Been swinging a cheap fiberglass handle from the hardware store for 14 months now. My old Estwing started cracking at the head after 6 months of daily use. Thought the cheap one would fall apart in a week. It hasn't. Weight is a bit off but it splits brick cleaner. Anyone else had a budget tool surprise them like that?
Watched a buddy buy a $12 Harbor Freight sledge just to beat on fence posts, and that thing is still going three years later while his name brand one sits in the shed with a loose head. Makes you wonder what we're actually paying for.