Winston wrote:
Lee Michaels wrote:
"stan" wrote

But number of times have been asked to assist people assemble some
items, who don't even have a hammer or screwdriver in the house! So
one ends up using a dinner knife to take out a screw or going home to
get one's own tools!
==================

Yep, I was part of a business startup once. A bunch of guys in newly
rented offices. And I brought some tools in a crate in case they were
needed. I suddenly became the local tool store and general fix it
wizard. My qualifications?? I actually owned some tools and brought
them to work! It was a constant battle to get the tools back.
Everyone wanted to use the tools, but nobody wanted to give them back.

Been there done that, lost the screwdriver.

I worked at a computer manufacturer under contract.
I finally put a stop to tool theft by buying each
of the engineers a small tool kit with all the
essentials for servicing 'our' model of computer.

That was the smartest 500 bucks I ever spent because
It stopped the chronic interruptions and freed up
the time I spent looking for tools that had gone
walkabout.

--Winston

I've probably shared this story on here before- one summer, as a kid, I
was stuck with the duty of being the key-keeper for the tool crib on a
apartment complex construction site. 'Borrowed' tools never seemed to
come back. After about the 3rd time replacing missing shovels, chains,
12-lb sledges, and such, the next time I made a run to the supply house,
I also got a couple cans of dayglo pink spray paint, like they mark pipe
locations with. I put big splashes of pink on all the tools, and the MIA
rate went WAY down. It also made it a lot easier to spot orphan tools
left laying around the site by the casual labor temp crews, most of who
vanished after their first payday.

I may be a lazy slob of questionable ethics, but I always return
borrowed tools, and if I lose it or break it, I replace it. Too bad my
office mates aren't like that. I only take cheap tools in there, to keep
in the briefcase under the cubicle 'desk'.

--
aem sends...