Hold on, let me play the other side here. Rushing is part of the job when you got ten other calls waiting, and some of us learn that the hard way. Swapping that limit switch was the logical first step, and honestly, checking the brake release every single time would add ten minutes to every callback. That adds up fast when you're billing by the job, not the hour. Maybe the real lesson is that these old Dover boards are too fragile and touchy, not that you skipped a step. The manufacturer built a system where one small mistake costs $1,800, and that's on them, not you. So yeah, you paid for that Saturday, but now you know exactly what that board can't handle, and that knowledge is worth something too.

Tbh I hear you, but I gotta disagree. I run a crew and we use cordless for framing, siding, the whole nine yards. Yeah, you gotta manage your batteries and have spares charged, but that's just part of the gig now. One job we did last summer, we were on a roof with zero outlets nearby, and the cordless route saved us hours of running extension cords up ladders. It ain't perfect, sure, but I'd take a modern 60v over dragging a cord around any day.

The real cost is the rework time, nobody counts that.

...and honestly I read a study a few years back from some university ag extension that basically said the same thing, that sealing compounds do more harm than good in most cases. I think the whole tree paint thing is leftover from like the 70s and 80s before we knew better about how trees heal. The only time Ive seen it actually matter is with those real sensitive species in specific regions, like you said with oak wilt. Otherwise I just tell people to make sure their cuts are smooth and angled right so water dont sit on them. Its hard to break old habits though, my dad still paints every cut he makes and I just let him do his thing.

Guess it depends on what you're trying to do with the brush. I've found that heating the poly brush up a bit in hot water before starting helps soften the bristles just enough to dig in better on the first pass without scratching. Saves me a couple of extra runs on heavy buildup. Also check the bristle density on the brush you're buying, some of the cheaper ones are too sparse and you end up chasing the same spot over and over.