Favorite Thing Built to Last?

This might not be what you had in mind, but the web framework Django. It's been around for ages and doesn't change in dramatic ways. It's not perfect by any means, but it just works and is reasonably easy to understand and extend if you spend the time to read through its code.

The documentation is good, but I find that it's a little overrated. There are lots of gaps, so spending the time reading through Django's code will pay dividends, especially when it comes to customizing it for your needs.

After years of churning through all sorts of Javascript frameworks, I know that I can build something in Django and only need to spend real maintenance time once every 2 years or so during an LTS release.

I do hand-tool woodworking. My favorite tool is my Stanley No 8, which I bought locally. It was manufactured around 1900, making it (probably) older than any living human, and is still being put to work.

http://smokingonabike.com/images/woodworking/game_cabinet/bl...

More about old Stanley planes here: http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan1.htm

It is hard to say what my favourite is, but the notion appeals to me immensely. There is a dedicated subreddit for that, /r/BuyItForLife.

I own a 1967 BelOMO-produced (Soviet union, now Belarus) Helios 44 lens. It is quite small compared to modern lenses but made entirely out of metal and glass and is the thing that I would guess will outlive me. These lenses have gotten popular in the recent years because of it's "character" (optically they're quite terrible).

Peugeot Paris pepper grinder. I've seen them used in restaurants, I doubt I'll be able to make a dent in the durability of the burrs with my home use. It looks quite retro and doesn't really fit my aesthetic but it feels so damn nice to use that other pepper grinders feel like toys.

Older Craftsman tools.

I naively bought some of my own Craftsman tools at Sears back in the 2000s - many of which are cheaply made with plastic bodies, or non-durable bits. Basically every Torx screwdriver I bought there is now stripped. The cases are plastic, and use friction to keep tools in place - not that they stay in place anymore.

Contrast that with the '60s or '70s tools with the lifetime warranties (that I inherited from my grandfather, by way of my father having his own set already), which show age only in the "vintage" look. They're just as functional as I assume they were on day one. Everything's made of either steel, lacquered wood, or in rare cases, heavy-feeling plastic.

A pair of Tannoy speakers: https://www.tannoy.com/product.html?modelCode=P0DEL

Originally produced in 1978, they still sound phenomenal. The link above is to the re-issue which is highly faithful to the original.

At a time when it feels like home audio is regressing (wireless streaming speakers coupling a specific protocol for streaming with the amp and speaker, which is building in obsolescence into the hardware), and aesthetics have meant we've moved from larger drivers to multiple smaller drivers (to recreate bass you need to push a lot of air, and a larger drive does this better but few people want large speakers in their room and modern floorstanding speakers will instead try to push the same volume of air using multiple smaller drivers).

The fact that today they still sound better than most modern speakers is testament to their design and build, and what happens when you just keep something single purposed and put the function at the top of the priorities.

I recently looked at replacing my stereo, but instead only replaced the amp to benefit from the streaming capabilities. The speakers remain timeless and will probably be the only pair of speakers I need for the rest of my life (my hearing will have gone before the speakers have any issues).

My feeling is that some things have been perfected: Speakers, the bicycle, telescopes, etc. And that fashion is the risk here, a perfected item only sells to a single buyer once... and so fashion is introduced to drive new sales, and we instead stray from perfection to dance around it as if it's unobtainable.

Weber grills, Global kitchen knives.

Doc Marten boots used to be the same and a pair lasted me through 8 Glastonbury Festival years. They then went cheap, moved offshore and were crap. Luckily Solovair took up the old tooling iirc and are just like old DMs. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solovair

I really wish there were consumer electronics that are built to last. I know, with such a rapid pace of development nobody cares, but if find it disgusting and unnecessary.

In June, my Samsung Galaxy S3 will have served me 10 years. I think that would be okay as a default age for smartphones. Instead, nearly every consumer electronic with a battery becomes useless after 24-36 months. Sure, after 10 years the smartphone doesn't run the latest mobile games anymore, but most apps like chat, browser, Spotify, etc. still work. In fact, the biggest issue are software updates (security).

However, there are also hardware factors that have made it possible to use the phone for so long:

1. wireless charging (the micro USB port is flaky since 6 years or so)

2. sd card slot for extendable memory

3. easy to change battery

The only thing that will become a problem and that was hard to anticipate 10 years ago, will be the RAM. With just 1GB it inherently limits the parallel use of apps. However, after 10 years that is fine, but other things, like software updates, are unnecessary limiting factors IMHO.

