The Tester Approves thread (see first post)

All the rubber type ones will be do the job

Because all the variations are designed to work in service conditions (speed, environment) which don't apply to bicycles

I can't seem to retrieve the most recent recommended/approved M515/M525 brake pads with the search function, can someone address this?

can someone address this?

Do you want somebody to address the root question, or your inability to find the answer?
The answer to the former is "whatevs", there are pros and cons to the main options (sintered or resin bonded) which you'll have to decide for yourself. OE Shimano pads are fine unless you think they aren't, in which case good quality aftermarket pads are what you need.
The answer to the latter is that I don't think the question has been addressed before, so there is nothing to find.

Understood.

Any tips for quality or best value aftermarket ones? I really don't want to spend the money to get Swissstops

Also, some people say you need to match pads with rotors manufacturers as much as possible, is that a thing?

Any tips for quality or best value aftermarket ones?

I've had success with Clarks, which are usually significantly cheaper than the OE Shimano ones.

some people say you need to match pads with rotors manufacturers as much as possible, is that a thing?

Not really, bicycle brakes are low tech and low performance. Nobody is actually getting any marginal gains by tweaking rotor composition, because they are buying their rotor material from commodity steel stockholders, not custom mills.

https://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/p7914/SKF-E260012ZC3-Energy-Efficient-Shielded-Deep-Groove-Ball-Bearing-12x28x8mm/product_info.html

These ones? Well... the cost of fancy bearings is pretty much what I was expecting to pay for regular bearings.

If they save me the 16seconds I was missing last night then it'll all be worth it.

#tartmode

p.s. Four4th have finally got their crappy bracket back in stock so one is now on it's way to me so I'll be asking for your address once it arrives 😀.

Apologies for the OT post, but my washing machine broke today after a relatively troubled seven years of service.

Could you tell me the @mdcc_tester household approved, freestanding washing machine please?

TIA

Lol.

Gonna guess Miele

The Hotpoint Aquarius range has served our family well, both the plain washer over at the parental and the washer/dryer here. History doesn't record exactly how long I've had mine (could easily be a decade, time flies), but the parental one is definitely well over 10 years old and the only trouble it's had is leaking at the hose connections, nothing inside the sheet metal has been touched.

Miele

Nice, but a bit pricey.

Built to last innit

Thank you, and very interesting. I will add Hotpoint Aquarius to the list

Also Hotpoint here. 8 years old. No problems. Recommend getting one with a bigger than standard drum also.

Miele

Nice, but a bit pricey.

Worth the money. At Jangle Towers we recently got a brand new machine from Miele, when we had a problem with our in its 10th Year. No quibble.

The new one can even be operated by mobile 'phone. We don't know why, and will never discover how, but good to know.

Miele are THE SHIT. Accept no compromise.
To get a good price buy one outside of London on eBay, then get delivery via Anyvan etc.
To get an extra good price buy one with a tiny fault and fix it yourself, loads of parts available

We had a Miele oven. The temperature dial broke - so when you turned it it changed the temperature but you didn’t know to what. Only Miele approved service people can get the spare parts and their basic fallout fee was £150.

We bought an oven thermometer for £5 and vowed to not buy Miele again. Then the dishwasher developed a fault and again no one could get parts unless they were a Miele approved engineer.

These were devices that were in our house when we bought it. But seem fucking expensive and then fucking expensive to fix.

Miele pricey but breaky

Our 10 year old Hotpoint washing machine went bork the other day but I managed to fix it with a hacksaw and a file #csb

that's because you have the brand new fancy ones. old ones are a piece of piss to repair yself.

10-15 year old ones

Anyway new kitchen is all neff. Had similar in the last kitchen we installed and all good.

fair enough. repaired a miele dishwasher and washing machine no problem myself.

their basic fallout fee was £150

So did you fall out with Miele?

I managed to fix it with a hacksaw and a file

The thinking man's hammer and duct tape

I'm sinking into a white goods black hole. I've got a John Lewis credit card coming soon with a £30 gift voucher bonus for spending £200+ at JL.

The Hotpoint Aquarius models seem cheap compared to the others.

Maybe I should just put the money towards launderette costs to take the decision out of my indecisive hands

Is there a tester approved vernier calipers that aren't super expensive? I need to measure the screw on a pair of sunglasses (as the other has gone missing, and they were designed by an independent who doesn't know what screw was used), as well as the usual bike stuff

Edit: will probably just buy these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Vernier-Caliper-Extra-Large-Resistant/dp/B07J5F3XW1/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=0.01+vernier+caliper&qid=1565195597&s=gateway&sr=8-7