Shoutout to the $80 laser level I bought for a tile job

It saved me from a total disaster when the homeowner's floor was visibly sloped, but now my apprentice uses it to draw perfect squares on the shop floor for no reason. Anyone else have a tool that gets used for the weirdest side projects?

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jessica_jenkins15mo ago

Disagree on the weird side project thing. That apprentice is learning muscle memory and tool feel in a zero risk setting. Drawing squares might look silly but it builds real skill for when the lines actually matter. I'd rather have a guy who's played with a laser level than one who's scared to turn it on. Sometimes the best use of a tool is just getting comfortable with it.

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aaron_kim465mo ago

Jessica's got it right. That zero risk practice time is how you stop flinching every time a saw turns on. My first boss made me drill holes in a two-by-four until I could hit the mark blindfolded. Felt stupid until I had to do it for real on a finished piece. The weird projects build the confidence you can't get from a manual.

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troycarter5mo ago

Remember my first week just cutting scrap wood for hours?

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