An Italian friend gave me his very old Bialetti moka pot coffee maker. It has a patina from use but is otherwise in perfect shape. The thing won't make a bad cup of coffee and it won't die.

The Snap-On F50CSA driver handle. It's a 3/8" drive driver handle with the socket cap in the head so it can be used as an extension. I bought one off the Snap-On truck back in like 1994 or so and it's been my favorite hand tool ever since. Sadly they don't make this model anymore, so if I ever lose mine then I'm stuffed. Well, maybe you could find a used one on Ebay or whatever, but it would probably cost out the yazoo.

https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images1/1/0311/29/snap-f5...

My 30+ years old Sony Walkman Sports still works and looks perfect. Is is amazing since there are resin pads and the the belt in it that I never cared to change.

Kids played with it for a while until they grew up. I think I will pass it to the next generation like a Rolex.

My HP-11c, one of the Hewlett-Packard calculators, which I have used regularly since 1986

[1] https://www.hpmuseum.org/hp11c.htm

My 2005 Prius had one major fault from when I got it in 2012 until this year. It goes to show that sometimes adding complexity can increase reliability. Amazing car.

Gibson Les Paul. They even give you a lifetime warranty

if taken good care, the instrument will outlive you

the best old ones you can find still look like brandnew

edit: if you consider buying, i'd definitely recommend getting a used one

The source code for the HN website. That and my 2001 Toyota Corolla.

Sometimes when I think about what i'd do if I had plenty of wealth to invest as I want to, I imagine starting a business that just makes standard things that are built to last.

My cast iron dutch oven. Keeping tabs on the castiron subreddit, there's quite a lot of cast iron heirlooms being handed down generations which are just as usable today as when they were newly bought. I use mine for baking bread.

I'm surprised no one mentioned the Kindle yet. Mine is 10+ years old and works just as well as it did the first day. I can even browse and purchase books from the Kindle Store directly from it (as opposed to my 4 years old smart TV that can no longer open some of the apps). Not to mention the battery, which is still impressively lasting.

Good pair of handmade American boots. Bought a pair of Chippewa for about $500 several years ago. Aside from the occasional resole, the leather only looks better with age -- and all you need is a good polish and brush to get them ready. You can also dress them up or down, depending on the occasion.

In my opinion, shoes are some of the few things you should splurge on -- but do look at build quality, and not just a brand name. For example, some of the higher end Timberlands will run you about $250-$350. Despite the high-price they are cheaply mass-produced in China, and the build quality reflects that.

Have sort of hi-low tastes. One of my favorites is military surplus—- boots, pants, jacket—-for daily work around the house type clothes.

And another just came to mind, I have a smallish bag I bought on eBay “Field Pack M1945”, and another is the “Swiss Army Rucksack” c1970.

It’s rare to find much “built to last”, so instead I look for good warranties.

Outlier Slim Dungarees. Probably has 10x the lifetime of a pair of jeans.

Not built to last in the sense that you'll hand these trousers down to your grandchildren, but built to last in that they're made with a Nylon-Poly blend that is insanely durable. I probably have 600 wears on a single pair, and while some of the stitching at the pockets has come loose, the textile itself shows no signs of blowing out in the knees.

Everyone should have at least one really nice knife in the kitchen. It makes cooking a joy. I have a wusthof, Shun is amazing. Start with a chef’s knife and move onto paring knife. Those are the two most common knives used. An 8” utility knife is next.

I still cook in the cast iron I inherited from my mom. I think it was a lodge, but the branding marks are illegible. Way better than Teflon.

I have a long handled flex head 3/8ths drive Snap On driver that is the most comfortable tool I’ve ever wielded. I would be honored to pass it on to a grandchild. You don’t have to go tops end, just smooth and reliable. I encountered a very nice Milwaukee set at a client location recently.

Kitchen Aid mixers. I bake more because we have a good mixer.

A 1984 MercedesBenz 300 turbo diesel. They’ll go for a million miles, simplicity, efficiency, durability.

I broke a fastener in a plumbing part last night. I fixed it and got us going again preventing downtime and a costly plumber visit. My gear wrench tap and die set will probably continue to provide value for the next 50 years.

