Do you buy engraved tools?

[Exceller8]

I avoid buying engraved tools at all costs but tonight I drove about an hour away from my house in the pouring rain to pickup some wrenches from a guy on CL. I get there and the tools are engraved! Yep... 100% my fault for not asking but I was still pissed. The guy said he bought them at an estate sale and they weren't stolen or anything.

I was thinking on the drive home is it ethical to buy engraved tools? How do I really know if they are stolen or not? What do you guys think?

I know if the future I will never buy engraved tools as I have no way of knowing if they are stolen or not.

 

[RivennHewn]

Don't get it.

How would you know if an un-engraved tool was stolen or not?

I guess the only thing for you to do is buy new.

 

[ryan t]

Maybe at an estate sale, but not from a private buyer (unless it was a killer deal and they had the same initials as the seller). Generally though I don't like engraved tools unless I find someone that happens to have the same name or initials as me. Not worth trying to explain why "XYZ" is on all of my tools.

 

[compyello]

I think if it is a good deal buy them

 

[Ironhorse]

I engrave all of mine with the word stolen on them..

 

[davesnothere]

Tools i plan on keeping and using, i could care less about engravings. Tools that might be resold, i try to steer clear of them.

 

[bmwpower]

As long as they are deeply discounted, sure, good to go.
Any tool bought used could be stolen. No guarantee.

 

[rusty65]

If the tool was pretty expensive brand new lets say a 3/4 drive snap on socket then engravings are ok but if its just a regular lets say proto wrench with engravings then I would pass.

 

[Skin]

If its mine, it wont have some strangers markings on it. Short of it being free I avoid them completely. Random engravings completely devalue a tool to me. Realistically speaking it compromises the chrome finish and substantially devalues the items down the road.

 

[heyutokyo]

If they are SO or equivalent value wise and you get a good deal then yes I would. I would buy for a couple of reasons. First reason is that I can just grind away the engraving. The engraving already voids the warranty on most tools so I don't mind a nasty grind mark. As far as the stolen part of your post I would say not to worry about it. You run the risk of buying stolen tools whenever you purchase used tools. I bought a SO breaker bar at the flea market for 15 dollars engraved with the initials DS just the other day. It probably belonged to **** Smalls. LOL

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

The engraving already voids the warranty on most tools so I don't mind a nasty grind mark.

Don't tell that to my Snap On guy... He's warranted every engraved (my initials) tool I've ever broken. If you actually WORK with your tools as opposed to collecting and talking about them (like so many here seem to do) then you'll find that most guys do engrave their stuff. If only to keep it from disappearing out of your toolbox by others. At every shop I've ever worked at there are a lot of guys who are rather shady and have a criminal past (and sometimes present). Especially at bigger shops. I've had a lot of stuff stolen over the years. Everything from a very nice Lincoln Welder to sockets, wrenches, etc. Engraving them cuts down the chances on something of yours walking away to someone else's box.

 

[vintagefan]

Engraving = begging for chrome failure

I work on electronics, etc., I get black oxide tools as convenient, but I also use a lot of chrome. That said, I haven't had any issue with chrome flakes other than on tools that have been damaged or engraved (which IMO is one and the same).

 

[maddawg1952]

Working on large construction sites my whole life not only do I engrave all my tools but most in my utility truck I have to paint blue so you can see them across the site ,tools get laid down and seem to grow legs really fast. I hope whoever buys my tools doesn't mind but while I'm still using them it's the only alternative. It's really hard for me to buy engraved tools unless the initials match the seller. No tool supplier I ever used (SO C-Man Cornwell Matco Mac) has ever refused to replace anything I broke. I'm not truly worried if my tools are pretty or polished, I clean them and put them away neatly. They were bought to help me make money to support my family.

 

[Modifieddriver]

Think the OP needs to go by his conscience and pass if the engraving bothers him.

Hopefully, after he passes, I'll be the next guy in line and get a discount 'cause of the engraving.

 

[buremarey]

Generally though I don't like engraved tools unless I find someone that happens to have the same name or initials as me.

 

[darkk]

It's a tool, engraving isn't any worse than any other scratch or nick my tools get from being dropped, wedged in somewhere, hammered on or welded on because I was stupid. The chrome or finish imperfections aren't going to devalue or make a tool that is used as it should be worth any less. It's a tool, it gets beat up from time to time. If all your tools are perfect, I think maybe you spend too much time polishing them and not enough time using them as they were intended......

 

[vartz04]

All of my tools were stolen and I couldn't prove that some in pawnshops were mine otherwise is have them back. When I got the insurance money and got new tools I also bought an engraver from hf. The detective told me that is the best way to get stuff back that doesn't have serial numbers.

