do you give your friends your tools???

[great adventure]

dear members

I am facing allot of problems with my friends

1. they used my tools but they dont return it back in same place???

2. some times I noticed that some of my tools is missing and I dont remember
who used it or took it??? so I go and buy another one???

3. one day my friend took my silicon gun and next day I asked him
where is my silicon gun he said I dont remember where I kept it???
but he said to me yousif you got a nother one?? why dont you use it???
I told him yes I got another one but I need the one I gaved you??
he said I dont know???

4. I dont know how to deal with them... some times I am busy and they
ask for drill, drill bit and roll bolt and intrupt your work
I feel very angry??? why they dont buy tools for them????????

5. some times I clos my shutter door....but I will loos customers???

6. if I keep the shutter door closed and get a call from customers and then
I open the door... they jump in the way the monkey jump over the banana??

7. I like my friends at the same time I dont like them to intrupt my
work??they are wasting my time???? talking too much and my
problem.... I like to work not to play????

I am really getting sick these days...shall I open?? shall I close??? shall I fight

and the customers fighting me If I delay their work????

so I desided to keep closing my shutter till I finish my work

let them get angry... why shalll I

 

[gonefirefighting]

Looks like a lesson learned.

 

[shoturtle]

Just tell them you will not lean them tools anymore. As you are running a business. And do not need to have to find your tools after they use it. As it is a simple case of not showing you any respect with what they are doing.

 

[Joe B.]

The problem sounds like your friends. Not sure how you fix that other than replacing them.

 

[Scuderia-F1]

Give your friends the number to the closest Snap-on dealer, and tell them to buy their own stuff!

 

[djkeev]

Long story short, the so called friends aren't really friends at all but simply groupies who don't care about you, they are only with you for what you can provide to them for free. Cut off the perks, those "friends" will disappear in a hurry!

Dave

 

[LutzTD]

some people dont regard tools the way most here do. I had the same issue with family, I cant get a new family. They do forget about the tools they borrow because its not something they feel is important. Me, I lose sleep having a borrowed tool until it is returned. I make a special trip to return it. My family , I assume, plan to return it when they borrow, they just forget or figure next time they see me and **** its out of their head. One thing Ive found that seems to help is to paint the handle in such a way you can recognize your tool a mile away, I used bright purple when I worked in a 15 man shop, or engrave your name proudly and conspicuously so that at least the next time they take it out they will say, oh yeah I need to return this. I have also added a notebook in my garage, anything borrowed goes in the book, my memory *****. Best thing to stop family tool borrowers, I moved out of state........

 

[Chief Geek]

My neighbor and great friend had a very very well stocked garage full of snapon, mack, milwaukee, dewalt, makita, and so on. I was always needing something simple such, none of his highly specialized tools. At this point they were just tools to me, albeit expensive ones. I didn't understand his OCD when it came to them until about the 3rd or 4th time borrowing something. Instead of grabbing it for me, he waved me over to one of the numerous boxes and told me to take very detailed notes. He showed me where the specific wrench was, took it out and walked me over to one of his benches. He grabbed the spray cleaner and a rag and layed it down on the bench and said "when you bring this and any tool in the future back, you will wipe it down, even if you don't use it, and put it back where it came from. if ever you don't do this, I can't let you borrow anything again. it's nothing personal, but I have more invested in these tools then I do my house. you'll be welcome to my beer, just not my tools. any problem with that?" At that point it clicked and I maide sure everything was squared away. I think your friends are just like I used to be. Now I have lots more tools then I did back then and ever since mine all go straight back to where they started. They stay clean (for the most part) and I always know where something is when I need it. Something like this may be your best bet. In all honesty theres little difference between this and teaching a child something. They don't understand until you explain. Fail to follow rules, deal with the outcome. Simple as that. I bet most will understand once you explain the value having something where it's supposed to be.

 

[gixer007]

I hav two toll boxes and then I have smaller set in a cary case. Each on in th case has a home. Every thing is there an labled. Thats where you an borrow from. If there is some thng missing then you lost it and have to replace it. Thats how I work it. I use the case when I hit the road so its not like I went out and bought it for this reason. But is has come in handy. When they ask to borrow from one of MY tool boxes well the answer is just no. My son even knows to go to the carry case.

 

[chief ben]

Make you a Sign like this, And Stick To It.

 

[Toolman12]

This used to happen to me until i locked up my tools and demanded a deposit for each tool that they wanted to borrow it stopped pretty quick after a person actually left a $20.00 deposit for a $ 5.00 tool and did not return it so i kept the deposit this got around the shop very fast and now no one asks to borrow tools from me These people are still my friends and coworkers but i still have my tools.

 

[RVDan]

I try not to loan people tools, I try to loan them money so they can buy their own tools.

For some reason people put more value on cash than they do on tools regardless of how much the tool is worth, so you loan them money, and they disapear forever.

If you loan someone $50 and you never see them again, its definately worth it.

 

[2manytoyz]

Been burned before too. I don't loan tools. I'll gladly help a friend, or even fix/build something for them, but the tools belong in my shop, and this is where they'll stay.

