San Bruno Tool Library

Pretty handy w**d puller, "the w**d hound", donated by Jeff Tong.

Thank you!

Well, I've been silent for far too long.

In the previous post, from March 2021, my hopes were high that a new partnership would allow us to have a location in downtown San Bruno.

I'll spare the details, but that didn't work out well. It's hard for me to believe this much time has passed. Long ago, I imagined I'd have a tool inventory online, we'd have formalized memberships, and we'd have an active community of borrowers.

I still believe that tool libraries are a great community resource, and that San Bruno has the ability and demand to make tools more accessible, make projects more affordable, and use them to bring people together.

I honestly felt like I had to "wait and see" for a long time during the failed partnership. And then I was feeling dispirited when it was finally time to recognize that our shared goals weren't working out.

But since around July, 2022, it's been time to move on. As my mom would say, "s**t or get off the pot." (She grew up with one bathroom shared by 6 people.)

She also used to say "can't never could do nothin'", which is to say, if you believe you can't do something, you're right.

So let's get this thing going.

I've been paying almost $200 per month for storage of the tools I've collected. This is much cheaper than rent downtown, but it still only makes sense if people are using the tools.

Here's what I need to feel like this is worth doing:

Within 3 months, I want to have the inventory searchable online. From a technical perspective, I know what to do. What I need is a couple helpers and about 100 person-hours of effort to get that done. I think this will help a lot in terms of usage. Here's the proof of concept online - I have 100s more tools to photo and catalog: https://manzanita.myturn.com/library/inventory/browse

Within 6 months, I want to have at least 20 paid ($50/year) memberships. Really, I'd like to have a lot more, and I'm sure we could reach 100s of members, but 20 within 6 months would mean I'd have the next 6 months of storage paid for, and that's enough for me to feel more sure that the community wants a tool library, too.

Within 6 months, I'd like to see $5000 worth of tool-borrowing to have taken place (as a simple example, a $100 tool borrowed 50 times, but really it would be something like 20 $20 tools borrowed about 10 times each). To be totally clear: except for a few high-maintenance items like pressure washers, I don't intend to charge a per-borrow fee. I just want to see the tools being used more, and the value of the borrowing is a good way to measure that.

As it stands, the cost of storage adds up to more than the value of the tools. Put another way, unless usage gets going, it makes more sense to buy a tool once in a while and give it to someone in need. That's a great thing to do, but it's not a tool library.

I haven't thought through how to wind down the tool library if it doesn't seem worth it, and I'd really prefer not to. I started working on this because I want a tool library. I can afford a new tool when I need it. I can't afford to store all the tools I might need. There are others who can’t afford a new tool when they need it. They make do, or don’t do, or save up money to pay someone else. A tool library serves everyone.

So - who can help me get the inventory online? This would involve taking pictures, filling in online forms (to categorize the tools and link to manuals), mostly on nights and weekends.

Who feels that a $50 annual membership is a good value for on-demand access to $1000s worth of tools and is willing to join as a member?

I’m looking forward to making the tool library work for the San Bruno community.

- Jeremy Dunck

Manzanita Works Tool Share: Inventory

A couple days ago, we picked up some used shelving from a hardware store in the process of replacing them. We'll use these in our upcoming store front.

It's getting real!

Ignore the nerd caption - and this could be an ad for a tool library.

Ok, but seriously, please don't gum up our planer.

https://twitter.com/Tixie_/status/1370091395017547777

Tixie on Twitter “When you setup Kubernetes to host your personal blog https://t.co/dbjqzbINnB”

Thank you to the San Bruno Lions Club for the donation of many trash pickers in support of Cleaning San Bruno Now.

Thank you to Stephen Seymour for the donation of about 10 5-gallon buckets, very useful in trash/litter pickup -- and of course to the many volunteers helping with trash pickup to help keep our city clean in the face of city budget issues, COVID trash volume increases, move-out dumping, and homelessness.

(Sorry no picture of this donation, it's been a bit hectic lately.)

Please let us know if you need these. And let Cleaning San Bruno Now know if your neighborhood should be scheduled for the monthly trash pickups.

We're in this together, and we're so happy to be part of this community.

🙏

Join your volunteer neighbors in cleaning up another section of San Bruno tomorrow morning, starting at the Caltrain parking lot.

We (Cleaning San Bruno Now) had a big turnout last time. We're doing it monthly.

Trash pickup equipment will be provided, courtesy of San Bruno city services, the Lions, and this tool library. 💜

On Oct 16, we received a donation of a sabre saw, and also got a great deal on a Craftsman 10" table saw.

Thanks, Randy!

Pat May, back on Oct 1, contributed:

A set of combination wrenches
Pipe wrench
Allen keys
Screw drivers
Feeler gauge (useful for gapping spark plugs)
Center punches
Battery post cleaner
Box cutter (utility knife)
Level (not pictured)

Pat found all this stuff he had for a long time and hasn't used in a while. Maybe you can use some of it!

