Repairability and economic lifespan

[Cowsham]

There's another in Castle Rushen in Castletown on the isle of man which has been running since it was presented by Queen Elizabeth 1 in 1597.

https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi ... 455204.jpg

Have you visited Castletown's Nautical Museum? I strongly recommend it.

https://manxnationalheritage.im/our-sit ... al-museum/

No I don't think so -- each time I've been on island and been down there I think it's been shut but I've been past it many times -- someday thanks Mike.

[Biospace]

do you have any recommendations?

Not really, when I bought replacement batteries for my Samsung laptop I asked Samsung for a supplier, and they cost >£90 compared to ~£16 for an Amazon cheapie.

Did you splash out on the expensive ones or chance the cheapies? I've previously bought what was advertised as a genuine Apple laptop battery (new) but it didn't last like one, I assumed it was either old stock or knock-off. There does seem to be a healthy market for second hand Apple batteries with little use for older equipment, which suggests none of the new ones is so great.

[axel_knutt]

do you have any recommendations?

Not really, when I bought replacement batteries for my Samsung laptop I asked Samsung for a supplier, and they cost >£90 compared to ~£16 for an Amazon cheapie.

Did you splash out on the expensive ones or chance the cheapies? I've previously bought what was advertised as a genuine Apple laptop battery (new) but it didn't last like one, I assumed it was either old stock or knock-off. There does seem to be a healthy market for second hand Apple batteries with little use for older equipment, which suggests none of the new ones is so great.

I bought the ones that Samsung recommended.

[ossie]

Our AEG washing machine (new, only 9 years ago) recently expired all for the want of a £10 bearing, but to replace it (no longer officially possible) would have meant a crazy amount of work. There was nothing else wrong with it.

Many of us maintain and repair our bicycles I know, what else have you been pleased to repair?

My daughter contacted me tonight about her 7 year old washing machine, having listened to the symptoms I said bin it. For £250 Currys will deliver you a new one and take away the old one that will last 7 years.

For context I've taken so many apart over the years and like you know they're now a throwaway item.

I love repairing stuff. Last week my mother in law knocked her car mirror off, replacement for a 20 year car was off the scale but I repaired it.

The car she hit breaking their wing mirror in the process the owner wanted £180 for their 2007 Focus wing mirror. I sourced a new one for £29.99 and replaced it.

This week I'm off to my lad who lives a 100 miles away. His car failed the MOT on track rod ends and the garage wanted daft money. I've bought two new for £20 and will DIY. I have the tool ( £10) because this is a common MOT failure.

YouTube is your friend for many things as we all know....

[Cowsham]

Our AEG washing machine (new, only 9 years ago) recently expired all for the want of a £10 bearing, but to replace it (no longer officially possible) would have meant a crazy amount of work. There was nothing else wrong with it.

Many of us maintain and repair our bicycles I know, what else have you been pleased to repair?

My daughter contacted me tonight about her 7 year old washing machine, having listened to the symptoms I said bin it. For £250 Currys will deliver you a new one and take away the old one that will last 7 years.

For context I've taken so many apart over the years and like you know they're now a throwaway item.

I love repairing stuff. Last week my mother in law knocked her car mirror off, replacement for a 20 year car was off the scale but I repaired it.

The car she hit breaking their wing mirror in the process the owner wanted £180 for their 2007 Focus wing mirror. I sourced a new one for £29.99 and replaced it.

This week I'm off to my lad who lives a 100 miles away. His car failed the MOT on track rod ends and the garage wanted daft money. I've bought two new for £20 and will DIY. I have the tool ( £10) because this is a common MOT failure.

YouTube is your friend for many things as we all know....

I've done all the above plus put the £10 bearings ( there's 2 -- a big one and a small one. ) which was a lot of work only for the controller to fail a few months later.
It's good engineering when all the components are designed to last the same length of time but it can be very annoying.

[Biospace]

I've done all the above plus put the £10 bearings ( there's 2 -- a big one and a small one. ) which was a lot of work only for the controller to fail a few months later.
It's good engineering when all the components are designed to last the same length of time but it can be very annoying.

I'm of the opinion that modern washing machines aren't good enough quality (and often, not sufficiently simple) to warrant removing, splitting then gluing the sealed tub assembly back together once they've been in service for 4 or 5 years. If the tub is designed to be split in two then reassembled in order to access the bearings, it possibly does make sense.

...
I love repairing stuff. Last week my mother in law knocked her car mirror off, replacement for a 20 year car was off the scale but I repaired it.

The car she hit breaking their wing mirror in the process the owner wanted £180 for their 2007 Focus wing mirror. I sourced a new one for £29.99 and replaced it.
...

