OMG Don't let your neighbor help you help him...

[Rileysan]

His neighbor is Tim the Toolman Taylor.

"Now we just need to use an alley key to open up the chamber and inspect the anvil"
"Yeah, you could do it that way. But what do we like?" MORE POWER "That's right so what you should really use is this 3/4" breaker bar with a cheater pipe, 3/4>1/2 1/2>3/8> 3/8>1/4 adapters, and this 3/16" socket. It's got chrome molybdenum, it's heat treated pressure forged Ho ho ho ho"
"I don't think so Tim"
"Al I think I know how to-" *Nailer fires and nail pings around knocking over the camera*
"Al looks right into the camera and frowns"
*LAUGHS AND APPLAUSE*

 

[Bluedodge]

...what's his wife look like?

 

[DeliveryGuy]

This reminds me of the time I walked into work to see that my friend had grabbed my Snap On 3/8 torque wrench, put a 9/16 socket on it and was cranking a wood lag screw into a pole.

 

[OccupantRJ]

This reminds me of the time I walked into work to see that my friend had grabbed my Snap On 3/8 torque wrench, put a 9/16 socket on it and was cranking a wood lag screw into a pole.

Did he get the screw torqued properly?

 

[Roberts210]

When a neighbor asks to use a tool I always ask if they will show me the problem or show me what's broken. Then once over there, if it's something I can easily fix, I'll say, "Wait a minute, I'll be right back." And I'll come back with the correct tool AND I'll fix the problem. If it's something that's not easily fixable I'll say, "Awwww... you'll have to call a plumber on this one I'm afraid I don't have a left-handed flummox wrench to take that off".

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

It was a bit late in the day, and cold in the shop, and he needed it done as he uses it for work, - hardwood flooring and that type of stuff. So I couldn't say 'I'll fix and get it back to you.'

The way I would have approached it is put the nail gun in a vise, take a look with a flashlight with what's wrong, find the right tool..... etc.

I don't even turn my back for 1 second and he's grabbing everything that is a wrench or could be used as a wrench and trying to disassemble it with 1 hand holding the nail gun and 1 hand holding a tool while trying to break loose some nuts. Scraping and slipping around on top of the workbench getting nowhere fast.

Turns out a nail had folded over and jammed the drive pin. When I show him how easy it is removing fasteners with the part held in the vise, he suddenly loves the vise. But he doesn't know right to tight left to loose with the vise handle. All the while I'm saying "slow down bud", "I think that's the wrong size, bud", "you don't want to do it that way, bud"
I resisted "are you out of the fuggin mind, A hole !!!!!" for the duration, and though he pushed my OCD to the limit, I cleaned up and worked on finding the humor in the situation afterwood.

So let me get this straight....the guy uses tools to make his living, but has no clue HOW to to correctly use basic hand tools / vice and so on.....sounds like I tradesman I'd like to hire for something

 

[Wayfastwhitie440]

Good neighbors are hard to come by but I would have just said that's not how you use those and like others said teach him . He did bring you a pie.

 

[youngunn2008]

Why were you using cheater pipes on wrenches to fix a nail gun?

My thoughts exactly

 

[youngunn2008]

No one knows I even have tools. If they've so much as seen me using a rake, and ask to use it, it's been broken or loaned out.

That solves that.

Bill

Lol!

 

[youngunn2008]

This reminds me of the time I walked into work to see that my friend had grabbed my Snap On 3/8 torque wrench, put a 9/16 socket on it and was cranking a wood lag screw into a pole.

Holee sheet

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I took My time when selecting quality tools that I enjoy using..
I will gladly take My time to show others how to properly use them.
In the long run, They get a free lesson, don't piss me off, get their task done, and are welcome back.

Those that choose to do otherwise will not be using any of My stuff..
Some simply don't care about Your stuff... or the fact that You do care.
You are not being very kind to Yourself by letting Your tools be subjected to that abuse..
One fellow once spouted off "You are kind of fussy; aren't You?" My reply was "Damn Right"

 

[winlinmac]

Only share your tools with the neighbor, if the neighbor is tool-competent, otherwise, suffer the consequences. One my neighbors hires a contractor for every little nitty-gritty thing. He should just hire me, he'll be pleased, haha.