Thanks, Pat!

A couple weeks back, Peter Mash made this tremendous contribution to the tool library!

miter saw
saw horse
workpiece supports
wood clamps
leaf blower
jack stands
come along (like a hand cable winch)
post hole digger
tamper
200 psi 8 gallon air compressor
knee pads
trowels
work light
various rope and chains
oil filter wrench & funnel

He needed some space back, and hopes that these tools can see more frequent use in the community.

What a gift!

Thank you for the latest donation!

Hey folks, we've been offered a donation of a wood chipper, but don't yet have space to store it.

Would anyone in the community be willing to hold it for us? If anyone borrows, we can handle the lending efforts - we just need storage space.

(We are still looking for longer term storage arrangements in general.)

Thanks!

We got another great donation from Jill Rofii today, including:

* electric leaf/grass blower
* 2 vise grips
* pipe cutter
* 3/8" pipe bender
* compressed air nozzle
* soft-jaw pulling pliers (useful for spark plug boots or plastic water line)
* set of small pliers
.. and a wood chipper, as soon as we can find space for it!

The wood chipper especially will be great to help with yard cleanup projects.

Thanks, Jill!

Mike Albertin came through in a big way yesterday - he donated:

light hammer
electrical splitter
pneumatic impact driver
Makita corded impact driver
20lb sledge hammer
splitting maul

Thank you so much, Mike!

Yesterday we loaned a crescent wrench and a couple nail pullers and received 10w30 oil as a donation.

We don't have inventory online to browse and reserve yet, but we do have a lot to choose from.

If you need something, give us a shot.

We'll start charging membership fees when inventory is online, and only loan out tools which aren't dangerous in the meantime.

Another donation picked up today!

Thank you!!

Two new donations to the San Bruno Tool Library!

Thank you!!

Two new donations to our San Bruno Tool Library!

Thank you!!

Our first loaned tool (a lawn aerator, useful for loosening the soil so plants can root more easily) is returned.

And as a bonus, we received a pole tree trimmer in donation!

Thanks so much, Marianne Cano!

Today we received a donated driver & drill bit set. We look forward to lending them out!

We've updated this pinned post with info about current operation, membership fees, and tool donations.
https://www.facebook.com/sanbrunotoollibrary/posts/103566021418006

The Berkeley Tool Lending Library More at http://www.newdream.org Produced by the Center for a New American Dream The Tool Lending Library in Berkeley, CA opened in 1979 and carries thousands...

A couple more donated tools... one is much better at getting those lemons from the top of the tree...😉🍋🍋🍋

Here are recent donations via “San Bruno Buy Nothing”

https://www.facebook.com/groups/166941637350741/

A tool lending library is like a book library, but for tools!

We're working on establishing a tool lending library in San Bruno. Right now we're seeking donations of unused tools - you can borrow them back whenever you need them. Anyone who donates will get 3 months membership free, with access to any other tools we have.

Berkeley has a well-established tool library, if you'd like to see what we could eventually offer, if the seeds grow:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSyulV00xuM

We intend to offer a low-fee annual membership which would offer access to (e.g.) $5000 of tools on a weekly-borrowing schedule.

If you'd like to help somehow, please let me know.

Right now, we will be operating out of garages in San Bruno. We are hopeful we can find a more permanent space and have some in mind, but in any case, it will be close on the peninsula.
For borrowers now, we can deliver tools rather than requiring you to pick up, too.

Right now we're independent (no support from foundation or city library), so we will charge an annual membership fee. The fee will be waived for 3 months for anyone who makes a tool donation. Membership requires liability waiver.

Tentative pricing:
Memberships-Students/Senior ($30)
Memberships-Low Income ($20)
Memberships-Regular ($50)
Memberships-Pro ($100)

These fees will go towards tool maintenance, storage rental (if and when we need the space) and buying tools that people want to borrow but we've been unable to find through donation.

Items we're particularly interested in (because they are frequent borrows at established libraries):

Received! lawn mower
Received! wheelbarrow
rototiller
mulcher
Received! lopper/branch trimmer
post hole digger
string trimmer (w**d eater)
Received! shovel/rake

air compressor
nail/staple gun

belt and orbital sanders

chain saw
6' and 8' ladder

hammer drill
impact drill
Received! Impact driver
drill bits

reciprocating saw (sawzall)
miter saw
table saw
jigsaw
wood clamps
saw horse
portable band saw
drywall square

The Berkeley Tool Lending Library More at http://www.newdream.org Produced by the Center for a New American Dream The Tool Lending Library in Berkeley, CA opened in 1979 and carries thousands...

San Bruno Tool Library updated their website address.

San Bruno Tool Library updated their business hours.