a login. Could you explain a bit more about how it works and what types of products they...
Interesting. It sounds like Groupon's original model.
I tried looking at the site but everything's behind a login. Could you explain a bit more about how it works and what types of products they have available?
I love my aeropress. I don't understand why it isn't more common. It's cheaper than nearly any other coffee maker, it's easier to use than many, and it's one of the easiest coffee makers to clean...
I love my aeropress. I don't understand why it isn't more common. It's cheaper than nearly any other coffee maker, it's easier to use than many, and it's one of the easiest coffee makers to clean up. That lack of a mess is really what sold me on the aeropress. I have even had coffee a few times from a clover machine (from Starbucks, so cheap beans) and the same stuff out of an aeropress is way better.
I only avoided the Aeropress because it's plastic. It makes me nervous to expose hot food/liquid to plastic on a regular basis. I realize some plastics are supposedly safer than others, but a near...
I only avoided the Aeropress because it's plastic. It makes me nervous to expose hot food/liquid to plastic on a regular basis. I realize some plastics are supposedly safer than others, but a near zero tolerance policy reassures me since the dangers always seem to surface years later with that stuff, and I drink a lot of coffee.
In my oppinion, the pourover method produces better coffee. Not only that, but it is easier to do, gives you more consistent results, and is even easier to clean since there is usually just one part.
In my oppinion, the pourover method produces better coffee. Not only that, but it is easier to do, gives you more consistent results, and is even easier to clean since there is usually just one part.
Fair enough. Ultimately coffee is about finding something you enjoy. For me, pourover always turns out bitter and acidic. I don't like those in my coffee. My go to aeropress recipe even uses water...
Fair enough. Ultimately coffee is about finding something you enjoy. For me, pourover always turns out bitter and acidic. I don't like those in my coffee. My go to aeropress recipe even uses water at 88°C to reduce acidity. That way I can taste all the other flavors in the beans.
I've only had that issue when using very dark roast coffee, which I detest. But since Starbucks has made burnt coffee the standard I guess that makes me the odd man out. Pourover is probably the...
I've only had that issue when using very dark roast coffee, which I detest. But since Starbucks has made burnt coffee the standard I guess that makes me the odd man out.
Pourover is probably the most fashionable ways to make coffee amongst coffee snobs today; they're all over fancy coffee shops across the nation now. That being said, I make my coffee with a $1 plastic dripper that fits on top of my coffee mug with grinds I buy from the supermarket.
I do not regret the money spent on my Orphan Espresso burr grinder. Very solid and well designed unit with a consistent grind. Spent around $200 for the LIDO 2 model years ago and do not regret...
I do not regret the money spent on my Orphan Espresso burr grinder. Very solid and well designed unit with a consistent grind. Spent around $200 for the LIDO 2 model years ago and do not regret it. Hopefully it will outlast me. This is paired with my $10 IKEA coffee press.
I'm definitely not far down the EDC path, but I paid more than one would expect for Magnus HangKey and some clips. However, I love them and would absolutely spend the money over if I ever lost them.
I'm definitely not far down the EDC path, but I paid more than one would expect for Magnus HangKey and some clips. However, I love them and would absolutely spend the money over if I ever lost them.
I thought I had lost a clip a few months ago (due to my own misplacement), and I had a little sticker shock when I looked up the price of one clip but I was more sad that I knew I was gonna pay...
I thought I had lost a clip a few months ago (due to my own misplacement), and I had a little sticker shock when I looked up the price of one clip but I was more sad that I knew I was gonna pay that price anyway haha the HangKey itself is great too!
I'm repeating a few suggestions posted elsewhere in this thread, but as someone who works primarily from home, here are my recommendations on items to invest in: 1. A chair Personally, I use a...
I'm repeating a few suggestions posted elsewhere in this thread, but as someone who works primarily from home, here are my recommendations on items to invest in:
1. A chair
Personally, I use a Steelcase Gesture, but other people like the Steelcase Leap, the Herman Miller Aeron, the Herman Miller Embody, etc. I mention these alternatives because there isn't a single gold standard: the most important rule when buying an office chair is to try it before you buy it, preferably in your workspace. For instance, the Aeron is perhaps the most recommended office chair, but I honestly can't stand it -- sometimes I like to sit cross-legged in my chair, but after testing one out, I learned the hard lips on the Aeron make sitting in that position uncomfortable.
Yes, a quality office chair might be 5x (or more) what you'd normally pay for an office chair, but it'll also likely last 5x longer (and often will come with a 10 year warranty to boot). My previous chair cost around $150, but after about a year of use all the padding had migrated to the edges, making it no better than sitting on cardboard. In the long run, replacing that chair every year would've been the more expensive option.
Alternatively, you can buy these chairs at a significant discount at liquidation (but probably without a warranty); just check Craigslist and the likes.
2. A 4k TV (in place of a monitor)
You know what's better than a quadruple monitor setup? A bezel-less quadruple monitor setup, which is essentially what a 4k TV is. There are plenty of stipulations here: (1) color accuracy is likely worse, (2) input latency is greater, (3) refresh rate is lower, etc. But productivity-wise, it's hard to imagine going back to a traditional monitor -- there's just so much room for documents, browser windows, editors, etc.
