Many years ago there was NeighborGoods, a site that facilitated free loans of tools from neighbors. (Possibly they had paid options, but I only remember the free part myself.)
I loved it. I put all my own tools up on it for anyone to use. A few people borrowed my drill once it twice. I borrowed a ladder from someone. Some people even had their kayaks on there, as they lived near the river.
I loved the free aspect because that just made sense. We're in a dense urban neighborhood, why do we really need an impact driver for ever single house, or a wheelbarrow, or an oscillating saw? If I know my neighbor wants one, I'm glad to lend it. The world needs less consumption and more sharing.
Seattle has a few non profit tool libraries. Membership is $60/yr. Instead of buying a $200 bulky tool I use once every 5 years that I have to keep sharp and maintain, I just go there.
For items that I use once per month, I still keep handy, b/c driving 20+ minutes is just not worth it.
Their tools are also in good condition and there are volunteers that maintain them. They also help with bike repairs too.
Our local library is starting up a tool lending section. They also have "fix it" days every few months run by volunteers where you can show up with something to fix and the volunteers will work with you to fix it.
My local library, which is privately funded, also has a tool lending program. It's amazing.
It doesn't replace the need for me to own things I use all the time (mower, trimmer, drill, sander, circular saw) but it's perfect for once-in-a-while things like a power washer, a table saw, or an air compressor.
Exactly! Tool libraries are super great and we're trying to fill the gap where they're not implemented yet but also willing to help existing ones to manage them!
Van Neistat comes to events and sets up a booth as a repair station and helps people fix things. You might enjoy his youtube content if you are interested in these sorts of things.
Thanks, I'll take a look for sure! I'm already doing it for bicycle repair at schools and park but I had not thought about doing it for repairing other stuffs!
That’s awesome — Seattle’s tool libraries are a great example of how well this model can work. That kind of affordable access to well-maintained tools makes a huge difference.
With Patio, we’re looking to support and expand that model, especially in areas without a local library, and provide tools to help existing ones grow and serve their communities even better.
Off topic, but almost all of your recent comments feel AI generated to me. Maybe I'm reading into things, but the structure looks AI, lots of bangs and a whole lot of em dashes. They also don't match the style of your previous comments, last in 2022.
I’m noticing some people must read enough LLM output that they start to write and even speak like an LLM. I have an acquaintance who spends a great deal of time (hours a day) talking to an LLM, and now she speaks like an LLM does. I think she uses an LLM to generate her text messages, but the real life speech shows a transformation in actual thinking and speech patterns.
Totally fair to call that out, and I get why it might come across that way. But nope, not AI-generated. Just me trying to be clearer and a bit more structured lately. Sorry if it fell off.
That thing where your every first sentence starts with a short statement followed by an em-dash and then continues? Stop that. That's what's really annoying people. Em-dashes as such are fine — really, you can use them if you want — but that gimmick isn't helping you.
This is awesome. My partner runs events in Seattle and has talked about how there is a big need to do classes on teaching basic household handyman things but also her thing is turning events into social mixers for singles.
I just think it’d be great to teach people how to hang a shelf or clean the filter in a mini split, fix a flat tire on a car, etc. All the stuff I have to regularly do for people now. I may sign up to do some instructor led classes.
I love the idea of a tool library, I own more tools than I can use at this point.
However I think if I could get paid a monthly service fee to list my tools I’d do it, otherwise the replacement costs for people misusing or losing the tools would make it not worth it. A single socket goes missing and suddenly it’s $30 to replace, wipes out the sharing incentive.
Thanks and that sounds amazing, love the idea of mixing DIY classes with social events. We’re exploring ways to cover those kinds of risks, whether through small fees, deposits, or even shared insurance. You seems to truly love DIY and home improvements so if you had other ideas or you would to chat more about it, feel free to contact me at julien@patio.so!
Where would people even go to teach this kind of stuff? And do people even want to learn? I’m in Seattle and it might be fun. I don’t actually want to fix people’s tires,outlets,whatever for them but I’d be happy to Explain how and encourage good safety practices. I’m just cautious of people demanding free labor.
There are a few tool libraries, community bike shops, and woodworking spaces that offer similar workshops, usually run by volunteers (and I guess some hackerspaces too). But I get you, it can be hard to discover and know when these are happening nearby.
Curious though — when you were lending or borrowing items, did you ever run into any issues or friction? Things like no-shows, damage, or unclear expectations? We’re trying to learn from real experiences to make it smoother for everyone.
Interestingly when I try to give things away for free on Craigslist (yes, I'm old, I still use CL) I am frustrated to no end by no-shows. I've occasionally charged $5 just because that seems to filter out people who will actually come.
But I don't remember that being an issue with NeighborGoods. Maybe it was the community nature of it, that you really felt like you were borrowing from a neighbor, instead of just getting some free stuff to re-sell.
I never dealt with damage. I think actually IF I were charging per hour, I might care more, because then it feels like a business transaction. If I'm putting stuff up for free, then it's because I'm willing to lend to neighbors. (Obviously I'd feel different if someone broke my $400 drill press or something.)
Thats exactly my mindset too. We're planning to give free basic tools (skilsaw, drills, sanders) that we're getting from people that dont use it anymore to ppl that will use it for real.
I don't think we need all the tools that we owns, all the time, and if our neighbors can lend it, its a pleasure to do so. Damage can happens but at the end of the day, we're neighbors lending to each others so we can figure it out most of the time at least!
In most neighborhoods, there’s really no need for everyone to own the same tools, especially for things you use once or twice a year. That mindset of sharing over consuming is exactly what we’re trying to support with Patio — whether it's lending for free, renting, or just making it easier to know who has what nearby.
The more we can encourage that kind of local connection, the less we all need to buy — and the better it is for everyone.
Absolutely — not having to store all the tools is a huge plus. That’s a big part of what we’re aiming for with Patio too: easy access to tools without the hassle of ownership or storage.
I like tool libraries. I belong to one myself. But I also own some tools, like a car jack and and torque wrench, even though I use them exactly twice a year.
If I relied on the tool library for those, they'd be checked out all month when I most needed them to put on or remove winter tires.
Yeah, that makes sense — some tools are just worth owning if you know you’ll need them at specific high demands times. I think that tool libraries arent a full replacement for personal gear, especially for high demand and seasonal stuff. I see them more as a complement, great for one off jobs or trying things before buying.
I used to live in Berkeley, CA circa 2013. They had a tool library, which was part of the local public library system, and tools were free (!) to rent. I miss it everyday, as it was a godsend for broke new grads who still wanted to do some quick but heavyduty DIY.
I now live in NYC, and my local Home Depot rents out power tools for $20-30/day. The typical tool would pay for itself in 2 days at these rates, but it's still worth it to me as these 2 days are often 2-3 years apart and I'd rather not store these tools in my cramped 1BR.
What I would love is a community-run tool rental service where we can donate a tool + pay a nominal membership fee, and borrow tools for free. I am happy to donate a $120 circular saw/impact driver if I can rent 10x different tools once each for $5/mo for the next year. The closest thing I have now is my local hackerspace, which is great, but I often have to work on my projects at the space, which limits the kind of home DIY I can do.
Minneapolis/St Paul has at least one tool library (with multiple locations). MN Tool Library. Mentioning it in case someone in this thread is interested and lives nearby. Worth it, especially if you know have projects coming up. Lots of tools, indoor and outdoor, and some space for using the tools at their space , and lots of know-how from the staff/volunteers.
Edit: in the same vein, Minneapolis also has a Toy Library that is pay what you can for annual membership and absolutely stocked with toys for every age, and includes outdoor stuff like trampolines and bikes (small sizes) and board games and such. Very worth it for kids that only maintain interest for 2 hours and helps them learn how to give up a toy before getting a new one (similar to adults learning to return a tool…)
The Brooklyn Public Library in Green Point has a tool library, although it isn't very large if that's close to you at all. I'm not sure if it's available at any other library locations but the one in Green Point is fairly new and has great programming.
We have a large ~20K person BuyNothing community in my area (also NYC), and a few of us have thrown the same idea of a tool library around. We always hit a wall on the discussion of liability & liability insurance. Any ideas on how other organizations solve this?
Oui, la question de la responsabilité revient souvent. Certaines communautés utilisent des décharges de responsabilité, systèmes de dépôt, et/ou assurances.
On aimerait vraiment collaborer avec votre communauté pour comprendre les besoins et mettre en place quelque chose avant le lancement de notre service de location. N’hésitez pas à me contacter à julien@patio.so si vous voulez en discuter !
That's a really good idea. A community-run tool library with donations + a small monthly fee could be a game changer, especially in dense cities. It makes DIY more accessible without the cost or storage hassle. We'll certainly think about how this model could be implemented!!
