Why you don't let friends borrow tools

[BDT/NWMN]

How in the dickens can I help someone with their specialized job needs if I loan that person my specialized tools and they mangle my tools beyond use? I have learned many expensive lessons with loaning tools, vehicles, equipment, and money.... I like to be Mr Nice Guy,,, but someone borrowed my title; and didn't return it.

 

[Mr. Fixer Upper]

I like to be Mr Nice Guy,,, but someone borrowed my title; and didn't return it.

Perfectly stated!

 

[Ponchoguy]

Depends on the friend. I ask when I'll have it back. Then, I follow up. They usually don't borrow it again .

 

[Forever Fixin]

My problem is that I try an help everyone out, I know tools are expensive and I know that life is expensive. Sometimes you don't have the funds for tools, and the DIY project is the only way you can afford to get it done. That being said, I'm starting to learn my lesson. I've lost a cheap table saw and a chainsaw to a BIL with misuse. Had buddies that come over to use the lift and suddenly I can't find tools. So now the tools are used in my presence and I tell them "If my tools go missing......you'll go missing....got it?"

 

[gasgas17]

I friend of mine borrowed my drywall lift. For a year. Even after a few hints it didn't sink in. So i had a job coming up that I knew I needed the lift for and told him I needed it back in the next couple days. He asked if I want to pick it up? Um..........NO! Made sure he brought it back well in advance of my job. He is off the very short list. Down to 1 brother I will lend a tool to. I borrow some of his specialty tools for my dirt bike. I try to have my own tools for everything, but the list is around 30 grand now.

 

[BikerDad]

Why would you want to borrow tools?

Resource restrictions. Either one hasn't got the time to wait for the tool, and/or one doesn't have the money. The second is usually easier to work around than the first, because most folks borrowing tools actually DO have the money to buy the tool, they would just rather spend it on something else. The first? Well, if something needs to be done NOW, it needs to be done now. Not that time is always a real restriction.

That said, it would be a very rare tool that I would ever borrow more than once, because a) buying tools is one of the simple joys of life, and b) borrowing complicates things....

As it is, I can't remember the last time I borrowed a tool. No wait, yes I can. Late winter/early spring of 1991. Getting the optimum tool would have taken weeks. The concertina wire had to be up ASAP. One of the guys was a former Air Force mechanic, and he had one of them fine safety wire spinner majobies. I think about 40 different people used that thing. Getting one is a ways down on my long list of tools that I'd like to get. Since I haven't had to string miles of concertina wire since then, it's not really much of a priority. But if I DO find myself looking at such a task, I'm definitely getting a pair of safety wire twisting pliers. Or if I start doing track days...

I do let friends borrow tools, and haven't been burned yet. The frequency of tool borrowing was always fairly low though, and since my move has been extremely low. I wouldn't be surprised my perspective may be different if I worked in or moved in circles with lotsa tool users.

 

[BikerDad]

If a friend asks to borrow a tool, I usually just offer to help. Gives me an excuse to hang out with friends and drink beer.

More often than not, my friends wouldn't even ask to borrow the tool, the would just ask to borrow me. No beer (not a fan of the taste) involved, but generally lunch. By the same token, when folks ask me to build them something, I usually tell them "no, I'll help YOU build it." That's worked out pretty well so far.

For the mechanical types, I suppose that a "no, I'll help YOU fix it" would be applicable.

 

[Bronson]

A neighbor asked to borrow My Shop Vac.
He was new to the neighborhood, and I was trying to be nice, so I let Him borrow it.
He brought it over the next morning and I just pointed to where He could park it, and I forgot about it.
A week later, I went to use it and when I turned it on, I nearly gagged.
He vacuumed up broken glass, water and DOG ****, and didn't bother to empty it, in summertime temps.
A few days later , He wanted to borrow My big floor jack.
I told Him about the moldy dog **** in My shop vac and He said "I didn't know You wanted Me to empty it out".
I told Him, "Common sense, Dude, Common sense".
I never loan Him anything, now.

 

[CJM8515]

He sucked up dog ****??? WTF???

I woulda emptied it out right on his front porch in front of him after ringing the bell. No words spoken, just me staring at him with a defiant look.

 

[Bronson]

He sucked up dog ****??? WTF???

I woulda emptied it out right on his front porch in front of him after ringing the bell. No words spoken, just me staring at him with a defiant look.

