Ever let someone borrow your tools and they abuse them?

[mrstrictlygm]

I used to work at a GM dealership a few years back, and will never forget the day I let a co-worker borrow my brand new 3/8" drive full polish chrome ratchet, only to find him later using it as a hammer trying to get a bolt out! Never let him borrow anything else of mine after that. Just the other day my boss asked if he could borrow my 1/2" drive IR impact gun, let him borrow it and later found a whole bunch on indents on the back side of it like he had used it to pound out a bolt or something. WTF! I know when I borrow somebody else's stuff I respect it and treat it as if It were my own.

 

[HandyManny]

My philosophy - screw me once shame on you, screw me twice shame on me.

I only loan tools to people I've come to observe as responsible people. I may bang up my own stuff, but I sure as hell would never think of doing that to someone elses stuff I borrow.

 

[american lockpicker]

Yeah its happened to me a few times so I rarely loan out my stuff now.

 

[IDidntDoIt]

Some people don't bring them back at all. Some people will bring them back damaged or missing pieces. These days I have more tools and they're more expensive. If someone wants to borrow them they're going to pay a deposit for each tool. If they don't bring them back in the exact condition, too bad, the deposit is mine, and I'll go buy a replacement. That will deter them from wanting to borrow them, they can just go to autozone instead.

 

[laskt9]

i dont have a locking cart currently (until monday) and my tools constantly go missing and end up in one guys tool box, often covered in grease or new scratches. last night i got a text from another coworker after i clocked out saying he left one of my sockets in someones car. talk about a ****** end to my night. talked to my boss today and he told me to write down everything thats either missing or messed up and hed buy me new ones.

 

[humber2]

Two things never to lend, not even to your best mate.

1, Your missus
2, Your chainsaw

-because they'll both come back in the same condition.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I don't know what is is about my Honda Pressure washer, but I will never lend it out again to anyone...The first time I lent it out my buddy left it out in the rain and when he gave it back he actually hack sawed the hose fitting off because he couldn't get the house off...WTF?....The next time I lent it out (To a very manly woman who knew everything) called me up and told me that mysteriously it wouldn't start..I walk over to her house and open up the oil plug (kind that you basically add till it starts flowing out) and about two quarts of oil comes gushing out..I asked her how why and how was she able to add so much oil without it spilling out? She replied, "I had to till it to the otherside." I then asked her why she did that without calling me first..She said "I didn't want to bother you." I told her what bothers me is when someone ruins my $700 pressure washer without checking with me first...Turns out the problem was she put the kill switch in the off position and forgot about it...

 

[Roots]

I was working with someone in a confined space, where we were both doing similar work but from opposite sides. I kept finishing significantly sooner, when I realized he was using a ratchet to tighten down the bolts. I lent him my battery operated Hilti impact, to help him out.

I than see him jamming it into the small openings, rather than finessing it in with extensions... and throwing it on the ground next to him when he was finished with each bolt, rather than setting it down.

I took it back and never lent him a tool again. It still irks me every time I look at it and see all of the gouges in the rubber shell, from his abuse.

I still believe, until proven otherwise, if you can lend a coworker a tool to make them more efficient, provide a better quality level, or make their work easier... I'm going to. Until, that trust is broke.

I might think different though if I was in a shop environment and an individual didn't have the tool, because they didn't want to buy one, or were in competition for the next job with me.

 

[HandyManny]

What bothers the living hell out of me are those moochers with the menality of: Why should I spend my money to buy something if I can just borrow yours

I hate to hate, but I really hate that.

I understand that not everyone is going to own everything nor should they. I'll loan stuff that I wouldn't expect someone to buy when it's something they may use once or twice. But every guy making a living using tools should have the basics covered.

 

[franzdom]

The question should be "Ever let someone borrow your tools and they don't abuse them?"

 

[TAMPAGT07]

What bothers the living hell out of me are those moochers with the menality of: Why should I spend my money to buy something if I can just borrow yours

I used to have a neighbor that was a commerciial pilot (Making $200,000 a year) who would come over and borrow things like brushes, rakes, shovels,etc...Just basic stuff that my elderly aunt had in her basement..He moved away and IO never spoke to him again...I really don't need "Friends" who will just use you for what you have, as simple as they are..

 

[2manytoyz]

I will help family or friends with projects, or even do some projects for them, but I'm not loaning tools.

I've loaned stuff in the past. Been burned. Just not worth it to me anymore. I never ask to borrow anyone else's tools.

If ya don't own it, go buy one for yourself. You'll need it again sometime. If not, go rent one. "YOU" can't afford to rent mine.

