Why you don't let friends borrow tools

[espyking83]

Sometimes friends will borrow stuff without asking, which isnt cool.... But, sometimes friends misplace their own tools and are too quick to assume that a friend borrowed it without asking. I've done it myself and felt like a massive **** for it.


Either way, you need to have a talk with your friend and about the imporance of accountability. Try not to be a **** about it, some friends cross boundries without realizing it-let him know that your tools are very important to you, especially when you need them.

 

[chris_1001]

I lent out an all but new large pair of Channel Locks, got them back two weeks later rusted to $h!t!

Lesson learned.

 

[espyking83]

I lent out an all but new large pair of Channel Locks, got them back two weeks later rusted to $h!t!

Lesson learned.

Yeah, if a tool rusts after 2 weeks in any environment dont buy it again!

 

[chris_1001]

Yeah, if a tool rusts after 2 weeks in any environment dont buy it again!

They used it for a sink repair... Water puddles are not a viable place for tool storage...

 

[66354dream]

Yeah, if a tool rusts after 2 weeks in any environment dont buy it again!

This is the reason I don't buy Snap On pliers anymore

 

[GuyllFyre]

I lend tools to FRIENDS and FAMILY, not acquaintances.
There's a difference.
Real friends and family always respect your stuff and return or replace.
Acquaintances take things to use, probably don't know how to use them, and rarely return things.

Learn the difference.

 

[oldtools]

I have HF tools to loan out. Snap On tools don't get loan out. I loan out some HF tools to a female friend. Have not been return for years. Not too biggie, just cheap HF tools.

 

[Champo]

Lent my toolbag to my boss yesterday, here's the damage:

knipex cobras- grips are all sliced up, he used them to pry open a concrete pit cover.
klein 5 in 1- handle is all gouged, was used as a wedge for the concrete cover.
nws cutters- cutters damaged from cutting 4mm stainless screws.

I gave him a mouthful when I saw it all, some people have no respect. Apparently he's buying me new side cutters and a 5 in 1, I doubt it though.

 

[bert1913]

I don't let my friends borrow any of my tools. If they need to use one of my specality tools, I'll gladly go to their place and help them myself.

 

[shockwave]

Yep I had the same happened with angled vise grips which are now unavailable gave me spel I will pick up from hardware sorry buddy replace with what you lost

 

[Dagny]

I have friends I would trust with the most delicate instruments I own and others I wouldn't lend a post pounder.

 

[Olafur]

Ok, how about - let your tools borrow your friends!



However, I would rather loose bunch of tools than a good friend.
Tools can be replaced.

 

[goodysgotacuda]

The only time I lend stuff out is if I get some hefty collateral. I don't care what the tool is that's going out, I get something they want to hang onto. Works every time.


They don't forget to bring back the tool they "only need for an hour" when you have their iPhone, fancy torque wrench, [insert something of value].

 

[steed andersen]

I have one true friend that treats my tools better than his own. I also know a bunch of tools that call themselves my friends and they don't have access to my stuff.

 

[racin72charger]

It really depends on the type of tool, a neighbour or a buddy might not have a special size socket for a job. In that case I have no issue loaning out the tool. If someone asked to use my SO tech wrench or my scanner, sorry no bueno, those tools do not leave my possession. In any case I have a note pad in both of my tool boxes (work/home) that I record who/what/when, not returning tools in a timely fashion results in loss offending privileges. I'm a firm believe in if you borrow something more than twice you need to own that item. Some friends need to be reminded from time to time.

 

[NUTTSGT]

There's only a few people that I will lend tools out too.

It's also a rare occasion that I borrow a tool, generally, if I need a tool, I'm buying it.

 

[d4dawg]

I have another set of inexpensive (does not mean inferior quality) tools. For example, HF/GearWrench stuff for friends to use. The Snap-on/Knipex/Stahlwille/Koken stuff are for me, myself, and I only.

