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My shop manager insists on old school methods, but I think we need to adapt.
Sticking to only hand tools slows us down when electric saws could help.
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nancy_king297mo ago
Honestly, everyone focuses on speed, but what about WORKER fatigue? Hand tools can cause way more strain over time. That leads to more sick days and even long-term injuries. Younger staff might leave if they feel the shop is stuck in the past. Adapting isn't just about being faster, it's about taking care of your team. That's a huge cost people don't always see.
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henry_fox7mo ago
Totally get where you're coming from. In my last job, we faced the same push for old school tools. We started tracking how long jobs took with hand tools versus electric ones. The time saved was huge, and folks had less pain after shifts. Showing those hard numbers to management finally got them to update some equipment.
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troy3947mo ago
My old foreman had us using manual miter saws for trim work, and I once cut a board so crooked it looked like a question mark. Took me twice as long to fix it as the whole cut should've taken. That kind of fatigue makes you sloppy, and sloppy costs way more than a new tool. It's not just about being faster, it's about not wasting material and redoing work. A tired crew is an expensive crew, even if the tools seem cheaper upfront.
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felixmoore7mo ago
Can we talk about how hand tools and tired hands make for comedy gold? @rowan_barnes might recall the 'good old days,' but my shaky cuts were anything but good. Last week I botched a simple joint because my grip was shot from manual sanding. That kind of error costs more in time and materials than any new tool would.
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