I hear some door mirrors are closer to £1000 than £500 to replace, which even given they probably fold in when the ignition is off, sounds a lot. Similarly headlamps, a friend demonstrated their 'intelligent' lamps on a VW which decide where to throw the light, but if damaged or broken they're around £1000 a side.

I can buy ten halogen bulbs for £10 - £20, a glass if smashed can be replaced separately from the entire unit and is a 10 or 15 minute job, reflectors similarly. Is this change all part of a money-making exercise?

[Cowsham]

I've done all the above plus put the £10 bearings ( there's 2 -- a big one and a small one. ) which was a lot of work only for the controller to fail a few months later.
It's good engineering when all the components are designed to last the same length of time but it can be very annoying.

I'm of the opinion that modern washing machines aren't good enough quality (and often, not sufficiently simple) to warrant removing, splitting then gluing the sealed tub assembly back together once they've been in service for 4 or 5 years. If the tub is designed to be split in two then reassembled in order to access the bearings, it possibly does make sense.

I'd made it last over 10 years with various repairs to it. Changed drain pump twice some relays in the controller and the bearings but when the micro processor went I was beat. This is the price of modern convenience I'm afraid.

[Biospace]

I'd made it last over 10 years with various repairs to it. Changed drain pump twice some relays in the controller and the bearings but when the micro processor went I was beat. This is the price of modern convenience I'm afraid.

Did you split a tub which wasn't intended to be, for bearing access?

[al_yrpal]

Some things are very durable and get constantly recycled because they are attractive. For antiques, some years ago that went wrong when brown furniture lost its desirability as fashions changed. However a lot of brown furniture was craftsman made, and is very attractive and durable.
My wife used to be an antique dealer and has lots of practical skills because before antiques she was an OT who was taught practical skills during her training. If someone needed an entrance ramp she would knock that up herself rather than relying on the snails pace NHS.
Now in retirement she still tinkers with sources like the dump shop, car boots, charity shops, auctions and junk shops. She buys damaged picture frames, small pieces of furniture, pottery and jewelry and repairs them. Often she enjoys owning them for a short time before selling them on for a small profit. We keep a small profit tin which can be raided to purchase larger items.
I had a few nice pieces of modern Scandinavian furniture that didnt suit our home so its been sold on and replaced by Victorian stuff. Star purchases were a solid mahogany fire surround for £20 and a lovely oval walnut dining table for £30. We also purchased 4 nice matching perfectly upholstered baloon back chairs for £185 and a cracking solid mahogany curved sideboard for £260. So, a new (old) recycled dining suite for £250 taking into account the funds recieved for the Scandinavian stuff.
We have a very nice warehouse locally full of wonderful antique and old furniture, as well as a place specialising in art deco and a fantastic junk shop all on the same site. Stuff filters up from house clearances through the various dealers. Its a joy to see the recycling and reuse of things. Why buy crap from Ikea and Oak Furnitureland helping to destroy forests?

Al

[Cugel]

Some things are very durable and get constantly recycled because they are attractive. For antiques, some years ago that went wrong when brown furniture lost its desirability as fashions changed. However a lot of brown furniture was craftsman made, and is very attractive and durable.
My wife used to be an antique dealer and has lots of practical skills because before antiques she was an OT who was taught practical skills during her training. If someone needed an entrance ramp she would knock that up herself rather than relying on the snails pace NHS.
Now in retirement she still tinkers with sources like the dump shop, car boots, charity shops, auctions and junk shops. She buys damaged picture frames, small pieces of furniture, pottery and jewelry and repairs them. Often she enjoys owning them for a short time before selling them on for a small profit. We keep a small profit tin which can be raided to purchase larger items.
I had a few nice pieces of modern Scandinavian furniture that didnt suit our home so its been sold on and replaced by Victorian stuff. Star purchases were a solid mahogany fire surround for £20 and a lovely oval walnut dining table for £30. We also purchased 4 nice matching perfectly upholstered baloon back chairs for £185 and a cracking solid mahogany curved sideboard for £260. So, a new (old) recycled dining suite for £250 taking into account the funds recieved for the Scandinavian stuff.
We have a very nice warehouse locally full of wonderful antique and old furniture, as well as a place specialising in art deco and a fantastic junk shop all on the same site. Stuff filters up from house clearances through the various dealers. Its a joy to see the recycling and reuse of things. Why buy crap from Ikea and Oak Furnitureland helping to destroy forests?

Al

Take that cracked sideboard back and demand your dosh be returned! Better still, send that cracked item to me and I'll dismember it for the nice mahogany to make something much nicer. Them old makers often ignored the perils of differential expansions of long grain parts glued to cross grain parts, cracking when the surrounding moisture levels changed.

