Appreciation post: the $20 digital angle finder I bought last year
Used to fight with a magnetic protractor on every miter cut. The digital one gives me a readout to a tenth of a degree and sticks to the saw base. Anyone have a good trick for keeping the battery from dying on a jobsite?
Honestly, that battery thing is the whole story with modern tools. We get this amazing tech that makes jobs way easier, but then we're just babysitting batteries all day. I keep a little plastic case in my bag with spare button cells for my digital level and laser measure. It feels like half of being good at a trade now is just logistics, keeping all the little electronic parts fed. What kind of battery does yours take?
You know what, I see it the other way. That little battery is the trade-off for a tool that saves me so much time and stress. I used to spend ten minutes fussing with a bubble level on a long run, now my digital one gives me a perfect read in seconds. I just toss a couple spare batteries in my pouch and forget about it. The hassle is tiny compared to the benefit.
It's the same with everything now, even my car key fob needs a special battery. We traded simple, reliable stuff for a bunch of tiny chores nobody asked for. The convenience comes with its own little list of things to manage.