There was one running in Frome, UK but unfortunately these community things are hard to keep going and it has now closed. The issues are cost of storage space, insurance, staffing etc.
Thanks a lot for sharing, yes even if there is a lots of need, there is also a lot of issues when it comes to tool rental. I'm sad to see another one that might end up closing but or goal is to create a platform that will help these community to grow by simplifying their work.
Thanks for sharing! One of our goals is to support initiatives like this and make it easier to start and operate them. We truly hope to help make tool libraries more common in as many cities as possible!
Portland OR has a system of free-to-use tool libraries (you pay 'library fines' if you return tools late, but checking them out is free), each quadrant of the city has one (and you can only use the one in your section of the city). For example[1]
Totally fair point — and really appreciate the honest feedback.
Our goal is to build a platform where people can learn, educate, rent, and share tools within a community that loves DIY. The “Explore” section is part of our effort to surface great tutorials and ideas, but we hear you — the rental experience should be front and center.
We’re working on making that more clear from the start. Thanks again for the insight — it really helps us improve.
Just to piggyback off this I had a similar thought. I read your post about the tool rental, got to the page and immediately saw random articles which unfortunately this AI age has got me to distrust that things are human written/curated when just presented with no context.
Seeing the rental and more community features would be best, then when you like the concept/community it makes sense to get invested in the posted articles because you've seen the site is active with people.
We’re working on bringing the rental and community features to the forefront so it’s clear from the start what Patio is about. In a world flooded with AI content, we get that leading with articles can feel impersonal without context.
The goal is to build trust through people and tools first — then let the content support that experience. Thanks for the kind words and thoughtful feedback!
Don't blame them, they just asked their agentic AI to make a successful site for renting tools. A Show HN post, and engagement in the comment section is a required step.
I like the idea. The rental section has a lot of potential imo. It makes me wonder if there’s room for the personal property rental business in tools like there is for housing and cars.
I do a lot of DIY and tend to acquire a lot of the tools I use if I think they are generic enough or I’ll repeat a similar job in the future but there’s also jobs I do where I’ll happily borrow from a friend. For example, I just built a small privacy fence that needed 5 posts cemented in. For that, I wanted to use a post hole digger. It’s very unlikely I’ll build another fence any time soon and a post hole digger takes up enough space that I don’t want to buy one and keep one. It’s also like $50.
If I didn’t know a friend who just built a new fence and had one but had an option of renting one from a guy down the street for $10, that’s what I’d do. And I’d be so happy I didn’t just spent $50 and then have to either store a tool that’s never used again or try to sell it.
I think DIY is growing, it’s a great way to save money and it’s only becoming easier with YouTube to help you through most any job. Good luck with the site!
Any thoughts on how you'd decide what tools to rent, or which might be considered too hazardous? For example, I see you have angle grinders, but I'm not sure I'd want to start there if beginning a tool library.
Yes, we’re exploring features to help libraries or hosts decide what tools to buy based on local demand — things like surfacing what people nearby are searching for or requesting most.
We’re also adding ways to flag higher-risk tools, so if you’re just starting a library, you can focus on safer, high-demand items first. Really appreciate you bringing this up — both access and safety are key to getting this right.
That’s awesome — $35/quarter for full access is such a great deal, and tool libraries like yours are doing amazing work for local communities!
Unfortunately, not every city or neighborhood has a tool library yet. That’s one of the reasons we built Patio — to make tools more accessible wherever you are. We’re also working with tool libraries to feature their listings and provide tools to help manage inventory, grow memberships, and reach more people.
If you’re interested in collaborating, feel free to reach out at julien@patio.so — would love to chat!
How do you protect agains "professionals" abusing the system. So maybe thats not relevant in USA but I see potential in our communities that smaller repair shops or construction contractor would come and use tools disproportionally to their input. That's especially relevant with consummable parts like blades, files, etc
I do a lot of diy, jobs on the side for friends and I know a handful of professional tradies.
None of them would want to not own tools they use even semi regularly and for insurance purposes (and peace of mind) they would almost certainly have to hire tools they don’t own from a rental company and they will just pass the rental cost on to the client.
Absolutely, it’s not for everyone. Tool libraries aren’t meant to replace pro setups. I think they’re more for casual DIYers, for occasional project, or people who don’t want to buy something they’lll only use once or try a new tool before buying.
A professional usually needs a tool when they need it and can't rely on the vagaries of availability at a library. And it's easy to kick out someone who checks out a tool all year.
Most consumable parts can be excluded from lending. Batteries are trickier.
You're totally right! I agree that batteries are also trickier but we're working on fixing this. If you have any ideas or thoughts, feel free to contact me at julien@patio.so
Yeah, that can happen. Having some basic rules and keeping an eye on things usually helps. People are often asked to bring or replace their own consumables too.
Really appreciate you sharing that example—it perfectly captures the kind of use case we’re building Patio for. DIY is awesome, but yeah, not every tool needs to be owned, stored, or bought new. Renting something like a post hole digger from a neighbor for a few bucks just makes sense. That’s exactly the gap we’re trying to fill—making borrowing as easy as buying, and helping people save space, money, and waste. Thanks again for the encouragement!
> I think DIY is growing, it’s a great way to save money and it’s only becoming easier with YouTube to help you through most any job.
Tangent on DIY... I keep trying and keep needing to call in a professional eventually when I get out of my depth or break something worse. Or youtube isn't quite right.
Youtube seems to only have stuff that's recent. If your model isn't in the last 5-10 years or built that recently. Like I was trying swap out some light switches, on youtube it looked easy, the actual box in the wall I have looked different i guess because it was wired almost 40 years ago now.
What would be an amazing resource is someway to ask a pro for like 10 min so I can go do it my self with some clear personalized instructions. That would probably be expensive since labor is the expensive part of almost every job though.
Totally get that — YouTube is great until your setup doesn’t match, especially with older homes. That missing link between general advice and your specific situation can be frustrating.
We’re actually working on a way to get quick guidance, just enough to help you finish the job confidently without hiring it all out. Stay tuned — we’re launching something soon to help with exactly that!
I thought about making something like this some years back, my ideas were as follows:
target neighborhoods, you should be able to walk to get tool. Have one house designated tool center, somebody signs up in neighborhood to be tool distributor gets some percentage money fees of everyone that joins - there are all sorts of issues in this of course, am just giving high level overview of thoughts I put in it.
This would mean that company would also distribute tools to target neighborhoods. Thus disrupting the traditional tool selling / hardware industry.
There are other business possibilities later on down the line opened up by this model that I won't go into here.
Part of this was based on things I noticed about home ownership in Europe, that is to say people who live in houses instead of apartments and their needs. Thus relatively affluent people and communities.
Maybe this home that’s designated as the depot could be staffed regular hours and have giant orange letters on the outside so people could find their nearby Home Depot more easily.
I like the idea of sharing (and freely do with friends already), but as a busy person and pretty avid DIYer, I don’t see the benefit of trying to undercut HD’s tool rental (which is convenient, open lots of hours, rarely any wait and never a no-show, and I’m often buying something there anyway when tackling a project that I’m short a tool for).
AirBnB and even Turo make sense because of the value of the item. “I’m going to coordinate a time to spend 15 minutes picking up and coordinate another time to spend 15 minutes returning a hammer that I can buy for $9 on Amazon with same-day delivery or ‘free’ tomorrow delivery” doesn’t have nearly the same appeal.
We're not trying to fully replace that, but offer a more local, sustainable option for tools and surplus materials. It won’t make sense for a $9 hammer, but for the expensive, rarely-used stuff, sharing can save money, space, and reduce waste. Same thing as the 6 drywall panel that would end up in the bin that is now covering my living room. A depot could help with the pickup hassle too.
Thanks a lot for sharing all of this! That’s a really thoughtful approach — and very aligned with how we’ve been thinking about it too.
The neighborhood-level model is especially compelling — tools within walking distance, built-in trust, and someone local acting as a tool steward or mini-hub. We’ve been exploring similar ideas, including ways to support individuals or organizations that want to take on that role.
Disrupting the traditional tool ownership model while creating new local economies is exactly the kind of long-term potential we see here. Would love to hear more about your original thinking — feel free to reach out at julien@patio.so!
A local hub to go get tools is the only way this works, in my opinion. Your current offering is obviously compelling from the renter’s perspective. I am renovating a cottage and would love to go pick up a chainsaw, brush cutter, etc for half the price of Home Depot (they have everything and great service).
