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Lend/borrow from people around you.

Lending libraries are great but not every city commits resources to support them or they restrict access to the citizens (eg: Oakland,SF,Alameda,etc cannot borrow from Berkeley tool lending library).

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How long have you been at this? This is an idea that I've also heard thrown around. You guys will not be the first nor the last to play with the idea. Did you find any clues as to why others abandoned the idea? Good luck!

Your contact link doesn't seem to work

Berkeley has a tool-lending library which is useful for the once-in-three-years that you need a ladder or a belt sander: https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/locations/tool-lending...

Maybe. But when I need a hammer or drill or saw, I need it now. If I have to go to the library, which may be closed, or may be out of what I need, that won't do it for me.

Libraries work for books because they offer a large selection of items you may only use once, or just browse over. But (inexpensive) tools? You wouldn't rent a dictionary for example...?

Perhaps hammer and drill were a bad example. Think more of things like a ladder. Ladders are expensive and likely won't be used that frequently. You usually know ahead of time when you need it (going to wash windows on the weekend, put up Christmas lights, paint your house).

It's a fine example. I was a poor student and now I'm a minimalist. I can't imagine owning tools when I can borrow them. I've also never had a tool emergency that couldn't wait until the morning -- or maybe just a couple times in my life.

Tools aren't like a dictionary because there is no digital/online replacement for a saw.

A lot of cities have tool libraries as well. I think the author hits the nail on the head though with "high-friction" being the problem.

When I rent a tool from the tool library, it puts me under a lot of stress to finish the job before I have to take the tool back. Furthermore, some tools are hard to pick up from the library without a truck.

If you don't have a car, forget it.

The other thing about tools as well is that in order to use them, you have to know how. If you don't own the tool, chances are pretty good you won't know what the heck you're doing.

After saying all that out loud your idea starts to sound pretty good. There needs to be a community center where you can learn how to use these tools, and borrow them when you need them. The library sounds like the perfect place. If only we could easily add low-friction on-demand services to that equation.

TechShop was addressing that issue about needing to learn how to use a tool that you don't own. Then you would use it on-premise, which seems like a better idea than borrowing it to use at home (for those projects that are portable anyway). Great concept, but turns out there wasn't a real business model there since they recently shut down.

I agree that public libraries can help fill this role, especially as traditional book lending becomes more digital. I also live in Calgary so thanks for the tip!

There's also this in Canada: https://sharingdepot.ca (I wish they'd build one of these in my city.)

Toronto has the tool library:

https://torontotoollibrary.com/

That's great, but part of me thinks this should be a public service as well. Not everyone can afford a $60/year membership for a tool library, and there's probably an overlap with those that can't afford a $100 drill they are going to use 2x/year.

I believe most public libraries are free to join nowadays. It would be great for low SES people to have access to tools.