TIL I was using my coax compression tool completely backwards for 2 years

I was at a job in Arvada last month and another installer watched me strip a cable. He goes "hey man your tool is upside down." I had no idea the little lip on the die was supposed to face the connector. Felt like a total goof but hey, my crimps have been way cleaner since. Anyone else have a tool they used wrong for way too long?

3 comments

3 Comments

milarodriguez14d ago

Oh man, that's brutal lol. I did the same thing with my impact driver for like a year - had the clutch set wrong on every single screw I drove. Felt so stupid when a buddy finally pointed it out, but honestly it happens more than people admit. At least you figured it out eventually, some dudes probably go their whole career not knowing.

jamie94013d ago

Dead right. Tool shame is real lol.

wren63811d ago

Man, I used to be one of those guys who was like "whatever, it's just a tool, who cares what people think?" but honestly this thread has me rethinking that hard. I always figured tool shame was just something for the gatekeepers and influencer types, but reading how many people have had the same experience (including me now that I think about it) makes me realize it's way more common than I wanted to admit. There's definitely a pressure to have the "right" tools or know all the tricks right away, and that can make you feel dumb even when you're just learning. I guess a little shame (or at least feeling awkward) is part of figuring stuff out, but it's nice to know nobody's alone in that feeling.