Anyone Get Mad Because You Don't Loan a Tool?

[TxDoc]

I absolutely hate to lose anything out of a set. Then you have.....a non-set.

There are only two people that I will loan a tool to. And, they have not asked in years. I can call them any time for anything and they will come. Not many people are that dependable and they would let me borrow anything that I asked for, even though I don't.

Just wondering if anyone got mad or gets mad (cause they never get it and keep asking again and again..like some in-law) cause your tools are a "no-no touch" kinda thing.

People who borrow make me think:

1-Why don't they have their own?
2-If they don't have their own, do they know how to use it and not break it?
3-I think if they bend or break it, I will never hear about it.
4-If they bend or break it, they won't replace it with an identical replacement. Instead, if they bring it back, they will act like they did not notice the damage and don't think they did it.
5-If they tear it up, or don't bring it back, do they realize I will wait and continually tell everyone standing around about someone being a deadbeat borrower and how everyone listening should not be as foolish as me for trusting him (or her) and not be as foolish as him for not borrowing it in the first place.
(off the soap box)

 

[wythors]

The only person that has ever gotten mad at me was my wife. She got PO'd because I wouldn't let her loan my pressure washer to one of her co-workers whom I have never met. She just couldn't understand what could possibly be a problem.

As already stated, there are very few people that I would consider loaning a tool to and they never ask because they already have everything they need.

 

[nissan_crawler]

My tools at home do NOT leave the garage. If you want to use my tools, YOU come to my tools, period.

At work, I loan tools to the 3 guys on my crew, because I know it's not a problem. If somebody else wants to borrow a tool, I get one of theirs with equal or greater value to keep until mine comes back. Don't like it, go fly a kite.

 

[Deafautotech]

mine too!!! i always let them to use my tools but i had to look at them to see if they still have it or not.. mostly of time they put it back...

i only allow one tech (he is part time but best technician in Indiana) as he was planning to bring his 11 feet wide toolboxes but had no time... he always clean the grease and put it back where it was before... it is impressive me... but i always respect him as he are happy to teach or even help me in dealership...

 

[MXtras]

There are very few I loan tools to, the rest - I really don't care what they think. I am not running a charity.

While they were out partying and socializing, I was working to buy my tools. It's a feable form of revenge, but you gotta take what you can get!

Scott

 

[Danglerb]

Month or so ago we had a thread on making up a box of JUNK tools for loaners.

 

[jay50]

My tools are loaned out with one stipulation: My hands are attached to them...in other words, no, they are not loaned out to nonprofessionals.

 

[Franz©]

Hasn't been a problem since I made a list of missing loaned out tools with names of the people who borrowed em.
You want to borrow a tool, no problem, just go fetch one of the tools on the list back and you can borrow a tool. Now there have been a few discussions with people who suggested that was an insane way to do things, but they usually end when I show em the wood splitter. I paid for 2 engines on that sumbeach and I didn't run it more than 4 hours. Oddly most of the people who used to borrow the splitter now have their own splitters.

 

[Stuey]

Hasn't been a problem since I made a list of missing loaned out tools with names of the people who borrowed em.
You want to borrow a tool, no problem, just go fetch one of the tools on the list back and you can borrow a tool.

I think that this is a great policy!

As for me, I will only loan tools to my father since I absconded with enough of his tools when I was younger.

 

[arkracing]

Or you could do like the parts stores do with thier tool loan program. Charge them for the full price of the tool upfront, and then when the return it give them thier $ back less the "fee".

That should solve some problems

 

[Jononon]

I will lend out tools, so long as:

1) The tool is from my cheap tool box
2) It can survive a 10' drop onto a concrete surface without appreciable damage
3) If (1) and (2) do not apply, any tool comes with me attached, and I expect lunch and/or beer.

The latter is negotiable, if I was working in the garage when you arrived, and your first words were 'Hi, Jon, can I help ?' not 'Hi, Jon, can I borrow your...'

