How much is to much?

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Pinky787

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How many times am I allowed to borrow a tool, before I am obligated to just buy my own?
Granted it is a specialty tool. Seems to be about $30 from northern tool, less on Amazon. But my guy has the snap on one which runs about $130.
I've borrowed it twice in the last year. Shouldn't need it again for hopefully a good while. It is borrowed with the if I break it I replace it. Just curious what yall think.
 
Depends on the friend. If it is a good, close friend, I’d say more than 3-4 times a year. Casual acquaintance or new friend? Anything over 1-2 times. I have friends that have free reign to my toolbox/garage (and vice versa). People lower on the friend scale have time limits on tool use
 
Depends on the person from whom you are borrowing it. If it’s a good friend and you know they don’t care, then fine. (just don’t over do it)
If it is somebody that has a business and you don’t know them that well. Just get your own tool.
I hate borrowing anything. I’m buying or renting what I need.
 
papa_smurf said:
What's the tool in question? just curiousity
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O2 sensor wrench. I have a 02 sensor socket but the angle it's at, I tried for a hour and a half with different swivels extensions breaker bars a rachet with a swivel head etc. Couldn't get it. With his I had it out and new one in in about 15 minutes if that

Screenshot_20220907-131921_Chrome.jpg
 
Tailhunter said:
Depends on the person from whom you are borrowing it. If it’s a good friend and you know they don’t care, then fine. (just don’t over do it)
If it is somebody that has a business and you don’t know them that well. Just get your own tool.
I hate borrowing anything. I’m buying or renting what I need.
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He's our fleet manager/mechanic for the company I work for. Have known him 2-3 years now. And as far as buying him beer @Supermatch his taste in alcohol is more than I can afford lol. And about a month ago a beer can was found in the trash at our offices back lot which is gated, and they were like yeh if you didn't know better know you know, no alcohol on premise.
 
Pinky787 said:
He's our fleet manager/mechanic for the company I work for. Have known him 2-3 years now. And as far as buying him beer @Supermatch his taste in alcohol is more than I can afford lol. And about a month ago a beer can was found in the trash at our offices back lot which is gated, and they were like yeh if you didn't know better know you know, no alcohol on premise.
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Is it a company owned tool or his personal?
 
Average Joe said:
Is it a company owned tool or his personal?
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His personal. 90% of the tools in the shop are his personal he brought when he started. The rest are leftovers from the previous guy/company owned/specialty tools he had the company buy
 
RetiredUSNChief said:
I'm of the opinion that if you borrow it and then bring it back promptly, there's no limit.

People with a good reputation get good treatment.
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Have never borrowed for more than a weekend. This time I got it yesterday, used it this morning and it will be returned tomorrow
 
To me it would depend on the relationship I had with the person and how often I thought I would need it. Cheap tool more likely to buy it just so that they are not without when they needed it. If recently was a fluke and i only needed it every 3 or 4 years be less likely to buy it and just take the person to lunch to thank them occasionally when i used it.
 
When my buddy lived next door to me we each had free reign over each others sheds. He doesn't live next door anymore, hasn't for years. I still have several of his things. I was in his shop about 6 months ago and found my old Pickle Fork. He also has my small drill press.
 
A close friend, who cares, borrow until you want to buy one. If I was the close friend and it’s a cheap enough tool, I’d probably buy you one for Christmas if you used it more than 3x’s in a year or so. Not because I don’t want you borrowing it but because clearly you have a need.

If it’s a random neighbor or average friend, I saw 2x’s because after that point, the cost of a couple good six packs or a bottle of liquor begin to outweigh the cost of the tool.

Edit: this reminds me, a close friend had my 25gal compressor for like 4-5mo earlier this year; I rarely use it. He’s welcome to borrow it anytime his pancake compressor won’t cut it.
My wife’s friend borrowed my brad nailer last year and it came back 2wk later with surface rust all over. He’s never borrowing a tool again!
 
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Pretty much @Jerzsubbie had it right. Real friend, no problem, hell hang onto it til I need it again, yeah I've lost a few tools.
Co-worker, neighbor, cousin, in-law's landscaper or whatever other not actually connected bs. 2X max.
I made my living from my tools for years, my first day travelling this road, "you can borrow anything... twice"
 
When I started working for CAT while still in school, I only had a small hand tool box with basic tools. I worked the first week or two and figured out a lot of what I needed. After that I made myself stick to this, if I borrowed twice then I bought it. I hate asking to borrow something
 
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