Lending Tools...Yes or No?

[Higgins]

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?

As I'm up there in Yrs. I have collected lots of tools across time. So if someone asks to borrow a tool and I really don't want to say no and offend them. I give them an old tool that is still functional! For those that I trust, I give them the tool that I just replaced and is my Back Up tool (incase i misplace my recent tool). As for my current tool, Those get lent out to those who are close to me and trust !!!!!!

AL

 

[Robinson1]

Close friends can borrow within reason. If its something really expensive or something that takes alot of experience to use I usually just show up and do it for them.

My dad can borrow anything he wants including trucks, tractors, and farm equipment. He has keys to my shop and I have keys to his.

The only time I really had an issue was a few years ago. I loaned my neighbor the 4.5" angle grinder I had on my work truck at about 7pm on a Friday. The following Monday I was 100 miles from home on a job and needed the grinder. Luckily there was an ACE hardware down the street.

 

[Wyoming09]

I will lend to select friends and family. I try not to let too many people know what I have.

 

[mike93lx]

If I do lend something out that isn't coming back imminently, I'll send them a text with what I lent so I can keep track. If I can't find something, I'll search my text history and know where it is.

I don't generally buy super expensive tools and friendship is worth more than what most of my individual tools are worth.

 

[ez-duzit]

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?

If you are ill equipped and frequently need to borrow tools (presumably to do jobs for which you might be unqualified) then you are the one from whom the rest of us must protect ourselves.

 

[bonneyman]

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

Big 10-4

I've tried to be a nice guy, tried to help out the other mechanics, tried to not be an old grouch. After 40 years I've earned the title!
If a buddy wants to borrow something, I'll give him a spare. Like money - I don't lend it, I just give it. That way it's not a destroyed relationship when they don't pay it back. After the third "give away" I ask them what gives. Maybe you should drink less beer, or go out on cheaper dates, or buy some real tools.
I have accumulated many tools and spares for spares so - if someone I like needs something - I can give them a spare. Needless to say, I don't lend out my Bonney tools!

 

[RTM]

I will loan tools to my cLosest neighbor, but only certain things. I keep a box of beater chisels, knowing full well they will come back nicked from his old house with very hard wood and hidden nails. Nothing that can remove fingers.
I rarely borrow tools, and only from him. I will often do the job for other neighbors.

im a DIY guy, not a pro tool user.

 

[Houdini5150]

Depends who asks. I have extras laying around that I would be ok with lending out. If they break something I would ask they replace it. Or if I knew the tool was meant to be used until it died out then so be it.

I have asked my GF dad to borrow tools that I did not lend and I am sure to return them as soon as possible. I want to be sure he has his tool when he needs it

 

[Davefr]

If you are ill equipped and frequently need to borrow tools (presumably to do jobs for which you might be unqualified) then you are the one from whom the rest of us must protect ourselves.

But isn't it common for a tech with a very well equipped tool set to accidently have a tool break in the middle of the job with no appropriate spare or easy workaround? Or what if a tech needs a highly specialized tool that only one or two sr. techs happens to have on hand?

I don't see how non co-operation among professionals would result in a very positive work environment. (assuming their reputation is "professional" vs. "hack") .

 

[cjarvis]

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.

In a professional environment, this is the way it was for me. If I needed to borrow it twice or more, I bought one. One of the old-timers would leave his tool box unlocked, and if I needed something, I could borrow without asking. The one time I borrowed something and lost it, I let him know with copious apologies and replaced it the next time the tool truck came by and bought my own to match it.

At home, I'll only loan tools or borrow from my FIL. He was a mechanic and has the same mindset I do. Others get to use the tools at my place, with my "assistance". The one time I loaned out a power tool to someone else (miter saw), I damned near never got it back, and when I did, it had been rained on. I wound up having to disassemble it to clean it up, then readjust everything.

 

[engineer2]

Been hit or miss with me. If it's good friend, I rarely say no.

