Why you don't let friends borrow tools

[bagged89s10]

#1
So a month ago I went to look for one of my air ratchets to change a starter in my truck.
It's Missing.
There are only 4 friends that ever borrow tools and all say they don't have it.
So It's still missing. Luckily I have another air ratchet that I was able to use.
But it's still missing.

#2
I let my friend borrow my plasma cutter. I ask him to drop it off 2 weeks ago and doesn't drop it off. I need it to cut some steel brackets. WTF!

#3
Yesterday I was looking for my tap and die set.
It's Missing.

I'm pissed and no more allowing tool borrowing anymore.

I can go on and on but these are the 3 most recent incidents.

:rant



~Veeps

 

[Flivver250]

Never lend tools. Period. Don't borrow them also.

 

[bagged89s10]

Never lend tools. Period. Don't borrow them also.

Exactly. The only person I might borrow/loan a tool to/from now is my father. People just don't have the courtesy to return ****. And when they return it it's not in the same condition that it's in. I like to keep my tools clean after I use them so they last.

I just thought of another recent incident.
I let my brother in law borrow my tripod work light. He doesn't return it until I ask him for it. When he brings it back it's covered in drywall mud. WTF. Just wipe the dam thing off before you return it.


~Veeps

 

[zkling]

You need better "friends".

 

[bagged89s10]

You need better "friends".

Probably true.


~Veeps

 

[sberry]

My friends can use what ever they want. Most of them take better care than I do.

 

[Outlawmws]

My rule is always "you can use it here"...

VERY short list that get to violate that rule

 

[Todd.Brock]

My rule is always "you can use it here"...

VERY short list that get to violate that rule

This!! When we had our rental garage, my buddy put tools in his pocket, just to store them. I had to make him empty his pockets before he left!! It was not intentional, but let's solve this b/f you have to come back to the garage. If I had to go get my plasma from someone, rest assured it would not be re-loaned.

 

[pepi]

Friends do not borrow tools.

 

[ishiboo]

My friends can use what ever they want. Most of them take better care than I do.

This is it for me as well, though I take care of my stuff the best. I spend a lot of money on having certain tools for small projects and I am happy to see them get used.

The moment you cross me though, you're done. If I need something I own back to get something done, it's on you to get it back and get it back promptly.

If something breaks/is damaged/etc., it better be replaced or repaired in a manner I see fit.

 

[toolman9w]

This is it for me as well, though I take care of my stuff the best. I spend a lot of money on having certain tools for small projects and I am happy to see them get used.

The moment you cross me though, you're done. If I need something I own back to get something done, it's on you to get it back and get it back promptly.

If something breaks/is damaged/etc., it better be replaced or repaired in a manner I see fit.

Exactly.

 

[anurag1990]

Take your friends most used, most loved and probably expensive tool and return it only when he or she returns back yours. *** for Tat works smetimes.

 

[Kirbot]

If I have to borrow something, I buy one it the next time I need it.
And I've never kept something more than a day or two...

Methinks borrowing isn't the problem. You need some better friends dude...

 

[franzdom]

I do let friends borrow tools.
Friends are more important than things.

 

[CobraChevelle]

I don't let them barrow. They will ask if I have a tool and I just say no. Seen to many people loose there tools letting others use it..

Now I have done some jobs for people becasue I had the tools for it. I also buy the tools I need for a job. Like soon I am going to buy the OTC and lisle spark plug tool for the Ford 5.4. I could prob barrow it, but rather have my own if something happens to it.

 

[Dave455]

I just don't lend tools! End of!

Most folks that might want to borrow them are a similar age to myself, and have had similar opportunities in life, so if they havn't got stuff (and quite often it's basic stuff) it's because they don't value tools the same way I do!

No way am I going to lend my mostly old (and not replaceable) or decent (and valuable) tools to someone who values them less than myself and is inexpert in their use!

