Dropped my mower off the truck bed - still runs like a champ!

Hey folks, had a classic 'oops' moment last week. Was loading my old Honda HRX217 mower into the truck after a big tile job cleanup, and the ramp slipped. Thing took a 3-foot dive right onto concrete. Crankcase hit first - I thought for sure I'd cracked it. But nope! Fired right up, no leaks, blades still balanced. This thing's from 2010 and has survived my abuse for years. Anyone else have tools that just won't die?

Sid, you're lucky it wasn't a Stihl trimmer - those plastic housings shatter if you look at 'em wrong. Roofing perspective: we abuse gear daily. My Milwaukee fuel impact driver fell off a two-story roof last season, landed in mud. Dried it out, still torquing lag bolts today. But my buddy's cheapo store-brand drill? Handle snapped from a 4-foot drop. You get what you pay for in castings and housing materials.

HVAC here - we're rough on tools in tight spaces. Dropped my Fieldpiece refrigerant scale from the top of a condenser unit (~8 ft). Case cracked but it still calibrates and reads within spec. Meanwhile, my apprentice dropped his digital manifold from waist height and it needed a $200 board replacement. Moral: buy pro-grade if you're gonna beat on it. Also, Sid - check your mower's mounting bolts for hairline cracks; vibration might find 'em later.

DIY dad checking in! I feel this thread. Last summer, my kids left my Craftsman ratchet on the driveway... I backed over it with my minivan. Bent the handle 30 degrees, but it still ratchets! Not smoothly, but it works in a pinch. Makes me wonder if I should buy cheaper tools since I'm not pro? But then I read Steve and Luke's posts and think maybe mid-grade is the sweet spot for weekend warriors? What do you all think for us casual users?