That rusty old vise is a perfect example of what I've been telling my kids about tools. Jessica_dixon, you hit the nail on the head about that Stanley brace drill - my father in law gave me one from the 1940s and I use it more than my modern one for fine work. The metal just feels different, heavier and more solid, like they actually cared about making something that would last instead of just hitting a price point at the factory. Estate sales have become my Saturday morning routine now, and I've found complete tool sets from the 60s for less than the cost of a single cheap replacement part at the hardware store. It's not about being cheap, it's about respecting the craftsmanship that went into making these things in the first place.

idk, winging it feels more natural than memorizing questions.

That sounds more like you hit a wet rotted stump rather than actual clay. Old stumps that are rotten inside often turn into this dark, wet, almost muddy mess when you start grinding them. The belt jamming makes sense because that wet pulp is way heavier than dry wood and it clogs up the works fast. I've seen guys blame the machine when really the stump was just too far gone to grind cleanly. Next time poke a screwdriver or a long piece of rebar into the stump first if you're not sure - if it sinks in easy and comes out covered in that dark wet crud, you've got a rotten one on your hands.

Is it really that serious, or are people just overthinking dirt?

Espresso is forgiving" ... wow, completely disagree there.