But I just don’t see it from the tool owner’s perspective. My suburban aunt has two chainsaws sitting in the garage that she doesn’t use anymore. An extra $150 a month isn’t enough to deal with the hassle of coordinating meetings, dealing with damage, etc. And she definitely wouldn’t be giving a free tank of gas, PPE, etc like Home Depot does. She would gladly drop it off at a local spot, make passive income, maybe go grab it herself once a year when she needs it.
Ps - great website design. Looks beautiful on mobile and works really well. What are you using on the frontend?
Thanks for the feedbacks! The local hub model makes a lot of sense, making it easier for folks to contribute tools without the day-to-day management. Its true that this is not for everyones tho but some folks are happy to rent out tools and connect with neighbors, others would rather drop them off once and forget about it. We're exploring ways to support both but the local hub idea fits that really well.
The FE us using React and styled-components. We're not using components-library, pretty much everything is customized for our needs.
I and a few others in our community would love to start a tool library, so would love to have a good set of initial policies, software, tutorials and such to start from. For example:
- Cost to rent or borrow?
- Consumables (people expected to supply their own?)
- Liability? (Think angle grinders, power saws)
- Education of intended borrowers?
I'm willing to host a sea-can and act as librarian, but also unwilling to be sued because some ninny lopped off a thumb, or lost an eye to carelessness.
That’s awesome — and exactly the kind of community we want to support.
We’re working on tools to help launch local libraries: policy templates, waivers, safety guides, and yes, even subscription options (e.g. $X/month for unlimited borrowing) to keep things simple and sustainable.
You’d be able to set rules around pricing, consumables, and tool access — and we’re adding features like liability waivers and hazard flags to help reduce your personal risk as a host.
Would this solve most of the questions and concerns?
Yes, there are still some things to figure out, and we're working hard to find solutions that make the whole experience easier and more enjoyable. Really appreciate your feedback, it helps a lot!
I regularly buy tools from the thrift store. I recently bought a belt sander for $15, a rake for $7, a multimeter for $15, a chainsaw for $10, all in good working order.
(I only buy tools I have an immediate need for, otherwise I'd fill the house with tools.)
Yes, thrift store rocks but it's also easy to stack up tools we only use occasionally, they add up fast. We're planning to offer the same kind of base tools for free rental through the platform.
Great question — this is one of the biggest challenges in peer-to-peer rentals, and something we take seriously.
Right now, we’re working on adding features like optional insurance, deposits, and ID verification to help protect both owners and renters. The goal is to make sure there’s a clear, fair process in place when things go wrong — especially with high-value tools.
Ultimately, we want to build a platform where trust is backed by real safeguards, not just good intentions. If you’ve got ideas or want to chat more about this, feel free to reach out at julien@patio.so — always open to feedback!
I abandoned exactly the business model you are pursuing because I couldn’t figure out a solution.
I also abandoned the equivalents of eBay and PayPal decades ago for similar reasons, and in fact neither company has produced acceptable solutions IMHO.
Love the idea and hope you are successful. I really think there is a lot of value to be unlocked in sharing/renting tools. In my area we have a tool library which is handy.
Some ideas:
- I would focus a lot of effort on making it incredibly easy and intuitive to list things. This is one of the primary barriers to me when using these types of apps.
- maybe future idea would be to list things from Home Depot or other stores to expand the number of rentals that are available.
Thanks a lot for the feedback—really appreciate it! Totally agree that ease of listing is key. We're actively working on making the process super simple with AI-powered automation, and also improving how people search and discover listings. Love the idea of integrating store rentals too—that's on our radar!
We have one near my place that I'm a member of, it's run by volunteers. They have stuff outside of tools too (camping/cooking gear). You can view the stuff their inventory before you join: https://toolsnthingslibraryperthwa.myturn.com/library/
The main downside for me is returning the items in the window they're open.
Great question! Patio isn't a traditional tool library—it’s a peer-to-peer platform where anyone can list and rent tools directly from people nearby, similar way to Airbnb. So instead of being run by an organization, it’s the community itself that powers it. We're just making it easy, safe, and fast to share tools locally.
I wonder which is more efficient: to manage tools or manage the need. Rather than putting up a yard sign for "I have a hammer, guys", one that says "hey guys, I need a hammer"
Great point — and thanks for sharing it. We’re actually exploring ways to let people post requests, not just listings, so it's easy to say “I need a hammer” and connect with someone nearby. It’s all about making those timely, local connections simple.
Since this is all designed for meatspace, real life community, and i'm supposed to meet up with people via this to exchange / loan things - it'd be handy to have some baseline checks in place - hey this user opted in to verifying as a real person, also, they have no suspicious (stolen credentials) activity in their account currently.
Cool site — I’m eager to try it out! I’d recommend having — the rental aspects be — more prominent. That would — probably — help people not — think it’s just — an — aggregator — — .
Thank you for your feedback — — :) We will definitely improve the desktop navigation discoverability since it's not the first time we heard this issue. I'll also use less "—" in my writing since it seems like people don't really like it much
Please add more contrast to the black nav panel at the bottom. It took me like a minute to spot it because it was lost in the visual mess that the article previews create. At first I thought all this website does is article and video aggregation because all I saw was a list of categories and an endless feed.
Thanks a ton for the feedback — that's super helpful.
You're absolutely right about the nav getting lost — we’re working on improving the contrast and layout so it’s clear from the start that Patio is more than just content aggregation.
In addition to tutorials and articles, Patio includes a marketplace where people can rent tools and share or sell surplus building materials. There’s also a quiz section designed like Duolingo, where users can learn DIY skills interactively — from electrical and plumbing to woodworking and more.
Were you on mobile or desktop when you noticed the issue? That’ll really help us improve the experience. Thanks again for the great insight!
You’re totally right: the rental side definitely benefits from network effects, which is why we’re building more than just a rental marketplace. Alongside that, we’ve launched DIY interactive duolingo style quizzes, project ideas, and launching material surplus and tools marketplace — so there’s real value for users even before there’s a large local inventory.
As for users, we’re still early but growing steadily — especially in communities wanting to connect around shared DIY interests. Appreciate the encouragement!
After a while, tool rental services stabilize at tools near end of life but still marginally usable. Go rent something from a tool rental shop and see what you get.
I rent tools all the time they work well but are typically mid tier and 1/5 -1/3 of the price of a new one. There is a lot of labor involved after a rental to clean up and maintain the tool in decent working order though.
Also, it's not always only about the price. Sometimes, you simply don't have the space to store some of these tools too. For instance, a pressure washer can take up a lot of room and if you only need it for a 1-day cleanup, renting means you don’t have to find space or worry about storing it long-term.
You're right, some tool rental service are not perfect! Maybe if they had a better platform and more users, they would be able to update their inventory more frequently. This is also what we aim to help solve.
It's inherent in the rental model that the inventory is worn out.
Auto rental works because there's a secondary market in used cars. There's nothing comparable in tools.
You're right, tools are a different game compared to cars or housing. That said, this means challenges that we're trying to solve. If it were easy, more people would already be doing it.
Based on the title, I assumed there would be some association between rental and DIY tutorials. Perhaps showing the necessary tools to accomplish the task with rental links? The tutorials become something like an all-in-one kit. I also think you could commoditize the tutorials themselves, rather than just sourcing from YouTube. Great idea with a lot of potential!
Thanks so much for the thoughtful feedback! You're absolutely right — connecting rentals directly to DIY tutorials is exactly the vision. We want to turn every tutorial into a “DIY kit,” where you can learn how to do something and rent the exact tools needed nearby.
We’re also going a step further with our quiz section — think of it as Duolingo for home improvement. Instead of just watching tutorials, you learn step-by-step through interactive quizzes across topics like plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and more. It’s early days, but the goal is to make learning and doing as seamless as possible.
Very cool. The rental part is less exciting to me, simply because I live in a more rural area. When it comes to P2P sharing, it's better to just have relationships with your neighbors and share/barter directly. That isn't to say I wouldn't use the rental feature. Just that the tutorial / diy "recipes" feature seems to have a more near-term usefulness to me, as it doesn't require proximal adoption.
Thanks so much — really appreciate the thoughtful perspective!
Totally agree that in rural areas, direct relationships with neighbors are often the go-to. One thing we hope Patio can help with even in those settings is simply making it easier to know who has what — sometimes your neighbor might have the exact tool you need, but you'd never know to ask. By listing tools, even if it's just to lend or rent for free, it helps avoid unnecessary purchases for tools you’ll only use once or twice.
And like you said, the tutorials and DIY “recipes” are useful anywhere — that’s a big part of our mission too. Thanks again for the kind words and support!
I had a similar idea when I was living in a tiny apartment and trying to do woodworking on my kitchen table. I would have loved to pay someone nearby to use a planar or jointer once in a while. My biggest mental block for a site like this was the litigious culture we have where someone injured themselves and sues the tool owner or vice versa etc.
