[urban_winter]

If you want repairability then you can buy a Dualit. They are unreasonably expensive but very easy to fix. Mine is 25 years old. I replaced one of the elements a few years ago. It's held together with screws and bolts - totally user-repairable.

Fun project, nice write-up, but not solving a problem that needs to be solved.

[jalk]

I recently replaced the timer dial in a Dualit. Super easy since wires have crimped connectors. The replacement part could have been cheaper (~15% of new toaster)