bcradio
Well-known member
My personal opinion is that they need to have some investment in this as well. They need to be helping with all of this not having it done for them.
Lending Tools...Yes or No?
- Thread starter Renegade1LI
- Start date
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
crewchief888
Well-known member
funny this thread has popped back up, last week i got a call and voicemail from a tech from the same company that i work for, (altho he works in a different division) asking me if i had a way for him to chase some metric threads on a hyd cyl rod.
sorry nope dont have anything like that,
he come back with "but i borrowed *** from you the last time a couple years ago"
"guess you should have bought *** by now"
he got pissed and hung up
sorry nope dont have anything like that,
he come back with "but i borrowed *** from you the last time a couple years ago"
"guess you should have bought *** by now"
he got pissed and hung up
and that is understandable up there. willing to bet it's a cooperative world up there between neighbors and co-workers where the tool store is right down the road about 50 miles and everyone realizes it's better to get along this way and to show responsibility by returning borrowed items. this ain't necessarily true in the "civilized" lower states
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
funny this thread has popped back up, last week i got a call and voicemail from a tech from the same company that i work for, (altho he works in a different division) asking me if i had a way for him to chase some metric threads on a hyd cyl rod.
sorry nope dont have anything like that,
he come back with "but i borrowed *** from you the last time a couple years ago"
"guess you should have bought *** by now"
he got pissed and hung up
Yup, borrowing always seems to be a one way street.
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
Well, why it the heck would anyone be loaning out a tool if they actually needed it returned? 
Well, thinking this is how some borrowers think.
Well, thinking this is how some borrowers think."Neither borrower nor lender be." (Proverbs)
Quoted advice of the ages notwithstanding, I keep around old or cheap import tools that I have retired or replaced with better.
When someone wants to borrow a tool... I cheerfully say surely, and hand them the version of tool that I don't or won't use anymore, and will never miss if it is never returned.
Beggars and borrowers cannot be choosers, so they have to accept whatever tool I hand them that fits the description of their request.
This substantially reduces and most often eliminates any bad feelings that arise from saying "no."
It also preserves my most cherished Go To tools from getting damaged, lost, or "stolen."
As an example... If someone wants to borrow wire stripper / crimpers, I say "absolutely" and hand them a pair of the flat stamped import all purpose wiring tool that came included free with some other wiring or tool kit. My 55 year old forged STA-KON crimper stays safe in my drawer.
Another example... If someone wants to borrow an electric driver / drill, I hand them my 14.4 volt NiMh kit with two batteries, a charger and the tool they requested. My Makita 18V Li-Ion kit stays safe with me. I do sometimes wonder how many times they have to swap batteries back and forth to finish their job.
Funny thing is, they always bring the tools that I don't want back.
But more significantly, they also never ask to borrow my tools again.
I've literally seen at least three of my neighbors over the years immediately go out and buy themselves better tools, after their experience borrowing mine. Problem solved forever.
Quoted advice of the ages notwithstanding, I keep around old or cheap import tools that I have retired or replaced with better.
When someone wants to borrow a tool... I cheerfully say surely, and hand them the version of tool that I don't or won't use anymore, and will never miss if it is never returned.
Beggars and borrowers cannot be choosers, so they have to accept whatever tool I hand them that fits the description of their request.
This substantially reduces and most often eliminates any bad feelings that arise from saying "no."
It also preserves my most cherished Go To tools from getting damaged, lost, or "stolen."
As an example... If someone wants to borrow wire stripper / crimpers, I say "absolutely" and hand them a pair of the flat stamped import all purpose wiring tool that came included free with some other wiring or tool kit. My 55 year old forged STA-KON crimper stays safe in my drawer.
Another example... If someone wants to borrow an electric driver / drill, I hand them my 14.4 volt NiMh kit with two batteries, a charger and the tool they requested. My Makita 18V Li-Ion kit stays safe with me. I do sometimes wonder how many times they have to swap batteries back and forth to finish their job.
Funny thing is, they always bring the tools that I don't want back.
But more significantly, they also never ask to borrow my tools again.
I've literally seen at least three of my neighbors over the years immediately go out and buy themselves better tools, after their experience borrowing mine. Problem solved forever.
Kurt4440
Well-known member
It is tough dealing with extended family, but, I think you need to be very clear with your niece's father in law. He sounds like the guy who needs to be spoken with one on one, so he doesn't try to leverage the female sympathy because he is "helping the kids out", while screwing up your tools.
Besides, give him an inch and he will take everything.