The guy is a chain smoking jailbird alcoholic vegan felon *******.
I once put together some cheap tools in a toolbox for Him, so He would have no reason to ask to borrow tools from Me. Basic stuff, a hammer, some old screwdrivers, a handsaw, pliers, etc.
He pawned it to buy beer.

 

[Chevy-SS]

My friends can use what ever they want. Most of them take better care than I do.

Yeah, mine too.

And I go OVERBOARD whenever I borrow a tool. I always spend extra time cleaning and maintaining the tool. I bring it back better/cleaner than when I borrowed it.

Nothing wrong with borrowing tools..................

-

 

[Ratchet.]

I didn't mind lending stuff to guys in my shop, as most are fine for me borrowing stuff as well. (i always make sure its returned cleaner then it was when i borrowed it, even if they don't care about that)

But recently people have been helping themselves when I'm not around, and had some stuff went missing recently, 'only' drill bits but that's not the point folk borrowing stuff which gets put back completely covered in oil and grease (my box is kept clean and tidy) more annoying seeing as they were brand new pliers that i hadn't even used at that point.


My box gets locked when I'm not there now. :/

 

[RustnGrease]

About 12 years ago, a subcontractor borrowed a transmission jack from our shop, had it for awhile and nobody really knew about it, spent awhile looking for it to change a transmission in one of our tri-axle dump trucks, then we find out he borrowed it months ago, at this point i was sent the 15 miles one way to retrieve it. So we get it loaded up and I say to him "ya know it'd be nice if you can bring it back when you're done with it". Jackass started cussin me so i pretty much told him to get Fked, OMW back he calls my dad (boss) bitchin to him about my attitude and that he'd whoop me with a pipe, so when i get back i get to hear about it again, at this point i say to Dad that if the cksker would've brought it back, then i wouldn't had to go retrieve the fkin thing. Needless to say, he agreed with me about it. It wasn't the subs in the first place, and it wasn't here when we really needed it, plus time and money was wasted to go retrieve it.

Granted, i was alot younger and more hot headed than now, but i wouldn't change what i said about bringing it back. Needless to say he hasn't borrowed anything else and wont come near me. Which doesn't bother me one bit. This thread reminded me of that and why you can't trust anyone with your stuff.

On the other hand, if one of my good friends needed to borrow something i tell them you know where it is, go get it lol. With my best friend, he has some of my tools and i have some of his. He bought a brand new dewalt grinder, ended up here, so i ended up using it and bought him a brand new one to replace it with.

 

[pilotman81]

i think there are some distinctions.

I have very few "friends", these are people i trust, people that are like me, they take care of stuff, and they are responsible. I know if i loan them something, i will get it back in as good, or better condition than i loaned it. If they damage it, i will get a new one, and they will keep/repair the old one. They bring things back in a timely fashion.

Then there are acquaintances, these are the people that might get to come over and use my stuff, but it never leaves my possession. I have a lot of these, they want to borrow tools, but find out pretty quickly who the local rental companies are...

exactly!

 

[bubinga]

I didn't mind lending stuff to guys in my shop, as most are fine for me borrowing stuff as well. (i always make sure its returned cleaner then it was when i borrowed it, even if they don't care about that)

But recently people have been helping themselves when I'm not around, and had some stuff went missing recently, 'only' drill bits but that's not the point folk borrowing stuff which gets put back completely covered in oil and grease (my box is kept clean and tidy) more annoying seeing as they were brand new pliers that i hadn't even used at that point.
My box gets locked when I'm not there now. :/

l had to start doing that where l worked at the city garage, boss started bitching at me sez, I am taking longer locken and un-locken my box than I am working on the Eq.
I sez, if you, as the super. would instill some respect around here, into the guys that work here, instead of going along with there games (so to speak, long story) l would not need to lock my box.
Good exp.
Dude goes in my box, takes my note pad and pen, I needed my scratch pad, gone, he has it, (he was done using it, just didn't return it)
I mf'ed him, (didn't mean nothing, were were pretty well buddies) and I complained to the boss.
Did you already guess what the boss does?


