Lending Tools...Yes or No?

[Renegade1LI]

I am sure most of us really don't want to lend out our tools, I hate it but for some reason I still do. I will only lend to those that I know are responsible, but I just went to use my dry wall sander only to find the motor housing broken. Not a big deal to fix but it means someone I trust used it, dropped it, carefully put it in the box & forgot to tell me. I don't get it, just tell me you broke it & that's it, no big deal, but someone you trust just makes it worse. I really have to rethink my tool lending policy, what do you guys do?

 

[mepstein]

I’d lend them to my neighbors or father because I’ve done it before and they respect my stuff and they know I do the same.
the best way to lend something, including money, is not to expect it back. That way you are never disappointed. Otherwise, it’s best not to lend and stay friends.

 

[Jim C.]

Nope. I don’t ask anyone to borrow a tool, don’t ask me.

Jim C.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Professionally? No, not at all. You want some tools? Go buy them. For my home stuff, I will loan some to select people.


If tools are being damaged or misused, that's grounds for immediate removal from the loaner list. Things break, and that's okay, I just don't want my stuff left in the rain or used as a hammer. Typically a "loan" from me includes myself, so it's not a big issue.

 

[GreenIron]

No one has ever asked to borrow my tools. My wife and kids say I have an intimidating look on my face when others are nearby.

I doubt if anyone who needs a tool in my part of the countryside would know how to use one anyway.

 

[Frushlorton]

Normally end up loaning the tools and some time to assist. Mostly military guys learning to do for themselves.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I think some tools mat have to be taken off the list, keep it to simple to use stuff.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I do all the time because I’m a nice guy. Has stuff broke? Yes. Has stuff been lost? Yes. As long as you are honest and replace it if it’s not under warranty or you lost it we are good. Like today I myself needed to borrow something I needed a 17mm extractor which I realized my set skipped then so I had to go borrow one. People use my half size sockets all the time which is fine and I don’t care especially when it’s not something you need everyday. They use my impact a lot too because it’s the only one in the shop that will snap a stud if needed which is an everyday thing on Subaru pretty much. Everyday I expect someone to use something of mine. The oil guys especially because usually they mess something up or something is messed up prior to service so they need either my half sized sockets or my extractor set or something like that. Loaned out my master rethreading kit a couple times today as well. What’s funny is when they ask for a hammer to use the extractor set with because most of them don’t have one . Now I hate being asked to borrow simple stuff like screwdrivers. Salesman come up at least a few times a week needing plates put on or taken off because they don’t have screwdrivers. Also hate people using my air tool oil something everyone should have. I don’t mind people borrowing stuff though sometimes it does get old. I generally go by the rule borrow it three times you need to buy it. Like I bought a ratchet today one that I always borrow from my coworkers it’s a bent handle 3/8 so now I own it after using it way more than three times lol. Pretty much in my shop it’s everyone borrows anything from anyone and we all help each other when it’s needed. But I hate when someone needs to use something I just bought so I’m not the first one to use it lol. Now coming over and just grabbing something is off limits cause sticky fingers in the shop keeps trying to take my green pocket screwdrivers.

My neighbor asks to borrow stuff a lot as well which is fine he is a diesel mechanic and I’m an auto mechanic so I’ve got auto specialty tools and he has diesel ones and I’ve had to use his stuff a few times and he has had to use mine but we have known each other for years and I don’t care.

 

[Neggy]

 

[dsh]

Yes, as long as it's from my "beater" box - mostly Harbor Freight stuff that I've upgraded from.

Anything from my main box stays in my garage.

 

[WWheeler]

I do lend tools and I have been burned more than once for doing so, and yet I still continue to do so. That said, I have tools I might lend, and tools that I never will no way no how. Besides, most of the time instead of just lending I'll come over with said tool and assist with whatever they needed it for. Doing that has paid off for me many times in what comes around goes around. When I need help with something I don't ever have much trouble getting it.