Exceptionally, if someone is in the ****, I'll help 'em out and do a job for 'em, and of course bring my own tools along!

 

[Scimmia]

If I have to borrow something, I buy one it the next time I need it.
And I've never kept something more than a day or two...

So when you need a $2000+ tool once a year or less, you would buy it?

Borrowing can make sense. It's more about who you lend to/borrow from.

 

[bczygan]

I have loaned tools to neighbors with similar results.

Now I just don't.

Sometimes I will go over and use the tool myself, if I desire to. Otherwise I don't know where it is.

I don't have the time or energy to train people to be considerate or respectful or responsible.

I don't want to take the time to sort those that are, from those that aren't.

 

[jakemac]

I have a similar problem with my cousin's husband. Normally I never lend out tools, but I can't say no to family.

When I lend my cousin-in-law my car dolly, I know that I won't see it again for 6 months. The only reason he brings it back earlier is if he breaks the ratchets or chains. Then he parks the dolly in the back yard and doesn't say a word about the broken parts until he needs to borrow it again.

I've had to chase down my ladder from him twice.

My BIL is like that as well, but at least he's in the same house as me, so I can hunt him down like a lame raccoon if I need to.

 

[threewood]

The only person I have ever had tool loaning problems with is my brother in law. He would borrow my Stihl chainsaw and never return it until I came looking for it. Bar was off, bar tool missing and chain dull. Never again.....until he took it when I wasn't home. Went right over and took it back. I told him to buy his own and he said why? when he could use mine. Called him a cheapskate and told him to pound sand.

I have some good neighbors that borrow tools. One borrows reloading tools all the time and it is getting old. If you need it more than once, buy one. Another, a Marine, borrowed a set of deep sockets for his truck. Returned them when done.

Buy the right tools for your projects and you will have them for other projects. Every man should have an assortment of sockets and wrenches. Even if they are HF. Some people are just cheap and have zero guilt about taking advantage of others.

 

[bubinga]

Because some of them find a new home for my tools.

 

[Parrothead]

You need better "friends".

I think this is the gist of it.

 

[thieltech]

some times you have to learn the hard way . i borrowed a harmonic balancer puller to a coworker once . had to ask 3 times for it back. when he did bring it back the f-ing threads were all chewed to hell !! Never ever again.

 

[Jure]

I do let people borrow my tools,but ill give them old spare wrenches and ratchets...i have loaned my gedore 1/2 ratchet to cousin,ratchet was unused till then,got it 10 days later beat to death,dude used it as a hammer while he was wrenching...also i hate when my father is using a regular screwdriver as a punch or pry bar..

 

[theoldwizard1]

Exactly. The only person I might borrow/loan a tool to/from now is my father.

The other day my son wanted to know why I was in HIS garage. "Returning the battery operated impact I borrowed the other day (without asking) !"

 

[ripperd]

I keep a post-it taped on the wall that tracks who i loaned things to. If they have had it too long or I will be needing it, I talk with them. So far never had an issue.

 

[thegroundpounder99]

You need better "friends".

That was my first thought too lol. I don't let anything leave my shop or home w/ anybody. And I don't lock my box till everything is in it, so if they're not done, oh well. Stuff is too expensive and you forget who you loaned it to and by the time you remember......they forget.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I have 4 friends that can borrow my tools. Only 1 can go into my shop and grab whatever is needed without asking or telling me. The others must ask.

It's funny, 3 of them are tool hounds like us. 2 of those are on GJ as well. The 4th guy is my long time buddy who knows what respect is and even though he's not a tool hound he does know how to/how not to use tools properly and they always return shiny clean.

Other than these 4 guys, I tell people, "I don't loan tools."

 

[crewchief888]

My friends know better than to ask to borrow anything.
I will gladly help out with their project using MY tools. But they don't leave leave my possession.

 

[Kirbot]

So when you need a $2000+ tool once a year or less, you would buy it?

