Do you buy engraved tools?

[BMcC]

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...

I suppose I got slightly off topic... But I don't think there is anything intrinsically wrong with buying engraved tools. I just don't think anyone engraves their tools just to show how awesome their initials are, they do it because of theft.

If you're buying something vintage with initials on it, chances are some old guy died and his heirs didn't have a use for them. If your buying a modern Snap-on something or other from the kid down the street and its priced well below market value, I would say there's issues.

 

[DoubleA]

I don't buy engraved tools if I can help it.

I just don't like looking at the other peoples initials and feeling the messed up chrome on my tool. I do have a few tools I've purchased for very cheap with others "marks" on them.

 

[andywander]

I have a lot of bought-used machinist's tools. Many of them are engraved.

Honestly, I don't think having initials or names engraved makes them any more or less likely than an unengraved tool to be stolen or not.

And like some others on here, while I would prefer unengraved tools, while using them I often wonder about the guy whose initials are on them....

 

[Thumper]

I have bought engraved tools at swap meets before.....most the old guy bought at yard/estate sales. I buy mostly old USA made stuff. Most of my tools are engraved to keep the fuckheads I worked with from claiming them. It worked...I could care less. New stuff.....I won't touch, I just prefer the "seasoned" tools....

 

[kc-steve]

I won't buy engraved tools, ethically or otherwise, because all tools are for sale. We ALL only borrow (own) them briefly. Occasionally I have found engravings on estate sale items, by accident, but still won't sell them. Personally I wish people would just paint them in order to keep track, rather than engrave them. It reduces the integrity of the finish.

If a friend or relative sees that you have engraved tools that don't match your initials, do you think you will get a chance to explain to them they are not stolen?

Steve

 

[Skin]

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.

The tool has history with or without engravings. Its not just about the cosmetics, I like to take care of my stuff. Its going to get scratched, occasionally broken, I accept that, I just dont see cutting into a tool just to permanently personalize it. The sad part is when its done on a really nice/expensive set. I'd no more do that than I would deform a nice/expensive tool just to do a specific task.

 

[Modifieddriver]

I have an example for ya':

60 year old guy, Billy Bob Smith, croaks. He's still working and has current tools, all engraved BBS.

Wife has to bury the guy and she has no $dough$ to plant him. She needs quick cash and pawns Bill Bob's engraved tools and other "stuff" to pay for his service.

I walk in the pawn shop and there's tools engraved BBS. Now many, but not all, of you folks assume the tools that show up here are stolen and the pawn shop is a fence for this "stuff". I don't, and I'll tell ya' why. If they think it's hot and the cops come to claim it, the pawn shop lost his investment. I'm going to trust faith that the pawn shop owner has a token of personal integrity when buyin' "stuff". If not, they go outa' business. Local law enforcement can make their business miserable.

Where I live, there's a direct link between the pawn shops and the police. The pawn shops and flea markets are the first place the cops look for REPORTED stolen stuff. I know there's plain clothes cops that frequent both places around here looking for reported "hot" merchandise.

So, back to Billy Bob's BBS engraved tools. If it's a deal will I pass because of the BBS? Nope. I'll buy them. My conscience is clear because I bought them on an honest deal.

Some folks say that if you paid that little for an item it must be hot. Not true. When folks get desperate for $money$, they do desperate things. Maybe the items were given to them and they just want to bail out and pay the monthly electric bill.

There's folks out there that live day to day, not even from pay check to pay check. Wasn't until I moved here that I even heard about renting a single wide trailer by the week or making a weekly car payment.`

 

[the1nonlyjl]

stay far away from scam tools- they are voided and what if you want to sell them, buyers wont want to buy them and they have no values!!!!

 

[kythri]

stay far away from scam tools- they are voided and what if you want to sell them, buyers wont want to buy them and they have no values!!!!

Nonsense.

 

[Nelson58]

I don't give a damn if the tool is engraved. It's a tool, not a vintage sports car. It doesn't spoil it's utility to me if the old owner marked it to keep it safe. It's part of the history of the tool that some old machinist had it in his toolbox and used it everyday at work making stuff (back in the days when the US actually made stuff and people actually worked in factories doing so). I don't expect a deep discount because it is marked as long as the marking doesn't compromise the use of the tool any. What do I mean? Well, I saw one tool on Ebay where the guy engraved right next to the markings of the micrometer and made them harder to read. On another, he engraved on the handle, making it bite your hand when you held it tight. That I wouldn't like.

