Alternatives To Engraving Tools

[clfan4life]

I'd like to know what would be the best way to identify your own tools. I've got a large order of SO tools coming in shortly and I don't want to engrave them. What other alternatives are there that will not damage the tool but last a long time and can be noticed from someone else's tools easily.

 

[zuk123]

I painted all my personal tools pink, somewhere on the metal. If I really want to, I can dip them in solvent and it will come right off. I also wrote my name on the pink paint in sharpie. Doesn't do you much good to have painted tools, if no one knows whose painted tool they just found.

Why pink? Well, I don't have any issues with pink, it's bright-so easy to see from across the shop, not a common color in a shop environment (well except for SO pink), and pink WILL scare away a certain type of person, thus reducing dramatically the pool of potential "borrowers."

BTW. it worked really well. I only lost 3 things in over a year, and I know who got 2 of them. It was easy to see the pink when the occasional tool did 'wander'. It needed refreshing every year or so on some tools, where the paint didn't stick well. Later, I found 2 companies in my industry that painted their house tools pink for the same reasons as me. (also, I didn't just hose it on, I masked and chose exactly where I wanted the paint to be on each tool. Didn't take long, and was tidy.)

zuk

 

[Outlawmws]

I did the paint thing also over 30 years ago to keep tools from disappearing so fast at the track.

I cleaned the area to be painted with brake and clutch cleaner, and masked off some parts, lightly heated the tools with a Bernz-o-matic torch to get any residual moisture or solvent off, and sprayed painted with a translucent metal flake paint ( haven't see that stuff in years), and some of them still have much of the paint after more than thirty years of hard use.

 

[Big Johnson]

I painted all my personal tools pink, somewhere on the metal. If I really want to, I can dip them in solvent and it will come right off. I also wrote my name on the pink paint in sharpie. Doesn't do you much good to have painted tools, if no one knows whose painted tool they just found.

Why pink? Well, I don't have any issues with pink, it's bright-so easy to see from across the shop, not a common color in a shop environment (well except for SO pink), and pink WILL scare away a certain type of person, thus reducing dramatically the pool of potential "borrowers."

BTW. it worked really well. I only lost 3 things in over a year, and I know who got 2 of them. It was easy to see the pink when the occasional tool did 'wander'. It needed refreshing every year or so on some tools, where the paint didn't stick well. Later, I found 2 companies in my industry that painted their house tools pink for the same reasons as me. (also, I didn't just hose it on, I masked and chose exactly where I wanted the paint to be on each tool. Didn't take long, and was tidy.)

zuk

If you had a conflict because someone stole your tool and the cops asked you to prove its your tool and you say, "because its pink" they will laugh at you and not give you your tool back. Last four of social, last name, last four of license, last name. If I find a pink tool on a car Im working on, Im gonna wipe it off an throw it with the rest if it doesnt have name or numbers

 

[Trucky]

Without harming the tool? Eh... I use a chemical etching pen. Stays on. Sure, you can grind it off or whatever, but what can't you do that to? I'd think you would want something permanent to ID your stuff.

Bottom line: If you want your tools to STAY your tools, you gotta mark em good somehow. And if that means keeping your investment while harming the resale a bit, then by all means, do it. I am not interested in losing hundreds in mics and calipers because I was being a lady about it.

 

[darkk]

On most of my *shop* tools I painted the area with stamped info and wiped off the excess leaving paint in the indetented areas where the name or size was. You just have to redo it every once in a while.

 

[holt2ton]

sorry, but I engrave mine. I try to do it in a inconspicuous place...

~micrometers: unscrew the thimble all the way and engrave there out of site unless you unscrew it all the way
~calipers: inside the relief cut of the jaws (small but there!)
~wrenches: bottom of the open end..not much rubbing there
~sockets: on the face where ratchet inserts into
~ratchets: on drive stud of ratchet (on the drive part not the handle or head)
~vise grips: under the release lever
etc......

 

[clfan4life]

Thanks for the suggestions and tips. I think a combination of darkk and holt 2ton would be ideal. The paint to quickly identify a tool and the engraving to confirm that it belongs to you. Trucky's etching idea isn't that bad either. But will engraving on a chrome tool lead to the chipping off of the chrome eventually?

 

[Trucky]

With a "vibra-tool", it will eventually chip. I think that if you use an etching pen that you'll need to keep the tool very lightly oiled or protected in some manner, however I have not done that and I have not seen any rust yet. Gima makes a really nice pen imo.

Gima Etching Pens

Keep in mind this isn't very cheap, but hey, it works.

 

[Skyline]

An alternative to engraving is to stamp initials, numbers, etc. Not quite as messy as engraving. In a shop with multiple techs, a single initial might be enough. In terms of reclaiming stolen tools with the help of police, the last 4 of your SSI# would be better. Personally, I wouldn't be that worried about the latter; proper insurance and inventory pretty much protects you from a mass theft.

 

[sickboy motors inc.]

