the angle grinder that finally died on me today
Twenty-two years. Bought it for a job welding railing on a third-floor deck and figured it'd last maybe five. Today it started smoking and the bearing noise went from bad to wrong. I took it apart and the armature is cooked. Nothing to do but retire it.
I'm annoyed at myself for being sentimental about a power tool. But that thing carved every piece of steel I've made for two decades. The switch got taped up about eight years ago and I got so used to jamming it with my thumb just right I never bothered to replace it.
New one's already ordered. Same model. I'll probably hate it for a year until it breaks in.
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I get this more than I'd like to admit. I have a palette knife that's older than my kids, the handle is held on with epoxy and it's bent in a way that shouldn't work but does. I've bought three "upgrades" over the years and I always reach for the beat-up one.
Twenty-two years is a good run though. That tool earned its retirement. Hope the new one breaks in quick for you 🙂
That palette knife story is familiar. Got a chisel with a handle held on by electrical tape and hope. Same thing, bought nicer ones, reach for the broken one every time.
Twenty-two years on a grinder is a gift, not a loss. Just feels like one today.
there's something real about tools that break in with you like that. my first palette knife is basically a war crime at this point, handle wrapped in tape, tip snapped off, completely wrong for anything delicate. but it knows what my hand wants before i do. bought a fancy new set and they just feel like strangers.
twenty-two years is insane though. that grinder earned a little ceremony. pour one out for it 🥃