 

[Silentt]

I used to lend them out at work but recently I caught a coworker digging in my box. He got a earful and ruined it for anyone in the future. I don't pay a lot of money for others to benefit.

 

[mdbeck1]

I've got "friends" on both ends of the spectrum.
Friend One:
- Lives down the street a few houses.
- Lost of similar activities
- Our sons are good friends
- Can borrow anything I have. He borrows my car hauler trailer, keeps it most of the day but he straightens out the fenders and fixes the tail lights. He also works for the city and fills out all my building permits.

Friend Two:
- Been friends forever
- I loan him the same trailer. I had to call him to bring it home. He brings it back and is in a hurry to leave. I check it over and find that he drug the plug several miles on the concrete and messed it up. I replace it and the next time he asks to use it I tell him he owes me $20.00 for replacing the plug. He paid up but knew that I wasn't happy. He doesn't ask to borrow it very much any more.

The other neighbor comes over quite often and borrows stuff. Sometimes he keeps it for months. ...but if I call he's got it back over pretty quick. He also comes and helps fix anything I need an extra hand with. ...and sometimes stuff that I don't need help with.

People I don't know well..... They don't usually ask. If they do I explain that future loans depend on how well they treat my stuff and how timely they return it.


So loan stuff... yeah but the guys that take care of stuff get to use the good stuff. The other guys get tools out of the "spares" box. ...and I write down everyone's name on the white board and what they borrowed. ...and usually the date.

If I need a tools the neighbors have it's not a problem. If I need an EXPENSIVE tool and the neighbors don't have it... I rent it if I can. No need to own a $200.00 tool I use once a year when I can rent it for $20.00. If I have to rent it more than three or four times I go buy one.

 

[AL`]

You need better "friends".

I concur.

I don't typically borrow tools for personal use although I'd hesitate to say "never" because some tools are expensive or not needed but once in a blue moon. If I don't have a tool I need, I usually buy it. I've had two neighbors offer if I ever needed it to lend me tools without my asking but I've never taken them up on it. I have borrowed tools on occasion at work and I'm very conscientious about getting them back promptly and in as good or better condition than when I got it. Better condition usually means a rusty tool when loaned is cleaned and lubed when it's returned.

 

[RedneckWelder]

we lend/borrow tools all the time at work...but we are all professionals and respect each others tools.

I hate borrowing tools, though. So if I borrow it I try to buy one so I don't have to in the future. It's a good rule to have.

 

[PugetDude]

*** for Tat works sometimes.

So, bang his wife?....

 

[02camaro86]

used our neighbors right angle drill when wiring our garage, dropped the SOB and broke the head.. he got a brand new one. in the end would have have been worth it to buy our own. probably the only time we needed a tool from a neighbor.

 

[Sorrys70]

i have the one strike rule. you can borrow what ever you need from me, i like being helpful. if you don't return it in a timely manner or if you break it doing something dumb....your out

 

[RedRabbit]

You should tell your "friends" either to be a lot more responsible, let you know and be responsible, or not borrow again. Its a shame, at my shop we all barrow tools. A friend borrowed a ratchet from me, stripped a tooth (it was old) and against my approval, bout me a new MAC one.

 

[anurag1990]

So, bang his wife?....

Naa, that was never on my mind when I said so.

 

[rockinacummins]

Buy>Borrow

I'm hardly ever home, so my tool room is always locked.

 

[langss]

I generally refuse to loan anything. I have been an Aircraft Mechanic for more than half my life so I have heard all the usual excuses / reasons. If I have worked with someone for a while and they don't abuse / misuse their tools, I will / have loaned whatever so they don't have to go all the way back to their box, usually a pretty long trek. Now that I have retired, when my neighbors ask, I either tell them I don't have one or if they are going to use it in front of me, its "You Break It, You Bought It".

