Neighbors and friends that want to borrow tools

[Spooled-up]

Warning: This is a RANT!



I've had some friends and neighbors that have borrowed tools lately that have not made me want to lend them out again.



The first was my friend that wanted to borrow a corded drill because he had to drive a bunch of screws that would have killed his battery on his cordless DeWalt. Months later, I went to use my drill on the fuel tank I had dropped out of my truck to do an updated vent mod and when I went to grab the drill, It wasn't there! I had to then go borrow a drill from another friend because my drill was trapped in his house and he wasn't home!



My neighbor cut a huge limb off of a tree in his front yard (bent his aluminum ladder in the process) and came to ask if he could use my brand new Stihl chainsaw. His wouldn't start. I reluctantly let him borrow it and had to teach him how to start it. Hours later, I didn't hear any noise next door, so I went over to check on it. It was sitting in his driveway. None else around. I grabbed it and took it home to find that the chain had been through the dirt as he cut. The blade was now very loose and I had used it on a whole tree and the blade stayed tight. I've now got a dull blade and have to adjust it too.



Another friend wanted to try out my 48" commercial walk behind mower because he was thinking of buying one and wanted to try it out. When I got it back, I put it in the garage. A couple of days later, I started it up and got a whole bunch of white smoke for the first 5 mins of operation. The drive belts were so loose, I couldn't climb the hill on the side of my yard! I have been mowing with this thing for 2 years now, and have never had to adjust the belts until now.



I could go on and on. I guess I want to be treated like I would treat someone else. If I ever borrow a tool, I give it back in better condition (usually cleaner and/or lubricated) than when I received it. I aways give it back right after I'm done using it.



I get angry because I feel like I'm being punished because I have tools, take care of them, and because my neighbors and friends won't buy them, I'm supposed to lend them out. I would rather go buy a tool than borrow one because I know I'll use it later anyway.



RANT completed!



I guess I'm just wondering what you guys do or say to keep people from using and abusing your stuff without making for bad relationships with neighbors and friends.

 

[Chief USA]

I say NO. I don't loan my tools or equipment. You would be VERY wise to do the same.

 

[Bill Lins]

Ditto! I make my living with my tools. If the neighbors need something done requiring the use of my tools, they get me and an invoice, too.

 

[EMMETT]

i don't have a problem with someone at work borrowing tools as long as i get them back.

 

[WDixon27]

that crap is starting to happen to me with the new guy at our shop, he has a tool box, i've seen it, yet he can't seen to stay outta my tool box and i am getting annoyed now that i've been missing a snap on impact socket for about 3 weeks that he has no clue about, i need to enforce the sign over my work bench "i won't ask to borrow your wife if you don't ask to borrow my tools"

i don't have a problem with someone at work borrowing tools as long as i get them back.

 

[fox]

I use to loan tools and my mowers.

Then the guy who borrowed the mower about the 5th time, brought it back and put it away. Good for him. Well, a week later when I need to mow, It ran rough and shook. I find the blade broken and bent, the spindle has the threads pulled out. Last time. I can't afford it.

 

[J Shocik]

Spooled-up, there's a matter of respect. If these morons do this all the time, then don't loan the tools out. PERIOD! tell you can't afford the $$ for lost or broken tools. If they get mad, so what!! At least you won't go broke buying tools for your neighbors.

 

[GFrance]

I only loan out tools to people that can afford to replace them if they break them. If I loan someone something & I have to go chase it down to get it back, that person gets told the next time that the equipment rental place is just 2 miles down the road.

 

[Champane Flight]

Four things!

Four things you do not loan: Your tools.

Your Bike.

Your truck.

Your wife.

The last one on the list could be loaned, but sometimes they come back. .

 

[RT66DOC]

And books. Grrrr. #@$%!



Guy next door wanted to borrow my battery charger so he asked my wife to ask me. [microcojones] Had to ask for it back three weeks later. The cord was all kinked and tangled. Never again.

 

[rbattelle]

I would rather go buy a tool than borrow one because I know I'll use it later anyway.

AMEN!



Here's a good story for the mix. Let a friend borrow my nearly-new (1 year old, not used much) Delta 12" compound miter saw to build his deck. I let it go reluctantly, and told him to keep it as long as he needed it (long project).