That said, don't dismiss the idea of using a 4k TV just because you like to game too -- most console gamers, in my experience, don't even think to switch their TVs to game mode yet manage just fine. Sure, you can probably notice 50 ms lag from a TV vs 3 ms lag from a traditional monitor if you concentrate on it, but most games aren't that twitchy.
I use the 40" Samsung KU6300, but better options have probably been released since when I bought my TV a few years ago.
3. A keyboard
A quality keyboard, in this context, pretty much just means a mechanical keyboard. I like the Anne pro 2, which allows one to customize keybindings at the firmware level (eg, caps lock + q = home key, caps lock + wasd = arrow keys ). It's also compact, so I can easily move it aside to take notes.
4. A mouse
In a similar vein, getting a mouse with a few extra buttons can noticeably improve your workflow (eg, quickly sort through browser tabs/editor tabs with mouse 4 -> ctrl-tab, mouse 5-> ctrl-shift-tab). I like my logitech g900.
5. Headphones
If you're going to be wearing headphones all day long, get something comfortable. Cheap headphones will hurt after an hour of use; with quality headphones, you can easily forget you're wearing them. I use the Sony WH-1000XM3, which are wireless, just for the additional convenience. Of course, if you choose to go wireless you'll likely be sacrificing quality to some extent, but imo those concerns are overstated.
Just as a warning for using a TV for a monitor, it's fine, honestly great, for many things, but not everything. As soon as color matters, a TV is death; accurate color spaces aren't a thing on...
Just as a warning for using a TV for a monitor, it's fine, honestly great, for many things, but not everything. As soon as color matters, a TV is death; accurate color spaces aren't a thing on TVs. So, it there is any chance you will work with video or images on any serious level, I would recommend the size hit of a decent monitor over a TV any day. If you are just going to general computing and some light gaming, a TV is awesome.
Shoes. I live in a really wet area of wales, and most pairs of boots either leak water or wear down after a couple of years. A few years back I bought a pair of doc martens with their "for life"...
Shoes. I live in a really wet area of wales, and most pairs of boots either leak water or wear down after a couple of years. A few years back I bought a pair of doc martens with their "for life" guarantee. Basically, I take care of the boot every three months, if the boot gets damaged through natural wear and tear, they fix / replace it. Forever. They're a really nice pair of boots, the only problem I've had in the last three years was I had to replace the laces, but I think that's because of the specific method I use to tighten them (otherwise it's difficult to get uniform tightness in boots, tbh).
Other people have mentioned keyboards, chairs, etc. But a really good pen will make writing so much more enjoyable. I tend to buy the Kuretake "Disposable Pocket Brush Pen" (Google for 'PK2-10'). they're ridiculously cheap (about $2 / 1.50GBP), but very good quality. The 'extra fine' lasted me two or three years of regular use, and at the end of it the only problem with it wasn't that it was out of ink, but that I had accidentally exerted too much pressure on the nib!
I bought the 'fine' (PK2-10S) and 'extra fine' (PK1-10S), and also picked up a "Mangaka Flexible fine" that I haven't used very much. They're just really nice pens, the ink flows well, and they're really easy to write with.
You mentioned pens but I'd extend that to all stationary, especially paper. I don't do a lot of stuff on paper but I do like to sketch out ideas and designs for physical things that way. I use...
You mentioned pens but I'd extend that to all stationary, especially paper. I don't do a lot of stuff on paper but I do like to sketch out ideas and designs for physical things that way.
I use Maruman Mnemosyne notebooks in various sizes for various things. I used to think paper was just paper but Mnemosyne's paper is something else. It's so smooth, so nice to write on. Midori's MD paper is even better, but yikes you pay for it.
I like a Tombow Mono pencil which are a bit extravagant but y'know, sometimes you need to treat yourself. Tombow make excellent brush pens as well, but the Kuretakes are great as well. My go-to pen is a Uniball Jetstream because I am left-handed and most ink pens tend to be a bit smudgy, but I can't smudge these even if I try.
Three things I'll generally buy Japanese if I can: cameras, stationary and knives.
Late to this party, but i’ll add fashion. It’s a never-ending game. I just added shirt tail garters to my accessory stable. The real fun comes in blending texture, color, era, material, and...
Late to this party, but i’ll add fashion. It’s a never-ending game. I just added shirt tail garters to my accessory stable.
The real fun comes in blending texture, color, era, material, and message to create a real individual look that’s tasteful and portable.
The challenge I have with bike commuting is that my apartment building is literally on top of the steepest hill in the city. It’s an elevation gain of a couple hundred feet over the span of about 2 city blocks. I see people pulling it off and I have no idea how. I’m gasping and wheezing and sweat drenched every time.
I’ve considered the electric assist bikes, but it makes me feel so lazy.
I was in your position. In 2017 I considered cycling because my work place was only 6km away but I live in a very hilly area. I got a cheap road bike and was really struggling, just a lap around the block left me with extreme jelly legs so I gave up. At the start of 2018 I got an ebike and started riding that to work. It was so fun I started riding it just randomly around the place for fun. After a few months I was the most fit I had ever been in my life and I purchased a nice road bike and was easily able to ride around the hills using the fitness I built up on the ebike.
Now in 2019 that decision to buy an ebike has totally changed my life. I am so much healthier and fitter than I have ever been in my life. I can keep up with the enthusiasts on carbon bikes and I ride about 40km per day and all uphill on the way home from my new place of work. I have saved so much money on bus tickets and car stuff and I have convinced some people at work to take the same path.