Totally get that — and it’s a big reason why platforms like this haven’t taken off sooner.
We’ve heard the same concern from a lot of people, and we’re working on solutions like optional insurance, ID verification, and clear guidelines to help reduce that risk for everyone involved. The goal is to make borrowing tools feel as natural and safe as borrowing a cup of sugar from a neighbor — but with real protections in place when it matters.
And yes — your example is exactly the kind of use case we’re building for. Tools like planers and jointers are expensive, bulky, and rarely used often enough to justify owning.
Totally valid concern — and one we take seriously.
In a world where things can go wrong and legal issues can arise, it’s important to have safeguards. We're currently working on adding optional insurance, ID verification, and deposits to reduce the risk on both sides. The goal is to make sure there’s a clear process if something gets damaged or if someone gets hurt — without immediately resorting to legal action.
Ultimately, we want to support a trusted community, but we also know that trust needs real protections behind it, especially in a culture where liability matters.
Initially, I was impressed by the articles. I tapped on one then tapped the visit button then Firefox Nightly 141.0a1 (Build #2016093823) crashed. The web page is slow on this old tablet. I could bring out my new phone or the laptop but I think the web page should be just as fast even on old devices.
Patio is a community-driven platform that helps people rent and share tools locally while also discovering DIY tutorials and resources. We focus on trust with verified profiles, user reviews, and local connections.
We're also working on adding insurance options to better protect tool owners and renters, along with features like ID verification and deposits to reduce risk.
If you’re interested or have ideas, feel free to reach out at julien@patio.so — would love to chat!
This is very neat and really underserved market. Imagine all the DIY YouTube videos for build your X for under X dollars only to see the teacher use $5000 work worth of power tools to make a shelf.
But how do you counter fraud and theft as this scales? Or is the earnest placed onto the host of the tool to protect their property.
Thank you — really appreciate that, and you nailed one of the biggest problems we’re trying to solve. Those “budget” DIY videos often skip over the fact that the creator is using thousands of dollars' worth of tools most people don’t have — we want to close that gap and make DIY more accessible for everyone.
As for fraud and theft, that’s a key challenge as we grow. Right now, we focus on building trust through verified profiles, user reviews, and local connections. But we’re also actively working on adding insurance options, deposits, and ID verification to better protect tool owners.
We believe people should feel safe sharing their tools — and we’re designing the platform so that responsibility doesn’t fall solely on the host. More to come on that soon!
Thought it was spam until I saw the "rental" at the bottom. Why would you have a completely blank header (where everyone expects the navigation to be) and then throw the actual navigation at the bottom? No site does that.
Totally fair feedback — and you're right, the layout feels unexpected on desktop.
We're designing mobile-first, since most of our early users are on phones, but we're actively working on making the desktop experience much clearer and more intuitive too. Really appreciate you pointing this out — it helps us improve!
Totally fair take — and you're right, tool rental isn’t new. We’re fans of tool libraries and rental shops, and we’re not trying to replace them. But many of the tool libraries we’ve spoken to are using outdated software that doesn’t really meet their needs — limited inventory visibility, clunky systems, and not much support for growing their community. That’s part of what we’re building with Patio: something more modern and community-friendly. We’re bootstrapped and based in Montreal, so all of this is really grounded in real-world DIY needs we’ve seen firsthand.
This is an awesome idea and I hope it gets bigger. I know some public libraries allow for tool rentals but they do lack in quality and types of tooling.
Totally agree with you. Public libraries and tool libraries are doing great work, but they often have limited inventory or older tools, and can’t always meet the variety of needs people have for DIY projects.
That’s exactly what we’re aiming to complement with Patio — by tapping into the tools already sitting in people’s garages, we can expand access, improve variety and quality, and make it easier for folks to find what they need without having to buy new.
Thanks again for the encouragement — it means a lot!
Please consider also including the use of heavy machinery in the tool rental page. For example: an hour using a drill press, lathe, milling machine, band saw, wood planer, table saw etc. Think of a virtual workshop spread across the city.
Flipped around a bit, looks great. One question I have is how will users know what a fair price is?
On the legal issues. Maybe making loaners attest the tool is in good condition and the renters sign a waiver? Untrained people are terrifying with power tools, I would be hesitant to take on the liability of someone losing an arm for $50.
Glad you liked the banner — and appreciate you taking the time to explore it!
Totally fair question on pricing. We’re working on adding pricing suggestions based on similar tools nearby, so users have a better sense of what’s fair without guessing.
On the legal side — yep, we’re exploring tool condition checkboxes, waivers, and optional insurance to help protect both sides. Power tools come with real risks, and we want to make sure there's enough structure to keep things safe and clear for everyone involved.
Totally agree — DIY varies a lot by country, from building codes to materials and even terminology.
Localization is high on our list. We're working on ways to adapt learning content by region, so users see tutorials, terms, and standards that actually make sense for where they live. Thanks for pointing it out — it's a big part of where we're heading.
Hahha, that made me smile too — thank you! We’re planning to add an option for online payments in the future, but we’ll always keep the choice to handle it yourself or just lend for free. And, I agree, Montreal is such a nice city!
For the news feed, it makes me think “Pinterest for home improvement,” which is pretty “meh” to me. Great, another ad feed. Why would I want to be here instead of a subreddit?
For tool rental, the first thought in my mind is that you’re going to be competing with hardware store giants like Home Depot or your country’s equivalent: many places already exist that already rent tools and equipment and they aren’t hard to find on the Internet. There are also a lot of local community options like rental libraries.
Totally valid points — and ones we’ve been thinking about a lot.
The feed isn’t meant to be just another Pinterest-style scroll — we’re curating high-quality DIY tutorials, guides, and projects to help people learn and take action. We also recently added an AI-powered search so you can quickly find relevant content by asking real questions, like “how do I replace a light switch?” instead of just browsing categories. That said, we know the feed needs to feel more purposeful, and we’re actively improving that.
On tool rentals — you’re absolutely right that big stores and tool libraries exist. We’re not trying to replace them, but to fill in the gaps: making it easier to find tools nearby that might not be available otherwise, support neighbor-to-neighbor sharing, and help smaller or underserved communities. We’re also working with tool libraries to modernize their systems and increase their visibility.
Really appreciate the honest feedback — it’s exactly what helps us get better.
Many years ago there was NeighborGoods, a site that facilitated free loans of tools from neighbors. (Possibly they had paid options, but I only remember the free part myself.)
I loved it. I put all my own tools up on it for anyone to use. A few people borrowed my drill once it twice. I borrowed a ladder from someone. Some people even had their kayaks on there, as they lived near the river.
I loved the free aspect because that just made sense. We're in a dense urban neighborhood, why do we really need an impact driver for ever single house, or a wheelbarrow, or an oscillating saw? If I know my neighbor wants one, I'm glad to lend it. The world needs less consumption and more sharing.
Seattle has a few non profit tool libraries. Membership is $60/yr. Instead of buying a $200 bulky tool I use once every 5 years that I have to keep sharp and maintain, I just go there.
For items that I use once per month, I still keep handy, b/c driving 20+ minutes is just not worth it.
Their tools are also in good condition and there are volunteers that maintain them. They also help with bike repairs too.
Specifically, I am a member here: https://seattlereconomy.org/
Our local library is starting up a tool lending section. They also have "fix it" days every few months run by volunteers where you can show up with something to fix and the volunteers will work with you to fix it.
My local library, which is privately funded, also has a tool lending program. It's amazing.
It doesn't replace the need for me to own things I use all the time (mower, trimmer, drill, sander, circular saw) but it's perfect for once-in-a-while things like a power washer, a table saw, or an air compressor.
Exactly! Tool libraries are super great and we're trying to fill the gap where they're not implemented yet but also willing to help existing ones to manage them!
I really really love this "fix it" day — This is a very good idea and I'm sure this service is greatly appreciated!
Van Neistat comes to events and sets up a booth as a repair station and helps people fix things. You might enjoy his youtube content if you are interested in these sorts of things.
Thanks, I'll take a look for sure! I'm already doing it for bicycle repair at schools and park but I had not thought about doing it for repairing other stuffs!
That’s awesome — Seattle’s tool libraries are a great example of how well this model can work. That kind of affordable access to well-maintained tools makes a huge difference.
With Patio, we’re looking to support and expand that model, especially in areas without a local library, and provide tools to help existing ones grow and serve their communities even better.
Off topic, but almost all of your recent comments feel AI generated to me. Maybe I'm reading into things, but the structure looks AI, lots of bangs and a whole lot of em dashes. They also don't match the style of your previous comments, last in 2022.
