Pro tip: My taping knife broke mid-job last Tuesday. What's your backup plan?

I was halfway through a basement remodel in Oak Park last week when my 12 inch taping knife snapped right at the handle. Cheap thing I bought two years ago finally gave out. I had to drive 20 minutes to the nearest supply house to grab a new one. Lost about an hour of work. Do you guys keep a spare on hand or just hope for the best?

3 comments

3 Comments

blairtaylor2mo ago

...and how many times has that handle broke on you before? I've had the same problem with those cheap stamped metal handles where the rivets just give out after a while. Do you think upgrading to a forged handle would've saved you that trip or is it just bad luck with that brand?

hernandez.finley1mo ago

Nah, I gotta push back on this one. I've got the same cheap stamped handles on three different tools and they've held up fine for years. The real issue is people over-torquing them or using them for stuff they weren't designed for. I've seen guys try to use a 4-inch handle to break loose a stuck bolt - that's not the handle's fault, that's user error. Forged handles are heavier and cost more, and unless you're a full time mechanic doing this every day, it's overkill. Save your money and just don't be a gorilla with your tools.

cora_scott772mo ago

Yeah, honestly I used to think a handle's a handle and you're wasting money on the fancy stuff. After having one snap on me at the worst possible time, I changed my tune pretty quick. A forged one would've definitely saved me that headache.