← Back to context

Comment by sedawkgrep

2 months ago

I think the rule of thumb for non-professionals is:

Buy cheap and if you use it enough that it breaks, buy expensive the second time.

By following this rule you could easily end up with a tool that lasts forever but strips out all your screw heads.

  • Replace "breaks" with "fails to work as intended" then.

    A tool that doesn't break but does smell like a refinery or damages nearby electronics when used, gets strangely hot or inexplicably changes shape when idle, etc. should still be replaced.

  • I don't think that is how screws work. I really have a hard time seeing how the drill makes a difference with that. The bit you use, sure. How you use the drill, sure. Maybe if the drill has a completely messed up clutch maybe, but then the tool is not functional and you should return it.

  • I don't think anyone is asking you to stupidly follow the advice off a cliff. You're welcome to call "stripping all your screw heads" broken and take appropriate action.

All too often I've seen amateurs do this and thing think "don't blame the tool, I must be bad", when it really is the tool! A good craftsman never blames his tools is a reflection on the types of tool a craftsman has, not just the skill they have.