Warning about that cheap post hole digger from the big box store

I needed a new post hole digger last spring and grabbed one for about $60 from the local hardware chain... figured it would be fine for a few jobs. The second time I used it, the weld on the handle snapped clean off while I was working on a cedar fence line. I had to stop everything, drive back to town, and buy a proper one, which cost me another $120. All told, I wasted the $60 on the broken tool plus about three hours of lost work time. The job was for a regular client, and I looked pretty bad having to explain the delay. Now I just bite the bullet and buy the good stuff from the start, even if it hurts the wallet a little more upfront. Has anyone else had a tool fail on them at the worst possible moment?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_beth10d ago

My buddy had a cheap drill give out right in the middle of a kitchen cabinet install. Talk about a bad time, right?

calebhayes9d ago

Cheap tools fail, that's just how it goes. It's not like the cabinets are going anywhere. Grab another drill and finish the job.