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Borrowing tools

joeyd01

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Apr 5, 2015
Messages
51
I searched for a bit and didnt come up with much.

I would like other opinion on borrowing tools from others in the shop. I'm a heavy equipment mechanic with a wide variety of quality tools. When I was starting out the lead mechanic would land me anything I needed for tools. I didn't take advantage of this and made it a point to buy what I used the most. A few other people I. That shop that had been there longer were not allowed to use his tools due to miss use or various other reasons like locking their tool box unless they were getting a tool from it and so on. Fast forward a few years later and to a different shop, I'm still buying tools that I want and need but there are now other guys that need to borrow tools from me. I'm fine letting people use what they don't have yet but that only goes so far. One guy in the shop started a few weeks after me and asked to use my filter wrenches, I say ok and told him where they were. It got to a point where he used them more than I did. He went so far as to ask where I got them and looked into buying them. He came back with "wow I really want a set of those but they are almost 80$" and continued to use them. After a while ( over 8 months)I got angry and moved them, he moved on to another mechanics wrenches till he did the same forcing him to buy his own. He still asks daily to use some sockets. More recently he talked about how he almost bought a light from snap on but complained that he didn't want to spend 100$ on a light. I told him I had two of them and I think they are worth it. He asked to borrow one that day. I said yes but why can you use my 100$ light but not But your own, I got a blank stare and he went on with his day. I've gone so far as to joke with a different mechanic that he borrows from as well to make a list of what he used and give it to him every time the tool truck comes. When is enough, enough? How many times to you borrow something before you buy it? I generally don't have an issuer letting people use things as many times as they need if they make an effort to buy things that borrow, unless I feel like I'm being taken advantage of.

Sorry for the rant, here are the cliff notes: do you let people borrow your tools when they are starting out or maybe cant afford everything right then. How long do you let it last?

Side note for guys in shops do you get a tool allowance and if so how is the amount figured out?


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JJThrasher

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May 30, 2013
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Indiana
Being a newer tech I often borrow oddball tools from the more experienced guys. I try to buy what I can when I can. The shop I work at has some tools for us to use, which I also use at times.

That being said I had to write up an estimate for the insurance around my one year anniversary and came up with close to 30K worth of tools and box.
 
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joeyd01

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Apr 5, 2015
Messages
51
Being a newer tech I often borrow oddball tools from the more experienced guys. I try to buy what I can when I can. The shop I work at has some tools for us to use, which I also use at times.

That being said I had to write up an estimate for the insurance around my one year anniversary and came up with close to 30K worth of tools and box.
Sounds like you have made an effort to get what you need. And I usually have no problem lending out special tools but filter wrenches for almost a year..... Its like c'mon dude

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crewchief888

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Dec 3, 2009
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NW indiana
on the occasion we have a newbie in the shop, i'll usually let him borrow a tool a couple times.
but it stops there.

go buy your own tools, i did

you're gonna need them if you stay here....

the closest thing we currently have to a tool allowance, is tied to our safety rewards.
$75 incentive (gift) card every quarter. but were free to use it anyway we want to.
last dealership our tool allowance was safety related as well, but paid directly to one of the tool trucks as a credit to our account.

for many years i left my boxes at the shop unlocked, (i'm a full time field mechanic)
every once in a while i'd find something missing, usually puller parts or fabricated adapters, within a couple days the stuff was returned, i know who was using it, and didnt really have a problem with it.
i put a stop to it one day when i found the drawer had been left open, and one of my pullers laying on the floor in a pile of oil dry, i left it there and didnt say anything for 3 days.

well, the top of my head finally exploded :evil:

the next day i loaded up my boxes, and brought them home...
i wont loan anything to either of them anymore, and they dont ask to borrow anything anymore.

:beer:
 

plinker

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Feb 28, 2007
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4,285
Location
Northern Wi
I have loaned stuff out to new guys, It has been getting old as there have been several new guys come and go. Loaning specialty tools are one thing, but basic sockets/wrenches are annoying. How stuff is used/taken care of is more of my concern though. The thing I find somewhat comical is no one seems to be able to buy a 3$ tread gauge.

No tool allowance where I'm at. Would be nice.




I wrote this up a couple weeks ago and put it on my box;

Rules for using my tools. (as of 3/21/16)

>Ask me what you need to use and either I will get it for you or tell you where to find it.

>I have certain tools for certain things, so tell me what you are doing and likely I will have something specifically for that job. I will not be happy if something gets buggered up from misuse/abuse. You will be replacing it. Same goes for if you lose it, you replace it.