 

[bobabuee]

amazing ....I just bought f-450 35ft bucket truck last spring for my sign business.

as I 20ft in air.....
some guy never saw him in my life yell up I need borrow your bucket truck to cut some arbor vitis on his farm, ya! ok....?? I need you to drop it off let me have it for week, he says I call you when I am done..... its got to be there no later than 3pm on july 2,

at this point iam think in get fu..ed ? so I ask do know how to operate my truck answer.....no I figure it out ......wow...... I did not have insurance on it yet I told him....answer don't worry about it.....????? then he said I call you next week my farm is 30 miles from here .so your need to have some one follow you and give ride back...... at this point I say well its $175.00 for 2hrs ...... and then he said iam ripping him off and he is going to call BBB and report me!!!! WTF.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

As a mechanic, I've been pretty choosy about lending tools. A lot of my co-workers would use air on chrome Snap On tools. If I lent them something for a job, I told them they needed to do it by hand, and I wanted the tool back cleaned. Whether at the shop or at home, one must always ask first (...except for my wife. She's hyper-conscientious and is rarely willing to borrow things).
At one of the shops I used to work at, they now have three new techs. My buddy still works there. Since the new guys are fresh out of school, they don't have a lot of tools so the for techs work out of each other's boxes. They all have bad tool habits, and tools can be found all over the shop. Not to mention, the constant, "Do you have my 17mm swivel?" "Who has 24" pry bar?" conversations. Chaos! I couldn't do that. I would lock my box to take a pee (not really, though).

 

[rodsnratfinks]

As for lending tools to help friends, I would say it depends on the tool. If it's not a big ticket item, would probably let most of my friends borrow it for a day or two, but most of the time I come over and help them with it. Either way, they all know what I expect. When my boy is old enough to utilize tools, I will probably only let him use the tools in my presence, but I'm sure there will come a frustrating day when find some sockets left outside, or gets into my box when I'm not home. Not sure what I'll do then.

 

[fm2176]

I have HF tools to loan out. Snap On tools don't get loan out. I loan out some HF tools to a female friend. Have not been return for years. Not too biggie, just cheap HF tools.

This...I have plenty of hand tools, so if asked to borrow something the tool I lend will be no better than better than Kobalt in quality. Truck brands, Proto, Channellock, and even most of my USA Craftsman are off-limits. If a $5 pair of pliers or $8 ratchet means more than a friend, that person probably isn't a true friend. Anything more expensive will probably involve me helping with the project.

amazing ....I just bought f-450 35ft bucket truck last spring for my sign business.

as I 20ft in air.....
some guy never saw him in my life yell up I need borrow your bucket truck to cut some arbor vitis on his farm, ya! ok....?? I need you to drop it off let me have it for week, he says I call you when I am done..... its got to be there no later than 3pm on july 2,

at this point iam think in get fu..ed ? so I ask do know how to operate my truck answer.....no I figure it out ......wow...... I did not have insurance on it yet I told him....answer don't worry about it.....????? then he said I call you next week my farm is 30 miles from here .so your need to have some one follow you and give ride back...... at this point I say well its $175.00 for 2hrs ...... and then he said iam ripping him off and he is going to call BBB and report me!!!! WTF.

It's difficult to interpret this post, but it sounds like someone dictated what you were going to do with your own business vehicle. I wouldn't have even entertained such a person. Who in their right mind is going to interrupt someone working (especially in the air) to tell that person that they need to provide their equipment to a stranger for at least a week with no definite end date?

 

[bdelmar2]

I guess there is probably a difference between whether you make your living with your tools or not.

I do, so I try to never borrow or loan any. But as others have mentioned it also depends on whom is asking.

I have a good friend that is also a mechanic and on rare occasions one or the other of us will need to borrow a tool. The item is always returned on time and in as good or better condition then it left.

Unless its some really odd bird tool, I will buy one at the next opportunity, as will he.

If it should somehow get broken (don't ever recall that happening) I would then buy him a new one. Which would mean I had to pay for the tool anyway, and now have a broken one - all the more reason to buy my own in the first place if possible.

Otherwise the only borrow/lending that goes on is in the shop where I am currently working, and happens seldom.


Do have an odd story about loaning tools though.