I’m noticing some people must read enough LLM output that they start to write and even speak like an LLM. I have an acquaintance who spends a great deal of time (hours a day) talking to an LLM, and now she speaks like an LLM does. I think she uses an LLM to generate her text messages, but the real life speech shows a transformation in actual thinking and speech patterns.
Totally fair to call that out, and I get why it might come across that way. But nope, not AI-generated. Just me trying to be clearer and a bit more structured lately. Sorry if it fell off.
That thing where your every first sentence starts with a short statement followed by an em-dash and then continues? Stop that. That's what's really annoying people. Em-dashes as such are fine — really, you can use them if you want — but that gimmick isn't helping you.
Sorry it bothers you and others.
FWIW it doesn't bother me at all.
Glad it did not bother everyone at least!
Thanks for explaining to the bystander why some of those comments are downvoted and even dead. Didn’t pick up on it.
This is awesome. My partner runs events in Seattle and has talked about how there is a big need to do classes on teaching basic household handyman things but also her thing is turning events into social mixers for singles.
I just think it’d be great to teach people how to hang a shelf or clean the filter in a mini split, fix a flat tire on a car, etc. All the stuff I have to regularly do for people now. I may sign up to do some instructor led classes.
I love the idea of a tool library, I own more tools than I can use at this point.
However I think if I could get paid a monthly service fee to list my tools I’d do it, otherwise the replacement costs for people misusing or losing the tools would make it not worth it. A single socket goes missing and suddenly it’s $30 to replace, wipes out the sharing incentive.
Thanks and that sounds amazing, love the idea of mixing DIY classes with social events. We’re exploring ways to cover those kinds of risks, whether through small fees, deposits, or even shared insurance. You seems to truly love DIY and home improvements so if you had other ideas or you would to chat more about it, feel free to contact me at julien@patio.so!
Where would people even go to teach this kind of stuff? And do people even want to learn? I’m in Seattle and it might be fun. I don’t actually want to fix people’s tires,outlets,whatever for them but I’d be happy to Explain how and encourage good safety practices. I’m just cautious of people demanding free labor.
There are a few tool libraries, community bike shops, and woodworking spaces that offer similar workshops, usually run by volunteers (and I guess some hackerspaces too). But I get you, it can be hard to discover and know when these are happening nearby.
The Berkeley Public Library has a tool lending branch: https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/locations/tool-lending...
That's cool!
Curious though — when you were lending or borrowing items, did you ever run into any issues or friction? Things like no-shows, damage, or unclear expectations? We’re trying to learn from real experiences to make it smoother for everyone.
Interestingly when I try to give things away for free on Craigslist (yes, I'm old, I still use CL) I am frustrated to no end by no-shows. I've occasionally charged $5 just because that seems to filter out people who will actually come.
But I don't remember that being an issue with NeighborGoods. Maybe it was the community nature of it, that you really felt like you were borrowing from a neighbor, instead of just getting some free stuff to re-sell.
I never dealt with damage. I think actually IF I were charging per hour, I might care more, because then it feels like a business transaction. If I'm putting stuff up for free, then it's because I'm willing to lend to neighbors. (Obviously I'd feel different if someone broke my $400 drill press or something.)
Thats exactly my mindset too. We're planning to give free basic tools (skilsaw, drills, sanders) that we're getting from people that dont use it anymore to ppl that will use it for real.
I don't think we need all the tools that we owns, all the time, and if our neighbors can lend it, its a pleasure to do so. Damage can happens but at the end of the day, we're neighbors lending to each others so we can figure it out most of the time at least!
Absolutely — couldn’t agree more.
In most neighborhoods, there’s really no need for everyone to own the same tools, especially for things you use once or twice a year. That mindset of sharing over consuming is exactly what we’re trying to support with Patio — whether it's lending for free, renting, or just making it easier to know who has what nearby.
The more we can encourage that kind of local connection, the less we all need to buy — and the better it is for everyone.
Tool lending library is the best I’ve found so far for tools. The best part is not having to store all the tools.
Absolutely — not having to store all the tools is a huge plus. That’s a big part of what we’re aiming for with Patio too: easy access to tools without the hassle of ownership or storage.
I like tool libraries. I belong to one myself. But I also own some tools, like a car jack and and torque wrench, even though I use them exactly twice a year.
If I relied on the tool library for those, they'd be checked out all month when I most needed them to put on or remove winter tires.
Yeah, that makes sense — some tools are just worth owning if you know you’ll need them at specific high demands times. I think that tool libraries arent a full replacement for personal gear, especially for high demand and seasonal stuff. I see them more as a complement, great for one off jobs or trying things before buying.
I used to live in Berkeley, CA circa 2013. They had a tool library, which was part of the local public library system, and tools were free (!) to rent. I miss it everyday, as it was a godsend for broke new grads who still wanted to do some quick but heavyduty DIY.
I now live in NYC, and my local Home Depot rents out power tools for $20-30/day. The typical tool would pay for itself in 2 days at these rates, but it's still worth it to me as these 2 days are often 2-3 years apart and I'd rather not store these tools in my cramped 1BR.
What I would love is a community-run tool rental service where we can donate a tool + pay a nominal membership fee, and borrow tools for free. I am happy to donate a $120 circular saw/impact driver if I can rent 10x different tools once each for $5/mo for the next year. The closest thing I have now is my local hackerspace, which is great, but I often have to work on my projects at the space, which limits the kind of home DIY I can do.
Minneapolis/St Paul has at least one tool library (with multiple locations). MN Tool Library. Mentioning it in case someone in this thread is interested and lives nearby. Worth it, especially if you know have projects coming up. Lots of tools, indoor and outdoor, and some space for using the tools at their space , and lots of know-how from the staff/volunteers.
Edit: in the same vein, Minneapolis also has a Toy Library that is pay what you can for annual membership and absolutely stocked with toys for every age, and includes outdoor stuff like trampolines and bikes (small sizes) and board games and such. Very worth it for kids that only maintain interest for 2 hours and helps them learn how to give up a toy before getting a new one (similar to adults learning to return a tool…)
Thanks for taking time to share it!
The Brooklyn Public Library in Green Point has a tool library, although it isn't very large if that's close to you at all. I'm not sure if it's available at any other library locations but the one in Green Point is fairly new and has great programming.
Thanks for sharing this! I think we'll add a list of existing tool library so it will be easier to find the ones near you.
We have a large ~20K person BuyNothing community in my area (also NYC), and a few of us have thrown the same idea of a tool library around. We always hit a wall on the discussion of liability & liability insurance. Any ideas on how other organizations solve this?
Oui, la question de la responsabilité revient souvent. Certaines communautés utilisent des décharges de responsabilité, systèmes de dépôt, et/ou assurances.
On aimerait vraiment collaborer avec votre communauté pour comprendre les besoins et mettre en place quelque chose avant le lancement de notre service de location. N’hésitez pas à me contacter à julien@patio.so si vous voulez en discuter !
That's a really good idea. A community-run tool library with donations + a small monthly fee could be a game changer, especially in dense cities. It makes DIY more accessible without the cost or storage hassle. We'll certainly think about how this model could be implemented!!
There was one running in Frome, UK but unfortunately these community things are hard to keep going and it has now closed. The issues are cost of storage space, insurance, staffing etc.
You can see the requirements they needed to keep it going here: https://sharefrome.org/save-SHARE-together/
Thanks a lot for sharing, yes even if there is a lots of need, there is also a lot of issues when it comes to tool rental. I'm sad to see another one that might end up closing but or goal is to create a platform that will help these community to grow by simplifying their work.
There's a successful one running purely on donations in Berlin: Resi https://www.resi-ressourcen.org/
Awesome!! Thanks for sharing :)
We have one in Baltimore which also offers classes and workspaces: https://toollibrary.org/
Thanks for sharing! One of our goals is to support initiatives like this and make it easier to start and operate them. We truly hope to help make tool libraries more common in as many cities as possible!
Portland OR has a system of free-to-use tool libraries (you pay 'library fines' if you return tools late, but checking them out is free), each quadrant of the city has one (and you can only use the one in your section of the city). For example[1]
1: https://www.neptl.org/membership/
I feel like you need to make sure the rental side is the first thing people see.
My initial reaction at being dumped on the "Explore" section was "this is just a spammy pinterest style link aggregator thing".
Totally fair point — and really appreciate the honest feedback.
Our goal is to build a platform where people can learn, educate, rent, and share tools within a community that loves DIY. The “Explore” section is part of our effort to surface great tutorials and ideas, but we hear you — the rental experience should be front and center.
We’re working on making that more clear from the start. Thanks again for the insight — it really helps us improve.
Just to piggyback off this I had a similar thought. I read your post about the tool rental, got to the page and immediately saw random articles which unfortunately this AI age has got me to distrust that things are human written/curated when just presented with no context.