Hi-Fi speakers - mine aren't particularly wow, but I've had them (and my brother has had his) since the mid-late 2000's, getting daily usage when possible and moving through multiple countries, in and out of storage. They've been run on different amps/receivers, but we've both kept our speakers consistent.

Since most people here are just saying "old stuff", I'll throw in a product you can buy right now for reasonable money: Japanese made hand tools, specifically JIS screwdrivers. These are required if you work on Japanese motorcycles, and from what I've heard old Japanese cameras too. They fit phillips fasteners better than a regular phillips driver because the flutes are straighter so they are less likely to cam out. I've bought a few Japanese tools, for more money than the Chinese or USA made equivalents, and they have justified their price to me every time.

Another vote is for Mitutoyo vernier calipers with both inch and metric reading. No batteries, and still made in Japan. If the Japanese wanted to make something cheap, then they wouldn't make it in Japan. I view made in Japan as a mark of quality these days.

I have a mechanical IWC watch from 1947 that still works well, and some other, newer mechanical watches I expect to last for decades (with proper maintenance).

During the lockdown, I've replaced most of my kitchen items with things I expect to last a long time - like high-quality knives and sturdy stainless steel pots and pans that can be used on any cooktop (including induction).

My shoes and boots can all be resoled, and I own enough pairs to rotate through them, which should help them last longer.

I'm at the point in life where I have most things I really need. If I do buy something, it's usually to replace a low-quality item with something built to last.

So many.

My Dachstein Woolwear sweater: https://www.sweaterchalet.com/dachstein-woolwear-boiled-wool...

Rancourt & Company shoes (I wear their sneakers): https://www.rancourtandcompany.com/

Redwing work boots: https://www.redwingshoes.com/work/mens/boots/

Savotta LJK modular pack: https://www.savotta.fi/collections/products

Gransfors Bruk (hand forged) Swedish axes: https://www.gransforsbruk.com/en/

Bark River CPM 3v knives (specifically the Bravo 1): https://barkriverknives.com/

Benchmade pocket knives: https://www.lamnia.com/en/p/6716/backpacks-bags-versipacks/s...

PB Swiss screwdrivers: https://www.pbswisstools.com/en/

Mac Kitchen Knives: https://www.macknife.com/

Kitchenaid mixers: https://www.kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixer...

Le Creuset enamel coated cast iron (specifically the Dutch ovens): https://www.lecreuset.com/

Cambro containers (to organize a pantry): https://www.cambro.com/

Hancock and Moore chairs and couches (specifically their leather stuff): http://hancockandmoore.com/

I love the old South Bend and Atlas Lathes and Mills. I'm amazed that a machine made 100 Years ago can remain functional and as useful as it was on it's first day. It reminds me of the importance of maintenance.

My '98 Honda Civic. Since WFH I rarely drive it anymore, but it starts right up when I go out to start it. Easy to repair and parts are relatively cheap. 80's & 90's Honda products were built to last.

I should also add Herman Miller Aeron Chair

12 Years of Warranty, but expect it to last well beyond that

Street lights. They have surprisingly high availability with a failure mode that results in some reduced efficiency for traffic management.

There's little things that are built to last scattered all over my home and office. A chunk are inherited from previous generations others are unsuspecting items I bought that just keep chugging (I'm looking at you $9 toaster from Walmart). I have a few things that I've bought that I really hope they are built to last -- part of my motivation to purchase was this quality.

Of course building things to last isn't obsolete. Most things we buy are for a purpose. Typically that purpose results in them being "used up". Socks get holes, mechanisms wear -- all of that is normal and expected. Periodically through either some extra care or happenstance the item doesn't get used up in an expected period of time. It seems it was BUILT TO LAST, over time our kids and dependents will marvel at the way things used to be built. Some day in 40 years someone will look at your Aeropress and bemoan, is "built to last" obsolete?

A circa 1950 15-inch floor model Atlas drill press. Passed down to me by the son of the original owner. Simple and robust.

My 1987 Porsche 911. The design and build quality is visible and tactile. Air-cooled, simple, albeit not effortless to maintain. I'll never part with it.

Our Dualit Classic two-slice toaster. An earlier one did break, a couple of decades ago, but Dualit sent a new one that's been in daily use ever since. Not cheap, but for cost-for-slice it's probably unbeatable.

Emacs. I plan on still using it in 30 years.