Was late one afternoon and a kid came into the shop where I was working by myself at the time. I'm in tampa and he was from texas somewhere.

He had driven his old beater truck all the way here (forget what it was exactly), and the trans had went out (automatic). It was about 8-10 miles away at a rest stop.

Somehow he had called his girlfriend back in texas and she had gotten on the internet and located a trans and they were willing to deliver it to the rest stop.

He had enough money for the trans and gas to get home and some fluid. He had a medium sized floor jack and a tire iron and that was it.

I felt kinda sorry for him an 8-10 mile walk along the interstate in fl can't be much fun and I remember getting myself into some messed up vehicle situations when I was young.

I didn't have the time to actually help him swap them, but I dug around in my 5 gallon bucket of odd/cheap tools and came up with enough to get it done (probably anyway).

I drove him back to the rest stop and dropped him and the tools I was sure I'd never see again off. He promised to return them, but I didn't see it happening.

A couple of days later I got a call and the guy on the phone said the kid had given him my tools to return. I gave him the address of the shop and shortly got another call. Went outside and there was a state patrol car.

Sure enough he had all my tools in the trunk and was even in civilian clothes.

I think the kid ended up junking the truck and taking a bus home if I remember correctly - it was pretty rough even without the trans problem. But one way or the other I was amazed I got the tools back.

 

[Fretters]

I lend tools to FRIENDS and FAMILY, not acquaintances.
There's a difference.
Real friends and family always respect your stuff and return or replace.
Acquaintances take things to use, probably don't know how to use them, and rarely return things.

Learn the difference.

Being family doesn't mean trustworthy. My two brothers, for example, are atrocious when borrowing things. One you tend to get it back from, but he obviously has no clue how to clean something before returning it, and my other brother will just claim it and deny all knowledge of its existence, as soon as it's in his hands. My dad makes me cringe with his subtlety levels when using something, but him I would loan to simply because he's my dad.

On the friends/acquaintances front, there are five people whom I will/would loan to. Two are friends, two are mechanics whom I've actually had to borrow a tool from once apiece, (I hated asking, but was stuck without. I know they look after their own tools, so trust them anyhow), and the final one is the next door neighbour. He's actually terrible for looking after things and returning them, (several times I've had to remind him that something is mine, or chide him for leaving the sledgehammer out in the rain, for example), but he's handy in other regards, so I make an exception for him.

 

[joel63]

If you need to borrow, you need to buy.

^^^^^^^ There is some strong logic in this. ^^^^^^^^^

 

[arrowhead]

I think I have come up with a solution for this. I will rent my tools out for free, but the security deposit is full replacement cost!

 

[PugetDude]

amazing ....I just bought f-450 35ft bucket truck last spring for my sign business.

as I 20ft in air.....
some guy never saw him in my life yell up I need borrow your bucket truck to cut some arbor vitis on his farm, ya! ok....?? I need you to drop it off let me have it for week, he says I call you when I am done..... its got to be there no later than 3pm on july 2,

"Sorry, it's not for rent."
Conversation over.

 

[Ilikeike]

My own dang kid won't bring my stuff back,
My backup small floor jack
Set of Jack stands
Motorcycle lift/stand
and he came over yesterday to get my big floor jack.

I told him if it's not in my garage when I get home Sunday,thats it for you.

My friends know better than to ask me to borrow tools,I'm a nazi with everyone but my own Son, but that may change.

I loaned some cash to a friend, and made him post date a check that I would deposit on the agreed day,and it better not bounce. Requiring a deposit or collateral for tools may be a good idea.

 

[ffast65]

This is my rule:
"I will rent my tools out for free, but the security deposit is full replacement cost"

Also if you break it, you replace is with new. Been on both sides of this, and always fixed or replaced worn stuff and had a few acquitiances that didnt think this applied too.

"had" is the key...

 

[bagged89s10]

Mysteriously when you tell your friends they are cut off from borrowing tools, missing tools start getting dropped off at my house.


~Veeps