Are your tools engraved?

[TimDaToolMan]

Someone contacted me with a breaker bar they have for sale. The initials are engraved into it, on the handle.

Does anyone here buy used if it's initialed? Just wondering.

 

[Armstrong1720]

Yes i do and just rengrave my name beside it

 

[Gotmayhem]

Nope. Tools get dirty and will never look the quite the same after being consistently used but carving into the metal is too much for me.

 

[ihatelaramie]

I engrave a "brand" of sorts on all of my stuff. Does it stop theft? HELL NO. But, if nothing else, its proof of ownership when it turns up in someone else's box.
As for used stuff that's got owner's marks, I've been lucky enough (so far) to be able to grind them smooth, or at least blend them in so they aren't so obvious. Then again, some folks really halfass it when it comes to marking their tools.

 

[toolstools]

If the price is right ya.

 

[NFH2740]

I do not mark my tools. I rarely buy engraved tools.

 

[ADSR]

Only power or air tools i take to the job site.

 

[fflintstone]

any engraved tools in my box have other peoples names on them.

 

[Thunderbisciut]

I don't engrave, and I try not to buy engraved because it bothers me when I look at it for some reason.

 

[toolstools]

any engraved tools in my box have other peoples names on them.

^^^this

 

[spotco2]

I used to engrave mine when I worked in dealerships. There are some very dishonorable tech's out there that will pick up anything they can shove in their box even if they already have 3 others.

When I worked on large construction sites with lots of random people walking around from all different trades, we always painted everything with lots of funky pink spray paint to discourage other tradesmen from mistaking it from their own. It also made it really easy to see if someone else was using your tools or equipment.

My personal tools (in my shop, not for road use) I do not mark, but many of them were purchased from someone that did. It does not hurt the function of the tool typically, so as long as it works and the price is right, who cares.

 

[jpickar]

I engraved all my tools when I was an construction electrcian. Constuction workers will grab anything.

My own hand tools in my garage. No, just don't. I will buy any tools that are engraved as long as it isn't to awlful looking. It doesn't hurt the function at all. So why not?

John

 

[dirtydogintex]

...
When I worked on large construction sites with lots of random people walking around from all different trades, we always painted everything with lots of funky pink spray paint to discourage other tradesmen from mistaking it from their own. It also made it really easy to see if someone else was using your tools or equipment.

My personal tools (in my shop, not for road use) I do not mark, but many of them were purchased from someone that did. It does not hurt the function of the tool typically, so as long as it works and the price is right, who cares.

+1 pretty much but a different flavor.... and yeah construction was some time ago....

 

[Hafen_Kafer]

Ive engraved my email address along with my name on some of my tools. Like on my height gauge. Most measuring tools name at least.

 

[zkling]

I have a mix of engraved tools, none with my initials on them Sadly most of the previous owners are no longer with us.

I usually buy tools used in large sets, and many of them have others initials on them. So I have large lots of matching engravings. Not just one or two. I would be cautious buying expensive items with engraving one at a time unless the seller can show a drivers license that proves the initials belong to them.

Most of my work is done by myself or with my brother out of our garage. If someone comes over I always tell them to leave their tools at home. That way things do not get mixed up. If I worked in a shop I would probably find a way to discreetly mark all of my tools with some sort of paint. I don't like engraving as it can cause the chrome to chip early.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Never done my own.
I have a red 18"? ridgid pipe wrench with stamped initials (but not of the coworker with whom I traded :hmm: )
a 3/8 oex12 with spread open end that has someone's name; I think John engraved upon it.
and I think one more thing that skips my mind.

 

[24X26]

Meh, I use my tools. I don't collect them. The don't need to be in pristine condition.

If I was offered two wrenches of the same quality and one was engraved and cheaper? Guess which one I will buy?

 

[shoggoth80]

Mine aren't... but I wish they were. One of these days...

 

[Danglerb]

I don't buy engraved, seems like intentional abuse to me, worse than rust.

 

[HaroRider]

I work out of my own garage, so other then my dad "borrowing" tools I dont have to worry about theft.

If I worked at a dealer or something like that I would consider it.
I typically dont buy engraved, unless it was my initials lol..

