Watch who uses your power tools

[woodmannie]

I let my bosses kid use my 3 1/4 power planer. Somehow the idgit managed to plane the cord off. Maybe I should have told him that the cord doesn't go under the blades.
Just a reminder to only let compotent people use power tools.

Tom

[lockman]

I only let close trusted friends, and only some use any of my power tools.
I have a sign on my shop door that reads:
I do not ask to borrow your wife
So don't ask to borrow my tools!

[TDHofstetter]

I've got an open-shop policy, but it's limited; people can use my tools, but only under close supervision until I'm confident that they're competent... and ONLY IN my shop.

More often than not, I end up doing the work using my own tools.

There are exceptions, though - I've been known to ship hand tools to other woodworkers I've known for some time, with the expectation that they'll ship 'em back to me when they're done.

[vicnb]

There is a very short list ( I could count it on one hand) of the people I will let use my tools. I dont mind helping friends out, but I find it is alot easier to maintain those friendships if I help out with the work itself rather than loaning out tools. I try to avoid putting myself or the other person in an akward position if they damage something of mine.

[deepsplinter]

When someone asks to borrow my tools, I give them "the look". You know, drop my shoulders, dip my head, and look at 'em over my glasses. Then I usually offer to do whatever for them myself.

A remedy I use on my son-in-laws is just buy them whatever they've borrowing from me for Christmas. They both have circular saws, small air compressors, cordless drills, etc.

[admin]

I still feel much like a new shop owner, and am still very over-protective of all my tools. Right now, the answer is a flat NO to most requests, although I will lend certain members of my inner circle the use of my 'tough' tools. My framing hammer, my sledgehammer and wedge, tape measures, etc.

I've already had one hand plane blade ruined and I still can't figure out how, but the blade is cracked about an INCH up the middle from the edge. Nice little crack. And, the edge is boogered on one side. I'm fairly sure he hit a nail or somethin'. Sure as shooting was using it right or intelligently.

I'd love to have a repaired version of every lended tool that was either broken, lost, or never returned!

I had a guy about a week ago ask to borrow my lathe and all my lathe tools over the weekend. It's not much, just a budget lathe and budget tools, but that's askin' a LOT of me considering it's my only lathe and my only set of lathe tools. Guy acted like I'd whizzed on his shoe when I told him that I wouldn't lend it out to anyone.

If he'd been asking about my tape measure, I've got three of those in the shop, I'd give him the one I don't like. But not my lathe.

[Beamer]

There were two people I would loan any and every tool I had to. Now there's one.

Gary can borrow anything he likes. If I ain't got it, he prolly does, so I can borrow any thing I like from him, too. It's mutual.

There are a few others that can borrow some of my tools. They'll take care of 'em and I don't worry about their ability to use 'em. They don't get quite the leeway that Gary does or Allan did, but they still get pretty good. They're fellow woodworkers and I've seen the way they treat their tools.

Then, there are folks who wouldn't be allowed to borrow a pencil in my shop. Those guys are lucky to find their pants in the morning and I'm not willing to risk them conveniently forgetting they borrowed something of mine.

I'm like TJ in that regard - pretty overprotective of my stuff. If I don't know ya, no way. If I do know ya and yer inept, no way. If I know ya and yer good, maybe so. If you're Gary or Allan, name it - it's yours.

[admin]

I do wonder something. I know planing across the cord didn't do a lotta good for the cord, but did it damage the blade(s)? I'm not sure trying to go across the copper wire would be too good for them.

I hope it didn't wreck 'em for ya.

[woodmannie]

It killed the cord 2' from the handle. The blades are nicked from hitting screws. The blade holder is a little chard but no worse for wear.
Now, dumb ass me, gave him a nail set and 1" chiesel to use. They are my tools, but I'm using them on a job for my boss. Well at the end of the day he brings me my chiesel with the gaurd broke and a big chip in the blade. He said it fell off the 6' step ladder when he moved it. Then he tells me he lost my good nail set. Atleast he didn't cut another cord.
Now my boss will repair/replace any damaged tools, no questions asked. Not the point. Shoulda seen this guys face when I told him he's banned from using my tools. Wiorth a million bucks.
Maybe now I'll learn. But I did have the not-so-swift laborer with me today. I gave him my SDS rotary hammer to use. Came back clean and damage free. Guess we all know who the dumbass is(not counting me)

Tom

[admin]

It's a tricky spot to be in. A boss often thinks their sons are without flaw, so telling a boss that his kid can't play with your toys anymore is something rather delicate. If your boss understands it and hasn't canned you, do NOT quit because you'll likely not find another boss as good as that one!

TJ.

[Ruffnek]

I have a short list of two people that I will loan my tools out to...LOML's brother and a good friend.

The rest, I'll offer to do the job for them or just flat say no if that isn't sufficient. I spent a long time and a lot of money assembling my tool collection to have them damaged by a borrower.

[lexrex]

I don't trust anyone I know personally (not counting some guys on this board) to touch my tools outside of electric screw drivers, maybe a drill, and perhaps basic hand tools (hammer, screw driver, putty knife). I spent way too much time getting to know these tools and how to use them and I know you can't just pick them up after having seen a DIY video on youtube.

[Leo Voisine]

I am way to fussy about how I wrap the cords and put my tools back into the cases.

I have let people borrow tools but they don't seem to get it.

I am of the pursuasion that I sohould return something "I" borrow in as good as or better condition than when I got it.

Seems - that I am alone in that - so no - I don't loan out tools. However, I have two really close friends than can borow anything anytime they want.

[maxwellsmart007]

I tend to let most people borrow my tools - but if it's an expensive one, I let them know what it cost - makes them a bit more careful!

[admin]

Good idea Andrew, I hadn't thought of that.

A borrower nor a lender be. If an idiot is going to break my tools, I'd rather be that idiot.

That don't sound too flatterin' to me, does it?

[maxwellsmart007]

Hey, you've been demoted, TJ - looks like you lost a star!

My logic mostly applies to lending my dad tools - he's a 'why pay more than a dollar for a saw' sort, so he would otherwise leave a nice fancy dovetail saw lying out in the rain after using it to cut an asphalt shingle!

(Which is now why I have a special pile of 'dad-friendly tools' that I keep in a box for when he needs to fix something!

Andrew

[Joe Lyddon]

He lost 2 stars!!

That's quite a demotion from 5! 40% ;D ;D ;D

[admin]

I lost two stars in an unfortunate accident.

I'd rather not loan tools, just for the fact that a lot of my local buddies can borrow and lose a tool in a matter of hours and then forget who they borrowed the tool from. It's by far easier to either do the work, or just tell 'em NO.

[sachbvn]

I have two thoughts - first: They are only objects.... tools, they can be replaced (usually) and aren't worth losing a friend over etc....

THEN - the intelligent part of me says....no - they are tools, lifetime investments, tools that have seen a lifetime of work and use, and someone when they find themselves into the hands of, as said before, "idgets" become completely ruined or lost. So.... I have to say I have a pretty strict policy on loaning tools... I don't do it. My dad can use anything he wants - I can borrow anything of his. We are very "take care of our tools" kind of people.

Somethings I may loan....but honestly - I'd be more inclined to just go over and help someone finish something - and that way the tool stayed with me.

To be honest - I don't have many people ask to borrow things.... I am young - most of my friends don't know tools from chit so.... they don't know what they need to "borrow" let alone - how to use it/fix the problem. I am safe that way!

I'm still laughing on how the guy managed to cut the cord off lol..... geez....



Zac

[woodmannie]

Ain't to much I can't fix, but I can't fix stupid.

Tom
Gee, that may make a good sig line