Had an acquaintance ask if he could borrow my chainsaw a few weeks ago.

Mumbled something back to him like “yeah sure no problem”

Then basically ignored him as I was leaving the lease.

Been burned with stuff like that in the past.

Wishing I would’ve just told him straight up, “I don’t loan out anything with a motor on it.”

Curious if anyone else has a policy about loaning stuff out.

If so, how do you explain it to them so they don’t get butt hurt triggered?

Neither a borrower nor lender be. Hamlet, Act I, Scene 3.

Sure, my brother may have it. Or I will come help you.

If they are close enough accept the offer to help, they need the help. If they wont accept the help, they don't need to borrowing my tools.

If I loan a hand tool, I take a picture of it, explaining...After i forget I loaned this out, the pic will keep from looking for it for two hours before I remember it's on loan.

Wise man!

Women, guns, chainsaws and tractors they never come back the same.

I’m e had numerous people ask to borrow my RZR, everything from just a day to a week out of state. I don’t have an issue with it but they never leave the $35,000 deposit

Wade, an RZR ain't a chainsaw! It really does depend on who and what. The few people that I call my friends - yes easily because I know how it will look when it comes back.

Heck,
I’ve had sledgehammer and pick axe come back with broken handles, and the pick was bent. circular saw with a cord that had a different half of the cord due to sawing through the cord. Not interested in loaning out anything more mechanical than that.

Anything with an electric motor, gasoline engine or a barrel. The only time I let someone (co-worker) borrow a firearm their son sold it for drugs.

Anyone I'd let borrow anything will bring it back as good or better than when they got it. Anyone who wouldn't, I'm not friends with.

So far this year, I’ve let various people borrow my tractor, vehicle, tools and chainsaw. It’s all been returned in the same or better condition it left in thankfully. But regardless, they are all just material possessions and replaceable.

Borrowed my dads splitting maul last fall and broke the handle. He got it returned with a brand new handle later that week and a word was never said between us about it. That is just the expectation when borrowing or lending things in my mind.

Lawn equipment

I used to be young and dumb and loaned my tractor to a friend. He left the key on and ran the battery down. Not that bad of a thing, but he tried to jump it off and hooked the cabled up backwards and exploded the battery. He did clean it up and replaced the battery. He was luck not to loose his vision as he was covered in battery acid.
Well, I thought he had learned so I loaned it to him again. He was brush hogging behind his house knowing full well there were some tall stumps. He was going way to fast and hit one just right and broke a front axle into.
After that, I just went and mowed it for him. Way easier and cheaper.

There’s a very very short list of folks I’d loan anything to. But, loaning to me is workable. Years ago my wife wanted some tilling done, and she said she had a lady friend with a walk behind tiller. So I went to get it. It hadn’t been run in 15 or 20 years. I put new tires on it, took the engine apart and cleaned up the valves and scraped out the old oil. New spark plug and pull rope. Rebuilt the carb. The old thing still had compression and fired up. I used it, took it back, told her what I had done and that it ran now. I wasn’t looking for money for what I did, but a thank you would have been appreciated.

These days I don’t borrow stuff and rarely loan stuff, but I will loan to the neighbor. He’ll bring it back better than he got it.

'Hate that look from a supposed friend, right after he breaks something of yours and you realize YOU'RE gonna pay to replace it. Some folks go through their whole life like that. "Help me, I'm poor." I can't tolerate the clueless.

On the money Sir

Had a friend years ago ask if he could “ borrow” my girlfriend for night. Aaaah No!

I guess at this point it depends what friend and what it is. At this point I think the only hard no I have is my wife.

I’ve lent my truck, I’ve lent my boat, I’ve lent them both at the same time, lent guns they all always found their way home fine. I’ve borrowed too, but never anyone’s wife.

Short list of people I’d lend my stuff to but I’d lend them almost anything that doesn’t have sentimental value. Everyone on the list would pay in full to replace or repair anything I give them and the same goes for me and their stuff.

I never loan anything that I’m not willing to give away, including money.

Old man buddy of mine used to say back when I was fishing all the time…two things you don’t loan out, your boat and your wife…because a rod could be thrown in both of them

Substitute anything with a motor for boat.

Name them so we can publicly shame them. I know I have never asked

I haven't seen my trailer in two weeks. interesting thread

Airplane too... 3 Fs rule Sir.