That cheap torch from the hardware store cost me a full day of work

I thought I was being smart saving $30 on a basic propane torch from Ace instead of getting the Smith brand one my buddy recommended. After 20 minutes of trying to get it to hold a steady flame on a 6-inch pipe, the regulator started sputtering and then just died. I lost almost a full shift waiting for a replacement and had to borrow a rig from a guy two bays over. The money I saved upfront got eaten up by the lost time and the gas I wasted. Has anyone else had a cheap tool backfire like this on a tight deadline?

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2 Comments

garcia.charles5mo ago

Did your buddy laugh when you finally told him? I had a friend who tried to save $40 on a cable puller and the handle snapped off halfway through a big ceiling job.

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wade_young865mo ago

Hold on, is snapping a handle really that big of a deal on a ceiling job? Seems like an easy fix if you've got a drill handy.

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