Show HN: Patio – Rent tools, learn DIY, reduce waste
162 comments
·June 1, 2025SamBam
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.
itake
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/
dugmartin
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.
subpixel
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.
GouacheApp
I really really love this "fix it" day — This is a very good idea and I'm sure this service is greatly appreciated!
GouacheApp
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.
batch12
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.
burger_moon
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.
nothercastle
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.
GouacheApp
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!
jer0me
The Berkeley Public Library has a tool lending branch: https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/locations/tool-lending...
GouacheApp
That's cool!
GouacheApp
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.
SamBam
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.)
GouacheApp
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.
jogjayr
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.
GouacheApp
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.
J7jKW2AAsgXhWm
Tool lending library is the best I’ve found so far for tools. The best part is not having to store all the tools.
GouacheApp
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.
keerthiko
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.
gazook89
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…)
GouacheApp
Thanks for taking time to share it!
blacksmith_tb
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]
jzelinskie
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.
GouacheApp
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.
frenchman_in_ny
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?
GouacheApp
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!!
mttch
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/
GouacheApp
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.
zanecodes
We have one in Baltimore which also offers classes and workspaces: https://toollibrary.org/
GouacheApp
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!
fhackenberger
There's a successful one running purely on donations in Berlin: Resi https://www.resi-ressourcen.org/
GouacheApp
Awesome!! Thanks for sharing :)
angry_moose
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".
GouacheApp
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.
ThePinion
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!
GouacheApp
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!
pruetj
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!
angry_moose
Tool libraries are starting to take off. Ours is $35/quarter and gives you free access to their full library:
tlavoie
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.
nothercastle
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.
GouacheApp
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.
GouacheApp
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!
rkuodys
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
simonbarker87
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.
jogjayr
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.
GouacheApp
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.
maccard
Normally you provide your own consumable parts for these sort of tool libraries.
GouacheApp
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!
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tayo42
> 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.
GouacheApp
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!
imtringued
justanswer.com, but as you said, it is quite expensive.
GouacheApp
You're right — justanwers.com is a good but can be pretty pricey (+50$ US/month).
bryanrasmussen
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.
sokoloff
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.
GouacheApp
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.
GouacheApp
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!
nswizzle31
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?
GouacheApp
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.
WalterBright
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.)
GouacheApp
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.
tlavoie
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?
GouacheApp
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?
tlavoie
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.
GouacheApp
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!
flufluflufluffy
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 — — .
GouacheApp
We just update the top navigation bar on desktop. Now that it's more prominent, it should now be easier to navigate.
GouacheApp
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
tomcam
What happens when an expensive piece of equipment is damaged and the guilty party refuses to acknowledge it?
GouacheApp
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!
tomcam
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.
CraigJPerry
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.
GouacheApp
Super good point — we're working hard to add security features to make the platform as secure and easy to use. Stay tuned :)
0x53
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.
GouacheApp
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!
supermdguy
How does your tool library work? Who organizes it? Sounds really interesting.
tren
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.
GouacheApp
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.
downboots
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"
StrandedKitty
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.
GouacheApp
We’ve updated the desktop navigation bar to be more prominent and easier to use. Thanks for your feedbacks!
GouacheApp
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!
StrandedKitty
I was on desktop. The mobile version uses a slightly different layout and doesn't suffer from this issue.
GouacheApp
Thank you, it's really appreciated, we will update the desktop version shortly!
Hey HN!
I built Patio to make DIY more accessible and sustainable.
It’s a community-powered platform where you can:
Rent tools from people nearby
Learn DIY through curated tutorials and guides
Find or list surplus materials to save money and reduce waste
Browse home improvement news in one place
It’s early, but live — would love your feedback on the experience, especially around search, learning, and marketplace usability.
Thanks! — Julien