Seeing the rental and more community features would be best, then when you like the concept/community it makes sense to get invested in the posted articles because you've seen the site is active with people.
Love the idea, I really hope it all takes off!
Really appreciate that — and totally agree.
We’re working on bringing the rental and community features to the forefront so it’s clear from the start what Patio is about. In a world flooded with AI content, we get that leading with articles can feel impersonal without context.
The goal is to build trust through people and tools first — then let the content support that experience. Thanks for the kind words and thoughtful feedback!
In a world flooded with AI content, you use ChatGPT to reply to HN comments. Very cute.
I'm sorry you feels this way.
Don't blame them, they just asked their agentic AI to make a successful site for renting tools. A Show HN post, and engagement in the comment section is a required step.
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I like the idea. The rental section has a lot of potential imo. It makes me wonder if there’s room for the personal property rental business in tools like there is for housing and cars.
I do a lot of DIY and tend to acquire a lot of the tools I use if I think they are generic enough or I’ll repeat a similar job in the future but there’s also jobs I do where I’ll happily borrow from a friend. For example, I just built a small privacy fence that needed 5 posts cemented in. For that, I wanted to use a post hole digger. It’s very unlikely I’ll build another fence any time soon and a post hole digger takes up enough space that I don’t want to buy one and keep one. It’s also like $50.
If I didn’t know a friend who just built a new fence and had one but had an option of renting one from a guy down the street for $10, that’s what I’d do. And I’d be so happy I didn’t just spent $50 and then have to either store a tool that’s never used again or try to sell it.
I think DIY is growing, it’s a great way to save money and it’s only becoming easier with YouTube to help you through most any job. Good luck with the site!
Tool libraries are starting to take off. Ours is $35/quarter and gives you free access to their full library:
https://mtl.myturn.com/library/inventory/browse
Any thoughts on how you'd decide what tools to rent, or which might be considered too hazardous? For example, I see you have angle grinders, but I'm not sure I'd want to start there if beginning a tool library.
Yes, we’re exploring features to help libraries or hosts decide what tools to buy based on local demand — things like surfacing what people nearby are searching for or requesting most.
We’re also adding ways to flag higher-risk tools, so if you’re just starting a library, you can focus on safer, high-demand items first. Really appreciate you bringing this up — both access and safety are key to getting this right.
Why not? They are dangerously AF but also necessary and get only light use. Perfect for a tool library.
I do worry about failure of the cutting disk if it was abused so maybe you have to sell people a new disk as part of the rental.
That’s awesome — $35/quarter for full access is such a great deal, and tool libraries like yours are doing amazing work for local communities!
Unfortunately, not every city or neighborhood has a tool library yet. That’s one of the reasons we built Patio — to make tools more accessible wherever you are. We’re also working with tool libraries to feature their listings and provide tools to help manage inventory, grow memberships, and reach more people.
If you’re interested in collaborating, feel free to reach out at julien@patio.so — would love to chat!
How do you protect agains "professionals" abusing the system. So maybe thats not relevant in USA but I see potential in our communities that smaller repair shops or construction contractor would come and use tools disproportionally to their input. That's especially relevant with consummable parts like blades, files, etc
I do a lot of diy, jobs on the side for friends and I know a handful of professional tradies.
None of them would want to not own tools they use even semi regularly and for insurance purposes (and peace of mind) they would almost certainly have to hire tools they don’t own from a rental company and they will just pass the rental cost on to the client.
Tradies own a lot of tools they use for one project and never again. They're definitely a viable market for a platform like this.
I totally agree with you!!
Absolutely, it’s not for everyone. Tool libraries aren’t meant to replace pro setups. I think they’re more for casual DIYers, for occasional project, or people who don’t want to buy something they’lll only use once or try a new tool before buying.
A professional usually needs a tool when they need it and can't rely on the vagaries of availability at a library. And it's easy to kick out someone who checks out a tool all year.
Most consumable parts can be excluded from lending. Batteries are trickier.
You're totally right! I agree that batteries are also trickier but we're working on fixing this. If you have any ideas or thoughts, feel free to contact me at julien@patio.so
Yeah, that can happen. Having some basic rules and keeping an eye on things usually helps. People are often asked to bring or replace their own consumables too.
Normally you provide your own consumable parts for these sort of tool libraries.
Exactly!
Really appreciate you sharing that example—it perfectly captures the kind of use case we’re building Patio for. DIY is awesome, but yeah, not every tool needs to be owned, stored, or bought new. Renting something like a post hole digger from a neighbor for a few bucks just makes sense. That’s exactly the gap we’re trying to fill—making borrowing as easy as buying, and helping people save space, money, and waste. Thanks again for the encouragement!
> I think DIY is growing, it’s a great way to save money and it’s only becoming easier with YouTube to help you through most any job.
Tangent on DIY... I keep trying and keep needing to call in a professional eventually when I get out of my depth or break something worse. Or youtube isn't quite right.
Youtube seems to only have stuff that's recent. If your model isn't in the last 5-10 years or built that recently. Like I was trying swap out some light switches, on youtube it looked easy, the actual box in the wall I have looked different i guess because it was wired almost 40 years ago now.
What would be an amazing resource is someway to ask a pro for like 10 min so I can go do it my self with some clear personalized instructions. That would probably be expensive since labor is the expensive part of almost every job though.
Totally get that — YouTube is great until your setup doesn’t match, especially with older homes. That missing link between general advice and your specific situation can be frustrating.
We’re actually working on a way to get quick guidance, just enough to help you finish the job confidently without hiring it all out. Stay tuned — we’re launching something soon to help with exactly that!
justanswer.com, but as you said, it is quite expensive.
You're right — justanwers.com is a good but can be pretty pricey (+50$ US/month).
I thought about making something like this some years back, my ideas were as follows:
target neighborhoods, you should be able to walk to get tool. Have one house designated tool center, somebody signs up in neighborhood to be tool distributor gets some percentage money fees of everyone that joins - there are all sorts of issues in this of course, am just giving high level overview of thoughts I put in it.
This would mean that company would also distribute tools to target neighborhoods. Thus disrupting the traditional tool selling / hardware industry.
There are other business possibilities later on down the line opened up by this model that I won't go into here.
Part of this was based on things I noticed about home ownership in Europe, that is to say people who live in houses instead of apartments and their needs. Thus relatively affluent people and communities.
Maybe this home that’s designated as the depot could be staffed regular hours and have giant orange letters on the outside so people could find their nearby Home Depot more easily.
I like the idea of sharing (and freely do with friends already), but as a busy person and pretty avid DIYer, I don’t see the benefit of trying to undercut HD’s tool rental (which is convenient, open lots of hours, rarely any wait and never a no-show, and I’m often buying something there anyway when tackling a project that I’m short a tool for).
AirBnB and even Turo make sense because of the value of the item. “I’m going to coordinate a time to spend 15 minutes picking up and coordinate another time to spend 15 minutes returning a hammer that I can buy for $9 on Amazon with same-day delivery or ‘free’ tomorrow delivery” doesn’t have nearly the same appeal.
We're not trying to fully replace that, but offer a more local, sustainable option for tools and surplus materials. It won’t make sense for a $9 hammer, but for the expensive, rarely-used stuff, sharing can save money, space, and reduce waste. Same thing as the 6 drywall panel that would end up in the bin that is now covering my living room. A depot could help with the pickup hassle too.
Thanks a lot for sharing all of this! That’s a really thoughtful approach — and very aligned with how we’ve been thinking about it too.
The neighborhood-level model is especially compelling — tools within walking distance, built-in trust, and someone local acting as a tool steward or mini-hub. We’ve been exploring similar ideas, including ways to support individuals or organizations that want to take on that role.
Disrupting the traditional tool ownership model while creating new local economies is exactly the kind of long-term potential we see here. Would love to hear more about your original thinking — feel free to reach out at julien@patio.so!
A local hub to go get tools is the only way this works, in my opinion. Your current offering is obviously compelling from the renter’s perspective. I am renovating a cottage and would love to go pick up a chainsaw, brush cutter, etc for half the price of Home Depot (they have everything and great service).
But I just don’t see it from the tool owner’s perspective. My suburban aunt has two chainsaws sitting in the garage that she doesn’t use anymore. An extra $150 a month isn’t enough to deal with the hassle of coordinating meetings, dealing with damage, etc. And she definitely wouldn’t be giving a free tank of gas, PPE, etc like Home Depot does. She would gladly drop it off at a local spot, make passive income, maybe go grab it herself once a year when she needs it.
Ps - great website design. Looks beautiful on mobile and works really well. What are you using on the frontend?
