Honestly, I had a similar moment with an old Stanley plane I picked up at a flea market. The thing was rusted and the blade was chipped, but after a few hours of cleaning and sharpening, it works better than any new one I've ever used. It's got that same vibe you're talking about, like it was built when people expected things to last longer than a couple seasons. Tbh, I think there's a whole world of that stuff out there, people just don't bother looking. Ngl, half the tools in my shed are older than I am and they still get the job done.

Honestly cinnamon gum is a solid pick. I tried that and it worked for a bit, but peppermint oil on my wrists actually kept me going longer. Ngl, the smell just hits different and wakes you right up.

I got a $12 heat gun from a hardware store once cause mine died mid project and it's still going three years later. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you get a fire hazard.

That bit about "boring details that would actually make the story check out" is exactly the thing I keep noticing everywhere. It's like when someone at work tells me they have a "secret source" for why a project is failing, but they can never name the source or show an email. People will hold onto these big dramatic stories because they fill a need, you know? They make the world feel more interesting or give the person a sense of being in the know, and asking for boring proof just ruins the fun for them. I've given up trying to change minds in those conversations, I just treat it like listening to someone's favorite movie plot and move on.

Ngl, I once used a crescent wrench on spark plugs and learned that lesson the hard way too.