My Pride and Joy--Ruined Tool

Craftsman 30 inch power lever bypass loppers
Yes, I love them and protect them.

I bought these in 1993 after the old loppers totally failed. The old loppers were missing one handle, so I had to stick a pipe on the metal part and try to keep it on while I lopped. I think I paid $35 for this pair, an exorbitant price for me when I was in school. But, I planned to only buy this one pair, ever. Plus, I did all my yard work. So, good tools were important.

 

 

Some days, you make mistakes. My mistake? I allowed other people to use them on my bushes. These are only meant to lop a 1 1/2 inch branch. I would come outdoors to find someone using these for a 3" branch. Sure, they will eventually hack it off but at what price to my equipment. Or, they would have the loppers around a limb and would be twisting the loppers in an attempt to remove the limb. I have had great shouting arguments with men, with me finally stomping off with my loppers clutched protectively to my chest. You are doing me no favor if you needlessly cost me money!

 

I can shift a car if I try long enough, but with damage to the transmission. So, men hate me shifting their cars, but my loppers are fair game. Unfair? What do you think?  

 

Now, when asked, I do not own loppers or a lawnmower or a yard rake. And, I have caught men leaving with my hand tools tucked into a pocket. It is not right to have to retrieve tools from someone you are paying who just did not bring tools or even from a friend who is doing me a favor.

 

Look at this below.

 



 See the nicks in the cutting blade?

 

Those actually can be seen as "holes" or indentations when I hold it up right. Oh, the loppers above  are sitting on a table that has plastic over it. But, it looks like a palm. Hmmm. Weird.

 

When Charlie and exbf put in a new little ac in a window for me, they needed to lop some errant wisteria so they asked for something to cut with. I mistakenly gave them the loppers and came back to find Charlie using all his gym-trained strength to cut wisteria wrapped around a dead 220 electric line hanging down and hidden by wisteria. Aaaack. I made him stop and told him why the loppers would not cut the wisteria.

 

Then, he and exbf decided the loppers would make a good prying tool. I shrieked, ran and snatched them up. I clutched them to my chest and retreated into the house, whining about the mistreatment. Soooo, these have a lifetime guarantee from Sears. But, they no longer make the double hinged ones.

 

I am so sad.

 

Other mistreatment of my loppers: I caught one person who had stabbed the blades into the ground so they he would have them handy. ???

 

Another, trying not to abuse the blade, stood the handles on the ground in a muddy place. I lay them flat on the ground when I need to lay them down if there is not a handy surface around to place them safely.

 

Am I just a pain in the @$$ to others when it comes to tools?

 

Every time I finish using my loppers, I bring them inside the house, clean the blade and apply WD40. I try so hard to not have to replace tools ruined from misuse or neglect. I do buy few tools, but they are quality tools.

 

Seriously, would you have a difficult time keeping my loppers unharmed? So you keep your tools safe and figure other folks' tools are there for abuse?

 

When anyone happens to see my loppers, the person eventually wants to borrow them for their own use at their home. My answer: "Meet me at Dollar General and I will buy you a  pair."  So far, no one has ever taken me up on that. But, I never have asked to borrow anything. EVER! I refuse offers to lend me things.

 

One friend had a 1/2 mile drive with privet hanging and scratching cars that drove on her driveway. Her creek was choked by privets. She drank and was not reliable with other people's things. Her own tools were in the rain because she "forgot" to bring them in. Would you trust her with your expensive loppers? She got over my denying her use of my loppers. She refused my offer of Dollar General loppers. Remember, these were $35 twenty years ago. What would they cost now?

 

I have been on the phone for two hours with Sears trying to get these lifetime-warranty loppers replaced, repaired. Or, sell me the part that is damaged.

 

Your turn

Am I too possessive? Do I care more for things than people? Am I selfish? Am I not a good friend? these are things people have said over the lopper debate.