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Anyone engrave their tools?

07Forester

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Feb 16, 2010
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Elburn, IL
I've put a LOT of thought into doing this and honestly can't decide if I should or not. What are your guys' inputs to it? If you engrave them...what do you put or use as your identifying mark? If you don't engrave...why not?
 
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Mike83

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Jan 24, 2008
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Wisconsin
I did engrave some and now regret it. Kind of like getting a tattoo...seemed like a good idea at the time but its there for good now no matter what!
 

sk farmer

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Mar 4, 2009
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nd
many schools require engraving. if you have to or feel the need i think it is fine. personally, my tools from when i went to school are the only ones i have engraved. i don't engrave anymore and prefer not to have tols with anyone elses marks on them.
 

bgott

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Oct 31, 2005
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Houston, TX.
If you work in shops that have a few dickheads that have the same tools engraving is a necessity.
 

DARKSCOPE001

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May 4, 2009
Messages
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Pickerington Oh
I engraved all my tools and put a dot of nail polish on all of them so that if one comes up missing or I see it acrost the hangar I can identify it. The key is not to lose them but if you do the nail polish will help you find it usualy If some a hole scratches it off then you can say let me see that and when it has your symbol engraved into it you promply punch him in the face and take all of his tools and your tool back. So yes I recomend engraving tools. Take your time. Get and engraver and go slow. get all your tools out. Sit at the kitchen table after having a good meal. you are feeling good, and it is brigtly lit and not the middle of the night. Also make sure that you have plenty of power cord and you arent fighting yourself. Pluss do it when the wife or girlfriend wont care (these things are kinda noisy)

BEST LUCK
Sean Scott
 
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07Forester

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You guys just put your name or what? I mean really. The ONLY people in my shop that would USE the tools are my brother or myself. I don't think it's "needed" but also at times some of my stuff has ended up in his box and vice versa.
 
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07Forester

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Elburn, IL
I engraved all my tools and put a dot of nail polish on all of them so that if one comes up missing or I see it acrost the hangar I can identify it. The key is not to lose them but if you do the nail polish will help you find it usualy If some a hole scratches it off then you can say let me see that and when it has your symbol engraved into it you promply punch him in the face and take all of his tools and your tool back. So yes I recomend engraving tools. Take your time. Get and engraver and go slow. get all your tools out. Sit at the kitchen table after having a good meal. you are feeling good, and it is brigtly lit and not the middle of the night. Also make sure that you have plenty of power cord and you arent fighting yourself. Pluss do it when the wife or girlfriend wont care (these things are kinda noisy)

BEST LUCK
Sean Scott

What do you use as a symbol Sean?
 

DARKSCOPE001

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S^3 thats S to the power of 3 kinda looks like S3 Sorry had to make sure we were clear. I use that because of my names (please dont laugh I didnt pick them) my name is Sean-Michael Stuart Scott Sean-Michael of course being my first so you can see that my full initials are sss or SxSxS also known as S cubed see :thumbup:
 

Scout Driver

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South Dakota
If anyone wants something a little out-of-the ordinary for an identifying mark, just check out some cattle brands.

Scott
 

Mickey O

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Chicago, IL
A ton of my tools are engraved, probably hurts the resale value but I still have them, even got some back because my name was on them, I also painted them with red paint (cleaned most of it off, but some remains). I also own the Krusty wrench and the Kevin rod, very rare and valuable items (not for sale)


engrave.jpg


krusty.jpg


Here's some painted ones and one engraved with one of those "buzz" engravers

engraving.jpg
 

garfunkle24

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Mar 18, 2008
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Saskatoon, Canada
I engrave all of my tools with my initials, the day I get them if possible. I care how my tools work, not how they look. I've also tried colour coding my most commonly used stuff but the paint didn't hold up. I had all my 19s one colour, my 17s another, my 13s, my 10s etc. These were Mac wrenches, snappy sockets etc....The polishers would be aghast at my tools :D
 

jeepnut24

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797
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Morrison CO
95% of my tools will be staying in my box for a long time, only to be passed on to my daughters or their kids someday. So ingraving them is no big deal to me. I have a few with my grandfathers initials in them and they remind me of him when I use them.

That said, I also occasionally give them a quick hit of bright orange paint so I know my tools when I see them.

To me they are tools, and mine so why not mark them. I don't really buy them for the resale value anyway.
 

woody 73

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The Great State Up North
I like tools without the initials but I understand sometimes people need to do this.
I did find one interesting mark a few years ago It came from my very first purchase of tools from CL. Seems that the owner a very long time ago turned over each of his sockets and he or she took a small file and made a slight 45 angle cut off of one side.

If the socket sat flat you could hardly tell it had been filed and you could spot it in a second just by turning it over.
 

Busted_Knuckles

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Northwest Illinois
Allot of my small hand tools have my initials, my air/power tools have my D/L number stamped in them, as well as my tool boxes and most of my shop equipment. Ive mentioned this before and was made fun of and that I would be a victim of identity theft (WTF?).

