I noticed that another recent thread was getting somewhat off topic so I decided to start a new thread dealing with that alternate topic, namely tool abuse.

personally I got taught very early to respect tools. Screwdrivers are screwdrivers, they are not designed or engineered to be chisels, dykes, generally, are meant to cut copper and other softer materials, they were not designed to cut or grab steel, doing so will damage the tool, even more expensive tools will wear out quicker if they are mistreated and used for things they're not intended for.

sometimes you will find that certain tools are usefull for other tasks that don't damage the tool. If the tool is worn out from normal use then I see no problem with using it for other things, if someone grabbed an old, bashed up, not useful for driving screws anymore screwdriver from my toolbox and used it as a chisel I would not have an issue with it (well, if they asked first and told me what they would be doing with it) if someone grabs my brand-new ten-in-one and starts hammering on something with it I'm not going to be very pleased.

I don't buy my own tools, my boss does, so I don't have a say in how he and others use them, but if my boss sees me cutting a bolt or screw with his new dykes or strippers he's not going to be happy, and I may find that tool coming out of my pay. I hate seeing my boss cutting a piece of MC with a pair of wire strippers because I know after a while I'm going to try and cut a piece of stranded with those strippers and those last couple strands *just*won't*cut* all the way.

now that I'm done ranting, what's your opinion on the whole matter ever have employees/coworkers/others beat your tools up? Anyone ever get yelled at for improperly using tools? Just make you mad when you see that guy cutting a piece of steel wire/nails/staples with their brand new Journeyman's and then wondering why they knick/get dull in only a few months?

P.S. if you ARE chiseling with an old screwdriver, you still MUST follow the same safety precautions as you would with a proper tool, ESPECIALLY EYE PROTECTION, I'll admit that I've done it and had chips of cement and rock and c*** fly in my eyes, it was STUPID and I'm lucky I never scratched hurt my eyes even a small scratch on the eyeball is not fun, is the one minute it takes to put on safety glasses worth wearing an eye patch for a couple weeks? or for the rest of your life?