ivan774•3mo agoProlific Poster

Bought a cheap knockoff tube expander from an online auction. Wasted $180 and a whole Saturday.

4 comments

4 Comments

Honestly calling it a total waste is a bit harsh. You got a tool for way under retail price and learned how it works, even if it broke. That's a cheap lesson compared to wrecking a good unit on your first try. A Saturday messing with tools is never really wasted time in my book. Sometimes the gamble on sketchy gear pays off big.

roberts.leo2mo ago

Ever try fixing something just to see if you can? That's the whole point with cheap project tools. You're not buying a finished product, you're buying a puzzle. If it works, you scored. If it breaks, you still learned how it's put together, which is knowledge you keep. Next time you spot a deal, you'll know what to look for and what to walk away from. That's way more useful than just having a shiny new tool you're scared to open up.

wendy8203mo ago

But what if you just end up with broken junk? Learning from a wrecked tool feels like a consolation prize, not a win. I'd rather start with something that works.

west.casey3mo agoTop Commenter

My buddy spent fifty bucks on a "project" chainsaw that was just a paperweight. He still talks about it like it was a good deal.