 

[bobthecop]

Tools are kinda like the Harley, most of us bikers would let you ride the ole lady before you could ride the bike. LOL I never loan tools, I will bring them and help, but no loaners. Even my boys got their own tool sets before I let them borrow mine, I got yelled at enough as a kid for not putting dad's tools back where I found them, so I bought them their own tools. My collection is still in tact, and they have taken care of theirs as well.

 

[T56 Impala]

I will only lend a tool to my father and youngest sister. My other sister would never return it. My father would likely bring it back in better shape that when I gave it to him! If someone else needs to use one of my tools, then I will gladly do the job for them. I used to get asked a lot, not so anymore. Most of my friends these days are like me, thy have their own tools!

 

[malibu101]

As for me, I will only loan tools to my father since I absconded with enough of his tools when I was younger.

As I was reading through this thread I was going to post the same thing!
No one else borrows tools. They may ask once but usually get the hint. If they don't get the hint the first time, they usually get it second time.
As far as "shop work" meaning someone needing welding, press work, etc..
I will help you BUT you better be available and able to help me when I need another person OR offer some sort of "payment".
I've been used more than once and I don't need practice working for free.

 

[rocco]

i absolutely hate borrowing tools.
most times they arrive back in bad shape too.

a few stories from lending out tools:

i lent out a spring compressor to a buddy of mine, he forgot it in the car they where working on, buddy who owns the car lives about 4 hours away. i contact him to get it back, he loaned it out to one of his buddies who is supposibly sending ti to me via courrier. needless to say i only got it back 4 months later. 4 MONTHS!!! and it was in rough shape, obviously abused and misused.

Another time i loaned out a triple square bit (8mm)(crutial for working on newer VW's) and these bits are not cheap either. got it back 3 months later after i went to get it after numerous call to have it returned, again it got lent out to other people without my knowledge. it was stripped and no longer in useable shape.

After those two last incidents, i decided that nothing leave my garage and i've made it clear to all of my friend and relatives that they need not ask.
I wil come and help, but nobody uses my tools.
Funny thing is that less of my "friends" call me now to hang out and such. Real friends don't use people for their possesions.
I am of a very generous and helping nature and i always will be but i do not agree with loaning out to people who have absolutely no respect for my property that i work damn hard for.

alex

 

[george4]

Interesting. I assume most of the prior posters are professionals while I am a shade tree. But if a friend asks to borrow something of mine, I would not say no.

 

[Danglerb]

Kind of funny, I'm actually looking at some way to make a lending circle among the other local Porsche owners so that we all don't end up owning a cherry picker and other rarely used but sometimes needed tools.

Loaning out large semi indestructible tools can be a "good" thing.

 

[milkovich]

Anyone can borrow anything I have especially if they use it in my garage.

If I need it and they still have it, they won't like how I get it back... that day... whether they're home or not.

 

[davestlouis]

I have most of my tools at home, I strictly work on my own cars, and have one neighbor I'll loan tools to. Hell I'll loan him my car or boat too, if he asks. Anybody else, no way. I got burned by my kids once, they got into an unlocked drawer, used my SnapOn screwdrivers to mark boundaries in the yard for a soccer field, stuck them in the ground handle-up, and when it rained they went inside and left the screwdrivers stuck in the grass.

 

[gotmud13613]

I have relatives & friends all the time calling and asking to borrow tools I tell them come on over and fix it here and you can use all the tools I have. No tool leaves this Garage except by me. If you don't like it go somewhere else .

 

[TxDoc]

Y'all reminded me of some beatings for leaving my father's Klein and Channel Lock tools outside and they rusted...ouch!

The deposit idea is good. Maybe lending out non-funtioning power tools--so they may think the broke them and either fix them or buy a new one? That's not right, is it?

