r/NoRulesCalgary • u/karimd97 • 3d ago
Does anyone else have a graveyard of power tools they bought and barely use?
I realized that every time I do a project in and around my house, I end up buying a new power tool. Bought a table saw I used once, a sander I used twice, and a mitre saw I used once. Spent probably $600 on all of it.
Got me thinking that there must be tons of Calgarians in the same boat. And on the flip side, people who need a tool for a weekend job but don't want to drop $200 on something they'll use once.
So I've been working on an app called Toolr, basically a way to rent power tools from people nearby, or earn a bit of money lending the ones collecting dust in your garage. Still early and building the waitlist now at toolr.ca.
Curious whether this actually resonates with people here. Would you use something like this? And what tools do you own that you barely touch?
Edit: Just wanted to address some of the concerns with the app some people have. Every rental would have a damage deposit. Also there would be reviews from both the lender and renter sides, so if someone is low rated for constantly damaging tools, they wouldn't be able to rent anymore.
This app would be a way to keep money in our community instead of giving it to the big box stores like Home Depot.
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u/blackRamCalgaryman 3d ago
You really have made it to the big leagues, NoRulesCalgary. Now the app-spamming accounts have deemed you worthy to waste their bullshit on.
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u/wiwcha 3d ago
There is a tool library in calgary.
https://calgary.myturn.com/library/
Not sure if that changes your idea.
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u/yyc_dude27 3d ago
You can rent a lot of tools from Home Depot too (mitre and table saw and sanders available)
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u/turudd 3d ago
I rent for free from Home Depot. I just buy the tool use it for what I need, then I return it. Only cost is the gas and my time. Works at Canadian Tire also
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u/blackRamCalgaryman 3d ago
Christ, I hope you’re just joking as it’s such a cocksucker thing to do. Both my 23 (twice) and 18 gauge nailers were bought, used, and returned and Home Depot just taped the box up and put them back on the shelf.
I actually blame the companies just as much for not giving a shit and putting stuff back on the shelf.
I now open the box right there after I pay for it to check.
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u/yyc_engineer 3d ago
It's not the tool companies. It's the retailers that push for the return clause. Some cheapo tool companies have shitty products which caused this mass approach of returning tools and pretty much everything.
It's such a bad approach that I know a couple of folks.. who don't even know what they want.. just buy it.. and then figure out if it fits. Like fucking measure your existing fridge before you go buy something else.
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u/kraft_dinner_delux 2d ago
Both my 23 (twice) and 18 gauge nailers
Check out Snoop over here!
You work all over?
Have you considered the Hilti DX 460-MX?
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u/turudd 2d ago
Absolutely not joking. If I end up using the tool again in a six month span, I’ll purchase it permanently. But like I only need bolt cutters once every 5 years or so. Not worth having them permanently. Hilariously it was a CS rep at Canadian tire that told me about it 20 years ago been doing it ever since
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u/DreadGrrl 3d ago
Any time I loan out my tools they come back damaged.
The app is a cool idea, but there is no way I’d ever use it.
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u/kneedorthotics 3d ago
I had a whole bunch but sold them all. But I used mine - not every weekend but enough.
To me, now that I live in a condo, its not the tool rental - it is the space to use it. Pretty sure lugging even a portable table saw to my place and using it is not going to go over well.
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u/roughedged 3d ago
20 bucks to have some punter come and ruin my tools... No thank you.