Gives me a tablet..............................LOL

 

[beatcad]

The guy is a chain smoking jailbird alcoholic vegan felon *******.
I once put together some cheap tools in a toolbox for Him, so He would have no reason to ask to borrow tools from Me. Basic stuff, a hammer, some old screwdrivers, a handsaw, pliers, etc.
He pawned it to buy beer.

that's just a dirtbag.

i have 2 kinds of friends and i dont throw the word "friend" around loosely.
some guys that barely know the business end of a screwdriver and could care less.
and most of my friends are car or motorcycle guys that have a decent amount of tools anyhow.
i lend to real friends 'cause i know they'll take care of my **** and return it in a timely manner.

weve also got a great and trustworthy crew at work. i dont mind lending to this crew.

i dont usually borrow tools, but i did today from one of the guys at work.
tomorrow(sat) i have to fix the flare on one of my friends jeep. a guy that knows nothing about cars or tools.
i ordered the clips and rivets for him earlier this week.
but its plastic rivets. yeah, you need a different tool to install those

my next door neighbor is a drag racer and super cool. hell come by to borrow something now and than and i'll do the same. his son is OK when hes off the pills. he asked to borrow a puller a couple summers ago. i dont remember if he broke or bent it. either way he said he'd buy me a new one. he didnt and i havent lent him anything since(the son.the dad i still trust).

 

[taumac]

This sign hangs over my tool bench.

 

[malibu101]

A very close friend of mine has my engine hoist, trans jack, and extension ladder since I bought them.
I've borrowed them a few times though.



I have limited storage space and he has plenty of it. I asked him if I would buy them, could he store them? He being able to use them like they were his, but of course let me use them when needed.
I've been very close with him almost forever and know how he treats things so this works great for the both of us.

It's always a laugh between us when I "borrow" my tools from him.

 

[RiverRider]

My neighbor can't resist shiny stuff and is a compulsive acquisitor (a new word I just made up). He's got twice the tools I have, and I pretty much have all I need besides the occasional special thingy you'll have to buy because you don't have a '98 Chevy anymore and now there's a Ford in the driveway. But he still says just come and take what you need and bring it back. I know the guy well enough to know that it's an ego thing with him.

I've had his palm sander for about four years now, working on a rifle stock that never seems to get finished. He's had my brass annealing kit and a propane torch head for a couple of years. We both know where our stuff is. I don't loan tools to anyone else.

 

[MoparTrucks]

I have a few friends I'm always happy to loan tools to. They're the friends who are always happy to do the same for me.

I wouldn't have it any other way, having everything from heavy equipment to specialty tools to people always willing to give me advice is well worth sharing for.

Pretty much the same for me. I think its different living in Farmville though, I loan out my equipment trailer to a friend pretty regularly (he takes an old raggedy rider to do his mom's place); I have a truck and some implements that the neighboring farmer can come over and use anytime and vice versa, and we all help each other out.

Casual acquaintances and most family though? No. Loaned a son some old Craftsman screw drivers my grandfather had given me when I was in HS last fall and he broke one of them and didn't even tell me when he put them back. Apparently using a screw driver for a chisel and pry bar isn't good for them and of course the screw driver itself was irreplaceable for me. I used to let him just go in and borrow what he needed but now he is barred from my shop period and I'm getting pissed off all over again just typing this.

And I don't know if anyone else has had this happen but I was the bad guy when I blew up at my son for breaking my screw driver...."its only a screw driver" made so damn mad I blew up at my wife too.

 

[Grimly]

When I was working in various mechanical shops, there was a free and easy atmosphere and tools were borrowed and lent between us frequently. There was a difference sometimes, between who would make a point of returning one in better condition than it had been lent in and some others who didn't but they all got returned. Then the problems started - in nearly every 'shop. There would be a thief. Sooner or later, one of the guys would help themselves on the QT to tools he'd no intention of returning and sneaked them off home in his pockets.
Things like that just left a sour taste in my mouth.
My friends all tend to be mechanics and engineers and all take good care of their own and others' kit, and nothing disappears, or if it does, it gets replaced, voluntarily.
But tool thieves - there's no lower form of life.

