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My first boss swore by hand filing for fit-up. I found a power tool that does it in half the time.
He said it built character. I use a die grinder now for smooth edges. Much less elbow grease needed.
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christopher_rivera51mo ago
Character is overrated.
That old school mindset just holds people back. Your boss probably had sore arms for no good reason. Using a die grinder lets you focus on the actual work instead of fighting the material. People who complain about better tools are usually just mad they suffered for years.
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graysullivan1mo ago
@christopher_rivera5, not every old timer is just bitter about new tools. Some skills from hand work actually make you better with machines too. Calling it all suffering misses why people value that grind.
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shanewells1mo ago
Man, I used to roll my eyes at the whole 'character building' thing too... thought it was just old guys being stubborn. But then I had to fix a botched job where someone went straight to power tools without the basics. Seeing how they over-cut and messed up the angles made it click for me. That hand filing discipline gives you a feel for the material that translates even when you switch to a die grinder. Now I get why my old boss was so insistent... it's not about suffering, it's about building intuition. So yeah, the right tool saves time, but the old skills make sure you use it right.
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