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Thread: Do you lend out your hand tools?

  1. #31
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
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    Mid coast Maine
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    477
    For me it depends. It depends on two things, the person and the tool. I make my living with my tools so if something is out of service due to a loan or damage my life could be more difficult. That said I would lend a common tool that is easily replaced to almost anyone, most other tools to only close friends that I know will treat the tool properly. Only a handful of tools I would almost never lend. That said I have a couple of friends that have compete access to my shop at any time and I there's. Early in my woodworking life people lent me tools and knowledge freely and I try to do the same. The forums are a decent outlet to share knowledge, but if anyone stops in my shop with questions I will take the time to answer or demonstrate. As many tools as I have there are still some I don't have and may only need but once a year or less, hence a friendship with other craftsmen with mutual respect.
    Jim
    Ancora Yacht Service

  2. #32
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Belden, Mississippi
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    2,742
    I have borrowed on rare occasions, and have made an extreme point of returning the tool(s) in better shape than when borrowed. I would clean, sharpen, tune, etc.
    That being posted, I am VERY selective when asked to loan a tool.
    Bill
    On the other hand, I still have five fingers.

  3. #33
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Virginia and Kentucky
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    3,364
    I keep a set of marginal tools just in case one needs to borrow tools. I let a person use a good Japanese chisel at my house the other day and now need to repair it for nail damage. He was very apologetic. Every time I deviate from the not lending nice tool policy, it bites me. This incident does offer the opportunity to get out the new Tormek that wasn't going to be opened until Christmas.....

  4. #34
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
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    You know, depending on the person asking I perhaps might, that is, if I could find the tool he requested.

  5. #35
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Victoria, BC
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    2,367
    I have two friends who lends me tools without hesitation and to whom I lend tools without hesitation. One is a professional woodworker and carpenter, the other is not. The non professional has MS and terrible tremors; I own all his saws now, so he can't damage any tool he borrows, but you know, he is a damn good friend, and a tool is not more important than a friendship. If he destroyed a tool of mine, I would be fine with that. Besides, he would replace it, but even if he didn't, who cares, it's just a tool.
    Paul

  6. #36
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Williamsburg,Va.
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    12,402
    I loan tools to Jon,my journeyman when we were toolmakers. We worked together for many years,and he knows how to take care of things. The last time I loaned out a tool to another person was a lipped adze. Sharp as a razor. The HEAD of the furniture conservation shop borrowed it. I got it back dulled from use,and with sap and other crud all over the cutting edge. I really had thought that a 100% bonafide "museum weenie" would give me back the adze in the same condition as when he borrowed it. A lipped adze is more trouble to resharpen than a plain one,due to the bent up corners of the cutting edge. Oh,another guy borrowed my $50.00 piano wire nippers and broke off half of a jaw. Pulling nails with it!! He got to keep those nippers!! At least,the museum paid for those nippers as they belonged to the shop.
    Last edited by george wilson; 12-05-2016 at 8:55 AM.

  7. #37
    I have 2 types of tools. Not replaceable and cheaper tools. I don't mind lending tools that are cheaper or repairable. LN and Veritas are not replaceable in my book as I stay in Asia.
    Some of the power tools I don't lend out as it can be damage due to operator error.

  8. #38
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Broadview Heights, OH
    Posts
    711
    I don't have any local friends that would ask to use any of my old tools, but I do have quite a few other tools which are electric or air powered. Everyone in the neighborhood knows about my handy nature, and requests are frequent. When someone asks, I always tell them the same thing. I'd be happy to loan you my tool, but if it comes back in any condition other than the one it left it, do you have the money to replace it? Usually the answer is no, because they wouldn't be asking in the first place if so, they just would buy one for themselves. There are a few neighbors who say yes, they do, and have never had to test the rule. It's a pretty straightforward concept, and it's not personal. It gets the message across without causing hard feelings. Worth a try for those who can't say no.

  9. #39
    I'd loan mine to someone with higher standards than mine. I have done that on occasion, and the tools have come back in BETTER condition when I've loaned them.

    I've had a few Creekers offer me to SEND me their tools to use. I'm similarly happy to take a chance and share the wealth with people I trust.

  10. #40
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Columbus, Ohio, USA
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    3,441
    Neighbor: Hey Andy, can I borrow your chain saw?

    Me: Have you ever used a chain saw?

    Neighbor: No

    Me: You can borrow me with my chain saw

    I do loan my tools, but I try to keep my friends and neighbors safe. Some people can borrow the good tools, some can't. If it is family and the wife objects to a "no" answer, just tell her the cost and explain that a replacement might be purchased in the near future.

  11. #41
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Bedford, NH
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    1,286
    Usually not - only if I feel really confident that he/she really knows how to use these tools & intends to return them promptly so I don't have to chase them down to get the tools back. I've loaned out tools that have taken far too long to return, even after inquiring of several neighbors that I might have loaned them too (forgot who I might have loaned them to) only to have one person suddenly call a year later to say he ran across a tool that didn't look like his & asked if I had loaned it to him? This was after I bought a replacement - my bad. I've even had people who moved away that I believe still had a tool. Again, my bad.
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  12. #42
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    Feb 2008
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    E TN, near Knoxville
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Ritter View Post
    For me it depends. It depends on two things, the person and the tool.
    When I started reading this thread that was my exact thought.

    When nearly anyone wants to borrow something to do a task, I usually offer to bring the tools and do it for them. Besides shop tools, that includes the tractor, bobcat, and the chainsaws, three things to never, ever loan.

    JKJ

  13. #43
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    Aug 2010
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    USA
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    Quote Originally Posted by Andrew Pitonyak View Post
    Neighbor: Hey Andy, can I borrow your chain saw?

    Me: Have you ever used a chain saw?

    Neighbor: No

    Me: You can borrow me with my chain saw

    I do loan my tools, but I try to keep my friends and neighbors safe.
    Maybe you should just pass on the manufacturers safety instructions to the lendee. That's all they will get if they buy the chainsaw at HD or their local hardware store.

  14. #44
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    Sep 2007
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    Longview WA
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pat Barry View Post
    Maybe you should just pass on the manufacturers safety instructions to the lendee. That's all they will get if they buy the chainsaw at HD or their local hardware store.
    Does everyone religiously read the instructions?

    My chain saw was bought at a local store, of which there are a few, who specialize in the logging and rigging trades. I was given a short course on safety and use. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have such resources in their areas. The local chain stores tend to not carry larger size chainsaws nor do they employ people who are knowledgable about many of the products they sell.

    jtk
    Last edited by Jim Koepke; 12-06-2016 at 4:48 PM. Reason: wording, spelling
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
    - Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

  15. #45
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Vienna, Austria
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    168
    I would loan tools if it would help the one that gets them to become better at something using them. If it would help to improve oneself to be a better self. That usually justifies the cost in my view. I always help in that case even at my own expense to some bearable limit. In other words, loaning is not a goal, it is means to, but there should be a good goal.

    I would say loan those carving tools, the best of them, and perhaps spend some time showing how to use them. That is of course if he or she is willing to learn and gives enough attention to learning.

    Otherwise, it is like giving a chisel to someone who needs a screwdriver.

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