evaw18•1mo ago

That time I showed up for a weld inspection with a rusty crescent wrench instead of my torque wrench

Back in 2018 I was still green and used to just grab whatever tool I had in the truck for underwater weld checks. I climbed down to 30 feet on a repair job off Port Fourchon and realized I packed a crescent wrench that was crusted with salt from the last gig. The client rep watched me try to torque a flange with that thing and just shook his head. Now I keep a dedicated inspection kit with a calibrated torque wrench and a labeled Pelican case. What dumb gear mistakes did you make when you first started?

4 comments

4 Comments

lunah121mo ago

Does it ever feel like half of adulting is just learning that having the right tool (or container, or form) actually matters more than being good at the thing? I swear my whole life got easier when I stopped grabbing "close enough" stuff.

alicemurphy1mo ago

That seems like a lot of drama for a rusty tool.

reese_lee91mo ago

Wait, wait - @lunah12 was defending having the right tools and you're calling THAT drama over a rusty tool? Lol I think you missed her whole point.

wade2501mo ago

@alicemurphy I actually don't see much drama here, just a guy sharing a rookie mistake we've all made. @lunah12 is right that having the right tool matters more than being good at the thing. My first year offshore I used a pipe wrench as a hammer on a valve assembly and cracked the casing. Now I keep a proper hammer in my kit like a normal person.