Trying to get a clean shoulder on a 3-inch knife took me a whole Saturday afternoon of grinding and re-heating before I realized my hammer face was slightly domed.

Has anyone else had a tool shape sneak up and ruin a simple job like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

That "couldn't see it just looking at it" part from @kim.charline is the worst. I had a similar thing with a cheap screwdriver I'd used for years. The tip was so worn it was basically round, and I spent an hour stripping a screw head before I noticed. It's always the tools you trust the most that get you.

kim.charlie24d ago

Man, that hits home. Spent an entire evening trying to figure out why my dovetails were coming out sloppy. Turns out my favorite old chisel had worn down so much it was slightly rounded at the edges, not square at all. Couldn't see it just looking at it, but it was wrecking every joint. Felt like a real idiot when I finally checked it with a square.