For example, my Fluke88 DVOM, on the back, has written "this is stolen, never sold", and then my D/L after that. I don't give 2 chits about the resell of my tools, but would love to see some scum bagged arrested, because my tools have this ID number that can be readily utilized by any law enforcement officer right from his car, inside of a minute.

They don't have to let the thieves go, simply because the law cant figure out who the tools might belong to, when via my D/L number, they can quickly access my full name, address, and I'm guessing, ready access to my house phone number. They can call me from a traffic stop, and ask " hey buddy, are you missing any tools" How that leads to identity theft I'm not sure, but I am doing my part to slow down the flywheel of tool theft, feel free to join me.
 
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07Forester

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Elburn, IL
Allot of my small hand tools have my initials, my air/power tools have my D/L number stamped in them, as well as my tool boxes and most of my shop equipment. Ive mentioned this before and was made fun of and that I would be a victim of identity theft (WTF?).

For example, my Fluke88 DVOM, on the back, has written "this is stolen, never sold", and then my D/L after that. I don't give 2 chits about the resell of my tools, but would love to see some scum bagged arrested, because my tools have this ID number that can be readily utilized by any law enforcement officer right from his car, inside of a minute.

They don't have to let the thieves go, simply because the law cant figure out who the tools might belong to, when via my D/L number, they can quickly access my full name, address, and I'm guessing, ready access to my house phone number. They can call me from a traffic stop, and ask " hey buddy, are you missing any tools" How that leads to identity theft I'm not sure, but I am doing my part to slow down the flywheel of tool theft, feel free to join me.


Your DL# doesn't give ANY pertinent info on it. People sometimes don't have a friggin clue. This is also a VERY good idea. I also have a few fluke meters that would NEVER be sold...ONLY stolen.
 

mikevango

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Nov 28, 2009
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erie, PA
When I worked at a place that had four crews (8 guys) we all used different colored tape to mark our tools. My work tools and my garage tools I would never engrave.
 

DARKSCOPE001

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May 4, 2009
Messages
772
Location
Pickerington Oh
I kinda like the polish idea. Maybe hot pink!!!!

yea The louder and more outlandish the color the better off you are. Also I use two different collors. I have a bright color for my dark colored stuff (I love having a gf that has impulsive friends I can get all the nail polish I want) and a dark color for my light/ chromed stuff also it can be used as tourqe putty (breaks off when the fastner moves and fails thus quilkly alerting you that the fastner is no longer set to proper tourqe. and it can be used as thead lock so I deff recomend having a bottle in your box

best luck
Sean Scott
 

TheCarbideRat

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Sep 25, 2009
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a laundromat
If some a hole scratches it off then you can say let me see that and when it has your symbol engraved into it you promply punch him in the face and take all of his tools and your tool back.
:lol_hitti

:beer:

I went through an engraving phase years ago, then paint, and alot of my stuff I can recognize just by the wear marks. Nowdays I lock em all up when I am not in spittin range of my box so I don't feel the need to mark any, the security is friggin high. A toolbox alarm is an option for later, gotta see what types are available or buildable.
 

FCFDChief2

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Nov 18, 2009
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Kentucky
One day my boss came in and said "look what I found on the side of the road". It was a full Craftsman portable toolboox, the kind with the top lid and lift out tray. Had to weigh 50 pounds. He was beside himself with the find, until we looked. Every socket, wrench, ratchet, every tool was engraved with a guys name. Chief said " I know this guy, got to return them". So it worked for him.
 
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HTGTS350

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Mar 2, 2010
Messages
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I engrave asolutely everything, even my engraver(which I had to buy another engraver to engrave) with my full name, my first name and my initials if they all fit(eg. large tools) and whatever will fit on small tools(1/4" drive 1/4" socket just has my initials). I work in my mining industry where 50% of the workforce are theiving a holes and the other 50% are just thieves. I usually engrave a tool as soon as I get it but if I find something Ive missed I just put it aside to be engraved before it goes back in its place. Most tradesmen in the mining industry engrave but most not to the extent that I do and as has been said above, if you find a tool that is engraved with someone elses name then you return it. I recently returned a 9/16 SO long combination to a guy that I had been sitting on for about 6 years, found it in the bellypan of an Atlas Copco truck and it wasn't until I saw this guys other wrenches that I realised I had finally found its rightful home, he was shocked that after that long the wrench had found its way home.
 

Kevin54

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If you do engrave them do it in an inconspicuous place. On a wrench don't do it on the face but do it either in the open end or box end, a ratchet under the cover, a socket, inside as far as you can. Or there are places that make up metal stamps that you could use to stamp them. Here is one place that does it http://www.daytonstencil.com/ You give them a design and they can make up some metal stamps. I'm not sure if they still have an assortment of already made up stamps or not. We use them for specialty stamps at work and they are very reasonable.
 

Jay H 237

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Torrington, CT
All my personal tools I have at work or that travel with me are ingraved with my initials. Any power tool has not only my initials but also the date I bought it or put it "in service" engraved under my initials. I could care less about ruining value, it would cost me more to replace if stuff goes missing and I have no way of proving it was mine. Not a big problem at work but a few times a year something does go missing whether I left it out unintentionally(easy to do when working all over industrial machinery) or someone grabbed it and I have been lucky to normally get everything back.