Just think of it this way, no matter how easy an ebike makes it for you its still so much heather than sitting in a car or on public transport. For me it totally transformed my health and lifestyle.
I have an e-bike as well, bought it in February 2017. Elevation changes, unbearable heat where I live, and not wanting to show up to work drenched in sweat were the reasons for buying one over a typical road bike. Not sure about you, but I use minimal or no electric assist when riding on flat streets. This is great for conserving the bike's battery and doesn't make you feel as lazy.
I live in a hilly place too and struggled with feeling lazy (or being judged lazy) by riding an electric assist bike. After a couple of years of hating public transport, I finally made the purchase, and it was the best decision I had made in a long time. It changed my entire outlook on life!
Standing up puts you in a position where you can apply a lot more power but you will quickly burn out. For a beginner it may be best to get off and walk the hill or get a bike with a very low gear like what mountain bikes have.
But beware, it's hard on the chain and gears. I've broken two chains like this and it's seriously uncomfortable. All that body weight suddenly unsupported -- smashed my nuts both times.
I used to bike to work every day, heck I didn't own a car for about 5 years at one point in my adult life, but now I'm 30 miles from work and that's not feasible. So I take the train and walk for that and drive places maybe once a week.
The biggest downsides are
Issue A: Weather. When it's hot/cold/rainy/windy/snowy/etc it can be seriously uncomfortable. If you're going further than a mile or two in the summer, you'll get super sweaty and need a change of clothes. Cold and wet are also pretty miserable conditions.
Issue B: Safety. Many areas are dangerous to bike in and don't have adequate (if any) bike lanes or paths to ride on. If you're in a car, you've got a shell of armor but if you get hit on a bike, there's very little protection and you are considerably less visible.
Issue C: Carrying capacity. I did years of grocery shopping with a bike and backpack, but this becomes difficult if you need to do heavier shopping for more than one person or transport anything that is large or unwieldy.
Issue D: Ride sharing. Related to carrying capacity, I can't transport other people, nor can others transport me with my bike unless they have a pickup or bike rack or similar capacity.
Issue E: Distance. I don't live in a small town anymore. Friends and family and work and shopping can easily be more than 10 miles away. This represents a large time and energy commitment and a great deal of fortitude when conditions are poor for riding.
I my previous place of work i would arrive in 7 minutes by bike versus 12 to 15 minutes by car.
And i had to park the car far away.
So this isn't as niche as perhaps it once was, but buying a mechanical keyboard was one of the better purchases I have made recently and I have zero regrets even though at the time I felt silly paying ~$100 for a keyboard. It is such a joy to type on, and has made using the computer honestly just more enjoyable to an unexpected degree.
On the more niche side, buying the right meat thermometer can improve your cooking so much, but its often not high on the list of kitchen items people think about when upgrading. Getting a quick read on a fast cooking piece of meat is the difference between overcooked and just perfect.
As a bit of a hypochondriac who was brought up on well done steak and bone dry chicken breast a meat thermometer has completely changed how comfortable i am eating meat that still has juice in it, chicken especially. As long as the thermometer shows ~80°C i can eat enjoy it without stressing about catching salmonella.
If anything esports has made mechanical keyboards a lot more popular. Last decade most if not all gaming keyboards used membrane keys but now mechanical switches seem to be the gold standard.
My cousin commented on my keyboard this weekend when he was over. He (rightfully) complained how noisy it is, but then I said it's worth it because of how comfortable it is - and when he tried typing on it, he just went "oh my god this is amazing" lol
I debated forking out for an Ergodox EZ split ergo mechanical keyboard for about a year and finally pulled the trigger for a Christmas present. Six months later I ordered one for work because it was so much better than a membrane board.
Interesting. What kind of meat thermometer would you recommend?
For instant read thermometers for fast cooking meat (pan seared, fried, etc), one of the best you can get is the Thermapen Mk4. If you watch any cooking Youtube channels you'll probably see this thermometer be used. It also comes recommended by Kenji Lopez-Alt of The Food Lab, which I personally consider to be one of the better cooking sites out there. In any case, I have no regrets about shelling out for it.
I just wanted to second this - very much in the spirit of the thread, there is definite best option in the niche world of instant read thermometers and the Thermapen is it.
I've got a set of 4 thermometers that are hooked up to the WiFi and have an app that alerts you exactly when you need to remove the meat from the heat based on what kind it is. Sounds crazy, but it makes it so much easier to cook things just right.
I have been using the Lavatools Javelin, and I couldn't have been happier. Very easy to use and reliable.
I also received my SteakChamp a few days ago, but I haven't had the chance to use it yet. You don't actually need it if you have a thermometer like the Javelin, but it's supposed to make things even simpler.
If someone reads this and is interested in trying out mechanical keyboards, but don't want to shell out $100 for one quite yet, check out Redragon's stuff. I paid $35 for an 87key (no numpad) keyboard a little over a year ago and it's still my daily driver. You can also buy CherryMX switch test boards which come with each of the switch types so you can get a feel for which one is right for you. What it comes down to is finding which switch balances tactile feel and sound. Me, I like 'em clicky and clackity, but I also work from home so I don't have to worry about pissing off officemates :)
Seconded on Redragon. I build keyboards to the point where I have my own casting shop in the basement to mold my own keycaps, so you could say I'm maybe a little too into this. Redragon is inexpensive, but it's not cheap. I often use their replacement key sets as masters because the quality of their casting is top notch. Their clear top, black inner double shot keys make a mockery of Corsair's in terms of dimensions and finish. It's not a difference any user would practically notice, and in use it makes literally no difference, but just from a crafting perspective I'm a big fan of Redragon's work.