Lent my jack stands to a neighbor. Got one back flattened. "Sorry, backed over it." No offer of a replacement. They were the stamped steel ones, so I wasn't too upset.

New neighbor moves in across the street. Sees my tools. Starts telling me about the work he wants me to do on his new Mercedes. Sorry, I only work on my own!
Sees an air hose. Brings over his kid's inflatable pool and asks if I can inflate it. OK, no problem. Comes over a week later to have it topped up. Wife tells him I'm still at work. Comes by later and demands I inflate it. Getting annoyed.
Wants me to inflate bike tires too. I avoid answering the door. Finally told him to buy a battery powered inflator. That was 20 years ago and I rarely talk to him. Mooching is not a good way to introduce yourself to your new neighbor.

A good neighbor and friend who has some mechanical inclination, but something always happens when I lend him tools. Get my miter saw back with a rusty construction screw jamming the turntable. That was fun getting out.
Damaged my H-F Porto-Power, but to his credit he found and ordered the replacement part from China.
Wanted help with some drywall. No problem, I'll come over with my drywall gun. He had bought square drive drywall screws. WTF? I guess we're going to have to sink these carefully without a dimpler.

 

[GaryM909]

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.

My son seems to figure that once he gets the tools out of my garage he owns them. Now i just give him tools I don't figure I need.
I will lend tools out to guys I work with knowing that if they get damaged or lost they will be replaced with new tools or cash.

 

[3baygarage]

You'll find out who's trustworthy when you lend them anything.
Back in middle school I lent a pen to someone for a test. I think he spent more time chewing the pen than taking the test.

 

[dutchgray]

As little as possible, professionally if others are making money with tools they can buy their own, a few friends get to borrow some stuff but we have a lot of equipment that doesn't get lent out to anyone.
Our telehandler was £77k (~$100k) so no one gers to borrow that, the excavators don't get lent either, too much chance someone will hurt themselves or break something.

The more specialist a tool is the less you want to consider lending it out, chances are it will come back broken.

 

[Bulldog13]

Just my son….lost way too many tools /friends when I was younger.Still burns my *** that I let my “friend” borrow my cherry picker back in High school… it mysteriously was stolen out of his driveway…

 

[isb cornbinder]

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?

I do not lend tools. Lending has cost me lost tools a a few lost friends. I have to plan and save for the tools I need or want for a project. I drive an older pickup so I can buy lots of tools. This is all about priorities.

 

[Snapped-off]

I work with people that can't tell a ⅜" ratchet from a ½", and use anything as a hammer. When I take personal tools to work to make a job quicker, nobody touches them.

If someone comes over for help with something, I have a DeWalt socket/wrench set in a case that I let them use. I won it during a Christmas party and found that's literally the perfect use for it.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I work with people that can't tell a ⅜" ratchet from a ½", and use anything as a hammer. When I take personal tools to work to make a job quicker, nobody touches them.

If someone comes over for help with something, I have a DeWalt socket/wrench set in a case that I let them use. I won it during a Christmas party and found that's literally the perfect use for it.

Like having a decoy.

 

[richfinn]

I've shared tools with other pro techs in a workshop environment and I'm OK with it generally, they tend to understand and respect tools mostly.

Amateurish guys trying to save a few quid, nah, not my tools. Although I know some very capable DIYers but they usually have pretty good tools by that stage of the game

 

[bbbarracuda]

What tools? I lost all my tools in a boating accident.

 

[wafrederick]

Certain people I know,yes.One thing that burns me on people borrowing tools is returning them all dirty and grimey including not being honest when the tool is broken

 

[m6z]

I'm too much of a loner to loan tools.

 

[m6z]

Isn’t that what Pittsburgh tools are for?

Yeah and they're cheap enough whoever needs them can buy their own.

Edit: I've loaned/borrowed tools in the past and I don't recall ever being burned, but most don't seem to put much importance on returning stuff in a timely manor.

 

[BarrelRoll]

If you are ill equipped and frequently need to borrow tools (presumably to do jobs for which you might be unqualified) then you are the one from whom the rest of us must protect ourselves.

