Appropriate Mourning Period For A Tool?

[crokett]

I broke my tape measure this morning. It slipped off a joist I was measuring and somehow the first 16" of tape snapped off. The rest wound itself up inside. That was an old friend - it was one of the first tools I bought when I was putting together a setup after I bought my first house. It has seen me through many projects, not the least of which was my shop. My wife doesn't really understand.

[David D]

I can tell you that I would (and have had) have similar sentiments. I have an old Dremel tool that was a Christmas gift from my grandparents when I was about 12 (early 70's). It doesn't work very well any more, and has since been replaced with a newer one, but I can't bring myself to part with it. My grandparents have passed on, and my grandfather was a very significant influence in my life. He taught me to always use the right tool for the job, and constantly encouraged my interest in electronics and using my hands. Because of him, I have no fear or hesitation when it comes to tackling anything electrical, or mechanical. I still have every single tool that he gave me, all the way back to my first set of real tools that were given to me for my 8th Christmas. He may have passed on, but he still lives on in my tools.

[sweensdv]

Take it to the Tool Emergency Room(Hardware Store) and have a new tape refill transplanted into it. Or, have you already taken it off life support and buried it?

[Ed62]

I've had tools that I was glad to see die. You know, those you just can't throw away, but should. Most of the really good ones seem to have a longer life, but a longer grieving period.

Ed

[LCHIEN]

the better tape meaures you can replace the metal tape...
Kind of a heart transplant to keep the old friends around.

if you chose to. or you can pull life support and bury the old one and date a new, younger, more spritely TM for some new adventures (I'll be your wife understands that analogy).

[Uncle Cracker]

+1 on the replacement tape. In addition to getting your old friend back on line, of at least equal importance is getting your head right...

[gsmittle]

So far, no one's discussed the proper mourning period. I would suggest (once the tool is finally ready for the Great Hardware Store In The Sky) that the mourning period last as long as the trip to the store to replace it.

g.

[cabinetman]

The mourning period might be proportional to the ceremony commemorating its demise, such as throwing it across the shop.
.

[Bill Stock]

Depends on how much beer I have.

[phi1l]

It's hard for me to have much sympathy for a tape measure, is so fickle, & runs off so often. Then there are the times when it gives me the wrong measurement, even when I measure twice. I already have a replacement standing in the wings, from when it ran off about 5 years ago, & I needed something fast. Eventually, it showed up out in the garage. But, now in knows it can be replaced, & has behaved much better lately. I still don't trust it, though.

[sparkeyjames]

The mourning period of a broken tool begins at the time I realize that I cannot fix it or have it repaired at a reasonable cost. It lasts from that point until it lands in the bottom of the garbage can. All of less than a minute at most. My mind is then turned to replacing it.

[crokett]

I might look into a replacement tape for it. That tape measure has been through a lot with me. I got a new one today - had to so I could keep working. The new one is marked on both sides of the tape, has a magnetic tip -and- has a hook top and bottom on the tape.

[BobSch]

In my case the mourning period depends on the history of the tool. I've mentioned the saw horses I inherited from the man that was effectively my grandfather. They're over a century old and not as sturdy as they once were, but I'll never toss them, even though I've got a new set that I use on a day-to-day basis.

[cabinetman]

I might look into a replacement tape for it. That tape measure has been through a lot with me. I got a new one today - had to so I could keep working. The new one is marked on both sides of the tape, has a magnetic tip -and- has a hook top and bottom on the tape.

I heard there is one with calculator, cellphone, AM/FM radio, laser pointer, and pencil sharpener. It didn't have a Swiss Army knife.
.

[jking]

It's hard for me to have much sympathy for a tape measure, is so fickle, & runs off so often. Then there are the times when it gives me the wrong measurement, even when I measure twice. I already have a replacement standing in the wings, from when it ran off about 5 years ago, & I needed something fast. Eventually, it showed up out in the garage. But, now in knows it can be replaced, & has behaved much better lately. I still don't trust it, though.

Apparently, your tape measure has been sneaking out with mine...