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

[Dave-1]

Oh man @Noyade 

and a bunch more of :o's 

Soooo lucky Glad you were ok! But wow. 

Think you would win the cup for luckiest person of the year!

Dave

[Nailbag]

My Apple Watch goes off nearly daily with loud noise environment warnings and what level of potential hearing damage when exposed to it at x-amount of time. It's always a timely reminder I am wearing hearing protection. It's especially important to me as I am already 75% deaf and can't afford to lose any more.

Regards, Nailbag

[Dave-1]

Background noise and trying to hear someone speak is not my friend for exactly the same reason @Nailbag 

When we are young we never think of down the track lol Shaking my head at myself over loud industrial sounds and then doubling down going to concerts and "feeling" the music in front of the speakers.... Ugh and lol

Dave

[ricm]

Love the soap trick, will definitely try that. I get that a lot! 

[J-P]

@Dave-1 - another most important thing though not related to tools. Not wearing the right dirty shirts that you don’t care any more if stained or spilled over. I have ruined several after starting working with nice clothes and realizing it half way. Wifey would always yell while doing laundry “now this shirt also has a stain that is not going to leave”

the only thing that has changed is me doing the laundry 😀

[R4addZ]

Ok so an eye watering one. My first attempt at tiling a floor and cutting a tile to go round a door frame. Icouldn't see a way to clamp the tile while cutting it so held it! The angle grinder jumped and I still bear the scar to this day. Fortunately it grazed the surface and didn't damage things too bad. On the plus side the disk was so hot, it cauterized the wound as it caused it! Hence my now insistence on PPE!

[Dave-1]

@R4addZ 

Oh man..... ohhhh man So lucky id have gone and bought a lotto ticket! But yeah PPE is seriously essential. Far out. We need to listen to that little voice in our head that says "Is this ok? really?"

I almost did the same with a circular saw and the kickback... We are lucky and live to tell others the not so wise things.

Thank you and I am still cringing lol

Dave

[MitchellMc]

Some great conversations, everyone. A timely reminder of the importance of safety whilst completing those D.I.Y. projects. Here's a great guide on How to stay safe during D.I.Y projects.

Mitchell