************
I admire your refurbishment of the older furniture; I've done a fair bit myself - but for others rather than for our house, which doesn't like that older furniture style with clawed scuttling legs clutching balls or huge beetling brown edifices making the place all gloomy.

I often take a scrapper of such stuff and use the timber to make something entirely different. It is astonishing what people will chuck in the landfill or burn, the fools. Brazilian rosewood doors or bar tops on to the bonty out the back, as the "workmen" replace them all with MDF and flakeboard. I'd make it a serious criminal offence, me!

[Cowsham]

I'd made it last over 10 years with various repairs to it. Changed drain pump twice some relays in the controller and the bearings but when the micro processor went I was beat. This is the price of modern convenience I'm afraid.

Did you split a tub which wasn't intended to be, for bearing access?

It was a hotpoint so it has screws and a seal -- here's a video which is more or less exactly what I did. ( not me ) https://youtu.be/QPPV9Kn5IVg?feature=shared

I made a bearing puller from a bit of long threaded bar. It was a lot of work and not worth it in the end in my case as I couldn't get even a second hand controller when that broke down a few months later. But for ten pounds I thought it was worth changing at the time. -- it didn't owe me anything as our machine was in constant use with a family of 5.

[Biospace]

It was a hotpoint so it has screws and a seal -- here's a video which is more or less exactly what I did. ( not me ) https://youtu.be/QPPV9Kn5IVg?feature=shared

I made a bearing puller from a bit of long threaded bar. It was a lot of work and not worth it in the end in my case as I couldn't get even a second hand controller when that broke down a few months later. But for ten pounds I thought it was worth changing at the time. -- it didn't owe me anything as our machine was in constant use with a family of 5.

That's the thing, many modern machines (including Hotpoint apparently) have a tub which isn't intended to be split to allow the drum bearings to be replaced, the idea is you buy a entire drum/tub assembly - which means most will scrap the machine, better a customer buys an entire new machine rather than a £10 bearing and sees another 5 or 6 years life. https://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/forums/f ... g-machines

Around 20 years ago I bought what must have been the last of reasonably well built domestic washing machines, it lasted 12 years on top of the 3 when bought, without any work on it whatsoever, it was an Electrolux Lavamat, made by Zanussi iirc. It was still working perfectly when we gave it away on a house move

The cruppy AEG has been replaced with a £100 Curry's online special, it's working perfectly but who knows for how long? Surely this is one of the cheapest new washing machine in service, I wonder who has the oldest?

[ossie]

Around 20 years ago I bought what must have been the last of reasonably well built domestic washing machines, it lasted 12 years on top of the 3 when bought, without any work on it whatsoever, it was an Electrolux Lavamat, made by Zanussi iirc. It was still working perfectly when we gave it away on a house move

My parents had a Miele which lasted in excess of 20 years, I'm not sure of their reliability nowadays but I know my mums sheltered accommodation still use them. I've gone through a few Hotpoints over the last 35 years and still have a draw full of brushes and parts.

Our current machine is an LG (about £300 a few years back) and has a 10 warranty on 'the motor drum' . There's probably an 'out' for the manufacturer in there somewhere if it conks out.

I'm reaching the stage in life where man handling these things is becoming difficult due to a dodgy back, lack of room in the utility and just the thought that most of the cheap components probably have similar life span.

[axel_knutt]

I'm reaching the stage in life where man handling these things is becoming difficult due to a dodgy back, lack of room in the utility and just the thought that most of the cheap components probably have similar life span.

Last December the condenser on my washer dryer was blocked and needed clearing out, but my health is no longer good enough to do it, so I hired someone. I stood over them until I was satisfied they had diagnosed the fault correctly, then left them to it and went and sat down. Some time later they told me that they'd cleaned out the condenser but the fan was faulty as well, so they'd send a quote for that.

I knew there was nothing wrong with the fan so I took the lid off for a look after they'd gone, and found that they'd slashed through the motor windings with a Stanley knife:

.

[Cowsham]

I'm reaching the stage in life where man handling these things is becoming difficult due to a dodgy back, lack of room in the utility and just the thought that most of the cheap components probably have similar life span.

Last December the condenser on my washer dryer was blocked and needed clearing out, but my health is no longer good enough to do it, so I hired someone. I stood over them until I was satisfied they had diagnosed the fault correctly, then left them to it and went and sat down. Some time later they told me that they'd cleaned out the condenser but the fan was faulty as well, so they'd send a quote for that.

I knew there was nothing wrong with the fan so I took the lid off for a look after they'd gone, and found that they'd slashed through the motor windings with a Stanley knife:

.
WIN_20231212_13_49_26_Pro.jpg

That's fraud but how do you prove a thing like that?