It took a long time but everything I own has jpv on it now.

The stuff I did have serial numbers for is still in the police station waiting for our speedy court system to pin the crime on the trash they caught at a pawn shop.

I'll never buy engraved unless it matches the sellers initials

 

[OccupantRJ]

It's a tool, engraving isn't any worse than any other scratch or nick my tools get from being dropped, wedged in somewhere, hammered on or welded on because I was stupid. The chrome or finish imperfections aren't going to devalue or make a tool that is used as it should be worth any less. It's a tool, it gets beat up from time to time. If all your tools are perfect, I think maybe you spend too much time polishing them and not enough time using them as they were intended......

My sentiments, exactly. The value of a tool lies in it's usefulness and durability. Beyond that, they're jewelry.

 

[cide1]

I buy engraved from eBay, but I don't work in a shop where i need to keep my stuff from walking off. When I do buy engraved I expect a serious discount.

 

[woody 73]

As a rule if the tool is rare and I never see it very often then I will buy it. If the tool has a steep discount then I have no problem with buying it. And last if the engraving is not so bad (not to ugly to look at) then I will buy it.

What I stay away with a ten foot pole is a tool that was abused like chrome sockets used on air guns, tools used with cheater bars (bend in the handle),extreme heavy pitted rust,cracked tools from stress,etc.

 

[86k10]

Engraving don't devalue the tool much at all unless very large or many words/numbers. I have seen both but don't have a problem with engraving. Damn near all my tools are engraved and some twice, with the original owner then mine.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I dont engrave tools and I dont buy engraved tools.

 

[sensei_]

i couldnt care less about cosmetic, im a price sensitive buyer. however, i will not knowingly buy stolen goods.

 

[Schleprock]

Wow tough crowd here, I don't think the OP is talking about the cosmetic imperfection but more along the lines that it might be stolen. I pass on tools that are engraved and don't match the sellers name. Although I may not make any difference in the grand scheme of things I'm still going to do what I can not to support theft.

 

[bcradio]

I prefer not to buy engraved tools, but will if I really need them or if it's too good of a deal.

I don't think engraved tools are any more likely stolen than non engraved.

 

[John316]

If its mine, it wont have some strangers markings on it. Short of it being free I avoid them completely. Random engravings completely devalue a tool to me. Realistically speaking it compromises the chrome finish and substantially devalues the items down the road.

Well said! My first question before any used tool purchase is whether there are markings or engravings. I will not buy any engraved tools.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

Just because its engraved does not make it stolen and just because its not engraved does not make it not stolen.

 

[Bryan Burns]

As long as they are deeply discounted, sure, good to go.
Any tool bought used could be stolen. No guarantee.

What kind of deep discount? For example, if these superrenches usually go for $3 ea, what would I have to be at? (These are from an estate sale, and I do plan on selling them, but the engravings are deepest I've seen on tools).

Luckily, they're only on one side:

 

[nyrapscalion]

Engraved or not...sure I buy them. At the flea market it's almost impossible to buy stuff that doesn't have some type of mark on it. Small dots from a punch set, letters and numbers, ...it's all good.
Theft happens. It's part of life. Garages buy airbags from thugs that steal them. Think about the "towing companies" in your area...cash only transactions...c'mon, theft in it's purest form. You want your car back right? The DMV...knows you need a license...they can charge anything they want....ANYTHING...they know you need them, so bend over.

Tools are a small percentage of stolen items, if you think about it. If it's a good deal on something I want or need, I'm buying it. When my Pioneer face unit was stolen from my car with my name ENGRAVED on the top cover, it was most likely sold. Nobody really cares. The police? What are you high? Not likely. If there's no money in it, they do nothing about it. The donutcrew isn't interested in small stuff like tool theft. Why should I care?

Money drives it all. I want a good deal, the thief needs a fix, so I'm buying.

 

[Davefr]

Yes, when they're in the $1.00 per tool box at G-sales.

No, when they're on Ebay at close to list price.

 

[BMcC]

I inherited some of my grandpa's tools with his initials on a lot of them. It doesn't bother me a bit, but I'm not planning on selling or getting rid of any of them.

I am wondering though, how much would laser etching cost me if I took some of my tools to get my name or something on my stuff? The kid down the street keeps breaking into cars in the neighborhood, and I figure it won't be long before he's in a few garages too. It wouldn't be an issue if they'd just keep him in juvie.