 

[sparky 1971]

Yes, but only to a select few. The few are people that know how to use tools and respect them. They are also people that I know will return it quickly and in the same shape as when it was borrowed. They are also people that will allow me to borrow on the rare occasion that I don't have something, and it's impossible to buy one right then. I have a rule for myself. If I have to borrow something, I will own one asap.

 

[rsanter]

I will lend tools out
Select people can borrow select tools
Dad can borrow anything

 

[ItsNemo]

Depends on the person what I will and won't lend...anything that's easy to mess up, only to a couple select people that know how to use them and I trust and would replace the tool no questions asked. A general cheaper tool to others I don't worry too much about, basically anything that is easily/cheaply replaced. Have only really had one tool (an ice scraper) come back broken, but it was as simple as knocking out the rivet and putting a nut/bolt in.

 

[uscarry45]

I don’t like lending tools but allow certain friends family to do so. I ave also lent pickups trailers tractors but now I ask them to get their own insurance which stops most people from asking again

 

[Kscardsfan]

There’s a real short list of people I trust enough to loan tools to. But I’ll also come help you with a project and bring the tools with me instead of loaning them to you

 

[mervyn]

Nope. Loaned a customer a one gallon gas can many years ago. Effer brought it back but had somehow managed to run. Over. It.
coukdnt believe it.

 

[ZRX61]

Went to use my step ladder one day & it was missing. Roomies grown adult son had loaned it to his sister who lived across town.... as if that wasn't bad enough by itself, the fucker moved his moms step ladder to get to mine. He got an education in boundaries that day.

 

[Rickkyyr8]

Isn’t that what Pittsburgh tools are for?

 

[cvairwerks]

I’ll lend specialty tools to friends, but that’s all. In the bunch I run with, I’m the one with the tube beading tools, the Time-Rite tool, and a few others.

 

[humber2]

A friend told me the two items he doesn’t lend out as he knows the condition they’ll return in, his chainsaw and his missus......

 

[Death Row Dave]

I’ll lend someone in need of a tool . I write down the date , what and who has my stuff . On return , it’s all removedcfrom the list . If I have to go retrieve my stuff , don’t ever ask again , you are out of the shrine

 

[ZRX61]

I’ll lend specialty tools to friends, but that’s all. In the bunch I run with, I’m the one with the tube beading tools, the Time-Rite tool, and a few others.

There's an old military A-7 engine hoist at VNY that *was* owned by a guy I worked with, but he loaned it out about 35 years ago & never got it back. To this day it's still spotted at various places around the airfield.

This doesn't get loaned out any more since someone else tried to lay claim to it...

 

[ez-duzit]

Have learned the hard way to never loan my tools. Clients are the worst in this regard.

 

[nadogail]

My neighbors have learned that I usually accompany any borrowed tool.

 

[gatewaysysop]

At this point, only my old man. And he lives across the country now, so effectively that means nobody borrows any of my stuff. I'm a firm believer that conspicuous tools are the first to get stolen, so I keep my mouth and my garage door shut. Been in this neighborhood almost two decades, not a soul has been in my garage or seen inside of it. They assume I don't have ****, so they don't ask to borrow ****. It's a good system.

 

[BarrelRoll]

My policy at work is if I have to borrow something twice I buy it and I feel the same with loaning, if you borrow it twice you should buy it. Some of the guys just starting out I'm more lenient with. Our mill operators don't have their own tools, there's a couple I have no problem loaning tools to. A couple will grab something out of my box, it comes back quickly, cleaner than they found it, and half the time I don't know they borrowed it till they told me they borrowed it.

I loaned out an EZ out for 1/2" pipe in an emergency, after 6 months and several times ordering the wrong size he gave me a Chinese kit that still didn't have the right size though had a size that would work. I had already replaced it several months prior. I gave the kit to the new guy and don't offer to loan him tools any more.