The one thing I would complain about is Ebay sellers who don't tell you that it's engraved in their description or show it in the photos. THAT pisses me off. Why? Because some of you guys won't bid on an engraved tool, and that keeps the price down for someone like me who doesn't give a ****. If they don't mention it, don't show a photo of the marking, and I buy it, they get a negative feedback, no questions asked. Most good sellers tell you right up front, so it happens very rarely.


Nelson

 

[Exceller8]

I have an example for ya':

60 year old guy, Billy Bob Smith, croaks. He's still working and has current tools, all engraved BBS.

Wife has to bury the guy and she has no $dough$ to plant him. She needs quick cash and pawns Bill Bob's engraved tools and other "stuff" to pay for his service.

I walk in the pawn shop and there's tools engraved BBS. Now many, but not all, of you folks assume the tools that show up here are stolen and the pawn shop is a fence for this "stuff". I don't, and I'll tell ya' why. If they think it's hot and the cops come to claim it, the pawn shop lost his investment. I'm going to trust faith that the pawn shop owner has a token of personal integrity when buyin' "stuff". If not, they go outa' business. Local law enforcement can make their business miserable.

Where I live, there's a direct link between the pawn shops and the police. The pawn shops and flea markets are the first place the cops look for REPORTED stolen stuff. I know there's plain clothes cops that frequent both places around here looking for reported "hot" merchandise.

So, back to Billy Bob's BBS engraved tools. If it's a deal will I pass because of the BBS? Nope. I'll buy them. My conscience is clear because I bought them on an honest deal.

Some folks say that if you paid that little for an item it must be hot. Not true. When folks get desperate for $money$, they do desperate things. Maybe the items were given to them and they just want to bail out and pay the monthly electric bill.

There's folks out there that live day to day, not even from pay check to pay check. Wasn't until I moved here that I even heard about renting a single wide trailer by the week or making a weekly car payment.`

The problem I have with that theory is:

I was at a pawn shop the other day and crackhead Bob walks in with a Makita sander. The clerk says I can give you $8 for the sander without asking any questions at all. He just asked for a DL and Crackhead Bob walks out with his $8.

 

[crewchief888]

doesnt bother me at all.

most of the pawn shop & flea mkt tools i pick up are marked somehow
i have run across stuff that i wouldnt buy, (seems i have a 6th sense when it comes to scams/BS/ stolen stuff), engraved or not.

i see the stuff on local CL all the time, judging by the way the ad is worded, the location, and whats being sold, and the "deal" being offered

 

[86k10]

As far as my theory with pawn shops is that I consider about 25% of the store items to be stolen in one way or another. An engraved tool is not anymore or less of a risk factor than a non engraved one.

 

[mercman86]

All of my tools are engraved. Its the first thing I do when I get a new tool. Only way to prove that its yours. If I buy a used tool and its engraved it dosent bother me one bit. Except if the person is trying to get nearly retail for it.

 

[unslow1]

I have a bunch of tools with engravings on them. None of the initials match mine. They match my Great-Grandfather, Grandfather and his cousin. Some are painted yellow also. I noticed that the other day. I found it kind of amusing. I don't engrave mine.

 

[Modifieddriver]

The problem I have with that theory is:

I was at a pawn shop the other day and crackhead Bob walks in with a Makita sander. The clerk says I can give you $8 for the sander without asking any questions at all. He just asked for a DL and Crackhead Bob walks out with his $8.

Crackhead Bob showed ID and walked out with some $dough$. Maybe the pawn shop guy didn't ask any more questions because Crackhead Bob is a regular customer?

Would Crackhead Bob show ID so he can tracked down if the sander was hot? He could've sold it on the street for an equal amount.

See, your assumption is that he stole it. Mine and the shop owner is he owned and needed some quick cash for a snort. Where the sander came from isn't my problem unless it was hot. But if the cops come, I'm clear 'cause I didn't buy it straight from Bob.

I think Hollywood movies have stereotyped all pawn shop owners as crooks. It hasn't been until the shows like Pawn Stars, ******** Pawn, etc. have shown this is really a legit business. Look at the folks that come into that Detroit pawn shop. Many are desperate. Some are just plain STOOPID.

 

[Modifieddriver]

As far as my theory with pawn shops is that I consider about 25% of the store items to be stolen in one way or another. An engraved tool is not anymore or less of a risk factor than a non engraved one.

