• pelya@lemmy.world
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      19 hours ago

      In Soviet Russia, all furniture was assembled by hammering wood screws. Then the assembled furniture was ripened for up to ten years in special humidity-controlled warehouses, allowing screws to expand and lock in place thanks to rusting. This required making screws from special-grade low-quality steel, and use extra-toxic glue for particle board planks so they would not rot. And still, only one in five assembled pieces of furniture did not have any rotten parts or fall into pieces when you attempted to take it home, making it even more luxurious. It is utterly impossible to repeat this level of craftsmanship in modern world.

      • Maxxie@piefed.blahaj.zone
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        18 hours ago

        “What’s with low grade steel, toxic glue and leaving it to rot in warehouse for a decade? Nah bro that’s a part of the process. Obviously bro. Слава советским инженерам, бро.”

      • saturn57@lemmy.world
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        11 hours ago

        all furniture was assembled by hammering wood screws

        This required making screws from special-grade low-quality steel

        Were they made of wood, steel, or both?

        • pelya@lemmy.world
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          11 hours ago

          It’s these things. Notice how the thread is smaller than the shaft. You always need to drill a pilot hole, otherwise the thread won’t bite into the wood. The thread is also pretty tight, so screwing it two-three times in the same hole is enough to strip the wood in the hole, so it can be pulled out with tweezers with almost no resistance. It’s also slotted, so if you press too hard your screwdriver will slip out. And if you screw too tightly, the head will rip off, because it’s a mild steel.

          Or you just hammer it in.