Last week he comes in and tells me a small piece of wood snapped off during a cutting operation and jammed itself in the little plastic dust guide behind the blade. It ruined the dust guide. A replacement cost $5. 40. Instead of replacing it, HE OFFERED TO BUY ME A NEW SAW! So I got a brand new saw, but didn't charge him the full replacement cost. That guy can borrow anything he wants from me now... except maybe the wife.



-Ryan

 

[smartineau]

I only loan certain things to certain people that I know will take care of them, and if an accident happens they will buy me a brand new equilvelant product.



A friend uses my spottng scope and laser range finder every year when he goes on a hunting trip, the rules are you lose it, scratch the lens, or beak it in any way you buy me brand new. After four years he dropped the range finder off of a quad turned around to pick it up and drove over the top of it. I now have a brand new range finder.



And they best never loan out my stuff to somebody else!



steve

 

[lmills]

I must say I have been very lucky, but I am also very picky about who I loan tools to. I usually get my tools back in the same shape I let them go out in. Luckily, most of my friends have just as many tools as I do if not more. The ones that seem to get you the most are family.



On another note..... I am currently in the process of building my garage to park my toys in. I will be putting a lift in one side for working on the truck and vehicles. All my friends were happy with joy when they found out I was putting a lift in. I told them I had only one rule, that if you didn't help build the shop, you didn't have access to the lift. Funny enough, only two people have showed up. One has loaned me his skid loader repeatedly for grading and moving stuff without so much as asking any questions, the other is the neighbor across the street. And the neighbor across the street is a 17 year old kid that really doesn't even show any interest in cars. He just likes my truck and is helping me to get out of his house.



Oddly enough the one guy that repeatedly stands me up is a local TDR member. LOL, you know who you are. :-laf I know your lil honey at home comes before me.



Edit: well, well, well... you showed up after all :-laf

 

[rweis]

I have a form like the rental places. You have to fill it out, whenyou are going to bring it back, its replacement value, date it, sign it, get a copy of it, and I have them put it on the bulletin board.



I get all my stuff back pretty promptly, even from family.



Bob Weis

 

[HEMI®Dart]

My neighbors borrow tools all the time. I don't mind at all. They always bring them right back.

 

[Sled Puller]

Case by case basis. If I have to borrow something, I always take it back in better condition. Example: A mini excavator. My buddy left it at a ladys house he dug some shrubs for. I had to go pick up, put a new starter and a battery in it, new teeth on the bucket, and tightened all the bolts etc. Its cheaper for him to let me borrow it and do all his lax maintenence, I guess!LOL



Hate to have to go borrow my own stuff back though, grrr.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I have a problem with my brother. It seems everytime he borrows something, no matter how many times I tell him point blank never again if you don't bring it back, he does it again. It's just so hard to say no to family.



I borrowed a broadcast spreader today from my neighbor. Neighbor said he thought something was wrong with it. Ends up I tore apart the plastic gear housing and pinned th epinion to the shaft to hold it in place. Installed sheet metal screws in leiu of the plastic weld rivets and she was better that new. Used it and washed it all up. He got it back better than when he lent it out.



I also borrowed a $1000 wet saw from another freind. Same deal... I returned it looking much better than I recieved it.



That's key to lending... returning promptly and in as good or better shape than you recieved it.

 

[GFritsch]

My friends and neighbors are more valuable to me than my tools, so I let people use them.



I have been lucky with no horror stories. I reckon if someone didn't return a tool or returned one damaged w/o offering to fix they would fall off the list of friends. On the plus side I have acecss to friends welders, trailers, tools etc. that I don't own.



Good neighbors and friends are a whole lot harder to come by than tools. Usually my tools are returned with a cold case of beer or help when need something.



Greg

 

[bmoeller]

I have a problem with my brother. It seems everytime he borrows something, no matter how many times I tell him point blank never again if you don't bring it back, he does it again. It's just so hard to say no to family.

Heck it is easy. Just say NO! Repeat after me... ... . :-laf



My problem is, they don't even ask. Just take. Then sometimes I have to hunt it down.



Another thing that p***** me off, is, they don't wipe the oil or grease off before putting the tool back in the box. #@$%! I even used a cheap DYMO label maker to make one for the toolbox that says, " Wipe tools off before putting in box. Thanks. " Can anyone read? NO!



Ok, I'll stop now before I really go off... ... .











Oh, and generally, no one will take as good as care of your tools as you will.

 

[Champane Flight]

Locked up!

My family knows that my tools and shop are off limits. Now if I am home and they need to put a muffler on there car, I will be happy to help them. But, my tools do not leave my shop, without myself going with them...