Just curious if anyone has run into this and how they handled it.
I'm responsible for a facility that develops and builds products for the DoD and DHS. We do a lot of prototype work but didn't have a machine shop. I came to an agreement with the president of our company (and other members of the senior management) that I would setup a machine shop within the facility using my own equipment. In return, I could use the facility to store a few of my project machines and basically get free electricity to run my machines after business hours to do personal projects. We also agreed that the company would cover any damages to the machines and pay for all consumable items (tooling, etc.). I have a Harbor Freight tool chest over there that I keep locked full of my own consumables for personal projects (e.g. endmills, drillbits, taps, lathe cutting tools, welding rod, etc.).
A coworker, whom I like, was working on a project for work and had previously borrowed one of my personal cutting tools (a slitting saw) to make a slit in an aluminum handle. No biggie - it was a one off and unlikely to have any significant impact on the slitting saw life and work would cover it if he accidentally broke it.
But the other day, he had to make another one of these parts. I was working from home and - without asking - he tried to pick the lock and managed to gain access my toolbox to retrieve the slitting saw, but apparently destroyed the lock in the process. He called me to tell me he broke the lock and ordered me a replacement. But ... well I'm kind of struggling with this. The issue isn't the lock on a crappy Harbor Freight toolbox or the slitting saw... it's more the sense of disrespect or a feeling of being sort of violated.
What do you folks say? Am I being too sensitive about my tools? Anyone run into this before and, if so, how'd you handle it? Obviously we'll need to have a conversation but trying to figure out the best way to approach it. Outside of work, I would consider this guy a friend. At work, I'm actually his boss. Feels like a complicated situation to navigate. I'm not really much of a people person in the best of circumstances
I'm responsible for a facility that develops and builds products for the DoD and DHS. We do a lot of prototype work but didn't have a machine shop. I came to an agreement with the president of our company (and other members of the senior management) that I would setup a machine shop within the facility using my own equipment. In return, I could use the facility to store a few of my project machines and basically get free electricity to run my machines after business hours to do personal projects. We also agreed that the company would cover any damages to the machines and pay for all consumable items (tooling, etc.). I have a Harbor Freight tool chest over there that I keep locked full of my own consumables for personal projects (e.g. endmills, drillbits, taps, lathe cutting tools, welding rod, etc.).
A coworker, whom I like, was working on a project for work and had previously borrowed one of my personal cutting tools (a slitting saw) to make a slit in an aluminum handle. No biggie - it was a one off and unlikely to have any significant impact on the slitting saw life and work would cover it if he accidentally broke it.
But the other day, he had to make another one of these parts. I was working from home and - without asking - he tried to pick the lock and managed to gain access my toolbox to retrieve the slitting saw, but apparently destroyed the lock in the process. He called me to tell me he broke the lock and ordered me a replacement. But ... well I'm kind of struggling with this. The issue isn't the lock on a crappy Harbor Freight toolbox or the slitting saw... it's more the sense of disrespect or a feeling of being sort of violated.
What do you folks say? Am I being too sensitive about my tools? Anyone run into this before and, if so, how'd you handle it? Obviously we'll need to have a conversation but trying to figure out the best way to approach it. Outside of work, I would consider this guy a friend. At work, I'm actually his boss. Feels like a complicated situation to navigate. I'm not really much of a people person in the best of circumstances

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