That time my power hammer tried to walk off the shop floor

It was about eight years back, in my old garage shop in Tacoma. I was working on a big leaf spring project, really putting the heat to it, when the whole floor started shaking. I looked over and my 50 pound power hammer was literally hopping forward with every hit, creeping toward the open garage door. The lag bolts into the concrete floor had just... sheared right off. My heart jumped into my throat. I killed the power and threw a scrap 4x4 under the treadle to block it, then spent the next two hours drilling new holes with a rotary hammer, sweating through my shirt. I used bigger, thicker bolts that time, and poured a whole new pad of concrete around the base for good measure. It was a long, loud afternoon, but it taught me to check my anchor points way more often than I used to. Has anyone else had a big tool try to make a run for it?

3 comments

3 Comments

shah.olivia2mo ago

Honestly, a 50 pound hammer trying to sneak out the door is the most dramatic employee walkout I've ever heard of. Tbh, I'm just picturing it doing those little angry hops across the floor. Good call on the new concrete pad, I guess some tools just need a bigger timeout corner.

bettyhunt2mo agoProlific Poster

Ngl, do you think it was trying to join a union or just mad about the overtime?

sagesingh1mo ago

Man, my stapler once staged a full sit-in.