>When you're done with what you borrow, put it in the top of the cart (if it's open), or on top of the box, clean. DO NOT PUT IT BACK. If it is covered in grease/oil/ete.. clean it off first, do not put it on my box crud covered.

>Certain tools I have NO ONE but me can use for various reasons.

>Keep note of what you are borrowing and how often, that way you can buy the item(s) when funds permit. This is a reasonable expectation as my tools are mine, not the shops. It will also save you time having you're own tools as time = money on flat rate pay.

Failure to heed the above rules will get you banned from borrowing my stuff.
 
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Cap'nJake

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Sep 26, 2015
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31
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Mid-MO
People using my tools is a pet peeve of mine. There are a couple of people that I allow to use them but most people it's a big fat heck no. Especially after I caught my plant manager using one of my chrome deep sockets on an impact.
 

Moose-LandTran

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The Brink of Insanity (England)
I don't mind lending friends and trusted coworkers the occasional tool, but they really need to have their own for the basics and most-used tools. I have a lot of tools, equipment, lights and a lot of specialised stuff.

Timing tools, special pullers, etc, i don't mind lending as they're not something that gets used often, and are usually cost-prohibitive for cost vs use. But someone borrowing an oil filter claw or a pair of long-nose pliers? No, you need to get your own.

I worked for a friend who provided specialist tools, equipment, diag machines but no basic tools or essential tools. Rule in the shop was borrow it 3 times then buy your own, no matter what it was. Nothing ever went missing, no bitching about lending a tool and it getting damaged.

Ultimately, i didn't buy all my tools to earn another mechanic their living. They need to supply their own tools or get a job that doesn't require them. I have a lot of tools that i've bought that make my job easier, i don't like to struggle so i buy whatever i need. Special hose picks, universal sockets, trim tools, etc, and i don't like lending them to people who want to scrape by with the bare minimum. It's rare that i need to borrow something, and if i do it's something specialised or unusual.
 
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joeyd01

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Apr 5, 2015
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I had a tool allowance at my old shop that went by pay scale and was paid out each quarter in form of a check.

The guy that is always borrowing has a habit of not putting his tools away and being messy. But my tools are always returned. I don't lend out stuff that wears out. Die grinders and angle grinders being one. I don't buy my tools for you to wear out. The guy that always borrows tools is known for not putting shop tools back and being a mess. Case in point I had a skid steer in the shop to hold a bucket I was welding on he was using a grinder on something and left it on the wheel. The next day I move the skid steer when I got to work in the morning and crunch. The shop manager told him that it should come out of his pay. Knowing that I had my own grinder and never use the shops.

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Formula

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Oct 17, 2014
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Most all the guys I've worked with all have the proper etiquette on how to borrow tools. Myself personally, if I have to borrow something more than once I buy it.

Of course, there is always one freeloader in the shop that doesn't get it. They continue to ask to borrow tools and never seem to have or invest in any themselves. You need to draw the line on those guys and cut them off. Don't worry about hurting their feelings, because they're not someone you want to be friends with anyways.
 

jakemac

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May 21, 2013
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New England
It's one thing to help a coworker out or lend a hand when they're just starting, it's quite another thing to subsidize his job without any effort on his part. Buying your own tools is an investment in your profession and your future. If he isn't committed to his job, why should you do it for him.

Hand him a 20% off coupon from Harbor Freight and tell him the free ride is over. Back it up with all the other mechanics standing behind you. To start, he only needs to buy tools that work, not top dollar tools that look pretty. He can upgrade later. I bet any new guys will also get the message by the example and start buying their own tools as well.
 
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joeyd01

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It's one thing to help a coworker out or lend a hand when they're just starting, it's quite another thing to subsidize his job without any effort on his part. Buying your own tools is an investment in your profession and your future. If he isn't committed to his job, why should you do it for him.

Hand him a 20% off coupon from Harbor Freight and tell him the free ride is over. Back it up with all the other mechanics standing behind you. To start, he only needs to buy tools that work, not top dollar tools that look pretty. He can upgrade later. I bet any new guys will also get the message by the example and start buying their own tools as well.
Well currently I work at an equipment rental house so I told him the other week that I'm going to start renting stuff to him. He hasn't asked for tools since

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thegroundpounder99

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Feb 5, 2015
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Balm Fl
It really depends on who it is, I'm friends with a lot of guys at work and I don't have a issue, but there's some I won't and that's because if your smart enough to ask then be smart enough to bring it back which they're not, therefore if I have to track it down you're not using them anymore. I also won't lend out any of my electrical related tools, don't care if we're friends or not lol.