 

[taumac]

same guy borrowed my beater to haul firewood. Only rule was keep the glass in it..
Came back with the back window missing!! ; (

wtf...

 

[taumac]

So let me get this straight....the guy uses tools to make his living, but has no clue HOW to to correctly use basic hand tools / vice and so on.....sounds like I tradesman I'd like to hire for something

I always find it hard to believe that also. I thought it you where in the "trades" you would have basic understanding of tools. I once delivered a wooded crate to a guy. I unload in from my truck and guy proceeds to ask how would I open this. Do a get a pry bar or hammer. I sad no the lid is screwed on so get a drill with a Phillips head and take out the screws. He looked at me like I had 2 heads. Apparently, the guy never used a drill or a tool in his life. I really don't know how a man can go through life and not know how to basics of tools. Not saying every guy should know how to build a house or tear apart a car but at least know what's the right side of a screwdriver.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Some of the last people that should ever be loaned a tool are tradesmen that would hopefully know how to properly use the tool....

I recall loaning one fellow a gear puller set while working on a suspension... Next I see him dragging a damn floor jack over My gear pullers... Doubt he had ever priced out a new forcing screw,, or bothered to think it would be quicker to pick up the puller set and return it to Me clean..

 

[Empty Pockets]

When my kids were young, I tried really hard to teach them to use the right tool for the job.
Imagine the sense of pride, a few weeks ago when I saw my daughter scolding my granddaughter for using a butter knife as a screwdriver.
She was told that if she had any questions, to ask me. LOL

 

[dclassical]

While I am borderline OCD and will almost always (I am sure there are exceptions though I cannot remember them) try to use the right tool for the job, it reminds me of some videos from Eric O. at South Main Auto.

One where he holds his newly repaired Snap-on ratchet, saying it had not worked well and starts using it as a hammer on a fastener.

Another where he says that every tool has a hammer side.

I could not do it, but I am also not using my tools to make a living. I can see his position of "you cannot be afraid to beat on a tool, it is a tool".

 

[Coolabah]

I think you did the right thing, sometimes it hurts to see you nice tools getting used as hammers but at the end of the day, a good neighbor beats nice tools every time.

I think that is the whole point....
The OP's good neighbour WAS beating on nice tools.... ALL the time...

OP wants to make it not EVERY time

 

[ajchien]

I keep most of my nicer tools in the box, locked, with the key close in an out of immediate sight location. I keep my harbor freight and Stanley tools out in the open on the pegboard, for those who need to borrow, to take. Seriously, those HF tape measures keep walking away, and those HF freebie screwdrivers keep coming back mangled.

That said, I put an impact on a chrome reducer adapter and a chrome hex bit the other day and mushroomed out the drive ends. So, I'm not perfect myself.

 

[Fretters]

I could not do it, but I am also not using my tools to make a living. I can see his position of "you cannot be afraid to beat on a tool, it is a tool".

It is one of those things where necessity or convenience can win out on occasion. My ratchet, (for some reason, I always refer to the Irimo as "the" ratchet, even though I have a few ratchets), has been used as a hammer no end of times. Never severely though. Only ever for just tapping stuff into place.

 

[Fretters]

...what's his wife look like?

Let me guess..., he ought bang her?

 

[Coolabah]

Let me guess..., he ought bang her?

errrr... maybe Just hammering lightly, using your ratchet ?

 

[engineer2]

Tell the neighbor you'll look at his tool but then send him out to buy a 6-pack, preferably to a store far away enough so you can have it fixed by the time he gets back with his "payment".

 

[mdbeck1]

Tell the neighbor you'll look at his tool but then send him out to buy a 6-pack, preferably to a store far away enough so you can have it fixed by the time he gets back with his "payment".

Tell me that you didn't INTEND to say what that sounds like.....

 

[BikerDad]

Ahh, the old "other people borrowing/using my tools" thread. Can't go a month without one of these.

 

[Coolabah]

Ahh, the old "other people borrowing/using my tools" thread. Can't go a month without one of these.

Now c'mon there Old Timer. Sheesh, bread, butter , Bourbon , borrowing tools threads. The Four Bees of life.....

 

[pendragon1998]

Hey, I like a pie just as much as the next diabetic, but that delicious flakey crust and cinnamon apple filling isn't going to regrind and resharpen a woodworking chisel.