Sports and Recreation
Swim Goggles Leak From Poor Fit and Fog Once the Coating Wears Away
Paying more buys better lenses and more durable anti-fog treatments. It does not buy a seal that fits your eye sockets, which is what stops leaks.
coatings and plating
7 articles
Watches and Jewelry
Every Time You Polish Sterling Silver, You Remove a Little Silver
Sterling silver darkens because it reacts with sulfur in the air. Storage slows it far more cheaply than cleaning, and every polish or dip removes a little metal.
Auto and Garage
Wax, Sealant or Ceramic: The Difference Is How Many Months It Lasts
All three protect paint and add gloss. What separates them is chemistry and durability — and the preparation underneath matters more than which one you apply.
Handmade and Gifts
Plated Jewelry Wears Through. The Only Question Is How Fast.
Three terms describe gold over another metal, and they differ by an order of magnitude in how much gold there actually is. Only one requires sterling silver underneath, and US minimums for the rest differ more than tenfold.
Outdoors and Fitness
Your Waterproof Jacket Did Not Leak. It Wetted Out.
The membrane almost never fails. What fails is the treatment on the outer fabric, and once that goes the jacket stops breathing and your own sweat condenses inside it.
Home and Kitchen
Cast Iron Is Not Hard to Season. It Is Hard to Heat Evenly.
Every cast iron guide is about seasoning. Almost nobody who gives up on a cast iron pan gave up because of seasoning — they gave up because of weight, or because the base never sat flat.
Home and Kitchen
A Non-Stick Pan Is a Consumable. Buy It Like One.
No non-stick coating is permanent, at any price. Once you accept that the pan is a consumable with a two-to-five year life, the buying decision changes completely.