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If You're in the Market for A Set of Stainless Steel Knives, Magnetic Blades Are the Way to Go
Readers Sound Off
By Design News Staff -- Design News, March 19, 2007
Steel Blades Make the Grade
In a recent edition of Design News, I followed the letters regarding the stainless knives (DN 12.11.06). If one is intending to purchase a set of these, take a small magnet along. If the blade is magnetic, it indicates a 400 grade. If it is not magnetic, it indicates a 300 grade. These 300 grades are austenitic, or non-hardenable, which would not hold an edge. The 400 grades have varying levels of chemistry, and one grade designated as 440 is the best quality for edges.
I read your magazine cover to cover, and enjoy your content and variety. Thanks.
Lee Fischer
Pittsburgh, PA
Let the Consumer Decide
About the article “I Killed the Electric Car,” (DN 01.08.07); I don’t know about Charles Murray’s situation, but I have more than one car for our family of four. In fact, we have three cars. I have used my car for several years now only for the purpose of commuting to work and trips to the nearby town of Williamsport. The car never runs more than 50 miles each day and never has more than two passengers (this is a fact for the last 10 years). For all our traveling, we use my wife’s car, a van (the third car belongs to my son). I would love to exchange my car for an electric one (if the industry would let me) for many reasons:
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The fuel prices (electric power is still cheaper these days)
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Maintenance (there is — and I think the movie made this point very clear — as good as no maintenance needs)
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Pollution (Zero emission from the car itself — yes I know, the power plant emits too, but I hope, in fact, I expect our country to implement more and more zero-emission power plants like solar or wind, at least these technologies — and you may even count nuclear power — are feasible on the basis of central power generation, not in transportation devices/small engines)
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Energy efficiency (if electric energy really is so “inefficient,” why do we all have so many electric-powered machines — and not fuel-powered ones?)
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Just to set an example
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To stick out (yes, some people buy things to impress others or just to show they are different)
Yes I know, driving my other cars would still pollute the air, etc., but I would at least knock the total down 30 percent or more and that’s a good start, right? What bugs me is that in this “free” country, I don’t even get the chance to make this decision! I didn’t even know about this wonderful car until the movie. It’s pretty useless to guess who would and would not buy a car like this unless you really offer it for sale and market it just like other cars and let it compete, not the way GM did it, with negative image and telling potential customers all the negatives. Just sell a car like this for what it really is: a very nice car for the purpose of commuting or short trips. There are other cars selling despite their limited purpose, like two-seated pick-up trucks for example. Who in the world would buy one (you can’t do a family trip in them because they only have two seats and your luggage sits outside in the rain … ) or big SUVs? Their fuel consumption makes you think twice to use them on your trip down to Florida.
But reality shows customers buy them anyway, and they have their place and purpose, just like the EV1.
P.S. — The necessary infrastructure is NOT the problem, as the example of California had proven (what’s more effort: installing some electrical outlets or building a network of hydrogen fuel stations??).
Holger Schult
Montoursville, PA
Avoid Outsourcing; Buy American
If you look at the label on all the items listed in the “Readers Sound Off” column, you will find one thing in common: “Made in China,” (DN 12.11.06). In an effort to cut costs, increase profits and increase “shareholder value,” companies are “outsourcing” everything these days. In my opinion, outsourcing is very shortsighted. You lose control of your product and usually end up with lower quality, albeit lower cost, merchandise. Sooner or later, the consumer is going to be disappointed, as is evident in several of the recent Readers Sound Off entries. I always look at the label and try to “buy American” even if it costs more, but it is getting harder and harder to find things made in the USA.
Mark L. Perry, P.E.
Kennesaw, GA
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