Ask the store owner or salesperson which ones are "hot" before you buy. Maybe that'll make you feel better about the suspect 25%.

 

[BMcC]

Ask the store owner or salesperson which ones are "hot" before you buy. Maybe that'll make you feel better about the suspect 25%.

I think most pawn shops operate with the understanding that they might be taking in stolen items. Sometimes they'll lose money, most of the time they won't lose anything.

When Crackhead Bob sells the tools he stole from you at the pawn shop, the whole purpose of having your initials engraved on your tools is so you can prove they're yours. And then you get your tools back, and then the police go and arrest Crackhead Bob.

No initials and the pawn shop says tough ****, and you don't get your tools back.

 

[Drew_flux]

For me it would depend on the price and how its marked. I never got around to engraving my tools,but most of them have small mark in the jaws or other out of sight place.

 

[frankush]

As an electrician, most everyone I work with is carrying the same or very similiar tools. Your Kleins have blue handles, mine are red. Some guys get tired of winding up with someone elses tool that looks identical but the cutters are shot or cooked. Out comes the spray paint. He'll shoot every tool in his pouch neon green. They sure can't be mistaken anymore. I don't care if a tool is engraved or not.

 

[pilotman81]

I engrave all of my stuff, but I work on the road at different jobsites all the time. If I buy something, JRP goes on it, so it doesn't matter if it is over some other scratched out or ground out initials or not.

 

[86k10]

Ask the store owner or salesperson which ones are "hot" before you buy. Maybe that'll make you feel better about the suspect 25%.

I don't need to feel better about anything. I wouldn't think about asking that question seriously, would you? It is just my personal opinion. I bought my lower box from a pawn shop.

Do you ever go into a pawn shop and find new in package items? I do quite often. I bought some crowfoot wrenches and there was 3 shops that had many nib sets, I asked one of the employees what was going on? Did you guys go to a Sears closeout? He said someone must have jacked a bunch and pawned them up and down Colfax.

 

[Maexle]

My initials are: B.S. ...so i would have to engrave my tools: "B.S. tools"...... hmmmmm guess no one would buy them from me ever again....hehehe

 

[64Trvlr]

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.

You're kidding right?

 

[heyutokyo]

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.

I know what your trying to say Chris. Your fortunate to have a good SO Rep because many people don't. I was bay fishing two days ago and let me just say that if your pro pic would have been there id probably bee a bit more satisfied. I didn't catch anything all that great

 

[Jason280]

I don't have an issue buying engraved tools, and have never thought twice about it.

 

[ganymede]

This summer I was helping someone fix some rotted railing and trim on the porch of a large old Victorian house. As I was getting ready to leave, the owner (woman in her early 70's) said that my hammer was hers.
I thought that was odd and figured that maybe she was confused so I held up my 16 oz Estwing with blue rubber grip to give her a better look. I asked if she was sure and she said yes. I started to get nervous. We looked all over for her stupid hammer. Finally found it . It was one of those little Handy Andy jobs with a green enameled head. Yea lady the hammers are identical. I can't believe it's possible to tell them apart. She then tried to pull the same **** with screwdrivers so I just gave her one and a couple of weeks later when I was asked to go back and do more work I declined.
I don't like engraving tools but I see where it can be neccessery.

 

[Thumper]

That granny chick musta been a tool freak..!!!

 

[ganymede]

That granny chick musta been a tool freak..!!!

Maybe there's an old thread in the archives .. 'Scammed someone out of a Mac screwdriver. What's it worth?'

 

[Modifieddriver]

I think most pawn shops operate with the understanding that they might be taking in stolen items. Sometimes they'll lose money, most of the time they won't lose anything.

When Crackhead Bob sells the tools he stole from you at the pawn shop, the whole purpose of having your initials engraved on your tools is so you can prove they're yours. And then you get your tools back, and then the police go and arrest Crackhead Bob.

No initials and the pawn shop says tough ****, and you don't get your tools back.

Well, I guess I'll just have to buy back my stolen tools that Crackhead Bob sold to the pawn shop that don't have my marks on them.

Ya' know I'm get real tired of being inconvenienced by dishonest people.

I had some 4'-5' lengths of 1 1/2" pipe for a project that I left outside. They got gone, like in stolen. We had some video tape of that showed the vehicle leaving the property. I report the theft to the cops. I drive around the adjacent low life neighborhood and spot the car. I do some homework and get his name and address and tell the cops. The mail man was real helpful.