Thanks for the feedbacks! The local hub model makes a lot of sense, making it easier for folks to contribute tools without the day-to-day management. Its true that this is not for everyones tho but some folks are happy to rent out tools and connect with neighbors, others would rather drop them off once and forget about it. We're exploring ways to support both but the local hub idea fits that really well.
The FE us using React and styled-components. We're not using components-library, pretty much everything is customized for our needs.
I and a few others in our community would love to start a tool library, so would love to have a good set of initial policies, software, tutorials and such to start from. For example:
I'm willing to host a sea-can and act as librarian, but also unwilling to be sued because some ninny lopped off a thumb, or lost an eye to carelessness.That’s awesome — and exactly the kind of community we want to support.
We’re working on tools to help launch local libraries: policy templates, waivers, safety guides, and yes, even subscription options (e.g. $X/month for unlimited borrowing) to keep things simple and sustainable.
You’d be able to set rules around pricing, consumables, and tool access — and we’re adding features like liability waivers and hazard flags to help reduce your personal risk as a host.
Would this solve most of the questions and concerns?
It might! I imagine we'd still want to run example forms past a lawyer, that sort of thing, but better than starting from scratch.
Yes, there are still some things to figure out, and we're working hard to find solutions that make the whole experience easier and more enjoyable. Really appreciate your feedback, it helps a lot!
I regularly buy tools from the thrift store. I recently bought a belt sander for $15, a rake for $7, a multimeter for $15, a chainsaw for $10, all in good working order.
(I only buy tools I have an immediate need for, otherwise I'd fill the house with tools.)
Yes, thrift store rocks but it's also easy to stack up tools we only use occasionally, they add up fast. We're planning to offer the same kind of base tools for free rental through the platform.
What happens when an expensive piece of equipment is damaged and the guilty party refuses to acknowledge it?
Great question — this is one of the biggest challenges in peer-to-peer rentals, and something we take seriously.
Right now, we’re working on adding features like optional insurance, deposits, and ID verification to help protect both owners and renters. The goal is to make sure there’s a clear, fair process in place when things go wrong — especially with high-value tools.
Ultimately, we want to build a platform where trust is backed by real safeguards, not just good intentions. If you’ve got ideas or want to chat more about this, feel free to reach out at julien@patio.so — always open to feedback!
I abandoned exactly the business model you are pursuing because I couldn’t figure out a solution.
I also abandoned the equivalents of eBay and PayPal decades ago for similar reasons, and in fact neither company has produced acceptable solutions IMHO.
Love the idea and hope you are successful. I really think there is a lot of value to be unlocked in sharing/renting tools. In my area we have a tool library which is handy.
Some ideas: - I would focus a lot of effort on making it incredibly easy and intuitive to list things. This is one of the primary barriers to me when using these types of apps. - maybe future idea would be to list things from Home Depot or other stores to expand the number of rentals that are available.
Thanks a lot for the feedback—really appreciate it! Totally agree that ease of listing is key. We're actively working on making the process super simple with AI-powered automation, and also improving how people search and discover listings. Love the idea of integrating store rentals too—that's on our radar!
How does your tool library work? Who organizes it? Sounds really interesting.
We have one near my place that I'm a member of, it's run by volunteers. They have stuff outside of tools too (camping/cooking gear). You can view the stuff their inventory before you join: https://toolsnthingslibraryperthwa.myturn.com/library/
The main downside for me is returning the items in the window they're open.
Great question! Patio isn't a traditional tool library—it’s a peer-to-peer platform where anyone can list and rent tools directly from people nearby, similar way to Airbnb. So instead of being run by an organization, it’s the community itself that powers it. We're just making it easy, safe, and fast to share tools locally.
I wonder which is more efficient: to manage tools or manage the need. Rather than putting up a yard sign for "I have a hammer, guys", one that says "hey guys, I need a hammer"
Great point — and thanks for sharing it. We’re actually exploring ways to let people post requests, not just listings, so it's easy to say “I need a hammer” and connect with someone nearby. It’s all about making those timely, local connections simple.
Yes fellow human
These are really good ideas, thanks so much for sharing!
Since this is all designed for meatspace, real life community, and i'm supposed to meet up with people via this to exchange / loan things - it'd be handy to have some baseline checks in place - hey this user opted in to verifying as a real person, also, they have no suspicious (stolen credentials) activity in their account currently.
Super good point — we're working hard to add security features to make the platform as secure and easy to use. Stay tuned :)
Cool site — I’m eager to try it out! I’d recommend having — the rental aspects be — more prominent. That would — probably — help people not — think it’s just — an — aggregator — — .
Thank you for your feedback — — :) We will definitely improve the desktop navigation discoverability since it's not the first time we heard this issue. I'll also use less "—" in my writing since it seems like people don't really like it much
We just update the top navigation bar on desktop. Now that it's more prominent, it should now be easier to navigate.
Please add more contrast to the black nav panel at the bottom. It took me like a minute to spot it because it was lost in the visual mess that the article previews create. At first I thought all this website does is article and video aggregation because all I saw was a list of categories and an endless feed.
Thanks a ton for the feedback — that's super helpful.
You're absolutely right about the nav getting lost — we’re working on improving the contrast and layout so it’s clear from the start that Patio is more than just content aggregation.
In addition to tutorials and articles, Patio includes a marketplace where people can rent tools and share or sell surplus building materials. There’s also a quiz section designed like Duolingo, where users can learn DIY skills interactively — from electrical and plumbing to woodworking and more.
Were you on mobile or desktop when you noticed the issue? That’ll really help us improve the experience. Thanks again for the great insight!
I was on desktop. The mobile version uses a slightly different layout and doesn't suffer from this issue.
Thank you, it's really appreciated, we will update the desktop version shortly!
We’ve updated the desktop navigation bar to be more prominent and easier to use. Thanks for your feedbacks!
I wonder what patio11 thinks about this.
I kid, I kid, looks good though, how many users do you have already? I assume you need quite a network effect to be able to borrow tools for example.
Haha — we’d love to hear what patio11 thinks too!
You’re totally right: the rental side definitely benefits from network effects, which is why we’re building more than just a rental marketplace. Alongside that, we’ve launched DIY interactive duolingo style quizzes, project ideas, and launching material surplus and tools marketplace — so there’s real value for users even before there’s a large local inventory.
As for users, we’re still early but growing steadily — especially in communities wanting to connect around shared DIY interests. Appreciate the encouragement!
After a while, tool rental services stabilize at tools near end of life but still marginally usable. Go rent something from a tool rental shop and see what you get.
I rent tools all the time they work well but are typically mid tier and 1/5 -1/3 of the price of a new one. There is a lot of labor involved after a rental to clean up and maintain the tool in decent working order though.
Also, it's not always only about the price. Sometimes, you simply don't have the space to store some of these tools too. For instance, a pressure washer can take up a lot of room and if you only need it for a 1-day cleanup, renting means you don’t have to find space or worry about storing it long-term.
I think that’s the biggest issue that OP maybe hasn’t acknowledged
You're right, some tool rental service are not perfect! Maybe if they had a better platform and more users, they would be able to update their inventory more frequently. This is also what we aim to help solve.
It's inherent in the rental model that the inventory is worn out. Auto rental works because there's a secondary market in used cars. There's nothing comparable in tools.
You're right, tools are a different game compared to cars or housing. That said, this means challenges that we're trying to solve. If it were easy, more people would already be doing it.
Based on the title, I assumed there would be some association between rental and DIY tutorials. Perhaps showing the necessary tools to accomplish the task with rental links? The tutorials become something like an all-in-one kit. I also think you could commoditize the tutorials themselves, rather than just sourcing from YouTube. Great idea with a lot of potential!
Thanks so much for the thoughtful feedback! You're absolutely right — connecting rentals directly to DIY tutorials is exactly the vision. We want to turn every tutorial into a “DIY kit,” where you can learn how to do something and rent the exact tools needed nearby.
We’re also going a step further with our quiz section — think of it as Duolingo for home improvement. Instead of just watching tutorials, you learn step-by-step through interactive quizzes across topics like plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and more. It’s early days, but the goal is to make learning and doing as seamless as possible.
https://patio.so/quiz
Very cool. The rental part is less exciting to me, simply because I live in a more rural area. When it comes to P2P sharing, it's better to just have relationships with your neighbors and share/barter directly. That isn't to say I wouldn't use the rental feature. Just that the tutorial / diy "recipes" feature seems to have a more near-term usefulness to me, as it doesn't require proximal adoption.
I wish you luck!
Thanks so much — really appreciate the thoughtful perspective!
