Would you - borrow a tool?

[Mike Cutler]

It really depends on the person.
I recently loaned out a Festool 1400 for a few months to someone that needed to replace all of the doors and jambs in his house. I've seen him with tools though, so I knew the router wouldn't be a hazard to him. He could also pay for it, if he broke it. A year or so ago he gave me probably $250-$300.00 worth of 20ga. shotgun ammunition he had no use for, so I think it was an equitable arrangement.
It really depends on the person though.

[John TenEyck]

Yes, occasionally, I will loan a tool to a friend. And that reminds me that one of my woodworking friends has had a couple of router bits so long that both of us have forgotten, until now.

John

[Rick Potter]

Sure I would borrow a tool. I also lend tools to people, category two people get my backup old tool, Cat one people get my better stuff. A few people get a rare shot at using special tools.

[Edward Weber]

I was torn, I voted no but there are a select few I would lend to if they lived near me. Oddly enough, this is the same group of people I would give a kidney to.

I would say anyone who works with their tools, actually depending on them for a living doesn't lend them out or is at least is a lot less likely to.

My tools are very personal to me, whether it's a cheap screwdriver or a complex machine, I acquired them for a reason. Whether it's making or repairing something, tools are part of what make me who I am. I'm not lending them out to anyone.

For me, the rule is, you don't ask to borrow and I won't have to say no.

[Lisa Starr]

Yes, we will loan/borrow from a very select few fellow contractors. No one else ever....

[Bruce Page]

I hate borrowing tools or anything else. I typically will buy whatever I need when I need it. I will loan some tools out, (but not others) to a few trusted friends/family.
The downside to buying whatever you need when you need it is that at some point you will need to downsize, and you end up with a lot of things that other people aren’t interested in.
I’m in that mode right now.

[Ron Citerone]

The downside to buying whatever you need when you need it is that at some point you will need to downsize, and you end up with a lot of things that other people aren’t interested in.

Funny you posted that. I was just thinking the other day that some of the tools in my garage are things only a woodworker would want and there are none in my life who don't have tools..............same with my fishing gear.

[Jim Becker]

The downside to buying whatever you need when you need it is that at some point you will need to downsize, and you end up with a lot of things that other people aren’t interested in.

Funny you posted that. I was just thinking the other day that some of the tools in my garage are things only a woodworker would want and there are none in my life who don't have tools..............same with my fishing gear.

I've thought about that a few times, but ultimately decided that this is my hobby "now" so it's not worth worrying about it. My one compromise is that I take one-time/limited time use needs and go more "economy" on those purchases, but for the things that really matter to me, I'll make the investment in what, for me, is the "good stuff".

[Tom M King]

This made me think of a sign to have made to post in the shop:

In 1980 I lent out a concrete power trowel-haven't seen it since

I lent out a dump trailer. It came back when I went to get it, and found it dented all to hell with a broken tailgate because the borrower hauled Rip-Rap in it.

In 2009 I loaned a heavy tandem axle 20' long trailer that my Dan built when he was 84 years old-haven't seen it since.

I loaned out some concrete pouring tools and they all came back covered in dried concrete.

Loaned chainsaw came back with a chain that had hit a rock.

3-1/4" power planer came back with chunks out of the blade because they hit a nail in something they were building.

Much I'm sure I've forgotten..........

You want to borrow what?

[Christopher Herzog]

I tend to have duplicates of lots of things. When asked for a tool, they usually get one down the list of my favorites. It is not the end of the world if it has a bad outing or even fails to come home. If they dont come home, no more opportunities in the future. My kids enjoy me just doing whatever, no effort is easy on them i guess?

My two cents,
Chris

[Jimmy Harris]

Yeah. I have no problem lending or borrowing tools.

Now, there are certain tools I won't lend out to just anybody. And there are certain tools I might be afraid to borrow. But for the most part, I have the same policy with tools as I have with money. Don't lend it out, if you expect it to ever make its way back home. If you can't afford to replace it, then you can't afford to lend it. That way, you don't lose friends over it. And if you're going to borrow a tool, make sure you use it right away and return it right away. If you need it long term, buy one for yourself.

My philosophy is, it's only stuff. And he who dies with the most stuff wins... absolutely nothing. But he who dies with the best friends lives on.

[Edward Weber]

My philosophy is, it's only stuff. And he who dies with the most stuff wins... absolutely nothing. But he who dies with the best friends lives on.

He who dies, probably forgot to return the tools he borrowed.

That's a joke

[Jimmy Harris]

If a tool is too rare or valuable to replace, then I won't borrow it. I'm willing to take the risk so long as I can afford to. The gamble being that you might end up buying the tool and never using it, which is the exact opposite of the whole point of borrowing something. So it's a calculated risk.

However, I also feel like the kid's shows are right and sharing is a critical function of good society. I'm not saying that society's biggest problem is sharing, but I feel like it is one of the easier problems we can directly address. And I feel part of that is producing more participants on both sides of the coin. So I'm not afraid to ask to borrow certain things, because I believe being responsible with that request is a tiny way for me to do my part to promote more sharing in general.

Besides, one of the weird little quirks about human nature is that we seem to like people whom we help more than the people who actually help us. And that's kind of weird from a self-preservation standpoint. But maybe that's a feature, and not a bug.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I have borrowed tools and when I do or have, it always came back in good shape. One time a neighbor loaned me so pruning shears and I broke them. I bought a better pair to replace them and gave them to him. I seldom borrow tools these days and I loan tools to a small group of friends and family. What tools I will loan to a given person depends on that person.

[Mike Henderson]

Look at the tools the prospective borrower has. If they're good quality and well maintained, I'd be more willing to lend him/her a tool of mine.

When the Domino came out, I borrowed one from a friend of mine to see if I wanted to buy one. Used it enough to get a feel for it, and bought one. Returned his clean and in good shape.

I was doing a woodworking favor for a friend (at his house) and I realized I had forgotten a saw. He pulled out one he had and said "Here, use this." I said, "No, I prefer to use my own tools." and went home and got mine. As you could guess, his saw was typical garage junk.

Mike