Absolutely agree on the keyboard thing. I'd used a cheap Dell generic membrane keyboard for years until I bought a Ducky One 2 last year (Cherry MX Brown switches), and I can honestly say that I love typing on my PC so much more now. Best $99 I've spent in a long time!
Great topic. I find that I'm always looking for excellence in many places (especially cheap excellence), even if I have no current use for items at which I'm looking. I have a whole lotta Amazon wishlists for various categories of things that I add to sporadically.
A good chef's knife. Victorinox and Wüsthof make good quality, affordable chef's knives (I have the Wüsthof). That's just the beginning of the rabbit-hole.
Pots and pans. Tramontina seems to make some pretty good stuff on that front.
Tools. Screwdriver set, Pliers, cutter and stripper. Here's a wrench.
Military surplus clothing can be pretty good quality for a pretty reasonable price. I like their beanies. Most beanies in that price range are acrylic, not wool. Shirts are really damn comfortable and good quality, too. Socks, too.
Computer monitors. This monitor caught my eye as being relatively affordable while maintaining color accuracy and pretty good contrast for an IPS panel.
Audio monitors. Well, any pro-audio monitors are going to be leagues better than most people's standard computer speaker setup. Probably a lot better than most home theater setups, too. I'd reccomend these because they're pretty cheap but sound really good.
Turntable. I don't have one, yet, but have been eyeing this turntable for the day I'm ready.
Coffee stuff. This looks to be a good grinder. This looks to be a good kettle. This looks to be a good decanter.
Rechargeable batteries. These are supposedly better than Sanyo Eneloop batteries.
Office/computer
chairs. I'm lucky enough to work with an Aeron chair. But, I really need to upgrade my desk chair at home...
How many of these are things you've actually used? How many of these are thing you'd use as part of your work?
I'm interested in your list of pots and pans. Those don't look like anything special. What makes those better?
As an electrician I wouldn't buy those strippers mentioned.
Strippers
These Have a wider range of wire gauge, cut machine threaded screws, crimp, cut, and have a pliers grip on the end. Klein also has lifetime warranties, so if they rust or get damaged in normal use you can trade them in for a new pair. Couple it with a decent side-cutter and lineman's pliers and you can do almost any electrical wiring job a non-professional would encounter.
Side Cutters
Lineman's
Another Klein schill!
Just kidding. You're the expert, so I concede. For the cutters, though, I was looking for something that'd be good for guitar string.
I have used Green Lee, Ideal, Klein and off brand side cutters and lineman's and only the off brand ones were shitty. Klein and Ideal come with decent warranties and Klein is widespread enough that any local hardware, Home Depot, Menards and Fleet Supply places carry them and honor the lifetime warranties so it's convenient enough for most people to exchange them. I'd use the side cutters for guitar strings also and only use the strippers on copper and aluminum.
Aside from those strippers I haven't found a better pair out of 20 other kinds I've tried. I know some other electricians buy the cheaper $5 klein but that's because they burn through so many pairs cutting live wires. My current pair have lasted me almost 2 years and that's with heavy use almost daily and my last 2 pairs lasted about 1 year each before they both got nicked cutting live wires.
I use the knife, the clothing I mentioned, the audio monitors, and the Aeron chair.
The pans don't look anything special, I agree. But, they're made for professional use and I usually figure anything made for professional use will hold up. This is the actual pan I use along with this saucepan. Got a good deal on them at Ross and I've no problem with them.
These suggestions give me pause: these pans seem to be made more for the home than for professional use. Restaurant kitchens tend to use different materials which require more regular use and maintenance, like carbon steel pans.
Politely, I don't get the sense that your suggestions necessarily elevate the experience/etc of an everyday thing that are "niche" or "specialized" discoveries—they just seem to be things you either already have by happenstance or otherwise wish to acquire, but without necessarily doing hours and hours of obsessive research on these goods.
Hey, I'm no sage! These products I've come across (after doing my bit of research) seemed to be at least above-average and pretty good for the money. The things I have haven't been acquired by happenstance, but acquired after a lot of comparison shopping/research. That said, if anything I listed isn't really up to snuff then I'm at least glad I've at least spurred some discussion and would love to be shown better alternatives like those you and @Hidegger suggested!
Also, I'm a bit against the idea of elevation without reason. Particularly in the audio landscape, where fools and their money are quickly parted on cryogenically treated cables and the like that add nothing to the listening experience. Most pro-audio gear will do the trick in accurate audio reproduction.
So, how is the Aeron really? I've never sat in one and its hard to tell what is hype and what is real. Do you think it's worth the ~$1200 price tag?
I'm in the market for an office chair, and have been looking at steelcase. I keep hearing people recommending to get the leap used. But when I looked on Craigslist and facebook, I couldn't find any in my area (Philadelphia). There are online retailers selling them, like Madison Seating. But I am really hesitant to get something used without seeing it first. I'm feeling like there is no option anymore other than to get it new.