A day later the guy pulls out from his road right in front of me. I follow him up to the convenience store gas station. I wait for him to come out of the store. I tell him I know what he did, who he is, where he lives and that I have a video tape of him. Then I tell him to never set foot on the property again or I'll shoot his ***.

He never utters a word. Doesn't say, "I don't know what you're talkin' about" or even a "F U" or a denial Just gets in his **** box PoS car and hauls outa' there like a big *** bird. Never to be seen again. Called the cop on the case. Asked him if I did anything wrong. Answer was no. Did I get my pipe back? No. Did I expect to? No. Did I get some satisfaction? Yes.

I know the thief sold my pipe for scrap metal.

I didn't have my initials on the pipe, like it would've made a difference.

Where I'm going with this is with initials or no initials, your **** is gone. The likelihood of recovery is slim. I'm not gonna' tattoo everything thing I own just in case Crackhead Bob shows up. That's being inconvenienced for a thief. Like they say, locks are for honest people.

 

[lilscorpion]

I don't mind really but I'd prefer they aren't. I very much dislike painted or "marked" tools. Ya know, the thing that contractores dotobe able to differentiate their socket from everyone elses on site (i get why, just don't like owning em after). Makes 'em look like ****.

 

[2oolhound]

I'll buy them if at a good discount and I can't justify buying the tool new (same goes for buying chi). I'm annoyed if I grab a tool with someone's initials on it because I get a little mental distraction. Since I'm not a journeyman I'm often working in uncharted territories and need to focus on the job at hand. Since I've started buying tools again in the last 4 years I've been sticking to buying complete matching sets rather than a bunch of mismatched tools and I have to say I'm enjoying grabbing the wrench or socket I need from a rack of matching tools free of homemade markings.

 

[Jim C.]

I try not to buy engraved tools if at all possible, and usually pass on them. I'm not so worried about them being stolen, I just don't like the way they look. Most of the time, the engravings are really ugly, and poorly applied. For some reason, that bothers me. I don't mind used tools at all, i just don't want them all etched up. Most of the stuff I'm looking for is pretty common and I know that an un-engraved tool will eventually come along.

Jim C.

 

[dirtmister16]

i generally don't want engraved tools. i have a few, they were in junk yard cars, or some other lot of tools i bought. i have a 1/4" craftsman ratchet that has the intials DV in it. i don't use it but once in a great while, so i dont much care.

i could tell ya what i call it but its not approiate for the forum. i think i may have a few other tools but those are like popular mechanics and off brands with engravings. those i have a box dedicated to cheap tools i picked up out of cars. i think i have 3 or 4 sets of wrenches in it.

 

[Gregg33]

I only use my tools in my personal shop so I have no need to engrave them. As far as I buying engraved tools, I own several and with the exception of a socket that looks like some1 used an 1/8" inch engraver on it, it doesn't bother me and I'm very fussy with my tools. Having said that though it does lower the value of tools, not so much for fleamarket stuff, but more so for high end used truck brand tools.

As far as engraved tools being stolen, the engraved tools I own weren't bought as sets, and they are so old that if they were stolen (unlikely imo) the original owner is probably long since passed or too old to care anyways.

 

[ajchien]

I'm a frugal DIYer. Not a reseller.

I'll buy engraved tools if the price is right. I have lots of mismatched tools.

I would pay more for a non engraved tool, i would also pay more if the tool was in better overall condition. I don't think engraving as anything to do with being able to identify a stolen item, unless it was yours.

If the engraving really bothers me, I'll grind it off. Grind marks bother me less than engraving when using the tools. They're about equivalently annoying when buying the tools.

 

[Tucko]

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.

Years ago, I spray painted a bunch of my tools a hot pink! They never got "borrowed" in the shop again....

 

[Tucko]

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.

I agree with you here. I also love seeing a persons name inside a cover of an old book. My old Audel's Sheet metal layout book has a typed note inside the front cover that says, To Daddy, from the boys, Christmas 1954. Gee, I hope it's not a stolen book!!

 

[jbighump]

ill buy any tools engraved or not as long as its a good deal,,,i dont sell my tools so its no big deal

 

[BMB]

Well,
I just took all of my engraved tools and put them in a spare tool box.

I told them it was not right for them to be in the big box with all the other unmarked tools. Even though they look the same and do just as good of a job as the others, I can't have any of this tool mixing going on my garage.

Hopefully I have shamed them enough to loose those marks and they can rejoin their tool brothers and sisters at some point.