things people do to tools.

[dirtmister16]

ok, now this is more of a because it happened thing. don't get me wrong ive done it with other tools.

alright now, i bought a fl80 snap on long handled 3/8" drive ratchet. its nice i like it and it works so much nicer then others/having long handle is great. i handed it to a guy who was working with me the other day.

what he was doing was some quickie slots for a mower seat for his dad's mower, ok great. well i was there we talked then all of a sudden he grabs my ratchet and hits it on the part that is to be knocked out. now like i said ive done it before and i know its a tool, but i worked long and hard and paid for that $100 ratchet.

i just like to take care of things, im more careful of the new stuff ive bought but it will get its fair share of dings and what not as it ages im sure. i went and got a hammer and chisel.


i told him that i belive the proper tool for the job and please not the spendy ratchet.

what do you think? am i nuts or am i going over to the darkside of more worried about how nice my tools are instead of how well they work?

 

[jd_1138]

He sounds like a neanderthal. Let him use his $7 Pittsburgh Tools ratchet like a hammer -- not your SO.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

ok, now this is more of a because it happened thing. don't get me wrong ive done it with other tools.

alright now, i bought a fl80 snap on long handled 3/8" drive ratchet. its nice i like it and it works so much nicer then others/having long handle is great. i handed it to a guy who was working with me the other day.

what he was doing was some quickie slots for a mower seat for his dad's mower, ok great. well i was there we talked then all of a sudden he grabs my ratchet and hits it on the part that is to be knocked out. now like i said ive done it before and i know its a tool, but i worked long and hard and paid for that $100 ratchet.

i just like to take care of things, im more careful of the new stuff ive bought but it will get its fair share of dings and what not as it ages im sure. i went and got a hammer and chisel.


i told him that i belive the proper tool for the job and please not the spendy ratchet.

what do you think? am i nuts or am i going over to the darkside of more worried about how nice my tools are instead of how well they work?

Quite often I see this as being a generational thing. I was taught to take care of my things (in this case tools) and they would take care of me. Tools got used correctly, wiped off and put away when done.

Younger kids that bring stuff to my shop are taught this. There are corrections to be made of course but somewhere along the line the lack of respect was lost. Well it's a _____________ (insert brand) so it's guaranteed forever is the mentality.

And we wonder why things are now outsourced

 

[Beam]

I can never get over people putting pipe on a 3/8 ratchet trying to break loose seized bolts and then calling them junk when they break.

 

[iBuckethed]

If anything, maybe you passed on a good habit to someone who will use it.

I grew up watching most of the men in my family using the wrong tool for the job. Mostly because that side of my family was too cheap to purchase anything other than the rusty hammer sitting in the rusty tool box.

I'm on your side with using a tool for its intended purpose. I am ESPECIALLY passionate about using the correct fastener/tape/adhesive. I probably own close to $1000.00 worth of quality tapes alone.

 

[Bikes&Bowties]

That would have been the first and last time that person touched my toolbox and it contents...

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

I don't think you're nuts; I'm nuts, I would have flipped the **** out. Hit him over the head with the hammer; bet he wont use your ratchet as hammer anymore.

 

[BK13]

That would have been the first and last time that person touched my toolbox and it contents...

I'd have whacked the jerk with the ratchet!

Not really, but the bozo certainly would have had his ancestry and intellegence questioned!

 

[#1SomeGuy]

A quick tap on a piece of wood or something soft with a ratchet to line it up sure where there's no risk of anythin ghappening...using it as a hammer that would take any damage, hell no.

I would be like "woah" and stop them completely from doing anything more stupid. Most people are understanding if you say "use the right tool for the job and hand it to them" so long as you aren't that guy who always is OCD about even setting a ratchet down wrong.

 

[zkling]

I can never get over people putting pipe on a 3/8 ratchet trying to break loose seized bolts and then calling them junk when they break.

Some people just refuse to use the proper tool for the job. Now I understand that sometimes the proper tool is very expensive, but.....

Have you seen this thread for example?

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=203033

 

[ZRX61]

I'm all pissed at myself & bent out of shape.. not so much because I used 2 cheap Lowes scrapers to clean my BBQ grill.. but because I left them on the BBQ cart outside for a few weeks & now they are rusty & pitted all to ****. Gonna probably costs me all of $10 to replace them...

these:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_176734-995-3490127_0__?productId=3084305&Ntt=putty+knives

 

[blackz26]

You should of showed him a hammer ratchet. It does exist lol..