And the price seems to have gone up to over $1000.
Leap retails for $1k just like the aeron. They are a direct competitor and both are extremely common in large office settings.
I would suggest looking on google maps for office furniture and used furniture supply stores.
I happen to live in the bay area so they are all over the place and frequently getting large shipments as companies go out of business and have been able to snag them as cheap as $200 but you should expect to pay roughly $400 for an aeron or leap (v2).
I've had both an Aeron and a Humanscale Freedom Headrest as a work chair in the past. I'm not a chair aficionado, but I've spent 9hr/day in the Aeron and up to 18hr/day in a Humanscale, and never once was I ever uncomfortable in either of them. Spine support was great on both. If I'm ever crazy enough to spend four-figures on a chair for myself, I'd go with the Humanscale one. Headrests are nice, especially if you have a multi-monitor setup in which you've got at least one on top of another.
It's a pretty damn good chair. Hard for me to say whether or not I think it's worth the price tag, as I didn't purchase it! I do think it's worth investing in a good chair if you do a lot of sitting, though.
I've been using the Victorinox for like 5 years and it still cuts very well. I love the handling too, definitively made cooking more enjoyable.
I have strong opinions on the screwdrivers and pliers haha.
If you spend a lot of time screwing/plying things, I'd recommend dedicated screw drivers. I've started recommending JIS screwdrivers recently, specifically Vessel brand. I've been using them for years, and they are the best screwdriver I've ever used.
For pliers, if you plan on using them often, get Knipex stuff. The Cobra 6 and 10 inch are what I use most often. They grip anything/everything.
My favorite wrench is my Bahco 6 inch thin-jaw big-mouth. Super comfy, gets anywhere, grips everything, and the adjustment is super smooth and precise.
Only spend the money on the fancier stuff if you plan on using it regularly. I have old motorcycles (hence the JIS screwdrivers) and car projects.
Thanks for the recommendations!
Not that you had anything to say about this, but I wanted to mention that I posted the particular cutters that I did because they were rated to cut piano wire and I was interested in something that would do well with guitar string. Most cutters are rated for softer copper.
Those do look like very nice cutters! I actually had a similar issue recently, I had a project where I had to cut stainless steel aircraft wire. Most cutters are not rated for steel (like piano/guitar wire), and I ended up needing to get a nice pair of Knipex cutters sort of like the ones you posted. https://www.amazon.com/KNIPEX-95-61-190-US/dp/B000X4KPSA - If you need to do a lot of cutting of wire rope and things like that (some people use it a lot for piano wire), these are awesome. Lots of torque in a small package.
I'm actually probably going to purchase that same cutter you posted, that is exactly what I need to upgrade to from my cheaper cutter. I use my side cutters for wire and rubber hoses and what not.
My dad not long ago completed a very cool turntable project. My great-grandmother, who had recently died, left behind a ton of 1950's era furniture in her house, and one of the things she left was a vintage TV cabinet with a turntable, speakers, and a radio along with a black and white TV set. My dad striped out the TV (it had some toxic chemicals in the circuit board, and didn't work) replaced the broken turntable, and wired up the old speakers (that suprisingly still worked) to everything. He even replaced the radio with an aux cord, so he could plugin his phone or an old iPod to play music. The speakers sound great, and he can keep his old records on a shelf were the TV used to fit in. It turned out great. I can show some pctures when I get home. Little bit off-topic, but I thought it was a fun thing to share and it's related to turntables.
If you're going to invest in audio monitors, make sure you're also doing research into room treatment. Even the high-end monitors will sound bad if you're not properly deadening echoes and such.
Someone already mentioned knives, but everything involving blades actually falls under this category. You should have different scissors for every purpose; kitchen shears for food, fabric scissors for fabrics, hair scissors for hair, and craft scissors for paper.
Some of them have special features - garden shears, for instance, are designed to click when you close them so you can work more efficiently. But mostly you want to avoid using scissors on materials that may bend the blades out of shape or dull them.
Oh man, you just reminded me of my childhood. I had the scissors thing hammered (shorn?) into my head from a young age. My mom used to be a professional hairdresser, and although she'd switched careers by the time I was born, she's saved my family a lot of money over the years on haircuts and kept a set of professional haircutting scissors (I don't know which brand, but here's a random example of the general look). And lord have mercy on the person who tried to use her specialty scissors on anything but hair! It helped that she's the only left-handed person in the family, so the scissors were really awkward to use for anyone else. She also does arts and crafts and had a separate set for cutting fabrics.
I can't say I've entirely taken this wisdom to heart, but then again I don't do much that requires specialty equipment. Of course I don't use the same scissors to open cardboard boxes as I use to trim nails or facial hair, but that's just common sense - try doing anything requiring precision using a broad blade, or opening a box without breaking your tiny hair trimmer. Come to think of it, I should probably be using a knife to open boxes.
Positive memories, I hope.
My grandmother told me this when I was a child and I had thought it was some crazy old wives tale. It wasn't until I became an adult and seen it happen firsthand that I realized she was telling the truth.
Maybe a bit different to what you mean but I think it's in somewhat of a similar spirit. My father works in the garments industry and once he pointed out that there's a zipper company called YKK which essentially has a monopoly on the zipper market. He wouldn't use anything other then YKK zippers on his products since the other options had far worse value for money and producing your own high quality zips wasn't really viable. So if you ever have to buy anything with zips on it, unless it's a big brand like Nike who produces their own zips make sure the zippers are YKK.