Everyone has some good ideas and entertaining, too.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Brandon_Lutz]

I don't loan out tools. Just a personal policy. After all of our work tools ended up missing at the bank from people who promised to bring it "right back" I went and bought my own portable box, pliers, screwdrivers, ratcheting wrenches, tape measure, etc, etc for my own use at work.

They were upset that I have my own tools and I keep them locked up. Maybe it's because they can't come in, pick up a Phillips and walk out with it without asking?

Last tool the department allowed to be loaned out was a pair of slip joint pliers that came back broken. I was perplexed on how they did it and when you ask them how, I got the predictable answer of: "They were like that before I borrowed them"

 

[eschoendorff]

It's funny... if my brothers need to use my tools, I try to make them available to them (when they're at my house). They are all younger than me and are just starting out. I have started buying them basic tools for Christmas, and if I see a good deal aor a clearance, I'll buy several of something so that they can fill out their tool sets.

 

[ADrummond]

Loaning out large semi indestructible tools can be a "good" thing.

I hate to admit it, but I once mangled a rental engine hoist. I used it to pick up a welding table. I looked online beforehand to figure out what it weighed, and it was (or at least appeared to be) well within the capacity of the hoist. The thing is, mine was an older table - made before the casting was webbed on the underside, and therefore over twice as heavy! I didn't know that, because I'd never seen the bottom - it wasn't on legs when I bought it. Once I finally got it lifted (using a jack and some lengths of pipe to roll it down the driveway, and lots of wood cribbing to get it into the trailer), I saw that it was solid underneath (4 1/2" thick) and did the math - it weighed nearly 4000 lbs. Needless to say, the hoist suffered for it. I told the rental company what had happened, and they said it was no big deal - it happens all the time, and they'd just get another one.

Andrew

 

[Kevin54]

I am a Tool & Die maker and also a shadetree mechanic. At work I wil loan out what I have because most don't have that type of assortment of tools. At home I will do the same for friends. BUT....sting me one time, don't ever ask again. And I WILL make mention as to why I won't loan it out the second time. I loaned out some items to a supposingly good friend one time, and if I didn't have to ask for it back, I got it back in worse shape than when it was loaned. I even loaned my truck to the same person on two different occasions. The first time I got it back it was 1/4 lower on gas than when it left my house. The second time......out of gas and covered in mud. And to top it off and what made me the maddest...."heres your truck back" That was it. Not even a thank you. So I am basically down to one person (other than the wife) that I will loan to. My best friend. He is the type that if he borrows something, it is washed, waxed, repainted, chromed etc. when I get it back. Maakes me feel bad that it did not look that good when I loaned it to him. Not one time has he ever failed to return something within the same evening, or next day, and he lives in another town. I don't know why but the thread kind of reminds me of Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

"Spicoli, you wrecked my brothers car,my brothers gonna ****, my brothers gonna kill us"
Spicoli: "Don't worry man, I can fix it, My dad has a ultimate set of tools. He's a plumber"

 

[GooberMcNutly]

Maybe I am a rube and a softy, but I loan out tools and stuff all of the time to my neighbors or friends. I usually keep a list of what I loan out, but not always. About the only "rule" I have when loaning out a tool is asking the person when they will return it when they take it.

I guess I am just more attached to my friends and neighbors than my tools. I can't count how many times they have helped me out in other ways. I loan out a torque wrench or a pressure washer and they watch my dog while I am out of town or drop some stuff at the dump or something. I have been stung once or twice, but I feel like the good I have done is worth it.

 

[eschoendorff]

Maybe I am a rube and a softy, but I loan out tools and stuff all of the time to my neighbors or friends. I usually keep a list of what I loan out, but not always. About the only "rule" I have when loaning out a tool is asking the person when they will return it when they take it.

I guess I am just more attached to my friends and neighbors than my tools. I can't count how many times they have helped me out in other ways. I loan out a torque wrench or a pressure washer and they watch my dog while I am out of town or drop some stuff at the dump or something. I have been stung once or twice, but I feel like the good I have done is worth it.

Nothing wrong with that.