Totally agree that in rural areas, direct relationships with neighbors are often the go-to. One thing we hope Patio can help with even in those settings is simply making it easier to know who has what — sometimes your neighbor might have the exact tool you need, but you'd never know to ask. By listing tools, even if it's just to lend or rent for free, it helps avoid unnecessary purchases for tools you’ll only use once or twice.
And like you said, the tutorials and DIY “recipes” are useful anywhere — that’s a big part of our mission too. Thanks again for the kind words and support!
I had a similar idea when I was living in a tiny apartment and trying to do woodworking on my kitchen table. I would have loved to pay someone nearby to use a planar or jointer once in a while. My biggest mental block for a site like this was the litigious culture we have where someone injured themselves and sues the tool owner or vice versa etc.
Totally get that — and it’s a big reason why platforms like this haven’t taken off sooner.
We’ve heard the same concern from a lot of people, and we’re working on solutions like optional insurance, ID verification, and clear guidelines to help reduce that risk for everyone involved. The goal is to make borrowing tools feel as natural and safe as borrowing a cup of sugar from a neighbor — but with real protections in place when it matters.
And yes — your example is exactly the kind of use case we’re building for. Tools like planers and jointers are expensive, bulky, and rarely used often enough to justify owning.
> the litigious culture we have
If somebody damages your expensive tool, or you are injured by their faulty tool, and they refuse to compensate you, what do you think should happen?
Totally valid concern — and one we take seriously.
In a world where things can go wrong and legal issues can arise, it’s important to have safeguards. We're currently working on adding optional insurance, ID verification, and deposits to reduce the risk on both sides. The goal is to make sure there’s a clear process if something gets damaged or if someone gets hurt — without immediately resorting to legal action.
Ultimately, we want to support a trusted community, but we also know that trust needs real protections behind it, especially in a culture where liability matters.
Initially, I was impressed by the articles. I tapped on one then tapped the visit button then Firefox Nightly 141.0a1 (Build #2016093823) crashed. The web page is slow on this old tablet. I could bring out my new phone or the laptop but I think the web page should be just as fast even on old devices.
We will take a look and try to figure out of what is happening there, thanks for your feedbacks, it's really appreciated.
How does this work and how do you deal with theft fraud and damage.
Great questions — and ones we hear often.
Patio is a community-driven platform that helps people rent and share tools locally while also discovering DIY tutorials and resources. We focus on trust with verified profiles, user reviews, and local connections.
We're also working on adding insurance options to better protect tool owners and renters, along with features like ID verification and deposits to reduce risk.
If you’re interested or have ideas, feel free to reach out at julien@patio.so — would love to chat!
This is very neat and really underserved market. Imagine all the DIY YouTube videos for build your X for under X dollars only to see the teacher use $5000 work worth of power tools to make a shelf.
But how do you counter fraud and theft as this scales? Or is the earnest placed onto the host of the tool to protect their property.
Thank you — really appreciate that, and you nailed one of the biggest problems we’re trying to solve. Those “budget” DIY videos often skip over the fact that the creator is using thousands of dollars' worth of tools most people don’t have — we want to close that gap and make DIY more accessible for everyone.
As for fraud and theft, that’s a key challenge as we grow. Right now, we focus on building trust through verified profiles, user reviews, and local connections. But we’re also actively working on adding insurance options, deposits, and ID verification to better protect tool owners.
We believe people should feel safe sharing their tools — and we’re designing the platform so that responsibility doesn’t fall solely on the host. More to come on that soon!
Thought it was spam until I saw the "rental" at the bottom. Why would you have a completely blank header (where everyone expects the navigation to be) and then throw the actual navigation at the bottom? No site does that.
Totally fair feedback — and you're right, the layout feels unexpected on desktop.
We're designing mobile-first, since most of our early users are on phones, but we're actively working on making the desktop experience much clearer and more intuitive too. Really appreciate you pointing this out — it helps us improve!
We’ve updated the desktop top navigation bar. It should makes it much easier to navigate now :)
Anyone else just refreshed and happy to be reading about something not AI?
this implies to me that people in Palo Alto don't realize there are places to rent tools from already.
Totally fair take — and you're right, tool rental isn’t new. We’re fans of tool libraries and rental shops, and we’re not trying to replace them. But many of the tool libraries we’ve spoken to are using outdated software that doesn’t really meet their needs — limited inventory visibility, clunky systems, and not much support for growing their community. That’s part of what we’re building with Patio: something more modern and community-friendly. We’re bootstrapped and based in Montreal, so all of this is really grounded in real-world DIY needs we’ve seen firsthand.
This is an awesome idea and I hope it gets bigger. I know some public libraries allow for tool rentals but they do lack in quality and types of tooling.
Thanks so much — really appreciate the support!
Totally agree with you. Public libraries and tool libraries are doing great work, but they often have limited inventory or older tools, and can’t always meet the variety of needs people have for DIY projects.
That’s exactly what we’re aiming to complement with Patio — by tapping into the tools already sitting in people’s garages, we can expand access, improve variety and quality, and make it easier for folks to find what they need without having to buy new.
Thanks again for the encouragement — it means a lot!
Please consider also including the use of heavy machinery in the tool rental page. For example: an hour using a drill press, lathe, milling machine, band saw, wood planer, table saw etc. Think of a virtual workshop spread across the city.
Love the banner image ha!
Flipped around a bit, looks great. One question I have is how will users know what a fair price is?
On the legal issues. Maybe making loaners attest the tool is in good condition and the renters sign a waiver? Untrained people are terrifying with power tools, I would be hesitant to take on the liability of someone losing an arm for $50.
Glad you liked the banner — and appreciate you taking the time to explore it!
Totally fair question on pricing. We’re working on adding pricing suggestions based on similar tools nearby, so users have a better sense of what’s fair without guessing.
On the legal side — yep, we’re exploring tool condition checkboxes, waivers, and optional insurance to help protect both sides. Power tools come with real risks, and we want to make sure there's enough structure to keep things safe and clear for everyone involved.
https://www.hygglo.se is common in Sweden.
This is pretty cool, nice to know that this is commonly used in Sweden!
It needs localization for the learning content. The site is very US focused. DIY is usually quite country specific.
Totally agree — DIY varies a lot by country, from building codes to materials and even terminology.
Localization is high on our list. We're working on ways to adapt learning content by region, so users see tutorials, terms, and standards that actually make sense for where they live. Thanks for pointing it out — it's a big part of where we're heading.
I would like to subscribe to a newsletter that includes all subjects. That apparently isn't possible?
This is a great feedback. Right now, you can select between 2 and 10 categories but we will add this possibility as soon as possible!
I just update the logic and you will now be able to select all subjects if you prefer this way :)
Oh, if you instead built Patio11, I would have loved to buy a copy just for me. :)
Hahaha, I don't think this is on our priority list yet tho!
Instead of reading articles I prefer to learn DIY techniques from various youtube channels.
However, my viewing is mostly random so if you could make a curated list of topics, with links to videos, I'd prefer that.
Thank you so much for your feedback! We're working hard on improving the UX and this is really helping us pinpoint areas that we should be improving.
Imagine my complete shock when I find out this platform isn’t mediating payments and trying to collect an AirBNB-style 15% fee.
You have managed to make my cynical self smile, and also miss when I lived in Montreal.
Hahha, that made me smile too — thank you! We’re planning to add an option for online payments in the future, but we’ll always keep the choice to handle it yourself or just lend for free. And, I agree, Montreal is such a nice city!
Advertise this to hackerspaces
This is a good idea, thanks!
For the news feed, it makes me think “Pinterest for home improvement,” which is pretty “meh” to me. Great, another ad feed. Why would I want to be here instead of a subreddit?
For tool rental, the first thought in my mind is that you’re going to be competing with hardware store giants like Home Depot or your country’s equivalent: many places already exist that already rent tools and equipment and they aren’t hard to find on the Internet. There are also a lot of local community options like rental libraries.
Totally valid points — and ones we’ve been thinking about a lot.
The feed isn’t meant to be just another Pinterest-style scroll — we’re curating high-quality DIY tutorials, guides, and projects to help people learn and take action. We also recently added an AI-powered search so you can quickly find relevant content by asking real questions, like “how do I replace a light switch?” instead of just browsing categories. That said, we know the feed needs to feel more purposeful, and we’re actively improving that.
On tool rentals — you’re absolutely right that big stores and tool libraries exist. We’re not trying to replace them, but to fill in the gaps: making it easier to find tools nearby that might not be available otherwise, support neighbor-to-neighbor sharing, and help smaller or underserved communities. We’re also working with tool libraries to modernize their systems and increase their visibility.
Really appreciate the honest feedback — it’s exactly what helps us get better.
Is it just me or is OP answering every question with ChatGPT?
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I think you're on the wrong post...
Nah, that's a spambot.