Coincidently, just a few days ago I had noticed how a couple of the zippers from different brands all had that YKK cast into them. Though it was wired this one company had a monopoly on such a popular/common thing -- guess it makes sense really, if they do it well.
Just checked and sure enough the one Nike hoody I've got has their own swoosh on the zipper.
That's awesome, I'm not alone! I only buy things with YKK zippers too! They really are better than pretty much everything out there. I'm sure there is some smaller company that makes something awesome, but I'm not aware of them.
One of the purchases I made last year that I'm happiest with is the Bose QC 35 II. These are wireless headphones with noise-cancellation. The noise-cancellation is amazing, I can't imagine being on an airplane without them now, and they are super comfortable. Another good feature is you can connect them to two different devices at the same time, so they are always connected to my computer and my phone simultaneously.
I also recently ordered a Breville Barista Express espresso machine to up my espresso game. Haven't received it yet, but it is supposed to be the best in its price category. Now, the only thing I need is to find better quality, medium-roast coffee beans where I live.
I have the very same Breville Barista Express, and I love it. It brews quite well, and I make 2 double shot drinks per day with it.
If you're new to espresso, figuring out how to dial in a good shot is absolutely worth your time. Start off by getting a cheap bag of starbucks/etc beans, because you'll start off with enough bad shots just by figuring out the nuance of adjusting dosage volume, grind size, etc. Only once you learn the machine, switch to the good freshly-roasted beans.
The grinder is decent, but is the weakest part of the machine. One click can be enough of a difference between under extraction and over extraction of your espresso—depending on the quality of your coffee and the size of the beans, you might have success with half clicks (the dial is analog, despite it having pre-set detents). I find the pressure needle is actually pretty trustworthy for when the actual shot is being pulled, but don't worry about it moving too much/too little during the pre-infusion stage.
Another trick that is probably more superstition than skill: I use my finger to lightly rotate and press the grounds into place after grinding, so it doesn't spill over. Then, after my first tamp, I use the tamper to lightly tap the side of the portafilter to get the grinds that are pressed along the walls of the portafilter to drop down to tamped grounds, and then tamp and twist once more. I think that gets me more consistent shots and easier clean up.
Wow, I really appreciate all the info, thanks a lot!
I was using a Delonghi Dedica before the Barista Express, so I've had some experience with adjusting different parameters to pull a good shot, but I'm in no way an expert. So, your tips are super helpful.
I'm really looking forward to getting better at this to the point that I can consistently pull a great shot of espresso at home.
This concept is what I wanted out of /r/BuyItForLife (but usually didn't find).
One of the more interesting things I found was when someone went down the rabbit hole of nail clippers to find the best ones. Something that probably doesn't need that depth - but still interesting and I have a much higher quality pair now.
https://old.reddit.com/r/BuyItForLife/comments/4rkxf0/we_tested_over_60_different_nail_clippers_to_find/
I ended up with a Mehaz 660, which is the same as the Kai 003. Way better than my usual cheap clippers.
Nail clippers! Definitely worth finding good ones. Personally, I enjoy this style of nail clipper the most. They seem to create more clipping force than traditional nail clippers.
Lindstrom Cutters: https://www.bahco.com/en/p/diagonal-cutter-rx-series/05-13-ed-2b-d7-88-9a-1c-7f-24-65-46-95-58-6f-7e/
They have a few different versions - you'll have to chose which one you need. If you spend 8 hours a day building PCBs you want excellent cutters, and lindstrom are excellent. The handles are comfortable, the springs are replaceable, the box pivot is rock solid and lasts for thousands of hours of cutting, the blades are hard and maintain an edge for years.
Bahco also do screwdrivers. Again, they've been designed carefully. https://www.bahco.com/en/s/ergo-screwdrivers/55-9c-e5-ca-76-1f-84-df-b5-61-12-78-26-e9-07-98/
I don't know if the cost of these make sense unless you're working in production and need to use them for many hours a day. For screwdrivers the important thing is to use the right size and type for the screw, and you can do that with the cheapest set of bits and a handle.
Headphones are definitely one of the areas where diving in a bit can get you a much better product. Most people are used to using the earbuds that come with their phones, or the $15 pair they picked up at a department store, and while there's nothing inherently wrong with these, you can do much, much better. Springing for a nice pair of headphones from a respected company (e.g. Sennheiser, Grado, etc.) is worth the money if you listen to a lot of music, and especially if you listen to music while focusing on the music rather than as the background to something else.
Now, with this said, there are some caveats.
First and foremost is that, if you go into the audio quality rabbit hole, things can get very complicated and very expensive quickly. Soon you'll be buying an amplifier and expensive shielded cables and learning how to rip your music to high-fidelity lossless files and using different pairs of headphones for different genres/types of music, and it can get overwhelming fast. I think a nice (but not complete top-of-the-line) pair of headphones is the simplest switch that gives people the most bang for their buck.
