So, I don't think this is asshole design, as much as it is a misunderstanding of the mechanics of how this type of blade actually works. I can't find a close-up pic of the blade, but from what I can tell it doesn't look like you'd actually be achieving anything by reversing it.
this post was submitted on 21 Mar 2025
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AssholeDesign
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This is a community for designs specifically crafted to make the experience worse for the user. This can be due to greed, apathy, laziness or just downright scumbaggery.
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The triangular blades come with two straight edges and one angled, serrated edges. The two straight edges work equally well front and back. The serrated edge only work as intended, like a chisel.
In fairness, there is one valid reason why the company would have chosen to make it impossible to reverse the blade: to avoid support calls and warranty claims from people trying to use the serrated edge the wrong way around.
Because if you think about it, they went out of their way to make the socket one-way: it would actually be cheaper to manufacture the notch on both sides than the way they made it on one side only. So they really did intend to ensure the blade can only be mounted one way.
But here's the thing: you have to be really, REALLY dumb to use the serrated edge in reverse and not realize it. It's completely obvious that the tool isn't working right, and there's something sharp sticking up instead of down on the glass. So I don't buy the idiot-proof anti-warranty-claims argument: I'm totally certain it is done to limit the life of the blades.
Although mind you, it's rather academic: when an edge is spent, I simply sharpen it with a fine belt on the belt sander and it's good for another few months anyway ๐ But of course, you need a belt sander if you want to do that.
I really feel like you place a lot of faith in the competence and observational skills of the public at large.
The one I have looks pretty much the same, but one of the edges is straight, one is concave and the last one is serrated. Maybe the concave edge is also designed to work only one way. If so, it makes sense to prevent the user from flipping it over.
At first I thought you meant it can't be rotated, but no it can be rotated, it just can't be flipped over.
If there's any kind of bevel to the blade or other non-symmetry, this makes sense. I mean, the carbide inserts on my jointer don't work when upside down.
All this said, I've used the same no-name brand of windshield scraper my entire life and I've never worn one out.
I actually have had an ice scraper blade wear out on me.
I ground it against the sidewalk until I got a straight edge again. Still use it 10 years later.
is a Kungs icescraper. It features replaceable blades. Great idea: when it's spent, just replace the triangular blade.
The problem is, you can only use 3 edges on one side of the blade. When they're spent, you can't use the 2 remaining usable edges on the other side (the third one is angled and serrated, and only work on one side).
This was clearly done for the purpose of selling more blades.
How are there 5 edges on a triangular object?
One of the six edges is angled, making the edge opposite of it unusable for scraping ice.
so five then?
Yes, 6 - 1 = 5
Ah. Thank you