If they need tools now, they will in the future. They NEED to buy their own, or go rent them. Loaning will only perpetuate the problem.

I don't ask to borrow other people's tools. I'll buy a tool if I can justify it in my own mind, or rent one if I can't (things like drain augers, stump grinders, etc).

 

[jgwood]

i have 2 friends and 1 brother that can borrow any thing i have except wife.# steo sons that can use my tools but they do not leavbe my shop no if ands or buts

 

[SGKent]

I have on occasion lent garden tools to a neighbor in an emergency but not mechanics tools. I have on occasion sold a used tool to a friend with the understanding I would buy it back at the same price if I had not acquired a new one by the time it was returned in the same condition. i guess I am selfish.

 

[Toolfool]

I have adopted a strict "no loaning/borrowing tools" policy. I don't borrow from anyone, and I don't loan to anyone. I even have "Keep Your Hands Off My Tools" stickers on my tool boxes, table saw, and miter stand that get set up on jobsites. A plumber trying to cut PVC pipe on my miter saw will get his head chewed off in a hurry. But, I am always willing to help friends and/or family with any project.

 

[Holt]

Keep your work and you personal life separate. If they true friend they may get angry when you stop lending out tools but they will get over it. Tell them straight up. I use these for a living and you either don't put them or ect. If you can cut your kid off from the cellphone you can cut your friend off from the tools.

 

[Holt]

If you don't want to cut them off just do this. Either tell them if they borrow a tool that if they dont know where it belongs to set it on top of the box or hand them a receipt and say you owe me $x.*** amount. Or it you get a hunder bucks free go to HF and go hog wild and make a loaner kit.

 

[graffix000]

As mentioned above, most people just don't understand our obsession with tools. My tools are extremely organized and I can tell you what is missing from my drawers if something is gone.

My wife's father and brother do not respect tools or anything for that matter, and I dread the times I "have" to lend them tools. It is few and far between anymore as I create a stink with the wife when they do. I have to chase them down to get the tools back and it drives me crazy. If I borrow something, it is returned as soon as I am finished and cleaned up.

I let the father in law borrow my pressure washer. It came back missing 2 nozzles and him saying that he doesn't think they were there when he got it. The washer has built in spots for the nozzles. About two weeks later, he "found" the nozzles at his place.


OP, either take a deposit for the tools, or install a dry erase board, and indicate what tool, who and when it was borrowed. Make the person borrowing write it up on the board. Should solve any disappearing tools, even if they are friends.

 

[steam_mill]

I'm lucky....My friends and I regularly loan tools to each other. They always come back. It's actually on both the borrowers and lenders impetus. Makes it easy.

We also have communal tools that get passed around as required.

Now, this is not our business or livelihood. If I were running a business, I would not be lending out my tools. What if you need that tool? What do you tell a customer? I lent it to a deadbeat?

 

[Delta74]

No problems loaning tools to friends, well all but one, i lend them, I either get NEW same or better back if its broken, or my tools cleaned, greased , washed or whatever it needs, and either put back, or next to box if they are not sure where it goes. and I do the same when I need to borrow some odd ball tool. ( friends from all trades so specialized stuffs )

same time buddy came and fixed the AC for me, while I was putting a welding plug in his garage across the street.

Long rant over, get new friends, tell them to stick it, Dont respect my things, you dont respect me.

 

[ratdoggy]

I had a friend who the only time he'd swing by my house was to borrow something. We aren't friends anymore.

 

[Syndicate]

Seems like you need new friends. The kind who are real! Those type are not really your friends and if you keep letting them, they will keep walking all over you all day long.
Real friends may need to borrow a tool every now and then, but they usually return it better than when you loaned it, or buy you a new one if anything happens to it. Also real friends know when they need to go buy a tool because they borrowed it more than 1 time.

 

[Macgyver_ga]

I had a roomate that would borrow my tools to work on his car. He would never put them back in the same place he found them or put them back covered in grease. I told him numerous times I didn't appreciate it. I eventually started locking my tool box and kept the key with me. He got the hint and bought his own tools.

One time he used some Acetone I had in the garage and replaced it with mineral sprits. I went to use the acetone to clean something and it didn't smell right and left a greasy film. I was pissed!

His girlfriend would also use my nice stainless pots and pans to cook and just leave them in the sink with food still in them and not bother cleaning them. That started a lot of arguments. I don't care if you use my stuff, just clean it and leave it in the same or better condition than you found it and put it back where you found it.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

I try to no let others handle my tool.

 

[martinm13]

I have this problem with my family. Not so much with friends though. If friends want to work on stuff, I just tell them to come over and use the tools in my garage. That way they don't leave the building and therefore they don't get lost. As for my family, I took some of my old screwdrivers, hammers, adjustable wrenches, etc. and bought a small plastic tool box. Made up a tool kit for household repairs and it stays in the back closet. I feel like an ******* locking up my toolbox in my own house so this is my solution instead.

 

[tonym]

give? not a chance....

I have 1 friend that rather do the work for you before he would set you free in his box

 

[Keep]

If I am there when they use them, yes I will.