 

[Rico.]

You will divide opinion three ways with this thread.

First camp will be the "I bash the **** out of my tools, they're just tools. If they break I will warranty it"

Second will be the "Right tool for the right job. Anything torqued over 16 lb's ft I will use a
breaker bar first. If it's slightly oily I will use my old ratchet as I don't want to get my new snap on dirty
and then when I've finished, everything gets a rub down with fresh Unicorn horn oil drizzled on
a new out of the pack egyptian cotton cloth, then put away in my heated toolbox" camp

and finally Third will be the... "Right tool for the right job, but if something needs a little tap,
then apart from maybe a little mark on my ratchet it won't damage it, but if it needs a big
smack then I will go and get a hammer" camp

Like myself, I think most people will fall into the third camp. A tool is just a tool, but you
should respect them and they will work for you. When using anything for a purpose other
than what is was designed to do, if there is a chance you could break it then go and
get the correct tool... If there is a chance you could break yourself, go and get the
correct tool.

If, however, all that will happen is perhaps a minor cosmetic blemish, then I can live with
that, but I will never abuse any of my tools unless there is litterally no other way at all to
complete a task.

At the end of the day, they're your tools, you paid your hard earned money for them and
you're proud to own and use them... You treat them how you want to, no matter if it's
camp one, two or three.... and if someone borrows them... well..... Your tools, your rules.

 

[Rico.]

^^^^Holy ****... 12 posts happened by the time I'd typed all that out ^^^^

I need to type faster.

 

[Beam]

I mean I've put 15-20 feet of pipe on a 3/4 ratchet before, broke the harbor freight socket then got the rest loose with a GP, but if you have something stuck with a 19mm head can you not move up to the 1/2 drive instead of putting 3 feet of pipe on a 3/8? Normally when I'm using a 3/8 it because I don't want to over torque what I'm working on.

 

[jweller]

and finally Third will be the... "Right tool for the right job, but if something needs a little tap,
then apart from maybe a little mark on my ratchet it won't damage it, but if it needs a big smack then I will go and get a hammer" camp

I'm in that camp, but If I borrowed your tool, I will give it the unicorn horn **** procedure you describe. As you might infer, I tend to just buy the damn tool rather than borrow it.

 

[Outlawmws]

Missed the fourth camp Rico: -"Do that again and you will be buying me a new one..." (Possibly with a bigger tool about to be used as a "hammer") Just sayin'...

 

[Ryf]

ugh, I'm torn, I do this, not with a $100 ratchet, but I dont own one... I guess I dont mind scratches, I tend to tap things out with the bottom, less opportunity for damage to the wrenchy bits. If someone grabbed one and went to full swing wailing I would probably say something and it wouldn't be nice.. hitting much harder than I'd care to hit myself is when I get a hammer.

this is going to sound assholish I'm sure(I dont know the whole deal on this situation, but this is my general view on such matters) ... but if your loaning BASIC tools to people, either they are too poor to appreciate it, or didn't take care of their own well enough to be able to use them, then they shouldn't be touching yours. if they were over at your place lending a hand on your project, he/she didn't get a memo.

 

[HaroRider]

I think you should of hit him over the head with the ratchet.

 

[Samson]

You're not nuts. I would've flipped ****. My family uses my tools all the damn time, wrongfully majority of the time too. Pisses me off, its my hard earned money especially if its a expensive one too, HF tools I wouldn't be too upset. & if I wanted to abuse my tools at least let me do it myself. Ha.

 

[pacmktg]

I did not know there was a correct way to set a ratchet down

 

[kunkernator]

http://www.amazon.com/industrial-scientific/dp/B004ISLNQA

 

[pendragon1998]

I don't mind a nick or scratch on my tool if it was earned by using the tool for what it was made to do (e.g., using a ratchet to turn a bolt). I'd be much more irritated if the damage came from using my tool in a way it was not intended to be used (hammering with a ratchet). I think you're entitled to express some annoyance the first time you see your helper do that, and you're entitled to crack him over the head with a ball peen hammer the second time he does it.

Of course, some might argue that a 2x4 section or a 1/2" breaker bar would be a more appropriate tool for the job of cracking someone over the head than a hammer (more blunt trauma, less 'getting stuck' in the open head wound), but I'll leave that up to the other philosophers among us.