Second caveat: audio quality matters. With the advent of digital media, especially in its early years, and then again with YouTube, we got used to badly compressed audio. The best headphones in the world won't matter if the source is a low-quality hissfest. Thankfully, we're past the days of 96 kbps CBR MP3s being traded on Napster, and we're mostly past the days of the YouTube video having a crap audio stream (though this is still present in some older ones). Most streaming services also offer their audio in decent quality, but just know that nice headphones will make compression artifacts on badly compressed music stand out a lot more. This doesn't mean all compression is bad, and people often overstate the impact it has1, but it's still worth noting that there's enough poor-quality digital audio out there that you'll likely still run into some.
Third caveat: audio mastering matters. I never understood what people were talking about with this whole Loudness War thing until I got nice headphones. There were some albums that were genuinely fatiguing to my ears because they were at a 10 the entire time. For some reason it didn't seem to bother me as much on lower-end headphones, possibly because I wore those when I was working or doing some other task in addition to listening to the music. But when I sat down to focus my attention on the album and the album alone, the impenetrable wall of sound was awful. It was the aural equivalent of staring at a bright, white screen for 45 minutes. Thankfully, this was a trend that seemed to peak a while ago and is less prevalent now, but it's still something to be aware of.
110ish years ago I ran some personal ABX tests on myself and couldn't tell 192 kbps VBR MP3s apart from lossless files on my best pair of headphones, so the people that tell you FLAC or bust either have amazing ears or are making a bigger deal out of lossy compression than they really should.
A while ago when I was really curious about lossless vs. lossy audio I took a few tracks of music each with various forms of compression and one lossless file and I'd put the lossless and one compressed track into Audacity at which point I inverted one of the tracks, lined them up properly, and rendered them together. The resulting file would show the difference between them. Not so surprisingly, it's mostly the very high end of the frequency spectrum (i.e. cymbal "presence") that's missing. There is also some added noise that compression adds. Kind of an underwater, warbling sound. But, it's mostly inaudible in actual music. In fact, it seems that a lot of this audiophile stuff is marketed towards those that enjoy classical music, but I found that that area of music suffers the least from lossless compression! I found it a useful exercise and even though the differences were negligible, I still like the idea of having my music collection stored losslessly. Though, these days I've given myself over to streaming and whatever quality that stuff comes through as.
Unless it's an album that I can see myself listening to for a long time, I usually go for MP3 V0 over FLAC.
Personally, l feel the lower inaudible sounds still add to the feeling of listening music; not because you can hear them but because they still make the air vibrate noticeably, as well as vibrate your furniture through contact noise. It's usually subtle but it adds a whole new dimension to listening music.
That's assuming your speakers can reproduce those frequencies. Not many get down to 20hz, which is in fact audible by (most) humans. But, yeah, if you have speakers that can handle them, those low frequencies definitely add a felt "thump."
10hz to somewhere up in the 40k range l think. No idea about higher frequencies and their effect on vibrations, but l know low frequencies can be felt.
Careful with (mass)drop -- from what I understand in the MK and ultralight communities, they can be really hit and miss.
Interesting. It sounds like Groupon's original model.
I tried looking at the site but everything's behind a login. Could you explain a bit more about how it works and what types of products they have available?
I love my aeropress. I don't understand why it isn't more common. It's cheaper than nearly any other coffee maker, it's easier to use than many, and it's one of the easiest coffee makers to clean up. That lack of a mess is really what sold me on the aeropress. I have even had coffee a few times from a clover machine (from Starbucks, so cheap beans) and the same stuff out of an aeropress is way better.
I only avoided the Aeropress because it's plastic. It makes me nervous to expose hot food/liquid to plastic on a regular basis. I realize some plastics are supposedly safer than others, but a near zero tolerance policy reassures me since the dangers always seem to surface years later with that stuff, and I drink a lot of coffee.
In my oppinion, the pourover method produces better coffee. Not only that, but it is easier to do, gives you more consistent results, and is even easier to clean since there is usually just one part.
Fair enough. Ultimately coffee is about finding something you enjoy. For me, pourover always turns out bitter and acidic. I don't like those in my coffee. My go to aeropress recipe even uses water at 88°C to reduce acidity. That way I can taste all the other flavors in the beans.
I've only had that issue when using very dark roast coffee, which I detest. But since Starbucks has made burnt coffee the standard I guess that makes me the odd man out.
Pourover is probably the most fashionable ways to make coffee amongst coffee snobs today; they're all over fancy coffee shops across the nation now. That being said, I make my coffee with a $1 plastic dripper that fits on top of my coffee mug with grinds I buy from the supermarket.
I do not regret the money spent on my Orphan Espresso burr grinder. Very solid and well designed unit with a consistent grind. Spent around $200 for the LIDO 2 model years ago and do not regret it. Hopefully it will outlast me. This is paired with my $10 IKEA coffee press.
Their latest equivalent: Orphan Espresso LIDO 3 Hand Grinder
I'm definitely not far down the EDC path, but I paid more than one would expect for Magnus HangKey and some clips. However, I love them and would absolutely spend the money over if I ever lost them.
Hope you're right, I just ordered three of those clips!
I thought I had lost a clip a few months ago (due to my own misplacement), and I had a little sticker shock when I looked up the price of one clip but I was more sad that I knew I was gonna pay that price anyway haha the HangKey itself is great too!
