Loaning out stuff...

[ultrarunner]

On my own I borrowed a Harbor Freight Tike saw and dropped it...

Bought brand new identical and returned it... a few weeks later I get a call saying what gives...?

Said I damaged your saw so I replaced it...

 

[Yander]

The rocks is a good one...

Let's say a group of high school kids were picking up free dirt with dad's pickup... no I was not one of them but got the call saying the truck wouldn't make it up the hill.

The load was heaped and the trailer ball nut had been dragging on the ground...

I don't know how they steered it!

Yeah, thats bad! That truck was probably never the same.

 

[3Ts]

I've had family members tell me that since I let them borrow something it now belongs to them.

I've loaned out a battery powered radio (that had an AC power input but no cord). They proceeded to berate me for not having the AC cord. I'd never run it on anything other than batteries.

So, no I don't loan out anything anymore. I may use my tools and equipment to help out neighbors, but I don't loan them out without me.

 

[RoyJackson]

I won't loan out either...especially any powered stuff
I'll help 'em, but I'll operate the equipment

 

[ultrarunner]

Yeah, thats bad! That truck was probably never the same.

1974 Chevrolet 1/2 ton with full size bed, 350ci with auto...

 

[dstig1]

Anybody yet noticed the thread is from 2003?(!)

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

No...is that when people started borrowing stuff

 

[hosspuller]

I've written about this before but bears repeating. If you decide to loan a tool to someone, be sure they know how to use it.

A friend called asking to borrow my oxy/acc torch set because he had some stuck bolts. I would have said sure come pick it up... but I asked "have you ever used one before ?" With a no answer, I decided to go and do the job for him.

As turning up the acetylene pressure more than 15 PSI could hurt him or someone else... As laying the acetylene tank down is poor practice... As not moving anything flammable away from the shower of bouncing white hot metal... As not doing a fire watch for a couple of hours... As not having fire extinguisher ready at hand... As not capping the tanks before moving them... As leaving the regulators turned up... As proper torch lighting sequence ... and many more.

 

[Yander]

Anybody yet noticed the thread is from 2003?(!)

Yes, it's a timeless thread and relevant even in 2050.

 

[dodge man]

You don’t call it an old thread, it’s aged, has the perfect patina now.

 

[Torvy]

I have two rules for myself vis-a-vis lending/borrowing.

I only loan something if it is a 'spare' and I will not really need it back.

I don't borrowing anything of value. I would be mortified of I broke someone else's tool or equipment.

I am more than happy to loan my services (including operating my own equipment). I am also (reluctantly) willing to accept the same from others.

I guess most of the time, if I need something I don't have or need help with something I cannot do, I just pay an expert or buy the tool.

 

[check]

Lent my 7k car hauler to neighbour because I knew he was OCD with his own stuff. Sure enough, he completely serviced the brakes and bearings for me! I would lend to him again, but not to anyone else I know. I have helped several neibours dig trenches and stuff, but I am always the one sitting in the tractor seat.

Funny story. A very good friend and neighbour wanted to borrow my muffs for running his outboard motor while out of the water Searched all over and finally found them. Turned out they were his!

 

[Willman]

/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif That reminds me of my walk-behind tiller. I loaned it to a friend (unsupervised) about ten years ago. He never mentioned that he was going to use it to till up the bricks that the builder buried on his lot. My tiller has never been the same since. But, you know, it was my fault. I should'nt have loaned it out in the first place. Currently, I make a habit of not mentioning to co-workers about what I have in my barn.

Many years ago my dad loaned out his tiller to a cousin, he returned it quietly to the shed without a word, next time my dad wanted to use it found the engine seized up from low oil, taught me a lesson for life

 

[5030]

Only thing I'd ever loan out is my ex wife.

 

[oldballs]

Just this spring I loaned my MacKissick towable chipper/shredder to a 30+ YO grandson. I was mostly concerned about his and his little kids safety in my preliminary cautions.

When he brought it back, he mentioned that it had been making a lot of noise towards the end of his project. Turns out that one bolt had vibrated loose from a bearing...Apparently it came out, but he kept on running it....noise and all.

After several days work and $350 I have it repaired. Geeze... At least ...nobody was hurt at his house.

No loaning equipment without my presence will be my rule from here on.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[RoyJackson]

I don't lend out equipment...if necessary, I'll help a neighbor, but I run the equipment.
Last time was my chipper...my neighbor fed it, but I was there. Anyway, the PTO shaft was cut for my tractor, not his.
Now, my neighbor is OCD about his equipment...no doubt he would be about mine too

 

[alexpops]

I'll help/run the equipment without issues. If the neighbor/friend wants to borrow the tools without me, I tell them sure as long as I get to use his wife or daughter while they are using my equipment ... no problem. If not, no deal. As far as lending money, I always found it to be the cheapest way to get rid of a girlfriend that had exceeded her "use by" date.

 

[ultrarunner]

Many years ago my dad loaned out his tiller to a cousin, he returned it quietly to the shed without a word, next time my dad wanted to use it found the engine seized up from low oil, taught me a lesson for life

Had a mint Troy Built Tiller that Brothers Father In Law needed to use.

Brothers brother in law picked it up… ran it just make sure ready to use.

A week later Father In Law said thanks for the tiller but it’s broken???

Turns out it came loose in the pickup and did summer-salts busting a carb casting…

I’m upset but not wanting to cause strife I order new parts and Father In law who is good guy installs…

Then it goes to brothers place and sits outside all winter and all decals ruined… and would not start.

I pick up and replace fluids and paint and new stickers…

Now I lie and said not working!!!

 

[ultrarunner]

Some people can ruin a hammer… others simply destroy from lack of care… exposure, checking oil, gas in diesel, etc.

 

[hosspuller]

...

When he brought it back, he mentioned that it had been making a lot of noise towards the end of his project. Turns out that one bolt had vibrated loose from a bearing...Apparently it came out, but he kept on running it....noise and all.

...
Mike

I've got the wife trained to shut down anytime anything changes... noise, power, etc.

Also have taught several techs to ask the machine operator what changes they noticed before charging in, wrenches in hand. Have saved many hours of diagnostic checking.