 

[Lwel9226]

Some years ago a co-worker who was always borrowing tools ask to borrow a wrench for the 4th or 5th time...
I flipped him some **** about buying one of his own.... His answer back was "why should I buy one when I can borrow yours?"
Red lights and sirens went off in my head..... Needless to say he never borrowed another tool from me ever....

LynnW

 

[MarySure]

It depends on the guy who is borrowing. If he is a loyal man, then it is okay. But if he is not.....

 

[MarkH]

Daughters families no issues but they probably already have it. Then a couple other long term trustworthy people. Beyond that it is only if it is really needed and it is the all pink tools from the pink toolbox. Seems that did help them remember to return them.

 

[dnschmidt]

It's a very shot list. At last count 3 people.

 

[Bubba Fett]

I have a box of cheap tools that are available for borrowing. Quality brands like Cal-Hawk, Regal, IIT, MIT (Tekton before they were good), and others that I don't mind losing.

 

[Davefr]

Professionally? No, not at all. You want some tools? Go buy them. For my home stuff, I will loan some to select people.

But won't that backfire? If you never loan a tool doesn't that preclude you from ever borrowing a tool if you break a tool or get into a bind on the job? Doesn't that also detract from creating a team environment?

I'd think it would be safer to loan and borrow from other workplace professionals than neighbors/etc.

Just curious?

 

[Walkers]

Sure, to my dad, my brother, a select friend or maybe two. Anyone else gets an estimate for the work they want done (I use my tools every day for work).

 

[Iridium rand]

My company buys our tools so generally there’s no problem loaning anything between any of us, but putting in requests is a pain and subject to approval so it’s very much still expected that you respect and return each others stuff.

I on the other hand being a bit of a savant buy and bring in a lot of my own tools because I like to use the good/expensive stuff as well as being free to take it and keep it at home whenever I want and still own it if I ever left. As such I also tend to be the only one that has certain rarely used items like bolt/screw extractors, XL wrenches etc. and while I usually go and help out the other guys on difficult jobs myself, we all know and respect each other so I have no problem letting them borrow anything to use themselves. If I were a mechanic and we all had to spend thousands on our own tools and didn’t know my coworkers as well/high turnover it would be a different story.

 

[zmotorsports]

NOPE!

I got burned not once but several times early on in my career so for the past 20 years or so I have a strict policy that I do NOT loan tools, no if's and's or ****'s. I don't borrow tools and sure as hell don't loan them, period. Nothing worse than needing a tool, walking to the toolbox and finding it not there and having to go get it because someone didn't return it, or worse, they returned it but it's broken or not working properly.

 

[Renegade1LI]

But won't that backfire? If you never loan a tool doesn't that preclude you from ever borrowing a tool if you break a tool or get into a bind on the job? Doesn't that also detract from creating a team environment?

I'd think it would be safer to loan and borrow from other workplace professionals than neighbors/etc.

Just curious?

Funny but my crews are cut throat to each other & protect their tools, but I supply each crew with whatever they need, I don't want them sharing, it hurts productivity. At a business level each person or crew needs to have what they need & I make sure they have it, no questions asked, I don't ever want to hear I am missing this or that, plus I try to always have a good stock of consumables.

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

Only to my son, but he's gotten to a point where he doesn't like to borrow tools. When I'm gone, he's going to have a lot of tools.

 

[zmotorsports]

Only to my son, but he's gotten to a point where he doesn't like to borrow tools. When I'm gone, he's going to have a lot of tools.

I guess I should have stated the same thing. My son usually only borrows when he's working in my shop and seldom takes any home but like you said, he will have a LOT of tools when I'm gone.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I have learned too many expen$ive le$$on$ from loaning tool$ and equipment. My ye$ or no an$wer depend$ upon the who the Per$on i$ who i$ a$king to borrow a $elect item, and My chance$ of $eeing it returned within a $pecified time, in an unmole$ted $tate, without any excu$e$