Ever broken a favorite tool?

[truckster]

Today I was building a shed and had to massage some plastic pieces into their proper place. I was using my Leatherman Wave's blade in a way it wasn't designed to work, and it cracked. It's still under warranty, but I was sad because it's the one I carried in Iraq. I wrote to Leatherman and let them know that, so I hope they'll refurbish mine instead of offering me an exchange.

My son was laughing at me all afternoon, because every couple of minutes I was reaching back to my hip to grab the Leatherman that wasn't there. My son said I had phantom limb syndrome...

[LockDoc]

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I dropped the Leatherman that I carried all the time I was on the fire department and broke one of the jaws off of it. I had it so long that it had been discontinued and they had to replace it. They sent the new one and my old one back. I had a friend tig weld the jaw back on it so I could put it in the display case with the rest of my FD Relics. I had dropped it many times before but this time I was straddling the window sill on the 4th floor of the training tower....

I hope you get your original one back.

LockDoc

[mongocanfly]

Maybe they'll fix you up...and thanks for your service..!!

[Ironhorse]

Not really a broken tool story but I did kind of wear one out. Many years ago in 1966 when I was a Junior in High School my best HS bud's Dad gave he and I both new Case "Folding Hunter" double bladed folding knives. About a 5 1/4'' blade for both blades. I carried that thing constantly, using it so many times but never abusing it. After many, many years of a lot of use the pins holding the blades and the end caps were worn and loose. The Walnut handle was worn badly from many years of being carried in a leather belt case or holster. I contacted the Case Knife Co. , told them of the worn condition and they advised me to send it to them for inspection and possible repair. Doing so I was wondering what sort of $$ I was looking at but wanted the knife refurbished. To my surprise when I received the knife back it had new pins, polished end caps, blades were tight again, polished and sharpened to a razor lie edge and new Walnut wooden handles. NO CHARGE at all! A letter from the company explained (at that time) ALL Case knives carried a LIFETIME no questions asked warranty. Now that is customer service. I still have the knife but rarely carry it any more. Too much sentimental value. One of my three boys will wind up with it I guess.

[yuccales]

Not a favorite tool, but a MUCH used tool in my shop. My Dayton magnifying lamp on my workbench. I over tightened the aluminum clamp and snapped it in half. Not happy with myself. "Never throw anything away" my dad used to say. Good quick fix!

[kingsolver72]

I have a Roberts tack hammer I use for carpet installations that I wore the wood handle off.
The hammer is metal with wood riveted to it. I’ve had it for 25 years or more.
I bought the last hammer of its kind about 10 years ago. They don’t make them anymore, like other tools I use for work. Most installers that see it ask me what I use it for.
I see if I can find the old hammer and post a picture.

[68C15]

Must...keep..it...family...friendly. Lol

I HAD a fixed blade knife I absolutely loved for Field dressing deer. Last fall I was splitting the breast bone and my knife snapped. Yes, I broke it. Stupid move on my part.

Two days later I hit up my SnapOn guy for warranty on it. No longer available. Grrrrr

That turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Now I have a new system. No gutting or splitting a rib cage open. I quarter it out right there one side at a time and put it on ice. Now I use a pair of boning knives, one a 5" folder and the other a semi-rigid 6" fixed.

[67C10Step]

Left my EDC Kershaw Leek (made in USA!) in my pocket and it opened up in the washer. Broke the tip off the blade. Kershaw replaced the blade for $10 and I was tickled.

Have my dad's old Case and sent it in for evaluation. Unfortunately, it was not repairable as they did not have the parts for it any longer. Back in the heirloom box.

Did not break it but I discovered my dremel tool would not work any longer. Have had that sucker about 20 years and sometimes it was just what I needed.

[truckster]

I heard back from Leatherman and they'll fix my Wave, so I'm shipping it off to them today. But I use the thing so much I couldn't be without it for 3-4 weeks they say it will take to turn it around, so I bought another one that should arrive in a few days. I have plenty of children to pass my tools on to, so it won't go to waste.

[kingsolver72]

Hammer on the left is the old hammer.
Probably not my favorite tool, but it’s one that I use most at work.

[Steeveedee]

Nothing wrong with that hammer! Find yourself a knife-making buddy and he'll re-scale it for you.

[kingsolver72]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Nothing wrong with that hammer! Find yourself a knife-making buddy and he'll re-scale it for you.

I thought about that but, I don’t know anyone that does that kind of thing. I could grind off the brass rivets and be good to go. I’ll get another 20 years use out of the other hammer.

[67C10Step]

Originally Posted by kingsolver72

I thought about that but, I don’t know anyone that does that kind of thing. I could grind off the brass rivets and be good to go. I’ll get another 20 years use out of the other hammer.

I'd bet you have a blade smith in your area or one that you could ship that hammer to for a re-scale. Way too cool to not refurbish it.

[Troy Sr]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Nothing wrong with that hammer! Find yourself a knife-making buddy and he'll re-scale it for you.

It will Hammer!!!!