All my tools that stay at home aren't marked and no reason too.
 

GregN

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May 26, 2009
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Rogers, MN
I am personally torn on this subject. I like to have my stuff engraved, but now that I am starting to upgrade my Craftsman stuff with Snap-On, I would like to sell some of the Craftsman stuff but everything has my name on it.

A good place to mark a tape measure is by pulling it all the way out and marking your name on the blank spot between the very end, and where the numbers stop. I had a co-worker that always "lost" his good tape while someone else would always "buy" a new one. Well, he walked over to the guy asked him point blank where he got it, the guy said he bought it; my co-worker pulled the tape out and there was his name. The thief was speechless. I thought it was quite funny.
 

Busted_Knuckles

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About 10 years back, I was working for a great guy and his kid, one day I come into work, and find out the place had sold (had no idea it was "for sale"). New guys show up a week later with their own workforce, most of which spoke no english (spelled illegal aliens). I'm less than thrilled, I nail down everything, and take the balance of what I dont "NEED" home with me that night, expecting the worst. Day two, a "new guy" walks up to me, and is wearing a nice, almost new pair of gloves, deerskin, and in black sharpie, in large letters are my first name, and the initial for my last name "Bill N.". I politely ask for my gloves back, I get the "no speak engle", followed by a go *** yourself smile. I was furious, and was not working there by the end of the week (I quit). Part that sucked, it was my favorite and best job I ever had. The old man and kid that owned the place didn't get along, so the old man sold the business and moved out west. I managed no other losses, but my box was not unlocked unless I was pulling or putting tools away. Oh, and trust me, the guy wearing the gloves, his name was not "Bill"!
 

Ign

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Jul 7, 2006
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Butte Peak ND
I engrave my initials on everything. At least there's an identifier the cops can look for in the event of theft. Might help at a pawn shop or traffic stop. Otherwise it's like saying you had a bunch of cash stolen - it was green.

I use a Chicago Pneumatic engraver, love it.
 

Scotto

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Apr 8, 2008
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999
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South Jersey
Like half of my tools are engraved. I need to get an engraver and do the rest. I don't really see why you wouldn't engrave your tools unless you're going to be selling them. Just makes it easier if someone brings some tools to your place or you bring them to someone elses.
 

banditbigdog

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Jan 3, 2009
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Southeast
Most all of my tools / equipment are engraved or marked in some way.
I use an electric transformer type etcher that does a really nice job compared to other methods.

Its easy to use, it does cause the tool being engraved and the etcher handle to heat up quite a bit and after a while. I have to let it cool down as it gets too hot to handle.

Only issue is the part to be engraved has to be metal.

It's like a very small arc welder, it can produce a very fine or thick line depending on the current setting.
Finished product looks better than the jitterbug type engravers.

Tom
 

T56 Impala

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Roswell GA
I don't engrave mine either. I'm not a pro though. I used to think this was a sin punishable by death! Not anymore. Since I collect vintage stuff, I have come to the realization that the markings on these tools are part of its history. Some of my favorites are the ones marked "USAAF", "USA", "Kilroy" and "USAF".

If you need to mark them, then do so. I do not see how it could adversely affect the tool. You don't plan on selling them, right?
 

Zrexxer

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Jan 23, 2007
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Pflugerville, TX
Don't particularly care for somebody else's scrawling on tools I own, but I recognize that sometimes that's the price I have to pay in order to buy truck brand tools at 10-25% of new prices on occasion.

If I can get unmarked used tools so much the better, but I won't pay 4x to 10x as much for them to get ones that aren't engraved.
 

bushhawg73

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Jun 22, 2008
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722
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Columbia, Missouri
Not a pro but I do engrave, my little sign that will help me prove that it is in fact mine. I know the chances are slim but I would hate for my stolen tools to be located and other than my word me not be able to show that they were mine.
 

ron350

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Nov 17, 2009
Messages
190
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Birmingham
Most all of my tools / equipment are engraved or marked in some way.
I use an electric transformer type etcher that does a really nice job compared to other methods.


Tom is that etcher something you made or purchased?
 

Mickey O

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Oct 25, 2009
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Chicago, IL
About 10 years back, I was working for a great guy and his kid, one day I come into work, and find out the place had sold (had no idea it was "for sale"). New guys show up a week later with their own workforce, most of which spoke no english (spelled illegal aliens). I'm less than thrilled, I nail down everything, and take the balance of what I dont "NEED" home with me that night, expecting the worst. Day two, a "new guy" walks up to me, and is wearing a nice, almost new pair of gloves, deerskin, and in black sharpie, in large letters are my first name, and the initial for my last name "Bill N.". I politely ask for my gloves back, I get the "no speak engle", followed by a go *** yourself smile. I was furious, and was not working there by the end of the week (I quit). Part that sucked, it was my favorite and best job I ever had. The old man and kid that owned the place didn't get along, so the old man sold the business and moved out west. I managed no other losses, but my box was not unlocked unless I was pulling or putting tools away. Oh, and trust me, the guy wearing the gloves, his name was not "Bill"!

I hope you got your gloves back, did you?
 
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