For over 30 years, the PNA Tool Library has been sharing tools, referrals, advice, and workshops with all its neighbors throughout North Seattle. It has also been playing a rather humble role in helping its neighbors save money and take on some great projects.
Joel Osborne, a new neighbor and tool library member, recently discovered these benefits as he began planning for a new addition to his yard.
“We decided to build a chicken coop. We wanted to do something a little different than traditional coops and I think we nailed it," Joel recounts. "The agreement was that Elizabeth would design it and plan for the needed lumber and I would acquire the tools and get to use them. We needed a circular saw, miter saw, jig saw, saw horses and C clamps.
“We decided to build a chicken coop. We wanted to do something a little different than traditional coops and I think we nailed it," Joel recounts. "The agreement was that Elizabeth would design it and plan for the needed lumber and I would acquire the tools and get to use them. We needed a circular saw, miter saw, jig saw, saw horses and C clamps.
Having moved to Seattle
(specifically Fremont) from Austin, Texas in September of 2012, and paring down
on stuff before the move, we just didn’t have much in the way of tools. I began
pricing them on Amazon and at local hardware stores. Then someone recommended
the Phinney Tool Library.
It sounded too good to be true and I was worried
that I would be fighting over tools with other members, but my first visit to
the library proved there is plenty of inventory to serve the tool-less, like
myself. The tool library saved us up to $500! Mike and the
volunteers were so helpful and friendly it was hard to leave. If you need a
tool, chances are these guys have it. Can't wait for my next project!”
The PNA Tool Library is open on Wednesdays, 3-6:30pm, Fridays, 5-7pm, and Saturdays, 9am-2pm. It has thousands of tools available on a pay-what-you-can basis to all of its neighbors throughout North Seattle. To use the Tool Library, all you need to do is join the PNA....and then decide where you'd like to put a chicken coop of your very own.
