Irked @ Friends" borrowing the dumbest things....

[AZ Pete]

I completely agree with you! Last year I got so pissed about the same lady asking to use my 12' a-frame ladder, so I decided to sell it in a yard sale. She came by and I kindly pointed out. Then get this she says "why would I buy anything like that when I just borrow it all the time", lets just say she nor will any member of her family borrow anything again. So pissed!

I had a boss like that. He never bought anything, always borrowed it...even from the company. A nice guy, but so cheap it was unbelievable.

 

[gatewaysysop]

I had a boss like that. He never bought anything, always borrowed it...even from the company. A nice guy, but so cheap it was unbelievable.

Can do you one better on the boss stories. I had a woman that was so lazy she wouldn't even re-stock from the supply cabinet 30 ft. away. Instead, when she lost a pen (daily) in a conference room or something, she'd just lift one from the nearest employee of hers (or their cube) at the time. I actually caught her going through my drawers looking for a pen once. Never brought them back, because she invariable lost those too. Mine were rather expensive and high quality, so they got locked up right quick.

She is but one of the many examples of why I never, ever loan out tools.

 

[KERTWOOD]

I have no one who I call friend and like the X files I trust no none, enter my property and you risk leaving in a bag, I borrow from no one and lend to no one.

Just skimmed over this thread and I couldn't agree more.. It's sad to say but that's how it goes these days!

 

[jnw010]

I remember a mate asking to borrow a bit of plastic off a big roll I had to cover up something he had to store. Fair enough, I lent him the roll and you can guess the rest. He triple wrapped his stuff using way way more than he needed which was a piss take in itself, and then a few months later when he got the stuff out of storage he took the perfectly good plastic (it was nice thick stuff) and put it out for the bins. When I saw it out, I was genuinely furious. All he had to do was fold it up and it was good to use again. Wasn't cheap stuff, but then hey, not as if he paid for it.
Since then I've been a bit more reluctant with my generosity.

 

[gatewaysysop]

...All he had to do was fold it up and it was good to use again. Wasn't cheap stuff, but then hey, not as if he paid for it.
Since then I've been a bit more reluctant with my generosity.

Hit the nail on the head. People rarely take good care of something they got for free, much less something they see no value in owning for themselves.

 

[Leevon]

I hate to loan or borrow tools just for the simple fact that if it breaks...things can get weird. On the rare occasion that I do borrow, I do what my Dad taught me, return it in better shape! Borrow the lawn mower, then wash it and sharpen the blade, etc.

I had a neighbor, genuine guy and he was the same way. We started one-upping each other.

 

[Garage Dog]

Years ago, I had a friend borrow a 9" Milwaukee grinder for a project he was working on over the winter. I know this guy really well and few months later I asked for it back; he said that I was confused and that he was 100% certain he had returned it. We both looked in our shops again, no luck... Had someone else borrowed it, could I have misplaced it? I was at a loss, so after a month of not being able to find it, I went out and bought another one for $200+.

You can guess what happened can't you? A year and a half later he shows up one day and says; your never going to guess what I found in my shop today - your grinder!

The same guy managed to bend the T-handle for my 3/4" socket set. I was able to pretty much straighten it in my press, but really?

These are a couple of the experiences that always makes me hesitant to lend tools or equipment even to people I trust.

 

[Albiemanmike]

I hate to loan or borrow tools just for the simple fact that if it breaks...things can get weird. On the rare occasion that I do borrow, I do what my Dad taught me, return it in better shape! Borrow the lawn mower, then wash it and sharpen the blade, etc.

I had a neighbor, genuine guy and he was the same way. We started one-upping each other.

I almost never need to borrow anything because i have invested a lot of money over the years in my current tools so I have pretty much everything i need when i need it. But i needed to split some firewood last year. I had previously split it using an awesome Fiskars splitting axe that I bought. The thing is amazing and makes splitting wood by hand almost fun. But this time around i had a lot of wood to split and it was green. So I asked my buddie if i could borrow his splitter as i had come up empty trying to find a cheap one on CL. It took a lot to even ask him but as I expected he didn't even blink and said sure. So I used it without issue and when I was done I completely washed and cleaned it. Then i changed the spark plug and did an oil change with Mobil 1 synthetic. Brought it back to him better than I had received it and had no worries.

 

[Norcal]

I used to have a half ton truck parked at a friends place, his uncle decided to "borrow" the battery putting a hole in the case in the process then putting some RTV silicone to patch it, to put it kindly I was rather irked.

 

[Outlander]

My sister-in-law (wife's sister) wants to "borrow" our cottage for a week in August for a vacation! Geeze, I wish I could have a free vacation where someone else pays the mortgage.

Maybe I am being petty....who knows.....