Flat rate OEM automotive shop? All experienced techs in the shop?

 

[f121]

Depends who and what it is. I’ve never taken the ‘No loaning’ approach, and haven’t ever been stung, I hate watching people struggling or making their life harder by using the wrong tool, but I am pretty careful who does get to borrow things and only lend to a select few.

Right now my modis and brake flaring tool are out on loan and a buddy is using my tools to work on his truck on the driveway, all of them will be fine, the worst I have to worry about is a pile of tools on the bench if he can’t remember what lives where.

 

[lardy1]

First, I trust my BS detector quite well. My guideline is that if it's to better your lifestyle, doing something for yourself saving resources for family needs, etc.....yes. If you get past my BS detector. If it in any way brings them income....nope.

 

[MrPink]

 

[BarrelRoll]

In a professional environment, this is the way it was for me. If I needed to borrow it twice or more, I bought one. One of the old-timers would leave his tool box unlocked, and if I needed something, I could borrow without asking. The one time I borrowed something and lost it, I let him know with copious apologies and replaced it the next time the tool truck came by and bought my own to match it.

At home, I'll only loan tools or borrow from my FIL. He was a mechanic and has the same mindset I do. Others get to use the tools at my place, with my "assistance". The one time I loaned out a power tool to someone else (miter saw), I damned near never got it back, and when I did, it had been rained on. I wound up having to disassemble it to clean it up, then readjust everything.

We are a remote property, best case scenario order from Amazon and you'll have it next hitch, there's no getting anything in a hurry and half the time you don't know you need something till you are assigned the job. When the **** hits the fan sometimes you have to work together and pool resources though people like Mr. EZ out I'll let him use someone else's resources up first. Our bonus is also linked to equipment availability so that's another factor to consider in my case, if I have something that can cut hours off the job it's in my wallet's best interest to loan it out.

We have a couple younger guys and a ******* the crew, they know it's ok to grab something out of my box in a pinch and I'll hit up their snack stash in a pinch. They are very respectable about it and you will see them buying things because they got sick of borrowing. I did loan out a pretty new wilton hammer once and it came back missing chunks, that guy can use the shop's double jack or buy his own. The only tool I borrowed and broke I replaced even though I was told not to worry about it.

 

[setfocus]

The only time I'm asked to lend a tool is at work. I'll lend tools to the other mechanics and borrow occasionally. I generally use the same rule of buying myself after borrowing twice. But it's a small shop. Just me, the other auto tech, the alignment tech (who's training to move up), and the alignment tech trainee.

I don't really like lending to the tire guys. They have no respect for tools. Company supplies their tools, they have no clue how much tools can cost. When I do, I'll keep a close eye on them or just do it myself real quick

Honestly there are some tools I don't buy because it's for something I hate doing or don't feel comfortable doing. Gets me out of having to do that job. Or it's so odd ball that the tool would never pay for its self

 

[VolvoRyan]

I don't lend out the good stuff. I have a bad of "meh" tools for the salvage yard. If someone asks to borrow those, odds are I may say yes.

-Ryan

 

[captmoto]

My neighbor across the street has a pretty extensive tool collection but once in a great while he'll come up on something he doesn't have. I'll lend to him because I know he appreciates tools and they almost come back immediately when he is done with it. My next door neighbor once in a great while too but he is as considerate as the first neighbor. Interestingly enough, I have a harder time loaning tools to family.

 

[HalfTonTom]

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

I've taken a picture of the loaned tool being held by the person borrowing it. When it's returned I delete the picture in front of the person.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Flat rate OEM automotive shop? All experienced techs in the shop?

If one is paid piece work, based on production, your coworkers are your competitors.

Every tool I loan subsidizes my competitors while I receive no pay.


If you break something mid job or have a problem, I'll get you unstuck. Other than that, if you dont have the tools you can do some oil changes kiddo. Things might, might, be different if anyone had anything to offer me. But people with 5k worth of home depot tools want to use my tools to make a living. Nah, not gonna happen.