I'm repeating a few suggestions posted elsewhere in this thread, but as someone who works primarily from home, here are my recommendations on items to invest in:
1. A chair
Personally, I use a Steelcase Gesture, but other people like the Steelcase Leap, the Herman Miller Aeron, the Herman Miller Embody, etc. I mention these alternatives because there isn't a single gold standard: the most important rule when buying an office chair is to try it before you buy it, preferably in your workspace. For instance, the Aeron is perhaps the most recommended office chair, but I honestly can't stand it -- sometimes I like to sit cross-legged in my chair, but after testing one out, I learned the hard lips on the Aeron make sitting in that position uncomfortable.
Yes, a quality office chair might be 5x (or more) what you'd normally pay for an office chair, but it'll also likely last 5x longer (and often will come with a 10 year warranty to boot). My previous chair cost around $150, but after about a year of use all the padding had migrated to the edges, making it no better than sitting on cardboard. In the long run, replacing that chair every year would've been the more expensive option.
Alternatively, you can buy these chairs at a significant discount at liquidation (but probably without a warranty); just check Craigslist and the likes.
2. A 4k TV (in place of a monitor)
You know what's better than a quadruple monitor setup? A bezel-less quadruple monitor setup, which is essentially what a 4k TV is. There are plenty of stipulations here: (1) color accuracy is likely worse, (2) input latency is greater, (3) refresh rate is lower, etc. But productivity-wise, it's hard to imagine going back to a traditional monitor -- there's just so much room for documents, browser windows, editors, etc.
That said, don't dismiss the idea of using a 4k TV just because you like to game too -- most console gamers, in my experience, don't even think to switch their TVs to game mode yet manage just fine. Sure, you can probably notice 50 ms lag from a TV vs 3 ms lag from a traditional monitor if you concentrate on it, but most games aren't that twitchy.
I use the 40" Samsung KU6300, but better options have probably been released since when I bought my TV a few years ago.
3. A keyboard
A quality keyboard, in this context, pretty much just means a mechanical keyboard. I like the Anne pro 2, which allows one to customize keybindings at the firmware level (eg,
caps lock + q = home key,caps lock + wasd = arrow keys). It's also compact, so I can easily move it aside to take notes.4. A mouse
In a similar vein, getting a mouse with a few extra buttons can noticeably improve your workflow (eg, quickly sort through browser tabs/editor tabs with
mouse 4 -> ctrl-tab,mouse 5-> ctrl-shift-tab). I like my logitech g900.5. Headphones
If you're going to be wearing headphones all day long, get something comfortable. Cheap headphones will hurt after an hour of use; with quality headphones, you can easily forget you're wearing them. I use the Sony WH-1000XM3, which are wireless, just for the additional convenience. Of course, if you choose to go wireless you'll likely be sacrificing quality to some extent, but imo those concerns are overstated.
Just as a warning for using a TV for a monitor, it's fine, honestly great, for many things, but not everything. As soon as color matters, a TV is death; accurate color spaces aren't a thing on TVs. So, it there is any chance you will work with video or images on any serious level, I would recommend the size hit of a decent monitor over a TV any day. If you are just going to general computing and some light gaming, a TV is awesome.
Shoes. I live in a really wet area of wales, and most pairs of boots either leak water or wear down after a couple of years. A few years back I bought a pair of doc martens with their "for life" guarantee. Basically, I take care of the boot every three months, if the boot gets damaged through natural wear and tear, they fix / replace it. Forever. They're a really nice pair of boots, the only problem I've had in the last three years was I had to replace the laces, but I think that's because of the specific method I use to tighten them (otherwise it's difficult to get uniform tightness in boots, tbh).
Other people have mentioned keyboards, chairs, etc. But a really good pen will make writing so much more enjoyable. I tend to buy the Kuretake "Disposable Pocket Brush Pen" (Google for 'PK2-10'). they're ridiculously cheap (about $2 / 1.50GBP), but very good quality. The 'extra fine' lasted me two or three years of regular use, and at the end of it the only problem with it wasn't that it was out of ink, but that I had accidentally exerted too much pressure on the nib!
I bought the 'fine' (PK2-10S) and 'extra fine' (PK1-10S), and also picked up a "Mangaka Flexible fine" that I haven't used very much. They're just really nice pens, the ink flows well, and they're really easy to write with.
If you work on the computer, a really good chair.
Also a bread maker. They’re really cheap and will help you make great bread and pizza dough.
IDK good dough is not hard to make.
And if I dated a baker I’d be a happy whale!
You mentioned pens but I'd extend that to all stationary, especially paper. I don't do a lot of stuff on paper but I do like to sketch out ideas and designs for physical things that way.
I use Maruman Mnemosyne notebooks in various sizes for various things. I used to think paper was just paper but Mnemosyne's paper is something else. It's so smooth, so nice to write on. Midori's MD paper is even better, but yikes you pay for it.
I like a Tombow Mono pencil which are a bit extravagant but y'know, sometimes you need to treat yourself. Tombow make excellent brush pens as well, but the Kuretakes are great as well. My go-to pen is a Uniball Jetstream because I am left-handed and most ink pens tend to be a bit smudgy, but I can't smudge these even if I try.
Three things I'll generally buy Japanese if I can: cameras, stationary and knives.
Late to this party, but i’ll add fashion. It’s a never-ending game. I just added shirt tail garters to my accessory stable.
The real fun comes in blending texture, color, era, material, and message to create a real individual look that’s tasteful and portable.