 

[X1 Mike]

One of the all time funniest threads ever. Awful worked up about a rake.

SERENITY NOW!!!!


http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...MKepxQ6Sj11PYaJ-X0DzEqw&bvm=bv.45960087,d.eWU

 

[914wilhelm]

All kind of reminds me about uncle Milt:

"There are four ways in which you can spend money," Milton Friedman said. "You can spend your own money on yourself. When you do that, why then, you really watch out what you're doing, and you try to get the most for your money.

"Then you can spend your own money on somebody else. For example, I buy a birthday present for someone. Well, then I'm not so careful about the content of the present, but I'm very careful about the cost."

"Then," he continued, "I can spend somebody else's money on myself. And if I spend somebody else's money on myself, then I'm sure going to have a good lunch! Finally, I can spend somebody else's money on somebody else. And if I spend somebody else's money on somebody else, I'm not concerned about how much it is, and I'm not concerned about what I get. And that's government. And that's close to 40 percent of our national income."

 

[JimVonBaden]

All kind of reminds me about uncle Milt:

"There are four ways in which you can spend money," Milton Friedman said. "You can spend your own money on yourself. When you do that, why then, you really watch out what you're doing, and you try to get the most for your money.

"Then you can spend your own money on somebody else. For example, I buy a birthday present for someone. Well, then I'm not so careful about the content of the present, but I'm very careful about the cost."

"Then," he continued, "I can spend somebody else's money on myself. And if I spend somebody else's money on myself, then I'm sure going to have a good lunch! Finally, I can spend somebody else's money on somebody else. And if I spend somebody else's money on somebody else, I'm not concerned about how much it is, and I'm not concerned about what I get. And that's government. And that's close to 40 percent of our national income."

Funny! True for many! In my department, we pinch pennies while watching others burn dollars!


Jim

 

[Playwme]

My sister-in-law (wife's sister) wants to "borrow" our cottage for a week in August for a vacation! Geeze, I wish I could have a free vacation where someone else pays the mortgage.

Maybe I am being petty....who knows.....

Are you going to be using it that week? If not, then I'd say you were being petty. Unless of course she's a habitual sponge who always takes, takes ,takes. If she's decent then they'll buy you a case of beer or chuck in $100 for power/water for the week. I wouldn't think about charging immediate family for something that's not being used anyway though.

I lend stuff out all the time. Worst story I've had was when my truck came back from a mate, I didn't use it for a couple of days and next trip I did the brake pedal went right to the floor. He must have reversed over something cause a rear line was damaged. I pulled another off my spare parts truck and to be honest didnt even mention it to him. I'd gotten plenty of favours from him over the years. I had stored (and had full use of) his motorbike for about a year, his wife had hooked me up with some (good) cars that her work just wanted rid of no cost, I could always rely on him to help out when I needed a spare pair of hands.
Karma runs in a big circle. Be a bit choosy but don't be a complete Scrooge.

 

[Automatic Slim]

My portable air compressor suddenly has a sliced hose, and despite him mentioning the need to air up tires on his dolly, he just borrows mine....... hmmm....... he did not come clean about the compressor hose, but it was like someone took a knife to it or ran over it with the mower.

Bucket on wheelbarrow ripped free from the bolt, I don't recall the moment that it happened in my care......... hmmmmmm...


Update: New deadbolt, cable secured lawn equpiment w/ masterlock implemented.

For all those concerned: The garden rake made it back alive.


Simply put: This "friend" doesn't take care of things like his own. Takes my gas, weedeater line, and equipment and never comes back in good status. All of his sh*t is broke down............ uhmmmmmmmm.... there ya' go, says alot.


Got to figure he likes to borrow my stuff, becomes I am a maintenance freak and keep everything running.

 

[red-ryder]

my son-in-law was in the borrow then 'break/ mutilate' OR never return mode, did not take me long to loan and remind him of my tools in his possesion SOON afterward!
now-a-days i 'gift' him tools, normally from garage/estate sales. figger once he has his own tools the 'do you have a ______ i can borrow?', requests will end......
he is known for breaking the handles of shovels and rakes, and has recently taken to buying metal and fiberglas 'handled' tools.
i loaned my 2 inch ball mount, forgot who i loaned/'gifted-it-to', last time i loaned my trailer tow attachments out!

my personal philosophy---------borrow 'IT' once, need 'IT' a second time---it is time to buy 'IT'! NEVER LOAN A TOOTHBRUSH!

 

[pappy59]

I have similar the same problem, except the neighbor just happens to come in and just happens to start using things w/o even asking first, has gone so far as to move the things off the saw horses that I happen to be using, and puts his things down and goes to work, looks like some adjustments are in line!

