4 ms·

Did the floor of general product quality used to be higher, or was there always an abundance of cheap crap that broke fast and we just see the survivors?

tristor 4y ago
Both. One thing most people discount is how much better materials science has gotten since the 60s/70s. We now understand the limitations and constraints of the materials we are working with much better and can design in a cost-optimized fashion for a targeted life span. Computers aid this a lot with techniques like Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and similar. Things in the past were greatly overbuilt for their purpose because we didn’t fully understand the material properties. We now have a lot of lighter, thinner, more functional products and in a cost-optimized way.
- jimmaswell 4y ago
  I often feel like we might have been better off as a society with the overbuilt products that could take more abuse and were more reusable and adaptable. Like a heavy phone you could dramatically hang up or beat a robber with, full of recyclable metal and reusable electronics.
  - tristor 4y ago
    I definitely feel this way about hand tools. There’s still a few good options left for new stuff, but most of it is junk compared to tools from the 60s. Because hand tools are pretty much all metals, it’s simple to compare weight. I have a new and vintage Snap-On 3/8” drive ratchet that are of identical model numbers, new one is 30% lighter. Never broken either ratchet, but I have broken ratcheting wrenches and many sockets. Vintage impact sockets are much less likely to crack but sometimes won’t fit in the cut-outs for lug nuts on modern wheels, due to the expectation of thinner walled sockets. I definitely miss slamming a phone when you hang up after a bad call, not quite the same tapping end on a touchscreen.

4 ms·

Did the floor of general product quality used to be higher, or was there always an abundance of cheap crap that broke fast and we just see the survivors?

by jimmaswell 4y ago

tristor 4y ago
Both. One thing most people discount is how much better materials science has gotten since the 60s/70s. We now understand the limitations and constraints of the materials we are working with much better and can design in a cost-optimized fashion for a targeted life span. Computers aid this a lot with techniques like Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and similar. Things in the past were greatly overbuilt for their purpose because we didn’t fully understand the material properties. We now have a lot of lighter, thinner, more functional products and in a cost-optimized way.
- jimmaswell 4y ago
  I often feel like we might have been better off as a society with the overbuilt products that could take more abuse and were more reusable and adaptable. Like a heavy phone you could dramatically hang up or beat a robber with, full of recyclable metal and reusable electronics.
  - tristor 4y ago
    I definitely feel this way about hand tools. There’s still a few good options left for new stuff, but most of it is junk compared to tools from the 60s. Because hand tools are pretty much all metals, it’s simple to compare weight. I have a new and vintage Snap-On 3/8” drive ratchet that are of identical model numbers, new one is 30% lighter. Never broken either ratchet, but I have broken ratcheting wrenches and many sockets. Vintage impact sockets are much less likely to crack but sometimes won’t fit in the cut-outs for lug nuts on modern wheels, due to the expectation of thinner walled sockets. I definitely miss slamming a phone when you hang up after a bad call, not quite the same tapping end on a touchscreen.