All –
On Monday, my family and I are on the way to Florida for an extended vacation (about 3 weeks). We’re going to my in-laws and unfortunately this will also be a working vacation. I need to replace two exterior doors along with some other honey-do list items. It’s a great place to stay and my in-laws are very generous, so I have no problem doing any work for them.
We’re driving, so I intend to bring a stock of my own tools, i.e. circ saw, drill, hand tools and possibly my mitre saw. My father-in-law informed me that his next door neighbor would be glad to let me use his tools and that I have no need to bring my own. I’ve seen the guys work and I would assume he has most of the tools I would need. However, I still plan on bringing my own.
Now here’s the problem, my in-laws and wife are calling me crazy for hauling tools all the way to Florida from Chicago. I say I need “my” tools and we have the room in the minivan so no big deal. I also mentioned that this is a “guy thing”. My wife said no, it’s just an issue that I have, not the collective group of us.
I am wondering what the consensus is on borrowing the tools of others, any thoughts?
thanks,
Joe
Replies
I'm with you. I would rather have my own tools, even if they aren't as nice or plentiful as the neighbors. I don't have to worry about breaking someone else's stuff and I already have a feel for how my tools adjust and handle.
If I HAVE to borrow someone else's stuff, then OK, but if I can get by with my own I will.
jt8
In an underdeveloped country don't drink the water. In a developed country don't breathe the air --Jonathan Raban
Borrowing tools is generally a no-no. But in this case it might be ok, because of the distance involved, the project is not one of your own (it's for the people you're going to see), and the neighbor has already offered to lend his. I'd say you should leave your tools home.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
I would sit down, write out what I think I will need, right down to the nails and screws, and all required tools. Anything that you have that you don't suspect the guy next door has, bring with you. For example, when hanging doors, I use a Tajima plumb bob that you nail to the jack studs to shim to plumb. I doubt thay would have that, so that would go with me. (Don't forget the shims!)
This approach does several things; it prepares you for the jobs ahead and tells you what problems might be on the horizon.
You could also fax your list to the in-laws and have them show their neighbors so they could let you know in advance what they do or don't have.
Good luck. I do a lot of this sort of stuff from Maryland to Maine, and it pays to prepare in advance.
I would definitely bring my own. Apart from feeling more comfortable with using my own tools, I would worry that the neighbor might be offering reluctantly, being in a difficult position to say no.
Would you lend your tools to the your neighbor's visiting in-law?
This isn't just a guy thing, it is an ethical issue.
Here's THE DEAL on borrowing:
If you borrow:
If you rent:
For me personally, I wouldn't mind using my father-in-laws tools, but I wouldn't want to use his neighbors tools. If you do, rent them from him, if he wont rent them, bring your own.
Personally, I would bring my own for a few reasons. First, I don't lend tools, so I also don't borrow tools. Second, with my luck, if I borrowed a power tool it would surely crap out and die on me and I'd have to replace it. Lastly, as a previous poster mentioned, I would be worried that he is just offering to loan tools as a nice gesture, not because he really wants to loan tools.
One bag of essential hand tools, a circular saw, and a good backsaw with an old fashioned miter box shouldn't take up too much space. Might not be as fast as a miter saw, but it would get the job done. Just my humble opinion.
I can't blame ya. Tell em only a pompus a hole would expect to borrow someone elses tools.
We are all in this together.
http://www.hay98.com/
I'd be less worried about borrowing tools that I would be about the local "authorities" busting you because you're doing work on someone's house that isn't your own. (unless you're a contractor licensed in FL)
Not that I really care what you do, but I think Florida is absolutely ridiculous in its' relentless pursuit of volunteers (and paid contractors) who head down there to try to help people out and get jailed because of the retarded laws.
FWIW, I'd take my own tools with me too. I'd also rather buy something at the local big-box, use it, and then sell it on ebay when I got home, or leave it as a gift to the in-laws. You get used to using your own stuff, and if you have the room for a small box of tools, what's the big deal? Tell your wife that you won't bring any tools, but that you expect that the family won't be bringing any clothes or toiletries either, and will expect to borrow some from your in-laws or their neighbors when you get there. Hopefully that will make her step back and the light will come on.
Jon - this is my in-laws house, there's no pay involved and my father-in-law will be "helping" - do you think there's still a chance of trouble?
If I borrow the neighbors tools, I may ask to borrow his skivies too - I'll try not to leave any marks.
Thanks for all the responses.
Joe
You reminded me of a silmilar situation I was in when I remodeled my MIL's bathroom a few months ago---same state, differenet city. A city official happened to see my truck (with co. logo) parked in front, next to the huge pile of broken plaster. They asked if I was helping out or getting paid...I told them the former and no more was said about it. (I was paid, though, but I'm not paying $100 for a license in a town where I'm doing one job for a relative who hired me b/c a "local" contractor screwed her.)
After Ivan hit here last summer, a buddy of mine went to four houses on the same street in P'cola, FL to cut down some trees, so I gave him some bus. cards of mine upon his request. When I asked him later if he'd given any out he said no, the licensing process is crazy down there!Jason Pharez Construction
Framing & Exterior Remodeling