https://www.youtube.com/@thebuiltmechanic3455

Ben Stonington Power, 26 Main Street, Ashaway, RI (2026)

10/18/2026

I’m not gonna lie, this one hit hard.

Sunday night, scrolling through Facebook Marketplace, because, well, that’s what us guys do. And WHAM. Just like that, there it was.

The truck that started it all is being parted out.

A long time ago, there was a young man with a vision, a dream, and a desire to carry on a legacy. Funny thing is, none of it really happened on purpose.

It all started with a $500 truck.

It wasn’t pretty, wasn’t fancy, and certainly wasn’t anything special to look at. But that old Dodge helped turn a dream into reality.

Fast-forward all these years, and here we are. A growing business, a crew of employees who depend on it to support their families, customers who have become friends, and a community that has supported us every step of the way.

It’s crazy to think how much has changed and how far we’ve come.

To most people scrolling Marketplace, these are just a couple of rust free old truck doors.

To me, they’re a reminder of where it all began, the sacrifices made, the long days, and the dream that somehow became reality.

The truck may be getting parted out, but the legacy it helped build is still going strong.

Never forget where you came from. Sometimes the biggest dreams start with a $500 truck.

10/10/2026

A lot of you are probably looking at this picture thinking, “Okay, it’s just a father-son selfie.” And you’re right. That’s exactly what it is. 😂

But I thought it was pretty cool. Here I am wearing my Snap-on Tools hat, and my son is rocking his Snap-on shirt.

Now, if you’ve been around the mechanic world long enough, you know the running joke about Snap-on. Expensive tools, $20 a week for the rest of your life, and a tool truck that’s basically a mortgage on wheels. 😂

But let’s face it, they make some quality tools.

I’ve been turning wrenches long enough to have collected my fair share. Some were handed down through generations, some I bought myself, some my daughter bought when she worked alongside me in the shop, and now that kid number two is turning wrenches with me, he’s bought a few of his own.

I’ve always encouraged my kids to buy quality when they can. Buy something good, take care of it, and hopefully someday you’ll be handing it down yourself.

But I think what really gets the whole family is the Snap-on swag! 😂

Mom has claimed her own collection of screwdrivers over the years, along with some Snap-on socks. The kids have their shirts, hats, and whatever else they’ve managed to collect along the way.

And somewhere in my collection of pictures is one of all three of my kids when they were little, standing in front of my Snap-on toolbox. I’ll have to dig that one out, too.

It’s funny how something as simple as a tool brand can become part of the family memories.

So yeah, to most people, it’s just a father-son selfie.

But to me, it’s years of turning wrenches, raising kids around the shop, watching them grow up, and now getting to work alongside them.

Turns out, some of the best things I’ve collected over the years didn’t come off the tool truck. ❤️🔧

10/03/2026

Saturday evening, going through clothes—something we all have to do sooner or later. Me? Definitely on the later side. 😂

Tossed an old biker vest from my younger, wilder days into my oldest son’s room, sent a few other things in different directions, and then somewhere deep in the wardrobe I found these two.

I honestly can’t remember what season I hung them up and forgot about them. When it comes to tractors, mechanics are pretty picky about what they wear, and the Eisenhower jacket has always been a favorite—fits right for the job, light enough to wear in the shop, and tough enough to actually work in.

If this jacket and hat could write a book, they’d have some stories. Multiple houses, life before kids, then kids, different jobs, schools, teachers, instructors, and plenty of lessons along the way.

The “Ben” got added somewhere in the middle of it all. Stonington Power came much later, and I remember being pretty damn proud when that patch finally went on.

Anyways… I ended up keeping it. Probably doesn’t fit quite like it used to, but some things are harder to throw away than others.

09/24/2026

LET’S TALK ABOUT BUYING USED EQUIPMENT FOR A MINUTE, GUYS.

Every day I hear:

“Holy heck, that’s a lot of money to repair that. I could just go buy another used one.”

And then I ask, “Okay, but what are you actually buying?”

“Well, I see them on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist all the time. Runs great. Great condition. Looks brand new.”

Take a look at this generator.

Boy, she’s pretty, isn’t she? Fresh white paint. They didn’t miss much either — engine, hoses, wiring, fittings, alternator… just spray the whole damn thing white. 😂

And this picture is exactly why I tell people: a paint job doesn’t tell you what’s underneath it.

A lot of used equipment advertised as “great condition,” “well maintained,” or “ready to work” can be hiding a whole lot. You have no idea how it was maintained, what was repaired, what was ignored, or why somebody is really selling it.

Bring it to me after you buy it. I’ll write you a repair ticket on it. No problem.

Here’s the part people need to understand:

When deciding whether YOUR machine is worth repairing, stop comparing the repair cost to another unknown used machine on Marketplace.

If we take your machine, properly diagnose it, repair what’s wrong, service it, replace the worn parts and make it dependable again, you now know what you have.