 

[bubinga]

"And I don't know if anyone else has had this happen but I was the bad guy when I blew up at my son for breaking my screw driver...."its only a screw driver"

yeah, its like when this lazy *** at the one shop would come over from the shop next store,( same company) and take my impact down to another bay w/o asking me, and I am looking all over for it. then wants to kick My *** when l bitched at him.
So the one day he takes my cardboard box i kept rags in on my bench, cause he was too lazy to find a new one. i bitched, and the Boss goes, "It's just a Box"
then the same guy that took my note pad, I had cleaned out a 5 gallon bucket and put it next to the balancer, so the Lazy ***'s would have a trash/recycle bin for the wheel weights, (they had been throwing them on the floor) and the jag-off comes along, and dumps the bucket (weights) on the floor, and takes the bucket to use for a drain pan. (that is 0 respect for me; he knew l had cleaned it out and placed it there, and 0 respect for the shop)
You guessed it, this boss says, "Its just a bucket"
now I am getting mad typing..............LOL

 

[bubinga]

When I was working in various mechanical shops, there was a free and easy atmosphere and tools were borrowed and lent between us frequently. There was a difference sometimes, between who would make a point of returning one in better condition than it had been lent in and some others who didn't but they all got returned. Then the problems started - in nearly every 'shop. There would be a thief. Sooner or later, one of the guys would help themselves on the QT to tools he'd no intention of returning and sneaked them off home in his pockets.
Things like that just left a sour taste in my mouth.
My friends all tend to be mechanics and engineers and all take good care of their own and others' kit, and nothing disappears, or if it does, it gets replaced, voluntarily.
But tool thieves - there's no lower form of life.

don't get me started.
That shop where the guy took the box l used for rags, they stole my right angle die grinder, my snap on spark plug ratchet, and some sockets, just cause I had left them in another bay.
Then they stole my Mac engine analyzer, it was the kind that would short out cylinders, out of my locker.
and this smart *** mechanic there says" Put them up(away).
Hey jag off, I "forgot" them down in that end bay.
I should not have to worry about that.

 

[DashEight]

I will only loan tools to my Pops. He let me learn with his. It's the least I can do.

 

[1cargarage]

I do let friends borrow tools.
Friends are more important than things.

Absolutely. If that person were suddenly gone tomorrow, you'd be grateful for any of the damage/misuse they caused.

 

[Jure]

back in the day when i used to work in a boat factory we used the company tools,full set of Heynen tools + toolbox were given to each employee + fein electric tools,and after 20 days i was the only one who still had full set of tools,old cats came with $10 orange chinese electric tools (they peeled off stickers) 4th day and fein ended up in their home toolboxes lol. it has nothing to do with borrowing tools but..

in the same factory every single day i was looking for my extension cord,that cord was like a ******,50 people were using it without asking,we worked 2 shifts so people from the other shift were using it as well...it was annoying and worst of all i had always check the cord if there are any weak spots like burned area on the rubber,or if its touches with a angle grinder etc etc,i got hit by electricity few times because some douche put a soldering iron over the cord and left the exposed wires without even letting me know..

 

[Ponchoguy]

My neighbor needed his car jumped and he knew (from the last time) that I had a Diehard wheeled charger, so he asked to borrow it. I said, "I'll do it for you". Mind you, over the winter time, he was kind enough to snow blow my property before I got home from work and could do it with mine. So, I felt that jumping his car the 1st time was the least I could do. So, when he asked again, I said, "Sure, I'll do it for you". After we got the car started, he said, "Here, take this. I'm sure you could use it". It was a nice, long 50' (I think) rubber heavy duty contractor's electrical cord. I said, "I'm sure you need this???", He said, "Nah, I'll never use two...take one...and thanks for being a champ and helping me out...saved me time and money".

So, in that case, the tool was "borrowed", but in the end, it worked out.

 

[metal1313]

i have a good friend with very few tools, and not the best mechanical skills but he is a good friend. he doesn't so much as ask to borrow as ask for help and education with tools and projects. and being a close friend if time permits i help.

one of the reasons i will lend him tools i know he knows how to use is because they are promptly returned, cleaned and in good condition. for saws he usually buys his own blades so mine, much more expensive ones, dont get worn out. he did destroy a 1/2" drill, just a basic rigid corded motor, so he called and told me right away. when i told him it was ok, it had a very hard life, he told me he would be by my house in about an hour. he went out and replaced it with another rigid drill, a higher model even.

he's also that friend i can call and say i need help with my projects or moving something and with out fail is there every time. He actually drove 4 hours to help my family and i clean out my grandmothers house when she could no longer live on her own. while there my dad hurt his already bad back and during a break mike called to check in, i told him what was up and he said he would see what he could do. about 3 hours later he calls and says i need the exact address, im on the northway in the town your grandmother's house is in.

and now he's gotten super into biking (bicycle) and bought a ton of specialty tools, that i borrow all the time.

