I noticed a couple weeks back that the handle was cracked on my 4 lb. engineer's hammer (my "little sledge"). Yesterday it finally split down the length. After some drilling and work with a punch I got the rest of the handle out and went to the Ace for a new handle. I expected there to be so little difference between the price of a handle and a whole new hammer that it just wouldn't be worth it to replace the handle. The handle was ~$7 while the new hammer was ~$15. I decided to go cheaper and I got the satisfaction of repairing my old tool myself. (I've yet to test it, so I don't know how I did.)
In April, I faced a similar situation with my splitting axe which has a "plastic" handle. I couldn't find an exact replacement for the handle locally, and I was not too sure about putting a wood handle on the splitting axe where I am more prone to miss and smack the handle on the log. The ratio of buying a handle only to all new tool was about the same, but I was in a hurry to get back to work so I opted to spend the extra and get an all new tool, theorizing that I could always repair the old one later (which I haven't) and then I'd have a spare for one of the boys to use.
So, do you always repair if possible? Always replace? Is it an opportunity to upgrade? Does it depend? On what?
In April, I faced a similar situation with my splitting axe which has a "plastic" handle. I couldn't find an exact replacement for the handle locally, and I was not too sure about putting a wood handle on the splitting axe where I am more prone to miss and smack the handle on the log. The ratio of buying a handle only to all new tool was about the same, but I was in a hurry to get back to work so I opted to spend the extra and get an all new tool, theorizing that I could always repair the old one later (which I haven't) and then I'd have a spare for one of the boys to use.
So, do you always repair if possible? Always replace? Is it an opportunity to upgrade? Does it depend? On what?