Power stretcher broke mid job on a big living room yesterday

I was wrestling a 12x15 room in a split level house out in the suburbs. Hit a tricky corner near the fireplace and the handle just snapped clean off the frame. Plastic piece gave way near the adjustment knob and I had to finish the whole stretch with a knee kicker. Has anyone had a decent run with the steel framed stretchers or should I just go back to renting one from Home Depot?

2 comments

2 Comments

abby_martin289d ago

Broke a power stretcher mid job? Been there. I snapped the handle off mine trying to stretch carpet in a weird closet corner and spent the rest of the day using a knee kicker too. My knees were screaming by the end. Switched to a steel frame one from a used tool shop and it's held up fine so far, though it's heavier and a pain to lug around. Better than plastic junk though.

richardrodriguez8d ago

Totally feel you on that, I had the same thing happen with a plastic handle on a Friday job and it snapped clean off. Spent the whole weekend hobbling around with a knee kicker too and my back was wrecked for like a week. The steel ones are heavy but at least they don't leave you stranded mid stretch.