 

[neuralsnafu]

No one borrows my tools any more... I've got 3 or 4 complete sets of craftsman 3/8 sockets and no ratchets... yeah, the only person that can use my tools is my brother, and that's cause I'm there with him in my driveway fixing his ****. Everyone else can go pound sand...

 

[kjdhawkhill]

I've got the smallest collection of tools in the office and circle of friends/neighbors. No body has asked me to borrow any tools I have, but I'd gladly share the few things I have.

I do end up tuning someone's bikes every other year or so, but my experience is that anyone could do that if they had the patience to learn. I used to tell them "no" when it came to brakes, but now that I've changed my brake cables a few times I wouldn't feel quite as sketchy on doing someone else's.

I guess that anyone who needs a cassette removed could use my lockring tool and chain whip, but since most bike shops will change the cassette for free when you buy the new part…

 

[back2class]

I let friends borrow tools. I enjoy being able to hook friends up. BUT>>> I am now done lending tools to my FIL. Having to ask for them back for months...seeing sets scattered all over their house and porch, then getting them back with missing pieces and never getting other back. DONE. Let him borrow my backhoe for a "week or so". Two months later and several asks for it back....still sitting there. Nice guy, but well past the last straw with this ****.

 

[toolaholic]

No one borrows my tools any more... I've got 3 or 4 complete sets of craftsman 3/8 sockets and no ratchets... yeah, the only person that can use my tools is my brother, and that's cause I'm there with him in my driveway fixing his ****. Everyone else can go pound sand...

what sick ******* would want and or steal a craftsman ratchet.

 

[aaronrkelly]

what sick ******* would want and or steal a craftsman ratchet.

An unlucky guy using one of those cheap fleamarket sockets sets with the rathet that has like 12 teeth.....we've ALL used one before.

 

[back2class]

An unlucky guy using one of those cheap fleamarket sockets sets with the rathet that has like 12 teeth.....we've ALL used one before.

An't that the truth! Sure, there is much better, but there is MUCH MUCH worse in the ratchet food chain.

 

[Gfercaks33]

I have 3 friends who I will loan tools to, I have known them for the majority of my life and we are at each others houses weekly so I can get my stuff back. One has a timing light and the other has my ac vac pump. Generally our specialty tools like that we just treat as community property for the most part so we don't have to keep buying the same stuff over and over.

 

[92GreenYJ]

I have one good friend who lives a few blocks from me. We are always helping each other on various projects around each other's houses, vehicles etc. he is the only one who can borrow tools from me and he can go into my garage and get something if I'm not home. But it's a two way street and I can do the same.

Actually works out pretty well as he is more into the carpentry and woodworking stuff and I'm more the gear head and our tool collections reflect that for the most part. Of course there is some crossover in tools and such. But he has some specific task tools that I don't and vice versa. So we will borrow those specific tools from each other as needed. Generally speaking though I am more of the kind that if I need a tool for a job I buy one. Of its a tool I don't plan to use often, I get a cheap harbor freight or similar version.

 

[Flivver250]

what sick ******* would want and or steal a craftsman ratchet.

Spit my coffee all over my key board.

 

[Flivver250]

I don't loan or borrow tools. I'll help a friend or family with a job any time, but the tool stays in my box. I'm not greedy or mean, I just bought it for me. I have only lost a couple tools to friends over the decades, and that is because I don't lend them. Don't lend my wife, tooth brush or motorcycle either. Most people with the knowledge to sling a wrench already own what they need and know how to use.

 

[Sprintman]

My Toptul stuff now kept in my bedroom and my cricket bat (like a baseball bat but bigger) is in the hallway. I reckon my tools are pretty safe................................

 

[arbadacarba]

I married the farmers daughter, so to speak, and in our first years together learned a lot about how things operate in "farm country"...

My father in law is a great mechanic, while I'm a tinker with a penchant for organization and knowing how to do things.

He only had to say it once, when I broke a tool I had borrowed (in his shop working on my car) and I took it along with all his other busted SK tools to the local dealer to get them all replaced... It was along the lines of, "I'll take this and get it fixed" and he said, "here, take this bucket too..."

I've made a habit of upgrading his tools when anything happens, or if they are just worn out. I also like the look on his face every now and then when he notices another set of something he needs just appears in his box.

Some time later when a socket popped while I was working on his tractor he spoke up again: "You don't replace that one, you were working for me."

It did surprise me when he told me to leave the keys in my car at the field, in case someone needs to borrow it.