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geartow

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Apr 6, 2015
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ohio / pa border on I80
As I work in the field( wrecker driver) I keep my shop box locked for the most part. The shop manager has a key to my box as I trust him. I lend when it is truly neeeded . One day one of the 2 lead mechanic was leaving as I came in , in the morning asked him where he was headed . He answered home a he forgot his box keys and lunch. I openened my box and let him work from it that day. The box and tools were cleaner at the end of the day than when it started, humble man who would have driven an hr and half round trip for his keys before asking to use mine. That is who I lend to.
 

GSMotorrad

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Mar 8, 2012
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Whenever you let anyone touch anything of yours, you have to be prepared to deal with how you'll handle a potentially awkward situation, if it comes back in worse shape, or if it never comes back at all. Getting mad won't help anything, but will hurt your sanity. If it's a close friend, then you try to stifle your anger, and might tell him not to worry about it, while you really wish he'd replace it - just to not deal with drama. If you do want to deal with the drama, you might end up upsetting your friend, who had the best intentions.

If you pick up a hitchhiker and they vomit in your car, it's kind of your fault for letting an unknown variable into your car in the first place.

I was at a friend's house using my headlamp for something. She said she had to run downstairs to check something real quick, and could she please borrow my headlamp, because the bulbs just went out in the stairwell. To say no would be being a jerk, really. Not helping out a friend because I value a material object too much? I let her borrow it, for the thirty seconds it took for her to run downstairs and back.

She returned and handed it to me in pieces. Of course she had a good excuse and the best intentions. She said she bent down and it fell off her head and down the stairs. I guess it's my fault for not tailor fitting my headlamp to her head and adjusting it tightly for her. It was a Fenix branded high-power LED, so it was moderately priced, but it's not really about the monetary value, is it?

My conclusion is that you kind of HAVE to let people borrow SOME things, sometimes, if you don't want your friends to think you're a jerk. The only way to keep your stuff 100% safe and sound is to never associate with any other human, ever. I haven't met anyone who treats my belongings with the same care and respect as I do - so I doubt they exist. All I know is that I never borrow anything anymore. I would feel so guilty to ask, almost like I was begging for money or something.

You could try a sign-out sheet, but that'll get ignored and discarded quickly. If only you could attach some kind of security device that would administer electric shocks to the person every 5 minutes if not returned within a reasonable time, or if not replaced when damaged. If they put a cheater-wrench over the plastic part of your hard-handle snap-on ratchet (my own father did this to me, leaving a permanent 12-point scar in my new $85 ratchet to remember him by - this was like twenty years ago, and that scar is as intense as day one), they'll endure constant painful electric shocks until they figure out a way to replace it. Let them sell plasma on the streets and pawn their first born if they must, but they'd make it right, real quick. If only.
 

Thezapper

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Mar 15, 2014
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256
Location
Toronto, Ontario
I don't borrow anything.... I buy. I don't want to deal with b/s period. i love telling my co-workers to buy there own, hell no, I just plain tell them " get your own sandwich " I love it when they look at me from the corner of their eyes coming out of the truck with goodies in my hand. I don't care if your a apprentice or been their for 100 years. My tools and knowledge is me investing in me. Why the hell would i just lend that out. That's the reason why I make the $$$ at my shop. It may sound like a ***** **** move but after doing this for over 17 years professionally I've seen it all. So to avoid any drama I keep to my self and get my own ****. It works out fine for me, I love sending out that sos to my tool dealers and they come running. No need to borrow **** from no one, I pretty much have everything that need, but come that day I need that whatever, I open the wallet and buy what I need. Even if a tech does the rounds asking the whole shop for something they will never ask me , even if they know I have it. I love it! Half of the time these guys ask the same guys for the same tools, that to me is so low, have some pride in yourself.

As far as tool allowance goes unfortunately there is none at my place .
 

crewchief888

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Dec 3, 2009
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NW indiana
Most all the guys I've worked with all have the proper etiquette on how to borrow tools. Myself personally, if I have to borrow something more than once I buy it.

