MyChannellockTools
Well-known member
Tell me what you think about personalizing your tools! Do you already do it? If so how and why?
What do you think of Personalizing your Tools?
- Thread starter MyChannellockTools
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speed bump
Well-known member
I engrave my initials on my screwdriver handles to keep them from getting mixed up with my dads.
I paint the bottoms of my tools that spend alot of time around other people so that they don't get mixed up with other peoples tools and it makes them easier to identify when they get lost.
I paint the bottoms of my tools that spend alot of time around other people so that they don't get mixed up with other peoples tools and it makes them easier to identify when they get lost.
chammyman
Well-known member
knocks the resale value badly
controversial that one!
controversial that one!
I do not engrave tools and never plan to. I do not work with my tools in an environment where I am concerned about mixing up tools nor I am concerned about them walking off. I like to keep my tools looking new for as long as possible, and I also prefer they retain their resale value.
Phatsub
Well-known member
I don't personalize my tools. No one else ever sees them.
russlaferrera
Well-known member
knocks the resale value badly
controversial that one!
Very good point.
My guess is does anyone in your shop have the same brand of tool that you own, and their may be a problem sorting out whose is whose,. If so mark them.
Should the above be the case. Don't worry about resale as there will not be much to resell.
I used a 1/8 metal stamp with my last name and marked all my screwdrivers and pliers, as everyone borrowed them. To avoid "Resale " I had all Craftsmen.
old salvage
Well-known member
Tools that I take to work ( just a few) are marked to make sure folks know they're mine.
Usually make a small dimple with a 1/8 or 3/16 drill bit and fill it with paint.
Dimple is just big n deep enough so that it cant be removed without serious grinding
At home there is no need and they ( the bulk of my tools) are unmarked.
Usually make a small dimple with a 1/8 or 3/16 drill bit and fill it with paint.
Dimple is just big n deep enough so that it cant be removed without serious grinding
At home there is no need and they ( the bulk of my tools) are unmarked.
All of my tools are engraved the day I get them with my 3 initials,as there are other mechanics in the same shop.When I was a new guy at a large shop way back when,I had the shop foreman walk by my bench,and picked up my 10mm SO wrench,and said,"Hey..there's where my wrench went",and I couldn't prove it was mine without any initials.I think that's when I bought my engraver! I'm not concerned about the resale since I'll never be selling them.I understand how that would take away on the resale price,though,
I actually bought letter stamps and initialed most of my tools in the late 80's. I had a box stolen in 1991 with stamped/initialed tools. I never saw another one since. It doesn't help if they are stolen and just makes them look ugly.
danc333
Well-known member
I don't personalize my tools as most of them stay at home. My company buys me the tools I need for work. I only work with 5 people that use tools at work and since we are a close knit bunch of employees other peoples property is respected.
Junkman
Well-known member
I only buy Snap On pink handled tools, and keep them in my pink Snap On rolling chest. 
I number stamped some of my tools with my SSN in the early 80s. Looking back, that was pretty stupid.
I didn't get a lot of them stamped, as when I started on the SO wrenches, the stamps quickly became mushroomed and useless.
Northstar9126
Well-known member
Those were the days. Pre identity theft times. I remember when they used to tell people to engrave their S.S. number on everything in their house so things could be identified when stolen. Seems so crazy now.
Yeah...I don't think I'll ever sell those tools.
MachineTech
Well-known member
My wife thought it would be such a great idea to buy me a set of those blue Craftsman professional ratchets ordered with my full name lazer etched in them. Yeah, they look cool but first off I don't care for Craftsman ratchets and second is what others have said: low to no resale value.
Yeah, I've seen quite a few old tools with some guy's SS# on them. If I had the time, and knew how, I'd love to find out who it was to see the history behind the tools.
olds88
Well-known member
Many of the tools my dad gave me have his or my uncle's initials, our last name/the old business name (same) stamped... those I don't mind... bothers me when someone unknown has their initials engraved in them, especially when the eBay seller didn't disclose that fact.
