I get what you're saying about saving money, but I've had those cheap strippers slip and nick the copper on me before.

Man that's a rough one. A buddy of mine did something similar with a big compressor, spent like eight hundred bucks on some industrial unit because he thought he needed it for sandblasting... used it twice then realized his old pancake compressor ran his blast cabinet just fine for small parts. He ended up selling it at a loss a year later because it took up too much floor space and the electric bill jumped like crazy. The thing just sat there mocking him every time he walked past it. Sometimes the shiny new tool itch gets you good, especially when you're standing there in the store and the guy says it'll change your life. At least your plasma cutter actually paid for itself on that one job though, that's more than he can say.

Funny how life saves those little moments for when you're stuck doing nothing. It's like the universe knows you need a small win just to keep your sanity in rush hour traffic.

Honestly, I think the real problem is how people store the stuff. I used to toss tubes in the garage where it'd freeze and thaw and that kills the sealant way faster than air exposure. Keep it in a closet at room temp and even the expensive stuff lasts way longer.

Did that trick actually work for you later?