 

[theknurl]

no!


but my shotguns are

i even engrave them.......with patterns not initials

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Yes + many of my better tools are engraved or stamped with MY initials, nickname or Full name.... I buy them for my lifetime use....resale is not a factor.. I disfavor or avoid tools with grind marks or someone elses id marks on them. My tools are a part of me..


MY HF junk will NOT get engraved..not worth my time

 

[Automatic Slim]

Tim, what kind of bar you trying to score and price + ship?





I've got some stuff w/ engraved initials, but mostly vintage stuff that is quality made. don't know many people that engrave anymore. If I'm hanging around some tool thiefs, I use colored electrical tape for ID (green). Ez and doesn't scar the metal.

but yea, got some and use the engraved name as my id.

 

[Duster346]

I bought an engraver when I first became a mechanic. I engraved one or two tools, and then got bored with it.

I did engrave my engraver, though.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Back when my box was stored at a buddies shop...yes I engraved most of my chrome...never bothered with stupid stuff like screwdrivers or such. ALL of my dad's tools are engraved with his full name and clock ID# from the paper mill he worked at. To keep track of stuff. Since building our house and moving my box "home" i've not engraved a single tool.
Personally I dont/wont buy engraved tools with other people's names on them. Having my Dad's tools, its actually nice to have his "handwriting" permanently etched into a durable good such as a 10" SnapOn Adjustable wrench..when my Son gets that wrench he'll have a connection to his Grandfather and see exactly why the SnapOn slogan is "There is a Difference"

 

[OccupantRJ]

My tools were under 5 feet of water for a week. Can anyone guess whether I care if my tools are engraved? I'm just glad to have been able to save them. Every time I see an engraved name on one of my tools, I mentally thank the person for paying the initial purchase price so I could later buy them used at a real deal. My tools at work are engraved so they don't get mixed up with the production area's company provided tools. The value of a tool lies in it's usefulness and durability. Anything else is just jewelry. The most valuable tool I owned after the flood was a piece of wet or dry sandpaper. It was the bootstrap to get amost every other aspect of my former life going again.

 

[Harley94]

When several of us guys used to work on something together outside, our tools would get co-mingled and we'd have to try to figure out what belonged who. Ever since then I put my initials small and light on my stuff. You'd have to really look to see it.

 

[jsnap]

Yeah LOL LOL .. Years ago I worked in a shop with myself and 5 other mechanics and there was an old man that was there for a hundred years and he would guard his tools and lock the box up every time he was away from it for more then 5 minutes... Well one week he missed 3 days with no call in, and it wasn't like him, so the owner calls his house to find out he died... So he told his older wife hey he has his tool box here have somone come and get it, and she said no you keep it you have always been good to him... So when we broke into it 85 percent of the tools belonged to everyone that ever worked in that shop....LOL LOL LOL LOL Good old Tex RIP

 

[crewchief888]

some of my tools are engraved or stamped, doesnt botehr me to buy used tools that are marked.

over the past 6 or 7 years i started marking power tools with date of purchase, just to see how long they last.
i've marked air tools with date of purchase for a long time, for the same reason.

 

[littletoes]

Job site, with dozens, even hundreds of other workers.....sure we paint.

I like Blaze Orange....it's my color of choice. Everyone seems to use Red....but I call mine "Hunter Orange", goes with what I like to do.

 

[maddawg308]

I buy mostly used tools. Sometimes they have initials carved into them already, I don't mind. I don't carve my own initials into the tools, it's not worth my time. My tools are always locked up and I don't loan them out, so I don't see a need for it.

 

[ianguilly]

Never, engraved tools hurt resale.

 

[PowerGenGuy]

In construction tools disappear quickly. How many times did my Klien needle nose grow legs? My solution in shop to locating your stuff is to use a brand that others are not using, especially in rat's, sockets and wrenches. Here in Canada, many techs and fabricators use Canadian Tire Maximum series tools, at least at our shop. So I spend a little more and get various other brands. Our shop guys are pretty good though. When I was in construction as electrician it was different, physically marking your tools was a must, for quick and easy identification.