grind marks

[trainwreck]

If you look in the classifieds, you'll occasionally see someone mention that a tool has grind marks. I could see grinding a mis-sized wrench a little larger, or maybe a socket a little shallower, but how are tools like ratchets and screwdrivers getting grind marks?

Are they left over from the manufacturing, and missed during QA? Are they from someone using the tool, having it slip, and bang into another part? Or are people intentionally grinding their tools for some reason?

Inquiring mind(s?) want to know. Thank you.

 

[swgray]

They grind them to identify them. Rather than engraving their name.

 

[Case IH]

some people put a grind mark on tools to identify them as theres instead of putting a name or initials I dont think it de-values it as much

 

[airbuff101]

Train,
It usually refers to ID marks ground on hand tools with the corner of a bench grinder wheel. Sometimes though OE's or boxes are thinned to fit somwhere many years ago.........

Many guys ground 2 divots somewhere on the tool.
The Advanced guys ground 3 (figurin' No one else in the shop would ever think of That!)
The artistic ones would scribe their name or initials with an electric or vibrating metal marking pen.
The shy ones would use a mystical ***** punch sequence of dots.
Machinists and others opted for metal stamps.

The ones that I appreciate the most, Never marked them at all.....sigh.

Rob

 

[Borrego]

On some Plomb and Proto tools of the era, the story I have been told is if the tools were produced and for whatever reason, did not pass quality standards, the shaft of the wrench was ground down, obscurring or removing the logo. The "Made in USA" stampings were left in tact. They were then sold as "seconds". Tools technically produced my Plomb or Proto, but not physically bearing their logo.
At times, I see wrenches like this at flea markets.

 

[boro_boy70]

On some Plomb and Proto tools of the era, the story I have been told is if the tools were produced and for whatever reason, did not pass quality standards, the shaft of the wrench was ground down, obscurring or removing the logo. The "Made in USA" stampings were left in tact. They were then sold as "seconds". Tools technically produced my Plomb or Proto, but not physically bearing their logo.
At times, I see wrenches like this at flea markets.

Around here, Utica tools did the same thing. I see tons of old Utica brand adjustable wrenches with the name ground off. On the pliers the names were **'d out.

 

[rsanter]

grind marks are to identify the tool as yours or they were to remove initials

bob

 

[trainwreck]

And an inquiring mind now knows. Thanks a lot guys. I don't share my tools much, and when I do, it's usually just my brother borrowing them. Marking tools isn't a high priority for me, and I didn't think of using grind marks as subtle identification marks.

 

[BQuicksilver]

It's important to guys working in big shops since lots of tools are being borrowed and some grow legs. Given the price of tool truck brands losing a tool is a big deal.

 

[BBQ&Love]

Grind marks = someone grinding off the last owner's marks.

Not always, but sometimes.

 

[reznunt]

lol why did 10 people tell the OP the same damn thing?

 

[TN_GARAGE]

lol why did 10 people tell the OP the same damn thing?

They didn't.

However, I wonder what purpose your post served?

 

[r07d24]

I picked up a full set of SK raised panel wrenches for next to nothing because they had a grind mark on each one in the same spot.
The guy told me his Dad worked in a big shop and he did that to make them less desirable to thieves...and to owner mark them.