Mistakes with tools that we have done?

Dave-1

I have just been wondering what is a mistake you have done with a tool. There have been a few new members concerned, maybe about using a tool or maybe breaking it. I for one can remember being extremely concerned when I first picked up a powered drill and then a whopping 300mm grinder! Practice, logic and taking it easy while wearing the right gear for the job in hand is what it came down to.

One of my recent mistakes (Yep we all do them ) I was using some timber screws to fasten the hardwood merbau boards to hardwood posts and I kept shearing the screws off.... I couldnt for the life of me figure out what I was doing wrong. It worked for me last time and I was "Sure" I was doing it the same this time....

Torque drill on the left with adjustable torque settings (speed) On the right an impact driver.

Ozito PXC 18V Cordless Drill and Impact Driver PX2PAK-500 - Kit

The mistake was made here.... I was using the impact driver to screw the timber screws in, I had predrilled and countersunk the holes but still every second screw would shear off. Went into Bunnings multiple times trying to figure it out. "Impact driver" verse Torque driver..... Impact think of chocka chocka chocka as the screw is driven in. Torque driver think of slowly accelerating your cars wheels. No wonder I was snapping the screws. Once I started using the torque drive (I notched the torque down 2 levels) no more snapped screws! They screwed in with that wind down sound

Powered Makita drill with a countersink drill attachment.

Old time trick to make it easier to screw the screws into the timber. Run the screw through some soap, works extremelly well.

Once I had figured out my mistake

So thats just one of my mistakes, what mistakes can you add to this pool of knowlege? Tempeted to tag some of us but lets see

dave

JacobZ

Hi @Dave-1,

Two that come to mind are the countless times I have squashed my thumb with a hammer and the time I managed to put a screw through the palm of my hand while trying to fix a jammed collated screw gun.

I still squash my thumb from time to time, but I'll never make the same mistake with a collated screw gun.

Jacob

Dave-1

Afternoon @JacobZ

Oh man.... cringing. Yeah thats one way to learn something....

Still cringing lol

Sledge hammer on hand I have done so many times when I was breaking up concrete for the gabion walls. Even ended up buying a cold chisel with a rubber disk around it (hand guard) Game changer that one.

Dave

Nailbag

Hi @Dave-1 this is an awesome topic and one I reckon is going to attract some funny (painful) stories.

I can share my pain with @JacobZ when 5mths ago I was working with a mate and hit his finger with a hammer for a nail he needed to hold. The very next day was payback and I hit my own finger but twice as hard when trying to drive a nail blindly behind something I was supporting on my own. My fingernail still not quite properly formed all these months later.

Then just last week when replacing a few weatherboards, I am embarrassed to admit that not only did I measure twice and cut it once wrong, but I then did it again with the old missed it by 100mm routine. 😫

Nailbag

Dave-1

Afternoon @Nailbag

hahahahhaha at the measure twice abnd cut wrong I did that with my carpenter mate and he picks up the 100mm too short piece and hold ity up to the frame, looks at me with a raised eybrow and then repeats it... two years ago and he still stirs me....

Oh man to the finger hit.... Now is that why your name is "Nailbag"?

Dave

Nailbag

No @Dave then it would be "Hammer" 🙄

Dave-1

@Nailbag

hahhahaha damn how did I mess that up!

Dave

Christine61

So far only the hammer and thumb and a couple of minor handsaw cuts when I’ve been tired or distracted. 🤞

The 100mm thing. Does anyone wonder if there were less mistakes in imperial measurement days? Or maybe there were errors we don’t make?
@Nailbag

Nailbag

Thats actually a pretty good point on the imperial measurement thought. It's so common an error @Christine61

Dave-1

Good Evening @Christine61

My errors with 100mm was generally I was rushing to get the timber cut for a job and "brainfail" moment

Dave