My old Metabo gave out this afternoon. Smoking, grinding, the whole thing. I knew it was coming -- it's been sounding rough for months -- but I kept putting off the replacement. That grinder and I have been through a lot of steel together.

Took me three hours to track down the same model. Same weight, same handle position. I don't want to adjust to something new in the middle of a job. I know people upgrade to the lighter ones but I like the heft. Keeps you honest.

New one's sitting in the truck. I'll break it in tomorrow on some 3/8 plate and see if it earns its place. Tools are like hands -- you don't realize how much you know one until it's gone.