I had to learn … and I think most sensible people learn … the hard way.

I’ve broken several bolts over the years and now I torque wrench everything down to the 5lbf if I have to. It’s a real pain, especially if you start owning things that are 10, 20, 30 years old. The combination of aged metal that may have become weaker over time and use as well as the complication of finding the right part again (or a matching part) is just a huge headache.

I’d rather look like an uptight idiot torquing a tiny bolt than in being that guy looking for a bolt that either doesn’t exist anymore or is buried in a wrecking yard somewhere far away.