SWAPS page

I would like to propose a Swaps page (separate from For Sale and Wanted) for members wishing to do primarily sizing swaps in the same tooling or other items that may be not so common or quite expensive individually. For example I am often finding myself missing one or two sizes of collets with excess in other sizes (in my cased TG100 collets, Burnerd EC and ED multisize collets), Drill bits (in my case MT2 and MT3), Turning inserts, etc. Possibly expensive accessories that are rare but one would be reluctant to sell outright in fear of never seeing one again (for example some Schaublin accessories) so end up being hoarded. Any thoughts?

good idea adam

Swapping like for like - just different sizes, brilliant! Please let it happen.

How about just a loan for a single specific task?

Zan I think a risk is that Swaps page(s) might quickly become unwieldy before adding tool borrowing messages but I can see the appeal of borrowing tools. I have heard of other sites that offer DIY tools/ladders etc lending hookups. However I do think a separate tool Borrowing Request page would be a good idea and presumably operating locally would reinforce the local ME community/social ties. 

Edited By Adam Harris on 10/02/2023 17:59:33

Edited By Adam Harris on 10/02/2023 18:02:31

We already have the Help & Assistance topic that includes the loan of tools. Hardly gets used except for wrongly placed posts so I don't see much point if adding another topic to what is already a very long list.

For years I have seen "swap" or exchange posts in the classifieds just needs one of those words in the title and everyone will know the intent of the listing. Does it really need a third heading?

You've got me worrried now. I've started numerous threads in that sub-forum. Perhaps you could clarify whether any of those have been wrongly placed, and, if so, where they should have been placed.

My decision to place them there has often been based on the wording of Neil's opening post of 01/09/2014, which states:

"It's a more formal place to offer or request assistance in the form of surplus tools, materials, advice, loans of use of specialist machinery or tooling, or even a practical helping hand."

Is it really that onerous to set up a separate Swaps page? The very idea of a motivation to Swap rather than Buy or Sell can be partly defined by a lack of motivation to peruse the For Sale ads or the Wanted ads pages. One of the reasons that I personally rarely peruse them is because ebay provides a much better service for value transactions. Ebay will never do a swaps page because there is no commission on a £0 swap. However we could usefully try a Swaps page here. If members don't use it then you could close it down if it costs anything to run it? Anyway, interesting to canvas thoughts Jason.

Bill, having looked at the last 5-6 pages I would say most of yours like a lot of others would fall under "General Questions" with the odd one in "workshop Tools"

Even this thread should really be in" Website Questions, Comments and Suggestions"

Right. I think I avoided putting them there because it says: "Please put non specific questions...here".

I'd always thought of my questions as being quite specific.

It means ones that don't fall into a specific heading such as a question about CNC or a question about traction Engines.