Players can craft almost every machine in Stardew Valley. "Machine" covers everything from oil makers to casks and preserve jars, and you get the recipes for crafting them from all sorts of places.
There's one exception to this rule: the 
Deconstructor. While other machines unlocked in Qi's Walnut Room also have recipes you can buy, the deconstructor is a one-of-a-kind device. The deconstructor isn't the most useful machine in Stardew Valley, but this limitation makes it the most expensive one to buy in large quantities.
Where to Buy a Deconstructor
Getting access to a deconstructor requires that you first complete several other milestones in the game.
- Complete the Community Center Bundles or the Joja Warehouse payments.
- Fix Willy's boat and get access to Ginger Island.
- Find 100 of the Golden Walnuts on the island to unlock the door to Qi's Walnut Room.
Once you manage all of that, you still need to complete at least one of Qi's challenges (also in the Walnut Room) and earn at least 20 Qi Gems. You can then buy a deconstructor from the Walnut Room shop. Luckily, 20 gems isn't a lot, and almost every Qi challenge will provide at least that many. You can also get Qi Gems by killing monsters in the dangerous version of the Mines.
How to Use a Deconstructor
The deconstructor lets you get something back from crafted items you no longer want or need. Maybe you simplified your truffle oil production line by adding a couple hoppers, or maybe you need fewer cheese presses because you're switching your barn over to pigs and sheep.
The first thing to know about the deconstructor is that you won't get all your items back. The game warns you in the description that it only provides you with the most expensive ingredient, not the whole list.
For instance, the iridium sprinkler costs one gold bar, one iridium bar, and one battery pack. The iridium bar is the most expensive ingredient, and so you'll get the iridium back, but not the gold or the battery. However, since a gate costs 10 wood to make, you'll get 10 wood back since it all qualifies as a single ingredient.
Something else to know is that you can only drop in items you can make in the crafting menu, and not all of them qualify. You can deconstruct a field snack, but not a life elixir or any of the rings. On the other hand, you can also deconstruct items you didn't make yourself, such as Community Center bundle rewards and bombs dropped by enemies.
The deconstructor isn't the most essential machine your farm needs, but it's a useful tool if you happen to have 20 Qi Gems burning a hole in your pocket.
Stardew Valley
- Released
- February 26, 2016