If they want to take them away from my house, no. To much money invested to let it walk away. Some people just do not get it.

 

[tonym]

If I am there when they use them, yes I will.

If they want to take them away from my house, no. To much money invested to let it walk away. Some people just do not get it.

when you say some ppl ur talking about "ALL" my friends

and they ***** about the dollar menu.....that socket you lost cost me 30 cheese burgers

 

[Maexle]

tools are made for work with them, and if a friend asks for help, no problem, BUT: if i loan a tool to a "friend" and he doesn't bring it back in a certain amount of time (or not at all), he'll never ever be able to get anything from me again, PERIOD!! Not even the cheapest screw driver...

 

[Jarhead0408]

No tools loaned No tools lost.
If my family needs to work on a vehicle they bring it to my shop, not my tools to their car.
I don't have alot of highend stuff like a lot of guys here, but I still worked hard and chose carefully to build the set of tools that I have.

 

[Honda guy]

The last shop I worked at had LOTS of turnover and was bad about hiring tech wannabies, and young guys fresh out of motorcycle mechanic school. Of course, these guys didn't have much for tools and constantly wanted to borrow stuff. I learned not to be Mr. nice guy, and found that it's best to lay down the law from day one. I let new co-workers know exactly what my "tool rules" are, and if I come across as a bit of an ***, so much the better.

On the other hand, once they've earned my trust and respect, I don't mind loaning most tools.

 

[1jjpop]

I had a friend that would borrow-borrow.He would drive clear accross town to borrow a feeler guage 99 cent item. I got tired of his borrowing , so i told him when he borrowed stuff of mine and it wasn't in my shop , when I needed it,I would buy one and charge it to him.Only had to do it once he got the hint, I also keep my shop locked full time to keep him out...He is cheap cheap..

 

[Zeke]

I open the door... they jump in the way the monkey jump over the banana??

That's a new one for sure.

Funny, I have some tools, more than most, certainly less than some. They range from painting and construction to mechanics and machining. Welding and metal working as well as woodworking. Not very many ask to borrow anything.

The pressure washer is one I have lent out more than once. And a torch for roofing.
The guy used it to kill weeds.

 

[great adventure]

thank you very much for your great recommendations and quick reply
I will answer all of you when I get the time....everything you mentioned above
hapend to me.. and as you said people dont respect the tools????

I were talking with my wife last night about your recommendations..
she said to me tell your friends directly face to face to avoid loosing any tools.

listen to this
=========

one day one of my frined borrow my jigsaw.... and after he finished he called me
at work he said on your way to home please pass and take
your jigsaw?? loooool

read this from my uncle
==================

my uncle is a good carpenter...he died 5 years ago

my uncle friend borrow aluminium lader... but my uncle told his friend you must pay me
usd 20 and when you bring the lader back will pay you your money ok deal??

his friend paid the usd 20 and took the lader home, after one week my uncle hired one
pic-up and went to his friend to bring the lader back home and he paid the usd 20
for transportation??? no one care loool

other joke
----------

my friend borrowed the hole saw and the drill... after he finished he return the drill plus
the hole saw... but the problem the hole saw is broken???

he said to me yousif go and buy a new hole saw and I will pay you the money??
this is the same guy to borrowd my jigsaw ... I bought new hole saw but up to
now he did not pay the money... or see his face again???


my recommendation to you all... when you give a tools to any one please put a note
name of the person, date, and the type of tools????? as if you dont remember who took
your tools....he might keep your tools with him for ever...till you rememer????
but if you remember after one year....he will say I already return it back to you...????

thank you again.. and now i can sleep my night loool

 

[sfm1951]

My dog is the only one in my shop that lends his tools out. At least he knows his way home. Steve

 

[rburke65]

Just say "No".

 

[Thruxton]

No. .

 

[Mgcjmmy]

This is my first post.
You seem like a nice guy, so it's easy for people to take advantage of you if they know you're not gonna get upset to their face.
Grow a pair and tell the free-loaders f-off.

 

[great adventure]

I have adopted a strict "no loaning/borrowing tools" policy. I don't borrow from anyone, and I don't loan to anyone. I even have "Keep Your Hands Off My Tools" stickers on my tool boxes, table saw, and miter stand that get set up on jobsites. A plumber trying to cut PVC pipe on my miter saw will get his head chewed off in a hurry. But, I am always willing to help friends and/or family with any project.

dear toolfool

when I started boats building at eighties I brorrowed one big grinder
from my friend father workshop...I went home and tried to find long wire so
I can reach the boat...outside my home...

after I connected all the wire's and ready to start the grinder trigger
some one touched my sholder and asked me to retun the grinder back
immediately to the workshop as they want to close at 4 pm????

I gave the man the grinder...with a wide smile and learned a nice
lesson.. to do not borrow a tools from any one...

I bought myself a new big grinder called (kress) made in germany
and I used this tools for more than 16 years...

after 16 years my friend father nocked my door asking to borrow my
grinder... and I gaved him the grinder..
after 5 days of hard working he returnd my grinder with damaged carbon\
brushes???