 

[Murphy4570]

The issue is more of he's beating on **** with your tools, instead of his.

I've put a cheater pipe on a 3/8" ratchet before. Broke that damn bellhousing bolt loose!

I've hammered lightly on **** with my ratchets. Nicks and dings, big whoop. If something needs a serious smack, then the hammer comes out. Light tapping? Got a ratchet in hand? I've done it.

I've pried on stuff with screwdrivers. Not often, and usually on stupid **** like wheel bearing dust caps.

I've used my prybars as chisels. Granted, they have striking caps for that purpose now!

Get the job done. My tools are well cared for, but they also have plenty of battle scars. I don't chrome polish my tools.

 

[thinmac]

Yeah, the issue for me would be borrowed tools. Whatever I might do with my tools is my business. If someone loans you a tool, though, treating their tool irresponsibly not only risks damage to the tool but is also an insult. Someone who has helped you out by loaning you a tool ought to be treated with respect and their property needs to be treated that way, too. Mistreating people's stuff is often an indication that people don't understand how to treat other people. Kind of a common problem.

I am ESPECIALLY passionate about using the correct fastener/tape/adhesive. I probably own close to $1000.00 worth of quality tapes alone.

Totally off topic, but I wanna hear more about tape and adhesives. A general tape overview would make for a great thread.

 

[BK13]

The issue is more of he's beating on **** with your tools, instead of his.

There it is.

 

[tube_guy]

Whenever I borrow anything from anyone, I'm always way more careful with it than I am with my own stuff. And if that were my ratchet, I'd only be using it as a ratchet.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

ok, now this is more of a because it happened thing. don't get me wrong ive done it with other tools.

alright now, i bought a fl80 snap on long handled 3/8" drive ratchet. its nice i like it and it works so much nicer then others/having long handle is great. i handed it to a guy who was working with me the other day.

what he was doing was some quickie slots for a mower seat for his dad's mower, ok great. well i was there we talked then all of a sudden he grabs my ratchet and hits it on the part that is to be knocked out. now like i said ive done it before and i know its a tool, but i worked long and hard and paid for that $100 ratchet.

i just like to take care of things, im more careful of the new stuff ive bought but it will get its fair share of dings and what not as it ages im sure. i went and got a hammer and chisel.


i told him that i belive the proper tool for the job and please not the spendy ratchet.

what do you think? am i nuts or am i going over to the darkside of more worried about how nice my tools are instead of how well they work?

Manifestation of Shadetreeism.......... I have looked guys like your buddy straight in the eyes and used that term...... Would I loan them MY good tools-- NO WAY...

 

[dirtmister16]

wow, thread blew up fast!

anyway, well it was only one time its happended and granted first time ive ever worked this closely with the guy. i guess i just assume people will take care of others belongings specially when i know they the value of things.

probally never happen again, but next time he gets the older rachets that have scars and marks already from other stuff. i just wanted to relfect on the point ive never had that issue as ive never had as nice of stuff before, not that i wouldn't do it if it was my craftsmans either or anything.

he was over at my place and i had just finished up his dad's rider, i had put a new seat on it and wasnt sure of proper position and i thought it close. he said he would put the slots in so they have some leg room, no problem here is the die grinder and a ratchet to remove the bolts.

ill just keep a better mindset for next when i hand him tools.

 

[cburnscrx]

I am a hybrid of sorts. If I borrow something from you (and I don't borrow, so that almost never happens) I will treat it with kid gloves and if something is worn or damaged, I'll replace it. I think that's just the right thing to do. I borrowed a recip saw once, and returned it with a new pack of blades and the undamaged original. That's how I roll. Haha.

As for my tools, I've stood on my 1/2 Titan ratchet to get some lug nuts loose (I'm 260+)...works just fine to this day. I've beat on my Craftsman raised panel 17mm wrench with a 3lb mini sledge to get brake bolts loose, yet, I'll still wipe them down at the end of the day and put them in their proper place. I have a 3/8 ratchet specifically for use with a cheater bar (Ace professional), and it's still ticking. Bought it from the pawnshop for $2. I'll beat on my tools, but I also take good care of them too.