Retired dozer fixer
Well-known member
Not no…but HELL NO
A blue Ryobi impact driver, battery, charger + bag was lent out last year to a coworker. The Ryobi was one of my "official" lender power tools and it's probably not coming home.
My pristine Gorilla crowbar was lent out to another coworker and returned beaten, dented and dirty. I filed down all the rough edges and treated the surface rust to make it mine again.
An extra large Channellock plier was lent out this past fall to another coworker and was returned in great shape and solved her problem.
**Well 1 out 3 borrowers exceeded my expectations so I think I'm done with lending tools for a while .....
My pristine Gorilla crowbar was lent out to another coworker and returned beaten, dented and dirty. I filed down all the rough edges and treated the surface rust to make it mine again.
An extra large Channellock plier was lent out this past fall to another coworker and was returned in great shape and solved her problem.
**Well 1 out 3 borrowers exceeded my expectations so I think I'm done with lending tools for a while
.....BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
Such a request would likely bring Me to laughter, with a reply such as: "Really? - That's not happening."
I'll lend myself usually, to just about anyone I can help.
For a good friend, I'll loan my tools and take whatever happens. I've got good friends, so mainly it's been a non-issue.
I have built up a pretty solid set of tools I go to car shows with, and while none of them are close to ****, I can live with it if they get hurt/lost/pinched.
If you're not a friend, not willing to let me accompany my tools, or are a presumptuous twit, you get nothing.
For a good friend, I'll loan my tools and take whatever happens. I've got good friends, so mainly it's been a non-issue.
I have built up a pretty solid set of tools I go to car shows with, and while none of them are close to ****, I can live with it if they get hurt/lost/pinched.
If you're not a friend, not willing to let me accompany my tools, or are a presumptuous twit, you get nothing.
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the tools that i have lent out, have never made it back home, not one, so it more just like give it to them, well couple week ago a friend wants to borrow my sheet metal bender to do his trim, that means it be gone a couple years and problem be thrown in a shed with junk on it or stolen in the lowes parking lot, i cant afford to keep replace tools that get loaned out, so last week it fell overboard from the boat while i was crossing the load from the fishing camp, sorry dont have one any more
CGarage
Well-known member
When in doubt…..
Offer the tool…….and accompany it…….
With your expertise.
Win-win all around. Ask that they provide lunch or drinks for after.
Offer the tool…….and accompany it…….
With your expertise.
Win-win all around. Ask that they provide lunch or drinks for after.
I have no idea who my neighbors are. Closest ones are farther than I feel like walking.
I don't spend much time at home. Probably been there less than total of 100 days in the last year.
I like the borrower nor lender be approach. I loan stuff out to family I have no problem with but obviously it's easy to overlook returning it.
I tend to not borrow or loan to friends. Sometimes I've borrowed or loaned out a tool and then it breaks (no fault to the user). It creates for an awkward conversation in terms of replacement.
I tend to not borrow or loan to friends. Sometimes I've borrowed or loaned out a tool and then it breaks (no fault to the user). It creates for an awkward conversation in terms of replacement.
Oof - I have a completely different mentality on cars. We've loaned our family cars so often I've lost count. Many times to a couple who are great friends when they'd come to the US for long visits and others. I sent my sister-in-law home (who lives 2.5 hours away) in the family Volvo since she needed to get home and I was stumped at what was happening after I replaced her starter (turned out to be a ground strap I hadn't touched, but was barely held in before and apparently knocked loose during my work). We actually left for a month-long vacation, so just had her keep it. It came back with a big pucker in a corner of the rear bumper. I'm obviously not happy, but whatever - it's a car.
I guess the circle of people I'd loan a car to is much smaller (close friends), but I'm less cranky about it for some reason. I guess it's because people tend to know it is a valuable thing and treat it as such (I don't have a pickup
), where lots of people don't know much if anything about tools. With the exception of the story above I've never had any problems loaning vehicles to close friends and family. Ultimately, I like the people better than the cars. (Though I don't loan out my old BMW - I doubt anyone would ask anyway)Not just a car; it's your insurance and overall financial standing when something happens. One accident and life can change in a big way.
I've been called in for jury duty several times and listened to the crazy claims that go to trial and the pool of people that made out like bandits because of that. Makes me disgusted but that is our world now.
My insurance covers me either way (I actually checked more deeply before a summer-long loan a few years ago). I'm not saying what you're referring to is wrong or doesn't happen, but I'm not living my life in that kind of fear, at least on this particular point. FWIW, I wouldn't give my fast BMW to a teenager or anything like that, but our daily cars are mainly just 'normal' cars that aren't going to encourage shenanigans, and honestly the small group I'm referring to is past all that anyway.