Personally, I never engrave my tools..... I spend alot of money on Snap-on tools, then I'm going to intentionally scratch them up... nope, besides, like a previous poster noted, if someone wants to steal something of your's, they will, same reason I don't believe in car alarms.
I lock my box every night, my boss thinks im nuts, but they'll steal his tools before they steal mine.
Personally, I never engrave my tools..... I spend alot of money on Snap-on tools, then I'm going to intentionally scratch them up... nope, besides, like a previous poster noted, if someone wants to steal something of your's, they will, same reason I don't believe in car alarms.
I lock my box every night, my boss thinks im nuts, but they'll steal his tools before they steal mine.
bushhawg73
Well-known member
I engrave my 3 initals on every tool. Snap on to Lisle, it does not matter.
Reason one. 50 years from now I hope that one of my three boys will look at the tool in his hand with my initals on it and remember that I gave him that tool. It will bring back memorys of work we did together. He can use the tool to with his child and pass it on. It is a source of pride just like my dads tools with his initals in them.
Reason two. After 16 years in law enforcement I know that there are many ways to remove initals. But there is a chance that a law enforcement officer may stop the person who just stole some of your tools and see that the initals do not match the persons name. No one may be arrested that time but hopefully a report will be written and this report will assist investigators with making an arrest. Every chance helps.
Reason one. 50 years from now I hope that one of my three boys will look at the tool in his hand with my initals on it and remember that I gave him that tool. It will bring back memorys of work we did together. He can use the tool to with his child and pass it on. It is a source of pride just like my dads tools with his initals in them.
Reason two. After 16 years in law enforcement I know that there are many ways to remove initals. But there is a chance that a law enforcement officer may stop the person who just stole some of your tools and see that the initals do not match the persons name. No one may be arrested that time but hopefully a report will be written and this report will assist investigators with making an arrest. Every chance helps.
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
I only buy Snap On pink handled tools, and keep them in my pink Snap On rolling chest.
This is exactly why we can't work together, we'll never know what belongs to who because i have the same thing.
Junkman
Well-known member
This is exactly why we can't work together, we'll never know what belongs to who because i have the same thing.
I can't work with an Englishman, because you folks speak funny, and throw around words like "***" and phrases like "I'll knock you up in the morning". You even use weird spelling such as "colour" for the word color....
Bolster
Well-known member
In the 1970s I worked in a shop with lots of other people, and we all engraved our names onto all our tools. If we didn't, that tool would very likely not get back to the owner's box.
However, now that I'm the only guy in my own shop, I wish my tools didn't have my name (and in some cases, my SS#) on them.
However, my dad's tools are another story. As Bushhawg says, I'm pleased to see my dad's tools in my toolbox, and if it's got his name on it, it stays with me.
However, now that I'm the only guy in my own shop, I wish my tools didn't have my name (and in some cases, my SS#) on them.
However, my dad's tools are another story. As Bushhawg says, I'm pleased to see my dad's tools in my toolbox, and if it's got his name on it, it stays with me.
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
foreman would have been sodomized with my 11 mm if that was me
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
I can't work with an Englishman, because you folks speak funny, and throw around words like "***" and phrases like "I'll knock you up in the morning". You even use weird spelling such as "colour" for the word color....
I have a feeling i'm not going to knock you up in the morning..
Junkman
Well-known member
I have a feeling i'm not going to knock you up in the morning..
I take it that you don't own a telefone?????
Besides, I like to sleep late... 
senlow
Well-known member
I refuse to deface my tools with ugly engravings. Engravings will not prevent theft. They may facilitate recovery, but I think that it's an outside chance. I must say that it is great to see a posting by a LEO (bushhawg73) who still believes that he and his comrades can make a difference.
Very few of my tools have dissapeared from work. I make it a point to work in an environment where there is trust and respect between coworkers.
It's my opinion that any item that looks nice is more likely to be cared for than an item that does not look good. I believe that most people are less likely to care for an item that is rusty, scratched up, or has ugly engravings on it. This is human nature. If it looks like sh*t, it will be treated like sh*t. If it looks nice, it will be treated well.