 

[Tim Kennedy]

We've all been there - when I first started buying tools [a long time ago....] - I bought the best I could afford. Loaned a brand new Bosch sawzall to a relative of my wife - I emphasize -- brand new -- never used - [with new blades no less] had bought it at the right price knowing someday I would need it. Get it back several weeks later - never thought to look inside the metal box it came in -- 2 weeks later I finally need it. Open the box & couldn't believe it - 3 of the new blades were bent into an "S" shape & 2 were broke in half + the tool was covered in debris from using it & inside the box was filthy too --- WTF!!! What an ignorant f***king thing to do - at least the cheap ******* could have bought a package of blades. I have never & would never return something I borrowed in a condition like that - it still pisses me off 20 years later! Needless to say he is off my list of people I lend things to. What a ****.

 

[ActAppalled]

I have people at work that I know never to lend tools to. Most of the guys think that a ratchet should double as a hammer and a pry bar. When production employees start asking to borrow tools, I know to ask some questions. Usually it's to fix something before anyone else realizes they broke it.

 

[oldtools]

That's why I only loan out my cheap tools (HF and CM).

 

[thooks]

"Yeah, that new ratchet I just got is broken, I need to send it back"

"My impact gun is broke. See if ____________ has his."

"ALL of my wrenches were stolen yesterday. The cops just left from taking the report, you didn't hear?"

 

[mypov]

I don't get how people can even think to use a ratchet as a hammer!!! Doesn't remotely resemble a hammer, is smooth, shiny, and almost beautiful.

If and when I lend out my ratchets I usually explain that if it is used as a hammer they are giving me express position to pound their significant other. Have yet to lend a ratchet to a women, I suppose that express permission wouldn't be as beneficial.

Try to lend tools as little as possible, will to friends and people I trust, I just wish common sense was common, and respect for other peoples property.

 

[Jwrightkustomz]

I bought 2 stickers, one for my cart and one for one of the guys I work with. They say "KEEP YOUR **** BEATERS OFF MY TOOLS" He put it under is other sticker on his box that says: "K.Y.F.H.O." ......




KEEP YOUR F****** HANDS OFF


I never loan tools or cars or anything for that matter. They always come back empty, scratched, dirty and smelling funny.

 

[mudflap]

The shop i work in, there are 5 other guys besides myself. I have been working with 2 of them for 20 yrs, the other 3 for over 15yrs. They are all good guys,we dont have to lock our boxes, and if i do borrow a tool, i treat it as if it were mine. I guess im lucky to be working with guys i consider to be family.

 

[bigboytim]

One time I let someone borrow a couple nice drills and I never seen them again. I learned my lesson to never lend anything out after that.

 

[IDidntDoIt]

I'd rather just do the work they're trying to do than to let them borrow my tools to do it; but they'd have to pay me for it. 9 out of 10 "friends" are only my friends so they can use my stuff and pick my brain when they can't figure something out. Other than that I never see them.

 

[woody 73]

My philosophy - screw me once shame on you, screw me twice shame on me.

I only loan tools to people I've come to observe as responsible people. I may bang up my own stuff, but I sure as hell would never think of doing that to someone elses stuff I borrow.

I like the sound of this!

 

[trboxman]

"Yeah, that new ratchet I just got is broken, I need to send it back"

"My impact gun is broke. See if ____________ has his."

"ALL of my wrenches were stolen yesterday. The cops just left from taking the report, you didn't hear?"

This is what I tell neighbors who ask: "I'm sorry, but no, I don't loan tools to anyone. Is there something you're doing that I can help you with?"

 

[bacpacker]

My dad and I borrow from each other, mostly me from him. I wouldn't think of taking anything back to him damage, dirty of messed up in any way.
I used to work at a Datsun dealership and found out quick that you don't want to loan out anything you wanted back to use yourself.

 

[Monte]

I used to work at a GM dealership a few years back, and will never forget the day I let a co-worker borrow my brand new 3/8" drive full polish chrome ratchet, only to find him later using it as a hammer trying to get a bolt out! Never let him borrow anything else of mine after that. Just the other day my boss asked if he could borrow my 1/2" drive IR impact gun, let him borrow it and later found a whole bunch on indents on the back side of it like he had used it to pound out a bolt or something. WTF! I know when I borrow somebody else's stuff I respect it and treat it as if It were my own.

Remember: Tools are no flatware

 

[Big Gus]

...If ya don't own it, go buy one for yourself. You'll need it again sometime. If not, go rent one. "YOU" can't afford to rent mine.

^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^

As a rule, my list of people who I allow to borrow tools is extremely small. Most of the time if I lend out a tool, I go with it. **** doesn't end up broken or beat to hell this way.

I just recently purchased a brand new Boschhammer and I guarantee I won't be lending it out to anyone!

 

[sselander]

One of my older neighbors was driving up and down the street a couple months ago asking if people had a certain size metric socket. I offered my help and realized he was trying to loosen a spare tire mounted on the rear of a Japanese vehicle. I offered up my Harbor Freight metric lug nut wrench and wound up selling it to him for a reasonable price.
No big deal for me since I use a breaker bar and socket for my cars. The metric lug nut wrench was something I got just to have.

 

[WR250F]

Only once, a long time ago

Now, I don't loan tools - period.

