My apprentice borrowed my favorite bevel gauge and snapped the blade off

This happened last Tuesday on a job in Gary. I was setting up a header on a boiler drum and my green apprentice grabs my old Starrett bevel gauge out of my box without asking. He tries to yank it open like a pair of pliers and the locking nut was still tight. Snap! The blade cracked right at the pivot point. I was pissed but I kept my cool. I spent the next 20 minutes using a piece of scrap shim stock and a magnetic base to get my angle the old school way. It actually worked but it took twice as long. Has anyone else had to make a field repair on a busted tool and just had to roll with it?

2 comments

2 Comments

ericcraig2d ago

Respectfully disagree a bit here. I get being pissed but grabbing a guys tool without asking is a basic shop rule violation. Thats on him not the tool. You got a good apprentice who learned a hard lesson without you losing your temper. That repair with shim stock and a magnet shows real skill actually. I've fixed a lot of stuff in the field with baling wire and zip ties. Tools break. What matters is how you handle it and teach the kid right. Sounds like you did both.

shanec612d ago

Wait @ericcraig, doesn't showing a kid you can MacGyver a fix just encourage him to keep grabbing your tools next time?