Now, if I had access to a laser etching machine or something similar that would allow me to personalize my tools with a set of initials or a logo that looks professional and does not damage the tool, I would do it.
Very few of my tools have dissapeared from work. I make it a point to work in an environment where there is trust and respect between coworkers.
It's my opinion that any item that looks nice is more likely to be cared for than an item that does not look good. I believe that most people are less likely to care for an item that is rusty, scratched up, or has ugly engravings on it. This is human nature. If it looks like sh*t, it will be treated like sh*t. If it looks nice, it will be treated well.
Now, if I had access to a laser etching machine or something similar that would allow me to personalize my tools with a set of initials or a logo that looks professional and does not damage the tool, I would do it.
Junkman
Well-known member
How does etching or engraving of tools effect warranty claims ???? 
Merkava_4
Banned
I might not mind my tools being inscribed like that, but I sure as hell wouldn't engrave my tools freehand with an engraver.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
I don't personalize my hand tools... but I have been known to put my name on my power tools with a Sharpie.
You'll know my tools because they came out of a pink Snap On box bigger than those other two...
You'll know my tools because they came out of a pink Snap On box bigger than those other two...
I have also labeled tools with my drivers license number.
Usually, this has been done to "non-mechanic's" tools such as ladders and shovels.
Marking the underside of a ladder rung with a permanent marker may not be completely "permanent", but can be done in an area a tweaker would never think to look.
I have some handheld scanner radios with a feature that allows the startup display to be customized. If they are stolen, I can tell law enforcement they will display my DL number along with the phrase "Welcome To The Honcut Triangle" when turned on.
Without a user manual and a lot of head scratching, any thief would be clueless to change it.
Usually, this has been done to "non-mechanic's" tools such as ladders and shovels.
Marking the underside of a ladder rung with a permanent marker may not be completely "permanent", but can be done in an area a tweaker would never think to look.
I have some handheld scanner radios with a feature that allows the startup display to be customized. If they are stolen, I can tell law enforcement they will display my DL number along with the phrase "Welcome To The Honcut Triangle" when turned on.
Without a user manual and a lot of head scratching, any thief would be clueless to change it.
Most of my stuff has my name on it...maybe because my Dad always did his and I have his stuff. It did come in handy working at dealerships and large shops when some asswipe would "borrow" your stuff when you wasn't looking. I had no problem "proving" those were my tools with my name on them. I bought mine to use , they were gonna get scratched.
And engraving your name on them won't effect the warranty. ( I've never had a problem). It's your decision.
And engraving your name on them won't effect the warranty. ( I've never had a problem). It's your decision.
Theo
Well-known member
Most of my tools have my DNA on them.
Doesn't get much more personal than that... and most people don't want to borrow them.
Doesn't get much more personal than that... and most people don't want to borrow them.
olds88
Well-known member
umm ok
paramudduck
Well-known member
As long as they are careful about vacuum lock I don't think they have to worry too much.
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
I would have rolled my toolbox out the door, but only after giving the foreman a shock absorber suppository.
Reason two: Get insurance, then it doesn't matter.
How does etching or engraving of tools effect warranty claims ????
Short story, depends on the dealer. Mine couldn't care less if it's engraved.
I refuse to engrave any identifying factor into my tools, and it's actually discouraged where I work. The reasoning is that all my tools are shadowed anyway, so I know if one is missing at the end of the day. If my initials are on one and somebody walks off with it and a plane crashes, then a plane you never worked on just killed 10 people because your engraved wrench fodded an engine, perhaps even 5 years after you've "lost it". Have fun explaining that one.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
OP
MyChannellockTools
Well-known member
I specifically work with engraving the Channellock Brand. The tools would still be under the warranty life-time guarantee of Channellock.
logical
Well-known member
I engrave the Snap-On logo into all my Craftsman stuff so I am more socially acepted.