The Technics SL-1200mk2 (or 1210, in dark grey) turntable for vinyl records.

In case you aren't aware just how influential this design is: specifically the mk2 as it was manufactured to (almost) the same design all the way from 1979 to 2010; despite newer 'mk' revisions being also available.

Weighing 11kg, mine is 30 years old and I expect it to last for as long as there is the right voltage from the mains supply and records to play on it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technics_SL-1200

Fadal VMC40 CNC mill. Mine is a 1984, making it one of the first ones made.

This was one of the first wave of CNC machines made and priced for a smaller job shop environment. It's not large (axis travels are 20" X, 16" Y) and it's not fast by modern standards (slow travel, max 10k rpm spindle speed). However, it's easy to use, not over-complicated, rigid with box ways, and DIY repairable. There are several places to get affordable parts and support. I have yet to encounter a component that is "no longer available," a common occurrence on other machinery. I've had a specialist out to inspect it when I got the machine, but other than that I've been able to fix and maintain it easily. Besides, very little has gone wrong with it, and I started running it hard straight out of a 20 year hibernation.

The control electronics are built with a backplane design that makes it extremely simple to swap and upgrade components. The control boards themselves are made with all through-hole components, making board-level repairs easier. I upgraded the main control board from a '84 version to a '95 version in about 30 minutes (gaining speed and a lot of UI improvements). If I wanted, I could retrofit a fully modern control system in a couple hours. If you're not in the industry this may not sound significant, but if you're familiar with CNC machines this is huge for prolonging the life of a machine. For comparison, older Haas control boards are known to fail and the only current recourse is to pay Haas about $20k for a full retrofit by a factory tech.

The interface is text based and runs on a CRT but it's incredibly simple, ergonomic and easy to learn. Discoverability is excellent, with built-in documentation and useful error messages. If Siemens and Fanuc CNC controllers are emacs and vim, Fadal is nano. If the battery backup goes bad, I can restore the control parameters using a human-readable menu with meaningful variable names in about 5 minutes from memory. On my Mazak lathe, this takes hours of entering hex codes into numbered fields. In comparison to other machines I've used, the Fadal feels like it's made to be used by machinists, not gatekept by factory service techs and expensive training courses.

The worst part of the machine is that it has a total loss mist lubrication system for the spindle, which requires added ventilation otherwise it will fill the shop up with oil mist. I would also like a full enclosure, which mine doesn't have but later ones do. But other than that it's incredibly resilient, high quality and simple machine, the likes of which simply aren't being made anymore.

Those Little Tikes toys. I still have one from when I was a baby. My 1 year old is a lot more aggressive than I am. He will smash most cheap toys within a day. He tossed a heavy Little Tikes toy this morning and a piece fell out, one of the hinges that held it together. I thought it was finally broken, but the piece easily popped back into place.

Too early to tell, but these boots I got last year feel very solid, even if they're not beautiful https://www.redwingshoes.com/work/mens/soft-toe/SuperSole-01...

Chrome backpacks. I bought one used from someone at college around 6 years ago and it has been a champ. I've used it daily since and it still looks like the day I bought it. The water protection was great during a Michigan winter, and is incredibly comfortable, even on long walks. Cannot recommend it highly enough!

Stainless Steel electric steamer, Magimix:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magimix-11581-Multi-Functional-Brus...

I had around 3 plastic ones before this, which last about a year or two.

I have had this around 10 years.

I have one of the first model of Husqvarna 372 chainsaws that came out in '99 or 2000. My dad used it for six or seven years professionally as a logger before he handed it down to me, and I've put, at a conservative estimate, 1000 more hours on it since then. Still runs like a top.

Bullworker isometric workout equipment[1]. My dad bought it in the 70s way before I was born, and I still use it regularly.

1. https://www.bullworker.com/product/bow-classic/

I have a lot of vintage furniture, picked up from various thrift shops and such. A lot of solid wood stuff. Significantly better than the typical cheaper pressboard/think metal stuff and insanely cheaper than any modern furniture build with solid materials.

I have had the same CAT work boots for 30 years. They have been up mountains and in swamps.

Miele vacuum cleaner.

Cast iron pan.

The C Programming Language.

Omafiets

Sori Yanagi water kettle.

Gillette Slim Adjustable DE safety razor.

Our steel bedframe from Room and Board.

Lada

The American empire.