Of course, there is always one freeloader in the shop that doesn't get it. They continue to ask to borrow tools and never seem to have or invest in any themselves. You need to draw the line on those guys and cut them off. Don't worry about hurting their feelings, because they're not someone you want to be friends with anyways.

i'm not at work to be friends with anybody, so i really dont care if your feelings get hurt.

i have few friends, and a few co -workers.
for me the 2 dont mix


:beer:
 

ZRX61

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Solar Blight Valley, SoCal
You get to borrow the tool once... maybe twice.. after that you better buy your own.

Lockheed had a good policy about it (from WWII):

https://scontent-lax3-1.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/318169_3501694033838_314952032_n.jpg?oh=651a0d5b6907df165c6c5feba5885202&oe=57BD645F

https://scontent-lax3-1.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/533172_3501694433848_1732412583_n.jpg?oh=a3b05155c6f834da40d4314f7116d04e&oe=5773F3A3

https://scontent-lax3-1.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/318191_3501694913860_1693761987_n.jpg?oh=a0a8e70d256b588f2a4e299496db36d2&oe=578627C5

https://scontent-lax3-1.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/303301_3501695513875_309399526_n.jpg?oh=e295ad0a9bf65ebd1c8696ff4f363ac3&oe=577FA58B
 

Backpack Hunter

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Jun 15, 2014
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NC
I used to let people borrow freely, personally never like the idea for myself. Got burned one too many times, so now I let a select few borrow with the knowledge of "you break it you buy it" and if I have to chase it back down you wont get to use it again. Myself, if I need a tool more than twice I tend to buy it.
 

Ram Hemi

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Dec 18, 2015
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100
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Sudbury, Ontario
I dis like borrowing tools, but it happens, unfortunately for me a lot
Of my stuff is in my service truck and it generally stays on the job site which is 10 hours away from home and our shop. ATM. I have quite a bit of stuff in my shop box but sometimes there are tools I need and don't have because they are in my truck, if
I know I will be needing to borrow something repeatedly I will go out and buy it or if snappy or mac are coming around (Monday and Tuesdays) then I get it off them.

As far as my service truck is concerned, operators will come get stuff, I keep a set of wrenches that the company supplied to let them use those cheapy's so when they lose them it isn't one of my good ones, that being said they still end up using my stuff but I am sometimes choosy about who uses what and always make sure they come get me when they need something so I know where to find it. It can be frustrating, operators don't realize that they might be handling 1000 dollars plus of just simple tools every day because they don't need to spend any money to do their jobs. That's just 1 of the negotiating factors when it gets a bit busier lol
 

WhiskeyRanger

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Mar 28, 2015
Messages
398
If you have to borrow it more then once, you should buy one.

I'm an electrician, so we don't have to buy nearly as many tools as a mechanic, but it still gets annoying having to deal with borrowed tools.

On the other hand, I love loaning out big stuff at home. Pancake air compressor, power washer, chainsaw... I let my boys borrow them, then they get to store them until I need them!:thumbup:
 
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stihlntime

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Jun 2, 2015
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SW Missouri Ozarks
Anymore I do not loan any tools at work. I spent my own money on many specialty tools, actually own more than our shop. If I'm not present the box is locked. On the farm I don't let anyone use the shop. Learned it doesn't pay to be nice the hard way. Too many missing tools,impacts etc.
 

F150tech

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Feb 28, 2016
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Central CT
My rule is if you borrow it a third time you need to buy your own, I might make an exception on specialty tools for specific jobs, but common stuff that gets used every day I don't loan out, if you need it every day you need to buy your own
 

Roberts210

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Dec 21, 2015
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Missouri
You get to borrow the tool once... maybe twice.. after that you better buy your own.

Lockheed had a good policy about it (from WWII):

https://scontent-lax3-1.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/318169_3501694033838_314952032_n.jpg?oh=651a0d5b6907df165c6c5feba5885202&oe=57BD645F

https://scontent-lax3-1.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/533172_3501694433848_1732412583_n.jpg?oh=a3b05155c6f834da40d4314f7116d04e&oe=5773F3A3

https://scontent-lax3-1.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/318191_3501694913860_1693761987_n.jpg?oh=a0a8e70d256b588f2a4e299496db36d2&oe=578627C5

https://scontent-lax3-1.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/303301_3501695513875_309399526_n.jpg?oh=e295ad0a9bf65ebd1c8696ff4f363ac3&oe=577FA58B

I LOVE THIS. Wish we could get reprints of this booklet.
 

