The waste in our bathroom basin was misbehaving - we'd push the rod down behind the taps and the plug wouldn't rise. Did some investigation
and the bit of metal that pushes the plug up was missing.
Now, you are mechanically minded folk - what metal would you use inside a mechanism that gets wet every so often? Stainless steel, or brass? Nope -
plated mild steel, which had eventually rusted through! Worked OK for a few years, then failed. 
Fortunately I had a length of stainless steel rod that was almost the right diameter so, with a bit of fettling, it all works properly again.
I hate blatant penny-pinching...
designed obsolescence :-(
personally, I prefer brass over stainless, but brass does wear and bend a bit more.
I suspect the best metal for this application might be bronze.
Carbon fibre surely! 
Made to a price.
I had it with taps these days. I simply don't care what they look like any more, I am just sick of replacing them. These days I go and find the most expensive well made tap that is reduced in a sale. Last tap I bought has a 15 year warranty and was 80% off in the sale and still cost me £50. Still going strong 3 years later but I have my doubts.
Everything is built to a price and the lowest price seems to be the target for everyone.
Currently got building work going on in the field next to our house. They're pile driving. Sat here waiting for the noise to stop and the house
to literally stop shaking. I'm certain things are going to fail due to the vibrations, already had a leaking toilet where a plastic part
connected to a rigid copper pipe has failed.
quote:
Originally posted by Irony
I had it with taps these days. I simply don't care what they look like any more, I am just sick of replacing them. These days I go and find the most expensive well made tap that is reduced in a sale. Last tap I bought has a 15 year warranty and was 80% off in the sale and still cost me £50. Still going strong 3 years later but I have my doubts.
