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Old timer told me to never trust a ladder from a garage sale

Found a $20 Werner at a yard sale in Tacoma last summer, looked barely used. Guy swore it was solid, but I ignored the cracked step rung because I wanted to save a buck. Third job up in a crawlspace, that rung gave out and I ate it hard onto a concrete floor. Sprained my wrist and had to take two weeks off. Anyone else learned this lesson the hard way with cheap gear?
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3 Comments
rose_clark81
Alright hold up, I gotta push back on this a little. Buying used gear isn't always a death sentence if you actually look it over yourself before you hand over the cash. I've grabbed plenty of stuff at yard sales including a ladder that's still going strong five years later. You said yourself you ignored a cracked rung because you were cheap, that's not the ladder's fault, that's you skipping the inspection. A little common sense goes a long way just give it a good shake, check for cracks or rust, and don't buy anything that looks sketchy. Not saying you're wrong about being careful, but plenty of us have gotten solid deals on ladders without getting hurt.
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wadejenkins
Learned that one with a used circular saw myself. Never again buying safety gear secondhand.
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rowan_ross
Buddy of mine went through a ladder rung and broke his ankle. Still limps.
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