Some tools are marked Checkout Required. A checkout is a hands-on safety session with a trained volunteer (an approver) so you can use the tool without hurting yourself, others, or the tool. Depending on the tool it can take anywhere from 15 or 30 minutes to a few hours. Each shop's Resource Manager decides what the checkout involves.
You must be checked out on a tool before you use it. Most checkouts are quick, but some tools need a longer class, which may have a cost. The shop's page on this wiki or its Slack channel will tell you what to expect for a particular tool.
You can request a checkout when all of these are true:
The Available Tools list in the portal leaves out tools you are already checked out on, tools that need no checkout, hidden tools and shops, and tools whose checkout was revoked. While your membership is still pending, it only lists tools that are open to pending members. Tools you cannot request yet are still listed, with Missing Prereq or Request Pending in the Status column. If a tool is missing, see Troubleshooting: checkouts.
Use /checkout request. See the /checkout command.
You can edit the note or delete your request any time before it is closed: select it under Open Requests and use Edit Note or Delete.
You get a Slack message naming the tool, the shop and the approver, plus any private notes for the tool (such as a lock combination). If the tool has a users channel, you are added to it. The tool now shows under My Checkouts.
You get a Slack message with the approver's reason. A decline does not block you: once the issue is fixed you can submit a new request for the same tool.
If you were already checked out in person, an approver records it in the portal and your request closes by itself.
Open Tool Checkouts > My Checkouts. It is titled My Active Tool Checkouts and lists everything you are checked out on. Use Filter by Shop to narrow it down. In Slack, /checkout active lists your active checkouts in the current shop channel, and /checkout active all lists them across shops.
If a tool or group has a training plan, select Checkout training plan before
submitting your request. The link also appears on your pending request and
existing checkout and opens separately from the portal. Slack request and
checkout details show the same link.
After submitting a new request through the portal or Slack, members with a
linked Slack account receive a confirmation DM. When the requested tool or
group has a training plan, the DM directs you to review the material next;
select Checkout training plan in the message to open it.
Your checkout shows Never expires, Expires [date], or Expired [date].
Dates are Eastern time and checkouts remain valid through that date. In your
checkout list, choose Expired and select Request renewal when available.
An approver must approve the renewal. Your previous checkout remains in History.
A revoked checkout requires admin or board reinstatement instead.
The Reinstated filter is available in the authorized checkout management roster,
not My Tool Checkouts. Use your Expired, Renewal history, Revoked, or All views
to inspect your own checkout records.
See Troubleshooting: checkouts.
Last reviewed: October 2026