Bought a cheap knock-off pouring shank and it cost me a whole day's work

So I was in a rush to finish a big bronze pour for a local art piece last month and my usual supplier was out of the good steel pouring shanks. I saw this one online for like half the price, figured how bad could it be, right? Big mistake. The thing was cast so poorly the threads were basically just suggestions, and it wouldn't seat right in the ladle. I spent three hours trying to get it to work before it finally gave out, dumping about 40 pounds of metal onto the floor. Not only did I ruin the pour, but I had to spend the rest of the day cleaning the spill and re-melting the scrap. Has anyone else had a tool fail that hard on them, and what brands do you actually trust for stuff like this?

3 comments

3 Comments

hannah_wright21d ago

Watched my buddy try to save cash on a knock-off bench grinder wheel. Thing exploded after two minutes, sent chunks flying across his garage. He only buys certified stuff now, the scare was real.

miajenkins1mo ago

Man, I feel that. Last year I tried to save a few bucks on a cheap angle grinder from a sketchy website. The thing literally caught fire on the third cut, just a little puff of smoke and then flames. Had to throw it in the shop sink. Now I just bite the bullet and get the name brand stuff from the local welding supply, even if it hurts the wallet. That kind of lesson sticks with you.

logan_owens141mo ago

Bro no way, same thing happened with a cheap drill I got online! Sparks started shooting out the vent like a 4th of July show, smelled like burnt plastic for a week. My buddy still gives me crap for it. Never again, man.