I bought a star stamp (metal) from ebay and just "punch" my tools in a spot where it will take. Looks clean and no writing so doesnt "deface" the tool so to speak... i only do this on the tools i know im going to keep. Those for resale or barter i dont bother with. (Got the idea from beckson marine ice pick i bought from ebay! Had the star and looked cool!)

 

[geologist]

I have a monogram that all of my tools get. Eventually, I'd like to have it transformed into some kind of metal stamp.

 

[shampoop]

I used to engrave all of my tools. I slowly stopped doing it. I realized the only way to not let any of your tools disappear is to have them well organized so you know instantly when somethings missing, never leave your box unlocked, and to be very conscious of who you let borrow your tools, exactly what they borrowed, and make sure it's back where it belongs quickly.

 

[yhprum]

you can get basic electro-chemical etch kit for less than 100 that would work.

 

[str8axle55]

I used to engrave all of my tools. I slowly stopped doing it. I realized the only way to not let any of your tools disappear is to have them well organized so you know instantly when somethings missing, never leave your box unlocked, and to be very conscious of who you let borrow your tools, exactly what they borrowed, and make sure it's back where it belongs quickly.

I also do this also. I have tools I engraved 20 yrs ago, that I wish I hadn`t. I only let a few select people borrow stuff. This has worked for me in multiple shops. I hate losing tools, and will tear stuff apart to find a dropped socket. I know all shops are different, and some have more guys with sticky fingers.

 

[sickboy motors inc.]

I agree, about ten years ago when i first started buying of the snapon truck my dealer told me " this is your first purchase and i tell everyone on their first buy, be careful these tools have legs. When you turn around, they will walk away!" Be damned if i didnt learn that the hard way about a week later. On a 44pc 1/4" set in case! Over 600 bucks gone just like that!!!! Needless to say no borrowing!!!!!

 

[HeelSpur]

I used to scratch my last name into anything with a plastic handle, and it didn't take long to find a few of my things in others tool boxes. I loved the look on their faces when I showed my name on it, that was priceless.

 

[alan camby]

Could use colored heat shrink

 

[clfan4life]

Its things that happen to sickboy motors that scares me. You save up to buy a quality tool to last for lifetime only to have it stolen. That's pretty messed up. A vibratool seems pretty harsh on chrome and whatnot. I've just bought this bit here...

http://di1-1.shoppingshadow.com/ima...emel+Diamond+Taper+Point+08+Diameter+Dre7.jpg

Its some diamond tip that rotates on a dremel tool. It probably won't be as harsh to the chrome as a conventional engraver. I've tried stamps but I can't bash the stamp hard enough to leave an imprint on my snap on wrenches at all.

It's a bit hard too to not let people your tools. Especially as I am an apprentice. When someone older and has with more experience than me asks for a tool I pretty much have to lend it to them. I personally HATE to borrow tools and lend them out. Especially as most of my tools are Snap On. If my dad didn't have a particular tool, he went out and bought it himself. I do the same. Why bother start a task when you aren't prepared. You can be the best mechanic in the world but your nothing without tools. A little of topic but just wanted to share a point.

Coloured heatshrink. That's a great idea!

 

[zuk123]

snip.. the cops ...snip...

Cops? over a "conflict"? I marked my tools to find them when I put them down, and with bright colors to spot them easily.

If I find a pink tool on a car Im working on, Im gonna wipe it off an throw it with the rest...

If you are going to steal, why worry about numbers? Just grind them off and be done with it. "Can't prove nothin."

If you find one of my tools under a bench, but it's not engraved, you'd "wipe it off an throw it with the rest"? I'm going to assume there is something missing from your post, related to writing on the internet, and not believe you just admitted to being a thief when it suits you.

In any case, the OP asked for ways that DIDN'T permanently mark the tool. I didn't say that all my tools are engraved too, but they are. Engraving won't help you find it under a table, or on someone's workbench. And it won't keep the pawnshops, flea marketeers, or yard salers from selling them. Nothing will.

I don't really understand the unwillingness to mark your tools though. They are your livelihood. From what I've seen on GJ, mechanics have a SUBSTANTIAL investment in tools. Don't you want to do everything possible to keep them? As far as hurting resale... when will you ever sell them? I look at the "Show us your toolbox" thread, and it doesn't look like anyone on GJ ever sells anything! (Except when buying to resell.) Granted that the members here may be extreme cases, but it looks like most just keep buying more or bigger boxes to hold their ever expanding tool collection

Bright colors, that are uncommon in your shop, whether tape, paint, heat shrink, or something else, are your best bet to quickly get something that 'wandered' back. If you can't see it, you won't get it back. You aren't trying to win a court case, you're trying to keep the occasional borrower honest.

Buying quality, used and cheap, will keep the sting down when stuff does occasionally go missing. Knowing that you are still making payments on tools you don't have, will eat you up.

Good luck,

zuk

 

[bob15]

I engrave mine. Unless you plan on selling them, who cares if they are engraved? And I do not sell my tools......