Skin

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Boston
Borrowing is fine with a rapport as long as things go right back where they belong and its understood that while in their possession they own it if lost/destroyed. To a stranger its different especially if they show up on day 1 needing a common size socket or wrench. Actually reflects quite badly. Being cheap or figuring you're too good for the job and will quit in short order and as a result putting the financial burden on others is also poor form.

Within the OPs example I can understand a guy not wanting to dump $100 for a grossly overpriced tool truck light but as soon as the word "borrow" left his mouth I would of strongly hinted they go buy something comparable (and probably 75% cheaper) off Amazon ASAP. Same thing would of happened with the filter wrenches after the third of fourth request. Something along the lines of "happy to help occasionally but my stuff isn't community use".
 
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anndel

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Oct 28, 2015
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Hawaii, USA
I remember the sticker on my old tool box from 1985, "I make my living with Snap On Tools, Please Don't Ask to Borrow"

I loan tools out to people I know...well, maybe once or twice. 3rd time is a strike out and I will tell theat someone to get their own. the only person I will loan tools out is my best friend Fred. He returns them quickly and cleaner than when I loaned it to him.
 
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not-required

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Mar 6, 2011
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545
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Maui, Hawaii
I work with a great group of guys so we borrow between each other. And if we really need something no one has, we buy it for the shop and stick it in the service truck.
 

malykaii

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Apr 10, 2011
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407
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New York City, USA
Since question 1 is easy, here's question 2...

Journey Level Union Mechanic maintaining trucks for a national shipping company...
$300 check once a year.
 

Jim Diesel

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Mar 16, 2016
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Brisbane, Australia
I am happy to lend tools once or twice to the same person. Then he best be buying his own. I also let them know the price for replacement. I also ask that they return them soon as they have finished.

I expect people to understand that i have made the effort and fiscal outlay for my tools, and if they expect to be tradesman they do the same.
 

countryroad82

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Mar 18, 2011
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Kentucky
At my day job my tools are provided by the company but for some odd reason I'm about the only one on the crew that takes advantage of the fact the company buys my tools. There are some guys that are scared to death to buy so much as a 4 in 1 screwdriver! And yes I get asked constantly from some of the jackwagons to bum my tools. I'll loan out some at times but I let them know I'm the one reasponsible for xxxxx tool as its on my truck with my name on it, loose it and you're going to buy THE EXACT TOOL! Not something cheap, exactly what I had.

At my body shop, a few people I'll loan out to, but with a twist. I have a box full of my **** tools or stuff I've replaced with better products and that's what gets loaned out. I love it when some idiot asks to borrow a paint gun, in the bottom of the cabinet I keep my guns I have a pile of worn out screwed up cheap guns. I reach into the pile, pull out a complete yet dusty gun, hand it to them, and wait for the phone call that the gun I loaned out won't work. I promptly tell them HF has an awesomely cheap gun that can be had for about $20. Yeah it's dickish but it sure is funny! I haven't had someone ask in awhile, boy I kinda hope that happens soon!
 

bczygan

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DETROIT! Arsenal of Scrappers
I don't work in a shop, so my tools are all homeowner.

NONE will EVER be loaned out, PERIOD!

I avoid worry, about what care will be taken in it's use, whether it will be returned, and when.

I don't have the tool, or know where it is, or it's broken and needs repair. Those are my standard answers.

It took me all my life to acquire these tools.

Why don't you have your own?

No, I won't come over with my tool, and do your work for you. Have you been over here doing MY work for me with YOUR tools?

A even dislike, that you have taken up my time, by asking.

Curmudgeon?

Yes.

Been burned many ways, from careless use to outright theft.

Problem is now solved.

In a work situation, why don't you have the necessary tools, clothing and protective gear? Before you started work, the company should have given you a list of required tools, and provided expensive specialty tools for everyone's use. Other methods could be used by the company to get a new hire up and running. A tool allowance, or withholding from the employees check each week, to pay for a basic tool set could help.

My job as a coworker is not to provide you with the tools necessary for your work. Would you ask me to loan you a shirt and pants, or work boots, until you could buy your own?

So don't even ask.

Bill
 

ibedayank

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Feb 2, 2011
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Columbia TN
I don't work in a shop, so my tools are all homeowner.

NONE will EVER be loaned out, PERIOD!

I avoid worry, about what care will be taken in it's use, whether it will be returned, and when.