 

[Polski-Chevy]

I let my neighbor use my lift to work on his car. The car was there for a few days. I went to the garage fridge to get a beer and they were all gone. He drank them.
During this same time, I came home in the afternoon and he had his car outside my garage. It was all masked off and he was spray painting the roof on his car. My garage doors were open and my two 67 GTO's were right inside the door. I went ballistic on him.
Told to get the eff out and don't come back.

I hope he is banned for life!

That completely sounds like something my adult teen I'm raising would do, he lives right down the street, and I cringe when he asks for something, the problem is he's my Father-in-law

 

[Tarheelgarage]

You guys who have neighbors that just walk into your shop and take tools without asking; what the hell kind of neighborhood/place you livin' in, some damn hippy commune?????

 

[JimVonBaden]

You guys who have neighbors that just walk into your shop and take tools without asking; what the hell kind of neighborhood/place you livin' in, some damn hippy commune?????

I was wondering the same thing. I am happy to loan a tool or two to friends, but I know of no one that would just walk in my garage and take a tool without asking, even if they could.

Jim

 

[Chaznsc]

Maybe you should wrap up a metal rake and give it to them on the next "special occasion" like Christmas or a birthday.....

Or like "TUESDAY".

This an interesting, and somewhat disturbing, conversation

 

[crewchief888]

I have no one who I call friend and like the X files I trust no none, enter my property and you risk leaving in a bag, I borrow from no one and lend to no one.

That would be why I hang alone.

You guys who have neighbors that just walk into your shop and take tools without asking; what the hell kind of neighborhood/place you livin' in, some damn hippy commune?????

I was wondering the same thing. I am happy to loan a tool or two to friends, but I know of no one that would just walk in my garage and take a tool without asking, even if they could.

Jim

most of the people i thought were my "friends" werent really a friend, just someone i know....
i grew apart from most people i know for one reason or another, by "conflict", work squedules, family life, ect.
if thats the way it's to be, then i'll stand alone..
i do have one guy i consider a true friend, he's called me in desperation more than once with family issues, and i dropped what i was doing and helped out till the wee hours of the morning.
he's the guy i'd call to help dispose of a body if needed..

hell my garage is unlocked, and i dont know anybody foolish enough to walk in and help themselves.
i have a couple neighbors that have asked to borrow tools, i'm more than willing and able to help out, but the tools come back to my garage when i leave.

 

[Maexle]

My neighbor is a good guy, but, when it comes to tools, he thinks he can make a frame up restoration with a leatherman.

Right now he's restoring ( trying to) a '64 caddy, a couple of weeks ago i heard him grinding and grinding...guess what, he tried to cut out some rusted through sheet metal at the trunk lid with a Dremel ( and i am not talking about one square inch, that was about half the size of the lid), i walked over and told him to put the toy down and brought my Hilti, job was done with a clean cut in 2 minutes.

After i finished (yes i did cut it), i told him i will send him a link to a nice Metabo angle grinder, and, good on him, he immediately ordered it.

Since then, he borrowed a 19mm socket (which was in his garage for days after he finished the jobs) and some welding magnets, which are still M.I.A. ....

Like i said, he's a good guy, but he lives in a dream world, thinking he can do a decent job without decent tools.

I made my mind up, next time he walks in, i will turn on the computer and while he's here, we order the stuff he needs on the spot (it's not like his family is suffering) or even drive with him to the next hardware store to get the stuff.

If he would brought back the tools right after the job is done: no problem, you're welcome to use some of my basic tools (NO power tools period).

My opinion: borrow ONE tool at the time, job finished, bring it back immediately (50ft of walking and i hand out beer) in the same condition as you received it, then you can have the next one, but don't let it sit there and get lost (not the most organized garage anyways) , period.

I just hate to remind people to bring back stuff i have loaned them (bad memories about a co-worker who owed me quiet some chunk of money). I feel bad about doing this and i shouldn't feel bad about trying to help someone out.

 

[PT Doc]

To the OP.......Man you are just too damn trusting. Way too trusting.

The guys I worked with at work I considered friends. Most of them I trained to be a machinist. When I brought my box home, I found out that there was about 30-50 things missing. I made a list and have it around somewhere. Someone picked the lock and removed the items. I have a good idea who did it and who has the tools. But to prove it, I'd have to have access to the shop, which once you are out of there, there is no going back in.

I have a lockbox mounted on the outside of my garage that has a key to the garage, house, and shed. It's heavy duty and has pushbutton code to get into it. So if we are locked out of the house, or if per chance we would happen to be gone and needed someone to check on something, we can make a phone call and give them the code.

But as far as someone coming in and borrowing something without telling me, that ain't happenin'. I would never ever consider going into someones garage without talking to them in person. And if I did go into the garage WITH their permission, I sure as hell wouldn't be taking someone else in with me. Like I said above, even the ones you consider friends will be the first ones to **** you over.