Kurt4440
Well-known member
Oof - I have a completely different mentality on cars. We've loaned our family cars so often I've lost count. Many times to a couple who are great friends when they'd come to the US for long visits and others. I sent my sister-in-law home (who lives 2.5 hours away) in the family Volvo since she needed to get home and I was stumped at what was happening after I replaced her starter (turned out to be a ground strap I hadn't touched, but was barely held in before and apparently knocked loose during my work). We actually left for a month-long vacation, so just had her keep it. It came back with a big pucker in a corner of the rear bumper. I'm obviously not happy, but whatever - it's a car.
I guess the circle of people I'd loan a car to is much smaller (close friends), but I'm less cranky about it for some reason. I guess it's because people tend to know it is a valuable thing and treat it as such (I don't have a pickup
Can I borrow your old BMW?
I have owned BMW cars and motorcycles for over 30 years.
I lent one brother-in-law my truck for over a year, along with my Stihl 084 chainsaw. However, I would not do the same for the other brother-in-law.
When we get past the minutia, men don't want to lend things to disrespectful and untrustworthy people, even if they are family.
gfd_703
Well-known member
There are loaning tools and using tools, the two are not the same. I have neighbors that can come get $250,000 tractors just by giving me a call and others that I would not loan a life preserver if they were in the ocean drowning. The secret is figuring out which category everyone fits in.
OP
Renegade1LI
Well-known member
The funny thing is most of the people you would lend to probably wouldn't borrow.
In the 15 years I've owned it, I bet I could count the number of drivers other than me on one hand, including the mechanic - lol. Might be one finger into another hand.
So no.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
A circular saw should be what you use to cut circles, am I right?
Meursault74
Well-known member
Then that would be called a hole saw. We know 'cause we're tool guys.A circular saw should be what you use to cut circles, am I right?
I don't know or care about a lot of things. The other day the neighbor was telling me about his dog. Naming the different breed mix etc. I don't have a clue or care. They all bark and sniff you and **** on your lawn. That's all I need to know about your fleabag so get him away from me make sure you pick up his **** from my lawn. I'm pretty sure he could have a nice conversation with another dog owner and they'd know about the different breeds.
I'm pretty sure non tool people don't know a circular saw, from a table saw, from a jig saw, from a hole saw, from a reciprocating saw etc
Dagny
Well-known member
If they cost over 50,000 dollars then I GO WITH THEM.
no drilling needed?
You would not want to drill this one!!no drilling needed?
Meursault74
Well-known member
My wife is not on that list ever since she asked if my precision diagonal cutters were a good choice to cut some coat hangers.
My first wife ruined a pair of precision diag cutters cutting the eye off of needles to hang pictures....
I kept the garage and my tools locked after that....
LynnW
Miss the Pontiacs
Well-known member
I will lend out tools but in some cases it is a reciprocal arrangement. A couple of guys it is a definite no as I have learnt my lessons with people who don’t give a ****.
I learned my lesson a couple of weeks ago. I needed my torque wrench. Not in the drawer not in either vehicle as I had taken it to the lake to retorque my winter tires. Neither of the kids had it and I was at a loss. So I borrowed my neighbours and took it directly back after using it. Then I thought my next door neighbour but it was a long shot. Yes he had it jumped from the supper table and brought it directly over with an apology. I was just relive that i hadn‘t lost it.
So I pulled out an old dry erase board, installed on wall and now keep track where my stuff is temporarily located.
I learned my lesson a couple of weeks ago. I needed my torque wrench. Not in the drawer not in either vehicle as I had taken it to the lake to retorque my winter tires. Neither of the kids had it and I was at a loss. So I borrowed my neighbours and took it directly back after using it. Then I thought my next door neighbour but it was a long shot. Yes he had it jumped from the supper table and brought it directly over with an apology. I was just relive that i hadn‘t lost it.
So I pulled out an old dry erase board, installed on wall and now keep track where my stuff is temporarily located.
Same as using a table saw to trim a table legA circular saw should be what you use to cut circles, am I right?
is that the reason she stopped being the "first" wife?
No . . . .
There was a big knarly pair there that she could not have hurt but they did not fit her dainty little hands....
LynnW
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housewolf
Well-known member
I loan out stuff to my neighbors if they need it. I live in a small community of (mostly) like minded people and we all pretty much know who owns what. I can’t imagine any tool or piece of equipment that isn’t available between us, but I don’t know of anyone that has everything either. For example I might loan my plasma cutter to a guy that loaned me his tractor for a few hours last week. Never have I even heard of an issue between anyone out here 
Hope to never be "past all that".