Bill

don't you have to be able to find the tools to loan them out in the first place?
 

az45

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Mar 19, 2014
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298
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Tucson
I can't think of anyone that I know well enough to ask to borrow a tool from me that wouldn't give it back. If you don't trust them enough to lend them something, you probably don't like them anyways
 

MShaw

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Mar 2, 2015
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York, Pa.
Once I loaned a wrench to a good customer of the Massey Ferguson dealer where i I worked. Several days later I asked for it back and he was actually upset that I asked for it. Never loaned since.
 

HCNDM

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Oct 20, 2015
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Netherlands (tiny little country in western Europe
homeowner tools as well here...

Neighbors tend to ask because they know i have more tools than most. I tend to decline, I simply don't want someone abusing stuff I saved up for and cant afford to replace.

On the very rare occasion I lend stuff out its under the rule you break it you buy it. Last time a neighbor wanted to borrow my mitre saw (Bosch) and found out it was 350 euro to replace if they broke it they decided on renting instead. Good thing too because the bent some teeth hitting a stud nail.

My dad has a lot of nice tools and lets me borrow regularly but the same rules apply. They come back clean lubed and in the same state you took them. Scratch / ding them you bought them. Dust or dirt on em you never borrow again. Need a circular saw for a quick job once a year fine, need it every month go buy your own. And thats my family

I thinks thats fair use policy. I was raised that way and live buy it. Don't abuse good trust, and trust only a few. I know if my dad borrows my stuff it comes back to the same spec!

When it comes to break it you buy it we have a family policy don't make someone ask for it. Replace with the identical item or preferably a little better because of the hassle you caused.
 

Jim Johnstone

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Apr 11, 2011
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Brantford, Ontario
If you need to borrow a tool 3 times, then you need to own it. There are a few exceptions where there are shop owned tools for everyone to use.

I worked at 2 shops with tool allowance. One was a flat $150 a year, but you could put money off your pay each week into it which would be taken off pre tax, so your dollars would stretch a bit further.

Another shop was a percentage thing, where they would pay 25% of your purchases up to a limit.
 
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joeyd01

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 5, 2015
Messages
51
My last shop where I got a tool allowance want by rates. A mechanic got 2k broken into 4 checks d mechanic got 500 broken into for checks. It was more of a reimbursement because most guys spent well over that. I was nice to get that amoun. The shop im at now doesn't have anything. Their excuse is people won't spend it on tools. Mechanics say then give of a credit on a truck. Well that won't work either. Then we said we need more money an hour if you want us to be able to buy tools. Company responded with well why do you have to be like that

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Xxslyer1

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 10, 2016
Messages
71
I don't borrow anything.... I buy. I don't want to deal with b/s period. i love telling my co-workers to buy there own, hell no, I just plain tell them " get your own sandwich " I love it when they look at me from the corner of their eyes coming out of the truck with goodies in my hand. I don't care if your a apprentice or been their for 100 years. My tools and knowledge is me investing in me. Why the hell would i just lend that out. That's the reason why I make the $$$ at my shop. It may sound like a ***** **** move but after doing this for over 17 years professionally I've seen it all. So to avoid any drama I keep to my self and get my own ****. It works out fine for me, I love sending out that sos to my tool dealers and they come running. No need to borrow **** from no one, I pretty much have everything that need, but come that day I need that whatever, I open the wallet and buy what I need. Even if a tech does the rounds asking the whole shop for something they will never ask me , even if they know I have it. I love it! Half of the time these guys ask the same guys for the same tools, that to me is so low, have some pride in yourself.

As far as tool allowance goes unfortunately there is none at my place .

Couldn't have said it better myself!!!! Other then shop supplied OE specialty tools which I've ended buying alot of just cause I've used them so much I felt like I had to. My thinking is like "Hey, we all work on the same stuff at the same place and see the the same tool dealers EVERY SINGLE WEEK!!!!! What's your excuse this week for not getting what you NEED!!!"
 

MattVette89

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 27, 2014
Messages
2,265
Location
SW Chicago
As I work in the field( wrecker driver) I keep my shop box locked for the most part. The shop manager has a key to my box as I trust him. I lend when it is truly neeeded . One day one of the 2 lead mechanic was leaving as I came in , in the morning asked him where he was headed . He answered home a he forgot his box keys and lunch. I openened my box and let him work from it that day. The box and tools were cleaner at the end of the day than when it started, humble man who would have driven an hr and half round trip for his keys before asking to use mine. That is who I lend to.

I'd loan my tools to that guy, too :beer:

I know a guy who owns a shop, has a tech who has been there forever and a couple of newer guys. His rule is he will lend you a tool twice. After that you have to buy it yourself.
 
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