would you lend your tools?

[hajsaftar]

I am one of those people who has a mild OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) about keeping my tools clean. Moreover despite getting paid a shilling a day from my day job (university researcher) I nevertheless make sure I either don't buy a tool or buy a decent one that I can pass on to my grandchildren. Put the two together and you should be able to figure out that I am not keen on lending my tools to others.

I have managed to get away with not doing that for the majority of the time. Recently a friend of a friend bought a house and decided to do the renovations himself and through the common friend he had heard about my collection of tools. the common friend has told him he shouldn't bother asking because I don't lend my tools, but this guy caught me off guard and cornered me into saying I would be more than happy to lend him my tools. and so I did grudgingly...

A few days ago I went around his place to give him some advice on tiling and I tell you it was worst than a scary movie. Have you heard how people age 50 years in one night due to stress, well I don't know what the dude did to my tools but they looked like someone had found them in the bottom of a heap of rubbish. Each one had an inch deep coating of what looked like **** but was probably a mixture of tile adhesive, mortar, wallpaper paste, grout..... I could have snapped his little neck if it weren't for the fact that his wife is pregnant.

anyway I was just wondering how many of you would lend your tools and in what condition do you expect to get them back?

 

[Ring]

i dont lend my tools to anyone at all, been caught out just like yourself and was totally disgusted at the way my mate had treated them and to watch him using them broke my heart,so call me selfish but no definetly not.
Jim

 

[superunknown]

I don't lend tools either.

I have had trouble in the past, and it almost always causes bad feeling with friends etc.

Other people will never care as much as you do about your tools. Us cabinet makers love our tools, its the way we are. They are also something we need to earn our living.

I have come across another problem too and learned the hard way and that is never work for friends/family. Other than to help them as a favor.

Good luck in recovering your tools. You are not alone in feeling that way

 

[woodbloke]

Short answer.....no

Edit - agree with Roger's comment, within reason - Rob

 

[RogerS]

Short answer - no.

Slightly longer answer - possibly to some forum members :lol:

 

[Alf]

I have no choice - if the old man borrows something, it's borrowed. I just have to grit my teeth and fix the consequences.

Cheers, Alf

 

[Philly]

Only if I need an excuse to upgrade!!!!!!! Then I give the tool away and get the flexible friend out :wink: :lol:
Philly

 

[Shadowfax]

No!! Never!! Unless one of you asks me nicely.


SF

 

[Anonymous]

I would lend them (not my LNs!!!) to my brother and a couple of woody mates.
My feeling would be that if they owed, appreciated and cared for some good quality tools all ready (such as several friends from this forum), then they would respect my tools properly.

If they are a friend of a friend,l then they can taking a running jump

 

[MooreToolsPlease]

nope not ever
after lending a mate a water stone to sharpenhsi chisels with, and to have it coming back full of WD40. its enough to put me off for life

 

[Losos]

Answer - No way, never!!

Have been caught out, like most of us, in earlier years, when I was more trusting in human nature.

Older, wiser, and a hell of a lot more cynical now 'tho.

 

[Paul Chapman]

My Mum always taught me "Never lend and never borrow" - and bitter experience has shown me that she was right. Whenever I have lent tools (usually to family members) they have come back wrecked or damaged and in some cases not come back at all. Invariably I have had to replace them out of my own pocket. My answer now is always "No".

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[PowerTool]

Same as everyone else,it seems - been bitten before,never again.
I would rather go and do the job myself,and know my tools are being looked after.

Andrew

 

[dedee]

When I lend tools I go with them and bring them home at the end of day. Quite happy to watch the borrower using them or helping out and doing the job for them..

Andy

 

[DomValente]

NO WAY, except the site tools and then only my crew who are just as fussy as me.

 

[SVB]

I have lent tools several times and not had a problem (lucky maybe). However, for all the tools I value, they always go out with the caveat that they come back in the same condition or get replaced and I make sure the borrower knows the cost.

Sometimes this takes a borrower back a little but at least everyone knows where they stand and my chisels don't get used to open tins (except the skew but that is what I use the bl**dy thing for anyway!)

Having said the above, all my tools are turning related so tend to go to other turners who understand how to care for them and not to a bathroom mid grout!

 

[Scrit]

NO WAY, except the site tools and then only my crew who are just as fussy as me.

Like Dom I will loan site tools to other tradesmen/women working with me, however even tyhen I won't normally loan an edge tool such as a chisel, plane, router cutter or saw simply because so often in the past items have been returned with nicks, dings, etc. and with no apology or offer to sharpen. If anything isn't returned in the same condition it was loaned out in then the borrower is given a tongue lashing and told never to ask for a loan ever again......

Scrit

 

[houtslager]

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 1:35 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DomValente wrote:
NO WAY, except the site tools and then only my crew who are just as fussy as me.

Like Dom I will loan site tools to other tradesmen/women working with me, however even tyhen I won't normally loan an edge tool such as a chisel, plane, router cutter or saw simply because so often in the past items have been returned with nicks, dings, etc. and with no apology or offer to sharpen. If anything isn't returned in the same condition it was loaned out in then the borrower is given a tongue lashing and told never to ask for a loan ever again......

same here, had 2 shared workshops, with other "crafts people " who when I was abrosd used my tools - damn buggers never put them back in the same place and often worse for their using.That all stoipped whan I invoiced them all for the damaged /broken tools. :twisted:

Onlylend to other tradepeople who know the replacement costs.

HS on a weekend furlow in A'dam

 

[Anonymous]

I happily lend out tools as one day I know I will need the favour returning.

 

[Lord Nibbo]

I happily lend out tools as one day I know I will need the favour returning.

I'm the same with my neighbour. The same goes for any favour or help not just tools. The trick is only lend out what you would give away for free.