Seriously, what is it with them dying right before you need them? That's too weird to just be bad luck. Maybe they have a sixth sense for bad timing.

Learned that lesson the hard way myself. Had a cheap shank snap on a pouring cup once, sent iron everywhere. Now I grind the weld down on any new tool to check penetration before it sees heat. For ladles, the old school ones from a proper foundry supply are the only thing I trust. They cost more but the steel is thicker and the welds are solid.

Cool old coin" people are why we lose history.

Ever use a probe rod to check for hidden water pockets before you even break out the penetrometer?

Ever notice how we just stop complaining after a while? I get so tired of waiting on hold for an hour that I just give up and hang up. It feels like we're all too worn out to keep pushing for better.