 

[fflintstone]

What a bunch of whiny *** babies. While I don’t buy tools out of the back of a van parked on the side of the road, I wouldn’t buy tool if I had a good suspicion they were stolen.

I find it repugnant the today’s generation has no interest in tools, I have bought a metric **** ton of tools from people that have no interest in “grandpa’s tools”. Some are engraved some are not.

I recently bought some tools for my son’s toolbox 1 1/16 – 1 ½ professional combo wrenches 5 protos, 1 Williams and 1 some other name brand. Bought em from a guy down on his luck just before Christmas. Bought them at his house with his name on them. The guy just wanted some cash to buy his baby granddaughter presents.

Old people die all the time. I would rather see their tool used than sit in a corner. I hope to hell my son uses my tools long after I die. If he doesn’t I hope someone else gets to build “their great project” with them. I hope someone enjoys them like I do.

 

[BMcC]

I find it repugnant the today’s generation has no interest in tools, I have bought a metric **** ton of tools from people that have no interest in “grandpa’s tools”. Some are engraved some are not.

I would rather see their tool used than sit in a corner. I hope to hell my son uses my tools long after I die. If he doesn’t I hope someone else gets to build “their great project” with them. I hope someone enjoys them like I do.

Interesting that you say that, last weekend I used my grandpa's breaker bar with his engraved initials when changed out my rear brakes.

I'm not a woodworker, but I want to make something with my great-grandpa's hand planer... (no initials on that one).

 

[A_Pmech]

I like marked tools, it shows they have history. The value of a tool is in it's utility, not what it looks like. Since engraving doesn't affect the utility of a tool they only devalue a tool in the minds of people who don't appreciate their utility.

When I use a tool which has some guy's initials engraved into it I wonder about that person and what they made with it. It's no different than property tags on machine tools or control numbers on metrology equipment. Sometimes I look at the markings and wonder what they made with the machine before it became mine.

I hope one day after I'm gone, somebody cares enough to ask themselves the same questions about my tools. Hopefully, they'll go to people who value their utility.

 

[Exceller8]

Wow, some really interesting perspectives here. What I've learner so far:

1. I'm a tool polisher
2. see #1

I would really love to see some of the professionals toolboxes with a bunch of engraved tools in them. All I ever see is a bunch of beautiful boxes filled with awesome quality tools that shine and actually hurt my eyes when viewing them.

I do believe that a tool is meant to be used first and foremost but let's face it, most guys here want them to look good too!

My original thought was on the ethics of buying engraved tools. There seems to be a split on if if is a problem or not. I do agree that it is next to impossible to tell if they are stolen or not, but how would you guys with a ton invested in your tools feel if they were stolen and being sold at the Swap Meet, Ebay, CL, etc... Of course this is meant for the non tool polishers...

 

[e30bradley]

A tool works the same wether its engraved or not. it just doesn't look as pretty. I bought allot of used, engraved tools.. It sounds like some of you think if a tool has been engraved it can only be used by the engraver and when they are done using them they should be recycled into something new instead of being sold as used tools. I don't understand.. some of the tools I bought used actually had 2 or 3 different initials on them because they changed hands a few times before I got to them.

 

[kythri]

Like others, I have no real issues with engraved tools.

There's a handful of pieces in my collection that I've picked up over the years - some knowingly, some unknowingly (part of a lot, etc.).

I'm not losing any sleep over those markings. Echoing other's statements, there's no evidence whatsoever to suggest that any tool, engraved or otherwise is stolen. I won't knowingly buy stolen merchandise, but if it's on the shelf at the pawn shop? I'm trusting that they did their due diligence, as required by law, to not buy stolen tools, and leave it at that.

Additionally, as has also been stated, I'm not going to pay a premium for marked tools, and if there's two identical tools sitting side-by-side, same price, only one is engraved? I'll buy the unmarked one.

Overall, the marks are just another factor in my own personal pricing/acquisition matrix.

 

[kythri]

I do agree that it is next to impossible to tell if they are stolen or not, but how would you guys with a ton invested in your tools feel if they were stolen and being sold at the Swap Meet, Ebay, CL, etc... Of course this is meant for the non tool polishers...

Well, hell, would anyone be happy about it?

 

[e30bradley]

I like marked tools, it shows they have history. The value of a tool is in it's utility, not what it looks like. Since engraving doesn't affect the utility of a tool they only devalue a tool in the minds of people who don't appreciate their utility.

well said

 

[Exceller8]

I wish they would come up with a national tool registry where you are issued a number to engrave your tools with and that someone could reference before buying a engraved tool. Engraving your tools with "Billy" or whatever only really works in a working shop.