c/buy-it-for-life-gear

My dad's old Stanley thermos finally showed its age after 22 years

I've been using my dad's old Stanley thermos for years, the classic green one with the steel cup lid. It's been through camping trips, work sites, and even got dropped off a tailgate once. Last month I noticed my coffee was lukewarm by lunch instead of hot. I figured the vacuum seal finally gave out after 22 years of daily use. I sent Stanley an email about it, expecting to pay for a repair, and they just sent me a new one for free under their warranty. That kind of customer service is why I keep buying their stuff. Has anyone else had luck getting a replacement from a company that actually stands behind their gear?

My grandfather's cast iron skillet turned out to be 87 years old after I finally looked up the marking

Old timer at the thrift store showed me how to check a jacket's zipper quality in 2 seconds

He just grabbed the pull tab and yanked sideways. If it flexed at all he said walk away. Tried it on a Columbia I was about to buy and sure enough the tab bent like tinfoil. Saved me from a zipper that would have gone out in 6 months. Do you guys check anything specific on used gear before you buy?

Noticed something odd at the Portland Farmers Market last Saturday

I was walking through the Portland Farmers Market last weekend and saw a guy carrying a pair of leather boots that looked almost new, but he said he had them for 12 years. He mentioned he just gets them resoled every few years at a local shop downtown. Has anyone else found a cobbler that can keep your favorite boots going that long?

My trusty old Stanley thermos finally gave up after 15 years

Dropped it off the tailgate at a job site in Austin last Tuesday and the glass liner just shattered inside. That thing survived being tossed around in my truck bed, dropped on concrete, and even a couple of falls off ladders. I dug through my garage and found an old aluminum one my dad had from the 80s, cleaned it up, and it works perfect. Anyone else have a favorite thermos that lasted way longer than you expected?

That conversation with my uncle about his cast iron pan

I was at a family barbecue last weekend and my uncle handed me his cast iron pan that he's used for 30 years. He said 'I don't season it, I just cook bacon and wipe it clean.' It hit different because I've been babying mine with flaxseed oil and special scrubbing, but his pan looked way better than mine. Has anyone else found that simple use beats all the fancy care routines?

Chasing a leak in my water heater took 5 months to figure out

Everyone online says water heaters are simple, but my 8 year old Rheem started leaking from the top last spring. I replaced the inlet valve, then the pressure relief valve, then the whole supply line. None of it stopped the slow drip. Finally after 5 months of messing with it, a plumber buddy noticed a hairline crack in the cold water dip tube that only seeped when the water was running. Replaced that $12 part and it's been dry for 6 months now. Has anyone else dealt with a hidden crack in something that looked fine on the outside?

Blew the dust off my dad's old Stanley plane from the 1940s last weekend

I was cleaning out the garage and found this old Stanley No. 5 jack plane that my dad used for decades. The blade was rusty and the handle felt loose, but after some light oil and sharpening it cut through pine like butter. It's wild how tools from 80 years ago still outwork the cheap modern stuff you get at big box stores for $30. Makes me wonder what we're making today that'll still be useful in 2080. Has anyone else brought an old family tool back to life and been surprised by how well it performs?

My 10 year old KitchenAid mixer gearbox finally gave out while making cookie dough last Sunday

I was folding in chocolate chips and heard a loud crunch then it just stopped spinning. Has anyone ever rebuilt one of these or is it time to just buy a new one?

My $80 cast iron skillet nearly ended my kitchen hobby

Picked up a Lodge skillet at Target for $80 two years ago. Thought it was indestructible until I left it soaking in soapy water overnight. Rusted so bad the surface looked like a meteor. Had to spend another 4 hours scrubbing and re-seasoning it. Anyone else had a cast iron disaster from a simple mistake?

I finally asked my dad why his old Stanley thermos still works after 30 years

That $80 'unbreakable' water bottle cracked on day 3

I bought this HydroFlask knockoff from a random brand called IronVault on Amazon because it had 4.8 stars and promised to be 'indestructible'. It hit the pavement getting out of my car and now has a hairline crack that leaks all over my bag. Anyone else fall for those fake reviews on Amazon and lose money on gear that's supposed to last forever?