That $800 Marketplace machine might only cost $800 today. That doesn’t mean it’s an $800 machine by the time you’re finished with it.

When deciding whether a repair makes sense, compare it to NEW replacement cost, because the whole point of repairing and maintaining your equipment is to bring the machine you already own back into dependable condition.

There’s a HUGE difference between “used” and “used, repaired and properly maintained.”

Take care of what you own. Maintain it. Fix it correctly.

More often than not, the best used machine you can buy is the one already sitting in your garage.

07/30/2026

Truly awesome. It’s easy to forget that what we see as our biggest problems are challenges that someone else would wish were their smallest.

The determination, creativity, and resilience some people show to overcome obstacles is nothing short of inspiring. This is a perfect reminder that attitude and perseverance can accomplish incredible things.

Absolutely love this story. And it’s pretty cool to see that a Grasshopper mower was involved in helping make it happen.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AyeT5ghUh/?mibextid=wwXIfr

07/20/2026

Every once in a while, something cool just falls into your lap.

I know there’s some people out there that actually enjoy what I’m showing you right now.

A scrap dealer stopped in front of the shop today and came in and said, “Hey, I’ve got some antique chainsaws. You wanna buy them?” I figured they’d be the normal cool old saws. Neat to look at, but nothing too crazy. So I said, “Sure, twenty bucks.”

He took the $20, walked out to the truck, and came back in with two that were about what I expected. Those were the twenty bucks I had in my head.

Then he stopped, smiled a little, and said, “You’ll like this one.”

He walked back out to the truck and came back carrying an old box that looked like it’d been sitting on a shelf longer than some of my employees have been alive. He told me, “The box was sealed when I found it.”

I opened it up, and there it was.

A Dayton Model 2Z573A 14” chainsaw. All original. Never run. Owner’s manual, paperwork, bar, chain, the whole nine yards. It’s about as close to a time capsule as you’re going to find.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit I’m usually more excited about the machines that go back to work than the ones that sit on shelves, but this one’s different. It’s a cool piece of history, and sometimes preserving something is just as important as fixing it.

So this one isn’t getting sold, isn’t getting fueled up, and isn’t getting put to work.

It’s staying right here at the shop.

Want to see it for yourself? Stop in and take a look. I have a feeling there are a few of you out there that’ll appreciate this one as much as I do.

* Ben
Stonington Power

07/19/2026

There are some things in life you just don’t have the heart to say.

This one, my oldest son, probably takes after me a little more than I’d like to admit. He found what I believe used to be a wood chipper and proceeded to push it home from up the street. Not a hundred yards. Not around the corner. About half a mile.

He’s absolutely convinced he’s going to make it run and work again.

I didn’t have the heart to tell him the truth.

Truth is, I think a long time ago, that was probably me. Seeing potential where everyone else saw scrap. Dragging home things that had no business coming home. Convinced that with enough time, enough stubbornness, and a few tools, anything could be brought back to life.

Sometimes it can. Sometimes it can’t.

But I’ve learned over the years that it’s not really about the machine anyway. It’s about curiosity, determination, and believing you can figure something out. Those are worth hanging onto.

So for now, I’ll let him dream a little. And who knows? Maybe he’ll surprise me.

After all, stranger things have happened in our shop. ❤️🔧

07/17/2026

People ask me all the time how many hours I work. Truth is, today started at 5:30 this morning. Engine replacements, trying to get a w**d eater back to life, calming down an angry customer, paying vendors, putting out fires all day long. Just another day of running a small business.

A lot of people would say my day doesn’t end until 11 o’clock tonight when I finally stop answering texts, emails, and thinking about tomorrow. But they’re wrong.

My day ended at 6:15 when I walked through the door.

I grabbed Mr. Grump, hung out with him for a while and his three siblings, checked out my brother’s new truck, and ended up asleep on the porch swing.

That’s when my day was over.

Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do. I love this business, and I’m thankful for every customer that walks through our doors. But businesses will take every minute you’ve got if you let them.

Twenty years from now, nobody is going to care how many engines I replaced or how many vendors I paid today. My kids aren’t going to remember if I answered one more email or took one more phone call. They’re going to remember catching frogs in the yard, climbing on dad, and finding me snoring on the porch swing after a long day.

So, do I live for the hours I work? No.

Truth be told, I think I live for Mr. Grump and his three siblings.

07/03/2026

Well folks, we’re turning the boys loose at noon today so they can get out and celebrate Independence Day with their families.

We hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth of July. Enjoy the cookouts, the time with family and friends, and celebrate the freedoms we sometimes take for granted.

Y’all be safe out there. Don’t pop too many fireworks, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do… now, you hear me? 😄

Happy Independence Day, America! 🇺🇸 God bless the USA.

06/28/2026

Trying to make the boat run part 3

Ben Stonington Power

10/18/2026

10/10/2026

10/03/2026

09/24/2026

07/30/2026

07/20/2026

07/19/2026

07/17/2026

07/03/2026

06/28/2026

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