Shop Mishap: Lessons from a Dropped Chisel

Had a mishap in the shop today. Dropped my favorite chisel and chipped the edge. Frustrating but also a good reminder about tool care.

What Happened

I left it too close to the edge of my bench. Knocked it off while reaching for something else. Hit the concrete floor edge-first.

Totally preventable. I know better than this.

The Damage

Small chip, maybe 1/16″ deep. Took about 20 minutes at the grinder and stones to get it back in shape. Could have been worse.

New Rule

I’m putting a magnetic strip on the wall behind my bench. Chisels go there when not in use. No more balancing them on the edge.

Also ordered some edge guards for storage. Should have done this years ago.

We all get careless sometimes. The key is learning from it before something more serious happens.