Finally saw those $30 masonry chisels from Harbor Freight snap on a blue stone after just 3 hits

I used to think cheap tools were fine for occasional use but that chisel broke in half on the third strike and dented my safety glasses, so has anyone else had a cheap tool fail in a dangerous way?

3 comments

3 Comments

lee.cora11d ago

lol I read on a DIY forum where a guy said his Harbor Freight chisel head flew off like a bullet and cracked his garage window. Same brand, same sudden snap. I heard those cheap chisels are made with lower grade steel that just cant handle hard stone like bluestone. It's scary how fast it happened to you too, especially with the glasses getting dented. I've started wondering if the savings are worth the risk of getting hurt or wrecking your tools. Definitely makes me think twice before grabbing the cheapest option next time.

cora81311d ago

Real cheap tools just aren't worth the risk with hard stone. You can't rely on low grade steel when you need precision and durability. Better to spend a little more upfront than deal with a broken window or worse later.

anthony_jackson3111d ago

Nah you're spot on, I've been wondering about that too. Like, is the steel actually just bad or are they not heat treating it right? I remember reading somewhere that cheap chisels can have hidden stress cracks from the forging process that you can't even see until they snap. Makes me wanna know if anyone has actually tested these things to figure out if they're straight up dangerous or just mediocre.