Borrowing can make sense. It's more about who you lend to/borrow from.

If I ever need a $2000 tool, that rule will probably change.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Exactly. The only person I might borrow/loan a tool to/from now is my father.

SNIP

~Veeps

Man, growing up my dad taught me how to take care of tools and put them away by yelling and screaming with that Irish Temper.

Last year he borrowed my impact and it came back with overspray on it. I calmly told him that I should yell and scream at him, maybe throw a wrench or two and break a coffee cup. He understood and apologized. We laughed. Actually, that's a cool memory I'm sure I'll cherish for years to come.

 

[cashishift]

i write it all down on a note on my iphone..

If I have to borrow something more than once, I end up buying one.

 

[kamlung]

I only have one person I lend my tools to, but he is like a brother to me...

 

[dlcwent]

As it has been said many times before here on other threads. If you want to borrow my tools, then I should be able to borrow your wife.

Please take no offence to this ratdoggy...Can I lend you any of my tools?

 

[tylerlayne]

Back in the 1980s when I first started building a nice tool set I had a account with Mac tools and snap on. The tool trucks came around every week. I had a big sticker on my tool box that said "DO NOT ASK TO BORROW MY TOOLS". I have never loaned my tools to anyone and have never borrowed tools from anyone. If I don't have it I go buy it.

 

[MattVette89]

I am not a professional mechanic, so that may influence my beliefs. I have zero problems loaning out a tool to anyone I trust.

My good friend let me drive my car to his shop, put it on the lift, use all of his tools to remove my trans myself, and then let the car sit there a week until it was rebuilt and reinstalled. That's a good friend. He can borrow any tool he wants of mine.

 

[honcho]

Way back in the dark ages (the early 1970s) I had a cheap japanese socket set that I used to work on my bike, minibike and anything else I could get my hands on. My brothers weren't particularly respectful of MY tools I had the only metric sockets in the family. I still feel the pain of the 10mm socket that one of them lost! However, they're family and have their own tools now so not too many hard feelings after 40 plus years.

A wise man once told me never lend or gamble anything you can't afford to lose. I lend tools, but it's usually my backup stuff or things that I know I can replace. With some of my friends, it's just easier to go fix their item than explain how to fix it and then lend them the tools to do the job. Not that I can fix everything but I have more experience than most of them and I happen to like working on stuff. Only real downside to me is they think I can fix most anything and often ask me first instead of doing a little research on their problems before dialing my number.

 

[Ridwaan Gallow]

My dad and i live on one property.. funny though, we each have our own toolboxes.. i once told my wife, ''if ever i am not home and my dad comes asking to use anything in my box, give him the box without any quibble''.. cos i know my dad would take care of my tools the way he taught me to take care of his..

Years back during my first marriage, I left some of my tools with him which he had borrowed from me when i wasnt living with him.. being the person he is, my dad kept them aside for me in case i needed them..

When i moved back years after, he showed me where he had kept them.. i turned to him and said to him, ''Pops, howcome you didnt just put them in your box?''.. he said, ''whatever is in my box, is mine.''.. to which i smiled and replied, ''well Pops, i think these will be OUR tools then''.. he just laughed with amusement and said, ''thats a good one''.. and patted me on my back..

To this day, i left those tool in his garage and whenever i need them and ask him for the garage keys, he says to me, ''which of OUR tools are you in need of sonny boy?''.. then he just smiles..

my dad and i have a bond through a few pieces of shaped metal.

My wife asked me, ''what if MY dad asks to borrow some tools?''.. i just smiled and told her, ''why would i borrow a tool to a TOOL?''..

 

[Rubiwheeler]

If you need to borrow, you need to buy.

 

[66354dream]

I've noticed it's usually people that don't have any tools or very few " knucklebusters" are the one's that don't think twice about asking others ( that have better/ more tools) without hesitation because they have no clue what it takes to have the better stuff.