Threw away $90 on a power stretcher that couldn't handle commercial glue-down

I bought one of those cheap $90 power stretchers off Amazon last month thinking I saved a bundle. First real commercial glue-down job with heavy broadloom and that thing bent like a wet noodle. The head would not hold tension at all and the whole job took me twice as long because I kept stopping to readjust. I finally borrowed my buddy's Crain big boy stretcher and finished the rest in half a day. That cheap stretcher is now sitting in my garage collecting dust. Anyone else get burned by thinking you could save money on a power stretcher?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_tara3d ago

That cheap gear always lets you down on commercial jobs.

the_karen2d ago

Man, that really stings. I mean, we've all been there thinking we found a shortcut. There's nothing worse than a tool that just gives up on you mid-job like that, especially when you're already committed to the work. It's such a bummer because you think you're being smart with your money, but then it ends up costing you more in time and frustration. I have a similar story with a cheap knockoff knee kicker that just wouldn't stay put on a dense carpet. Eventually you just have to accept that some tools you just can't cheap out on. At least your buddy came through with the real deal, that's a lifesaver. That old stretcher might be a good paperweight or maybe something to hang on the wall as a reminder. It's a hard lesson but at least now you know for next time.