EDIT: 5k, more like these kiddos and "veteran" techs have a single bay box full of junky mismatched tools. Got plenty of money for guns and subwoofers though.

 

[Les Nielson]

Absolutely NO

 

[ATC]

I only loan to a few people...my dad and two friends I trust.

 

[jmj]

I have no problem lending my “good” tools to my parents or brother, if needed. At that point, I’m most likely doing the work anyway.

I’ve got years of “gift set” tools, garage sale, freebies etc in my garage box that I wouldn’t have a problem lending out, with the expectation someone will break it or I won’t ever see it again.

 

[Kent_B]

Here it's on a case-by-case basis. With no close neighbors and few close friends I don't have much to worry about. My son is the only one right off hand that I'd load up a kit of tools and loan to him. He has a key to my garage and my boxes and knows he's welcome anytime. He only has to let me know it was him.

As mentioned earlier, not many know what I have and that's fine with me.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I bought a Porter Cable dry wall sander the first year they came out, used it for two months and store it in the original box on my shop mezzanine. Ten, fifteen years later I went to use it again and all the plastic parts had cracked around the screws and the whole thing was in several pieces unusable in the box. I am not saying that's what happened to yours but I know nobody touched mine and it was broken.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

But isn't it common for a tech with a very well equipped tool set to accidently have a tool break in the middle of the job with no appropriate spare or easy workaround? Or what if a tech needs a highly specialized tool that only one or two sr. techs happens to have on hand?

I don't see how non co-operation among professionals would result in a very positive work environment. (assuming their reputation is "professional" vs. "hack") .

They can buy the tool, or hand over the ticket to a professional will the required tools required to preform the job at hand. Pro environment? No sense lending nearly anything, under any circumstances. That's money that could've been mine, for completing said repair. That's a car being fixed with the tools I bought, adding wear to those tools, while I receive no compensation. So I now have additional wear/use on my tools, that I bought, and received zero pay. As I said, I will bail somebody out. But that is a less than once per-year occurrence. I prefer to make them struggle first and TRY to find a way around it. That's what I do, I have no one to borrow from.


My shop doesn't have a transmission jack. You want a fuel tank removed? Give me the job, or somebody else can drag it out on their back. No, I'm not helping. That's why I bought the jack with my own money, to drop fuel tanks. I'm not dropping a 25gallon fuel tank that's full onto 3 guys backs like a bunch of animals. If the shop wants shop tools and equipment, the shop can buy it. If my dollars are being spent, only I will reap the benefits.


I have a thread on here right now, where I'm considering buying a $3,000 CO2 leak detection setup out of my own pocket. You think anybody but me is going to be touching that? It might be one thing if another tech actually bought some tools and wanted to be in a trading arrangement. Like he buys all the VW injector pulling tools and I buy the BMW ones? Maybe. Still don't like that. Most of the borrowers are goobers who can't fill a harbor freight cart who want to use my investment to try to make a living. Nope, not gonna happen. Part of the reason I buy all of the tools I do, is to control workflow. If I'm the only person with tool X, the shop can either pay me to do the job, or tell the customer they can't do it. This gives me massive leverage, which is the whole point.

I'm the only guy with a scan tool to do electronic parking brakes. Guess what? ALL of those brake jobs, are now my brake jobs. This system has worked well for me. As I earn more, I buy more - it's a massive feedback loop.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I bought a Porter Cable dry wall sander the first year they came out, used it for two months and store it in the original box on my shop mezzanine. Ten, fifteen years later I went to use it again and all the plastic parts had cracked around the screws and the whole thing was in several pieces unusable in the box. I am not saying that's what happened to yours but I know nobody touched mine and it was broken.

You may have solved a mystery, i figured it was dropped, my sander is also a first year model. I feel better knowing it simply degraded instead of being damaged. I just replaced the plastic housings and it’s good as new, funny how there are a lot of housing for sale.