Hi everyone:
I am looking for help in starting a neighborhood DIY Tool Co-op. Our neighborhood is a pretty close and trustworthy group with a variety of diverse tools. I always thought it would be cool to combine access to these tools for ourselves by way of a formalized Co-Op. Does anyone have any experience in starting up or running a tool sharing program like this?
thx
PIO
Replies
This sounds like the begining of "what's mine is mine and what's your's is mine too"
Some thing like the EX's line of thinking...
Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....
I read in a magazine one time about a town in the US that has a tool library. All you need is a card and it's like 50 cents a tool rental(for clean up maintnence). They have all the tools you need to do any project and some guy just acts like a librarian for tools, checks them out and back in. Everyone treats them well b/c it is such a great resource.
Myself however am a tool fanatic, if I'm doing something and need a tool I don't have, I go buy it. It became such an obsesion but now I have almost any tool for any job. Good luck, sounds like a great idea if everyone does their share to help and take care of others tools. I dont' have a problem lending to some of my friends and family but there are others I wouldn't even loan a hammer to.
A company I used to work for also had a tool library just like you described. I thought it was a great idea, just never got a chance to use it. But I thought the same thing could be set up between selected (meaning trusted) friends. Now I'm not so interested in the smaller tools like jigsaws and drills which everyone should have their own already. But rather the bigger stuff that you would only use once in a blue moon (or perhaps big snowstorm). Items like snowthrowers, log splitters, power washers and cement mixers come to mind. Maybe if the idea really took off, we could have everyone chip into the pot to buy new requested items based on a voting system.
"am looking for help in starting a neighborhood DIY Tool Co-op. Our neighborhood is a pretty close and trustworthy group with a variety of diverse tools."
PIO,
Sounds like you already have a co-op then, except it's more I borrow from so and so, and you return the favor. Your idea sounds great on the surface, but I think the 80/20 rule would definitely apply. IMO, make friends with people who have the tools, and ALWAYS find a way to return the favor.
Jon
This is right up there with never work for freinds, family or anyone you see Sunday mornings.
NEVER-NEVER-NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hate it when someone ask to use any of the hundreds of tools I worked so hard for. I just tell them , "They sold me one & they will sell you one too." Or I tell them, It comes with a operator @ $45.00/hr.
PJE
I'm sorry , you just hit a real hot button with that one.
Edited 10/22/2003 6:25:21 PM ET by CarpenterPJE
Edited 10/22/2003 6:26:49 PM ET by CarpenterPJE