I used to, about 30 years ago, but had my ONLY ratchet trashed all to hell. I got it back Sunday night after everything was closed and I used it daily for work.

I was late for work Monday morning, got my *** chewed and was out a ratchet.

It pisses some people off who ask to borrow a tool and get a response of NO, but, I usually try and recommend one they can buy cheap, or send them to Auto Zone who will rent/loan tools with a small deposit.

 

[HandyManny]

I used to have a neighbor that was a commerciial pilot (Making $200,000 a year) who would come over and borrow things like brushes, rakes, shovels,etc...Just basic stuff that my elderly aunt had in her basement..He moved away and IO never spoke to him again...I really don't need "Friends" who will just use you for what you have, as simple as they are..

Yeah I hate that too. I don't consider people like that friends. I'm a pilot too and flew professionally for 30+ years (bush, air carrier, etc), so let me just say not all of us are like that.

I've had neighbors before who always were willing to talk and act like I was their best friend when they needed something fixed or needed advice on how to fix/build/repair something. They were all polite when they needed a certain tool they weren't willing to buy. But when they had no use for anything of mine I simply wan't even good enough to even say hello too. Sad how some people are.

I'm willing to help most people out, but I've learned that some people can be very unappreciative and real advantageous.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I've had neighbors before who always were willing to talk and act like I was their best friend when they needed something fixed or needed advice on how to fix/build/repair something. They were all polite when they needed a certain tool they weren't willing to buy. But when they had no use for anything of mine I simply wan't even good enough to even say hello too. Sad how some people are.

Jeez, I wish I had neighbors like that...The problem is I still do...

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

Put some stickers on the box.

 

[IDidntDoIt]

gotta have those stickers. where do you get them?

 

[nit2wn]

I've gotten more careful about who and what I lend. I had a electric pressure washer that had been used maybe 3 times to hose a 4 wheeler off brought back pouring water out of it. FIL borrowed my fairly new [3 months maybe] truck to haul some bags of cement and dragged them across the tailgate. The truck had a bed mat in it, I didn't have the tailgate covered though. I was livid about that for a while. I like to keep my vehicles as nice as I can. My neighbor borrowed my hand truck, claimed he left it beside my garage when done, but I never saw it or got it back. He offered to pay for it, which is nice, but I made him help me unload a HF 56'' box off my F250 and called it even. I try to buy good tools and not cheap out. So when someone ruins them, they better be willing to replace/repair them, vehicles included.

 

[nit2wn]

+1 one the stickers too.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

gotta have those stickers. where do you get them?

eBay. "tool box decal" "tool box stickers" you get the idea.

 

[-Brent-]

It's not even others borrowing. I think it's more like no one will respect your property as much as you do.

I had some help at my house, not too long ago, and of course we used my tools. I felt anxious watching how the stuff was being treated, tossed onto the ground, stepped on, etc. I keep a tool bucket with the appropriate tools with me when doing a job away from the box and he never noticed me using something and then putting it back.

I think the tipping point, oddly, was using my work gloves while I was grabbing us lunch and came back to see a huge gob of silicon all over the palm and fingers of a glove. I haven't asked him back to help and haven't allowed him to borrow any tool he's asked for since then. I work too hard for (and WITH) those tools to let them be ruined by someone who has lesser priorities.

 

[hammergodthor]

Changing the topic when asked about lending a tool can be useful too. Oh really? What job did you get? Have you tried... blah, blah, blah...

If that doesn't work, HF to the rescue. Unless its somebody I can trust, on my current shift I lucked out with some good people.

 

[Lomotil]

Never. Never. Never.

I don't mind helping someone out with their project, but never let them borrow a tool, or anything for that matter. I can't believe how careless some people are with their possessions, like loaning their car to someone without a second thought - then this same person wants to borrow my air compressor to run a nailgun to fix his roof? Ha!

There are only two people that I will make an exception for (tool-wise.) My father, and one neighbor. Both respect tools, use them for their intended purpose, and would do the same for me.

Personally, I would rather buy a tool than ask to borrow one (unless it were in a severe pinch.)

 

[scylla]

I supervise several guys who really don't make much, which *****, but these days there isn't much I can do about their pay.
Anyway, they really can't afford the proper tools for the jobs I need done so instead of doing it myself I just buy them cheap HF tools. Filled a pretty good size box with cheapo tools.
Works out good for me. They can do the job and I can rest easy about my good stuff.

 

[-Brent-]

There are only two people that I will make an exception for (tool-wise.) My father, and one neighbor. Both respect tools, use them for their intended purpose, and would do the same for me.

I have a guy I'd trust. He's lent me his chain saw, twice. And after returning it the second time he commented how it came back running better than when he gave lent it to me. I make sure stuff like the bar oil is a new container and the chain is sharp. It makes an impression leaving something better than when I got it.

The last time I saw him he told me I "could borrow the saw anytime I wanted, it's like a free tune-up." I know, now, if he needed anything of mine, it'd be taken care of just as well.