My post driver's handle snapped clean off on a job in Springfield last Friday

I was setting a 4x4 for a cedar fence, gave it a good solid whack, and the whole wooden handle just split in two. Had to run to the hardware store and buy a replacement handle for about 25 bucks, which set me back an hour. I've had that driver for maybe five years, so I guess it was just worn out. What's the best way to check your tools for this kind of wear before it happens on site?

3 comments

3 Comments

nancycooper20d ago

That five year lifespan is pretty good for a wooden handle. I mean, the main thing to check is for any small cracks or splinters starting near the head. Once you see those little stress lines, it's basically on borrowed time.

tara79320d ago

Forget the handle, check where you store it. My uncle kept his in a damp shed and the wood swelled up weird. Nancycooper is right about cracks, but moisture messes with the glue too.

sarah_patel2520d ago

Check the handle every time you grab it, like a weird little ritual. I learned that after mine broke and I had to finish a job with what felt like a metal stump. Nancy's right about those little cracks being a death sentence.