Just got my saw back from the shop after lending it out . . .

[firefighterjake]

Ouch! $55 later, learned my lesson. Let a young man use my saw who said he knew how to run one. I told him that the tools were with my saw, and just assumed that he'd see the file and know to sharpen as he went along. Heard him using it, and he had it red-lined---just screaming. Went to see what was going on, and he grinned and said, "Your saw is dull. You need to get it sharpened." Pull handle was gone, replaced by a stick.

When I took it in, saw shop guy crooned over it like a parent over a child with a boo-boo. He gave it a tune-up, a new handle, and sharpened the blade, and even threw in an old blade cover.

Told me it had been abused and needed a little TLC, but now was in good shape (Husky 346xp), ran well, and that in the used saw market, it would go for about a hundred more than I paid for it. Made the decision that when it comes to my saw, my equipment is not for loan--at least not without asking more questions than I bothered to the first time. Live and learn. If it's that decent a saw, considering how little I use it, I'll take care of it and pass it on to one of the kids when they're ready.

Hate to not be able to help a neighbor in need, but that $$ hurt.

Well I think I found the main problem . . . the kid was trying to use a chainsaw without a chain . . . cutting wood with a blade on a chainsaw is pretty tough on those saws.

 

[firefighterjake]

I can't recall ever loaning my saw out to anyone . . . probably because all my friends have saws . . . and if someone really needed something cut I would just go over with my saw and do it for them. Some things are a bit dangerous just loaning out . . .

I don't have a problem loaning out my stuff though . . . it's all part of getting and receiving good karma . . . in the past week my splitter was used by two of my neighbors and tonight a former neighbor/firefighter is going to borrow it for a few days . . . these folks all have returned the splitter in the same shape as it was when it left (only with more gas) . . . and truth be told, in the past they have helped me out with the loan of tools or help . . .

 

[REM505]

I've worked around tools and power equipment most of my life. I borrowed a small Mantis type tiller from my BIL. I went to fill the gas tank with some 32:1 two stroke fuel. As I was readying to pour it out I noticed the gas in the tank didn't look like 2 stroke. Turns out it was a tiny 4 stroke! I DIDN'T KNOW they made 4 strokers that size!

A little information can go a long way EVEN w/ someone you trust to borrow your tools.

 

[mayhem]

Ouch! $55 later, learned my lesson. Let a young man use my saw who said he knew how to run one. I told him that the tools were with my saw, and just assumed that he'd see the file and know to sharpen as he went along. Heard him using it, and he had it red-lined---just screaming. Went to see what was going on, and he grinned and said, "Your saw is dull. You need to get it sharpened." Pull handle was gone, replaced by a stick.

When I took it in, saw shop guy crooned over it like a parent over a child with a boo-boo. He gave it a tune-up, a new handle, and sharpened the blade, and even threw in an old blade cover.

Told me it had been abused and needed a little TLC, but now was in good shape (Husky 346xp), ran well, and that in the used saw market, it would go for about a hundred more than I paid for it. Made the decision that when it comes to my saw, my equipment is not for loan--at least not without asking more questions than I bothered to the first time. Live and learn. If it's that decent a saw, considering how little I use it, I'll take care of it and pass it on to one of the kids when they're ready.

Hate to not be able to help a neighbor in need, but that $$ hurt.

Well I think I found the main problem . . . the kid was trying to use a chainsaw without a chain . . . cutting wood with a blade on a chainsaw is pretty tough on those saws.

Maybe he was using a Wright Saw.

 

[Flatbedford]

When asked I tell people that I do not loan out my saws, but that I will, when time allows, come and do the cutting for them. Saws are too expensive and too dangerous to loan out.

 

[bluedogz]

As a "favor", I let an out-of-work friend stay with us for a while while he got his act together.

Scrounged up a couple of red oak rounds about 12-14", didn't have time to mess with them, so he says "I'm not doing much... I'll split them while you're at work." I thanked him and left. He knew where the maul was, I figured.

On pulling into the garage/workshop late that night, I whiffed the unmistakable smell of a burning circular saw blade. Looking to the side, I saw a pile of oak splits, scorch marks and all, on the floor next to my BOSCH TABLE SAW. Neither the wife nor the ex-friend understood why I went ballistic.

If he were, like, 25 I might understand. But he was 55 at the time and has been an ASE mechanic for 30 years.. expected that there'd be an ingrained respect for tools. There wasn't. <<sigh

 

[KarlP]

Let a young man use my saw who said he knew how to run one. - (Husky 346xp)

Your loaner saw is a 346xp?! I'd baby one of those. To anyone but my dad, my loaner saw is an electric with safety chain that cost $50 at Targe ... and I've cut several cords worth of trees up with it.

 

[BrotherBart]

I was always told there are two things in life you never loan out: Your wife and your chainsaw.

And I know what the second line to that saying is. :lol:

 

[TMonter]

The only people I've ever loaned a saw to is friend who I cut wood with and I know will treat my saws with the same respect they treat theirs with. Power equipment is one of those items that loaning out is a bad idea.

 

[BrotherBart]

Looks like lots of consensus. Let me know if ya have something new to add and I will open it back up.