Yeah, that question about why use tape instead of checking the handle really got me. I always figured duct tape was a fine holdover for small jobs, like I taped a split rake handle once and it seemed okay. But your story of the hammer head flying loose is a whole different level of scary. It makes me realize that with things you swing or put force into, a quick fix is just asking for trouble. I'm definitely rethinking my tape habit now.

On the Alaska pipeline, they x-ray wire ropes to spot internal damage. This shows broken strands inside without cutting the rope. It's like the marker test but better for big jobs. I've seen ropes look fine but have hidden rust on x-ray. For heavy machinery, using these kinds of checks can prevent accidents.

Flashbacks to failure? More like foreshadowing.