 

[Midman914]

Bottom line is, my tools are my tools and I treat them how I want to treat them. I do my best to take good care of them, but things happen sometimes or a corner is cut due to a precarious position where it's just not that easy to get to the right tool without some serious gymnastics. In these cases I have had character marks appear on my tools. BUT!!! I put those character marks there, made by me doing my work. It might be my OCD rearing it's ugly head, but it bothers me to no end when I loan a tool and it comes back with abuse marks. I get angry every time I see the tool after that and think of the Tard I lent it to. I rarely loan tools, but every so often I have a moment of weakness. When I do loan them I am never surprised to see a smiling face of the borrower handing me my now banged up tool back as if it were the same as when I lent it to them. The next shocker for them is my anger. They usually tell me that I'm making a big deal out of nothing. Lesson learned, and my favorite quote from a good book called Old Men And Busted Tractors. The quote was put on a vest that a local mechanic made you wear while borrowing a tool of his. It read "Lender nor borrower be".

 

[woody 73]

My teenage boys will think nothing of breaking a phone or other device but just wait till the day comes and they have to buy their own...That day will come and you can be sure they will mend their ways asap!

Now I make them use the old models and they complain; same goes with ones own tools, the smart ones will learn that lesson fast.

 

[richfinn]

Don't lend tools to people you don't know or don't trust.

When I worked in the garage there was one guy out of about ten who I knew would take care of stuff and replace it when he was done and he was the same with me.

 

[oldtools]

That is what HF tools are for. To loan out to people that don't know how to use tools properly. I would be upset if someone use my $100 ratchet as hammer.

 

[Holt]

You said in your post you have done this before. Did the guy see you do this and assume it was ok or where you just explaining to us you have used you ratchet as a hammer.?

 

[4x4gearhead]

This always grinds my geaz, I dont care who you are, I paid for that ratchet and YOU will pay for using it as a hammer. Cut and dry.

 

[Tack]

I am one of those guys that takes care of their tools but I am not afraid to use them. If I am under the car wrenching I am not going to set the rachet down on a pillow. If grease gets on them, no worries but I will wipe them off. I would never misabuse a tool though. Any jackass that abuses a tool will never use one of mine.

I watched a friend destroy 6 of his sockets trying to break a bolt. He literally didn't care. I advised him several times but like an *** he went about it doing whatever he wanted.

 

[RCStocker]

ok, now this is more of a because it happened thing. don't get me wrong ive done it with other tools.

alright now, i bought a fl80 snap on long handled 3/8" drive ratchet. its nice i like it and it works so much nicer then others/having long handle is great. i handed it to a guy who was working with me the other day.

what he was doing was some quickie slots for a mower seat for his dad's mower, ok great. well i was there we talked then all of a sudden he grabs my ratchet and hits it on the part that is to be knocked out. now like i said ive done it before and i know its a tool, but i worked long and hard and paid for that $100 ratchet.

i just like to take care of things, im more careful of the new stuff ive bought but it will get its fair share of dings and what not as it ages im sure. i went and got a hammer and chisel.


i told him that i belive the proper tool for the job and please not the spendy ratchet.

what do you think? am i nuts or am i going over to the darkside of more worried about how nice my tools are instead of how well they work?

No you are not on the dark side. I might have hit him in the head with it. I would not have been nice and I would have picked up my toys and gone home at that point. LOL I would have been supper pissed.

 

[dirtmister16]

You said in your post you have done this before. Did the guy see you do this and assume it was ok or where you just explaining to us you have used you ratchet as a hammer.?

i was just saying ive hit things with ratchets in the past but they weren't anything to worry about as it was junk tools. its not like i beat them like a hammer more of a hard tap and if that doesn't do it, gotta get the right tool even if its far away.

ive never worked with this guy before now, i used to work at the same place as him but we were in differn't parts of the plant. its just like whoa hang on there, lets not do that to the spendy tools ok. lets use the right tool for the job and keep things right. he likes to redneck things alot he was telling me after we got done working. i guess after that explaination i understand more of what he was going for, like oh well it wont' take much to knock this out of here.

i guess im just picky or i just treat my stuff better/have more respect for what ive worked hard to buy and use it correctly.

 

[dirtmister16]

No you are not on the dark side. I might have hit him in the head with it. I would not have been nice and I would have picked up my toys and gone home at that point. LOL I would have been supper pissed.

if i hadn't seen where he was going with things and i turned to look to see him using it as hammer, then i woulda been pissed. lucky i was there and saw what was going on. i promptly took it away got the hammer and chisel told him to use the right tool and not my expesive ratchet for a hammer.


im nice as long as i can be, just don't push your luck is all.