I was watching a video on how to split logs using high quality steel wedges and a point they made really struck me: "Most people think the high quality wedges

I was watching a video on how to split logs using high quality steel wedges and a point they made really struck me: "Most people think the high quality wedges should be made out of hard, durable steel. That's actually the opposite of what you want. Hard steel wedges 'throw' chips when hit by a hammer. You want soft steel that deforms since that's safer. If you are wondering 'But doesn't that mean the wedge wears down over time?', yes it does. That's fine b/c wedges are considered consumables." The idea of an item being high quality AND consumable for safety/design reasons gave me a new appreciation for things like high quality pencils, paper etc: yes they are high quality and get used up but that's the point