And to borrow a rake? Tell them to get in the car and buy their own damn rake!!!! I;d be embarrassed to even ask someone to borrow a rake. The days of Herb Woodley and Dagwood Bumstead don't work today.

This is the type I have (Supra). And it is fairly heavy built.

I would guess that has 120 unique codes. Not too difficult to get past.

 

[ZRX61]

I would guess that has 120 unique codes. Not too difficult to get past.

If you can use the same numbers more than once, it has 1 million codes.

 

[BellyUpFish]

This thread reminds me, I let a friend borrow a tool I haven't gotten back and yet, he keeps bugging me daily to buy a 10" Craftsman Tablesaw from him..

 

[BellyUpFish]

I would guess that has 120 unique codes. Not too difficult to get past.

Really depends on how long a code it will let you use..

10 digit code? That's a billion, literally, combinations.

 

[emerson73114]

It's a four digit combination and you can only use each number one time.

 

[Bandit1170]

I don't lend tools out, if at all possible. I'd rather help you do the job then lend you my tools. The other day my neighbor, who I've only really spoken too occasional, greetings and salutations and what not, came across the street and asked to borrow an extension cord. Said she just ran over hers with the electric lawn mower or mulcher she was using. I suddenly remembered I don't own any extension cords.

 

[Kevin C]

At least his hoe wasn't missing...

 

[Supe]

My neighbor borrows **** all the time. But he asks.They have a emergency key to our house but never enter unless they ask or tell us. He even jokes that between his dad and I he never had to buy anything. He even borrows basic things he should own such as a six foot step ladder and a adjustable wrench.

He jokes... laugh at him when you refuse to loan that adjustable wrench. I'm not American so don't know the going price for a couple of adjustable wrenches at HF but I wouldn't be surprised if you said $15. Is he on food stamps?

You'd be doing him a favour to refuse.

 

[PT Doc]

If you can use the same number more than once, it has 1 million codes.

123 132 213 231 321 & 312 count as the same code. So 1 million possibilities are not even remotely possible.

 

[BellyUpFish]

Nevermind...

 

[uniballer]

Silence the 19yo! Take care of loose ends before you are robbed, trust no one!

 

[krivasgarage]

General rule about borrowing things. If someone needs something more than one time they should go buy it.

Rule I lived by in the shop.

 

[drummer5359]

My ex-wife was always grabbing a screwdriver, pliers, tape measure, etc, out of my tool box and I'd find it somewhere in the house later. (No, that's not why she became my ex...) It did drive me nuts. I eventually bought a small 3 drawer Craftsman box and put it in the basement stocked with plenty of basic tools. When she would loose something she had to find it after that. The big box in the garage stayed locked.

An for lending tools to friends, I'm retired so I end up accompanying my tools and helping with whatever projects they are into.

 

[Mister Laugh]

123 132 213 231 321 & 312 count as the same code. So 1 million possibilities are not even remotely possible.

I might be missing something here, but I don't see how those are the same. My parents use the same lock box at thier house. By my rough calculations there are 5040 codes to it.

 

[lowcountrygamecock]

When I was in college I came home from class one day and my roomate says, I hope you don't mind but I left my toothbrush at my girlfriends house so I borrowed yours. Really?? A toothbrush?? I went straight to the dollar store and bought a supply so he would have one from then on. Great guy and we still get together occasionally but that grossed me out.

 

[Kevin54]

I would guess that has 120 unique codes. Not too difficult to get past.

10,000 four digit combinations. Ten digits 0-9 for the first part of the combination, ten possible digits for the second number, ten possible digits for your third number, and ten possible digits for the last number.

10x10x10x10=10,000

So it's difficult enough to get past for most people. If someone wants in bad enough, they'll just kick in a door or bust out a window. But just like the cockroach a thief is, lights scare them away. A neon light or two plus a traffic light, is enough to see anyone. Then the door and windows are at the house side and front. I have one window in the back, but I can see someone standing there if I'm in the family room. No windows on the other side nor on the back towards the neighbors. And I carry insurance. It may not be the best thing to have, but it's handy, and someone isn't going to be standing there to try out every different combo. If he does happen to get in, he best hope he gets out too. That's my advantage of being a very light sleeper with a window open.

 

[ducktapeguy]

I might be missing something here, but I don't see how those are the same. My parents use the same lock box at thier house. By my rough calculations there are 5040 codes to it.

If it's similar to the ones I have, the lock can not distinguish the order of numbers. Each number can only be used once, its either on or off, ultimately the lock only looks to see if all the right numbers are pressed at the end. So for the 3 digit combination, there's actually 6 combinations that would work to open it. So the number of possible combinations is greatly reduced by n!.