Making Numbers on Tools stand out! (a how-to thread)

[Jagmandave]

Resistor code? Like the rings of color around a resistor are supposed to let you know it's value - if you know the code!

Cool - found a pic!

 

[airmecha]

great idea !!! Im going to try this out this weekend thanks for the tip!

 

[Nick DL]

Thanks for the tip, I'll have to do this to my tools.

 

[rburke65]

I know the resistor color code, but how does this relate to marking your sockets and wrenches?

 

[Shadowdog500]

I also remember the resistor code using an old memory jog that included a nymphomaniac named Violet.

What does that have to do with wrenches? Wonder what ever happened to Violet?

Chris

 

[TxPowderCoater]

^^^ violet prolly made a lot of money

 

[dreamingmuscle]

Boy's there is a man card approved alternative.

http://www.michaels.com/Sharpie-Oil-Based-Paint-Pen/gc1650,default,pd.html

OR

http://www.krylon.com/products/short_cuts_hobbycraft_paint_pens

OR

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d...-+speciality_-1_-1&keyword=paint+-+speciality

 

[Torque1st]

I know the resistor color code, but how does this relate to marking your sockets and wrenches?

Just use the second digit of the metric wrench or socket size for a color band on the item.
RED would be either a 2MM, 12MM, 22MM, or 32MM size. Most people can tell the first digit by eye close enough to distinguish between a 12MM and 22MM wrench or socket etc.

Colors don't work so well for SAE sizes. Someone here may know a good method to use for them.

 

[Shadowdog500]

^^^ violet prolly made a lot of money

No, according to the memory jog, she was giving it away!


They also do this trick to firearms.

Chris

 

[HVAC Phil]

I use some of the automotive epoxy primer i mix up. Once it cures, laquer thinner will not remove it.

 

[Agent1320]

I've been doing this for years, works great. I usually use pink or purple paint markers. A friend of mine painted all his handtools John Deere Green with spray paint. Even though most is worn off, you can still see the green paint in spots. Now when cleaning up after a day of working on the dragster we don't have to say "uh is this one yours or mine?"

 

[jeffmoss26]

^^^ violet prolly made a lot of money

One of the sound guys I worked with taught me that very same mnemonic device. He also told me never to repeat it to anyone! LOL

 

[Jazz]

Sounds like a very good idea. Here's another twist. How about a different color for metric and SAE. I just bought a new wrench set with a holder so now I have both metric and SAE in the same drawer. Might make it easier to put them back in the correct location having them color coded.

 

[ranger302]

Just use the second digit of the metric wrench or socket size for a color band on the item.
RED would be either a 2MM, 12MM, 22MM, or 32MM size. Most people can tell the first digit by eye close enough to distinguish between a 12MM and 22MM wrench or socket etc.

Colors don't work so well for SAE sizes. Someone here may know a good method to use for them.

The method you pointed out for metric is what I use. One red stripe for 12mm and 22mm. All my metric stuff is one stripe, all the SAE are two stripes. For a ½” wrench or socket you will have a brown and red stripe, read from the square side to the hex side.

 

[marc isoni]

prine, thanks for a very informative post! keep 'em comin'!!

 

[e-tek]

Re: Making Numbers on Tools stand out! (a how too thread)

thats an awesome idea, my vision *****, off to get some paint...

Don't run into anything on the way there!

 

[darkk]

My Dad gave me this idea, it help to quickly identify numbers on tools. Works great on any tool that number's are stamped into deep enough.

1) you will need tools with stamped numbers.

2) you will need some model paint of any color of your choice. I like neon colors. I bought mine at a local hobby store. (acrylicosvallejo.com)

3) let dry

4) Scratch, wipe, rub off excess paint. (I used my fingernail)

Didn't work so great on some of the sockets I had that the stampings were shallow. Also does not deface your tools like initials on them does, plus you can still identify them if necessary. Or buff the paint out if you want to sell or ever change colors. I loved it so much I did it this weekend to some of my wrenches.

There! now it looks better...I colored in the rest of the letters in with a crayon.....Oh ****! anybody know how to get crayon off my laptop screen?

 

[prine]

Like the variations on some of these.

 

[JC23]

White pinstriping paint makes my black impact sockets MUCH easier to read.

 

[Chukster]

Enamel paint for model-making is good too. Again, wide range of colors.

In my job as a two-way radio tech I sometimes have to use adapters between connector types (N-connectors, UHF (think what you see on the back of most CB's), BNC, etc) male & female; I've been collecting stray adapters for over 25 years. Paint 'em an obnoxious color, tell everyone I work with what's mine, and I've had ones come back when the connectors were changed out for proper.

 

[prine]

.... Paint 'em an obnoxious color, tell everyone I work with what's mine, and I've had ones come back when the connectors were changed out for proper.

Exactly what you want!

 

[jako]

You guys can use your lipstick to transfer the outline of electrical boxes to the back of new drywall.

 

[dbabicky]

You guys can use your lipstick to transfer the outline of electrical boxes to the back of new drywall.

Are you speaking from experience ?

 

[dirt_dobber]

great idea. And some of these comments in this thread crack me up! Love you guys!

 

[vettex2]

I never thought of doing this
I never needed to either.
I have wrench holders, I don't leave them loose in my tool boxes.

 

[PelicanPines]

I have several bottles of nail polish in my tool box. The red with sparkles is special. Need neon green.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I think he must be speaking from experience. J.k.
I have seen this done for years.
Thanks for reminding me.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Works on guns too!

 

[JC23]

A word about color contrast. (Not trying to get too ****) Depending on the finish of whatever tool you are marking, try to get the best contrast. For example, yellow will contrast more than red on a chrome tool.

You would think white would show the brightest but chrome has a lot of white in it. Ditto for black.

I did this years ago when I marked the open end needed for the oil pan plug. Open drawer, grab yellow marked wrench, get to work.

 

[6PTsocket]

Re: Making Numbers on Tools stand out! (a how too thread)

sally hansen "hard as nails" fingernail polish works good too.

used to use it a lot when disassembling hyd pumps and motors for marking housing alignment.
it does resist mineral spirits.


[emoji481]

Paint thinner is mineral spirits and has little effect. Nail polish is lacquer and acetone or acetone containing lacquer thinner will take it right off.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[6PTsocket]

Re: Making Numbers on Tools stand out! (a how too thread)

I've been wrapping my most commonly used sockets and wrenches in colored electrical tape for years. I can tell from across the room what socket or wrench is where. Yellow is always 11mm, red is always 13mm, yellow/green striped is 14mm...

I hava a 13mm that came in an old SK set that has no markings at all. That is really easy to spot but it only works once .

Use clear finger nail polish to seal it after the paint has dried. I used to work in aviation and to highlight some of the assembly marks we filled them with paint sticks and then used clear polish to seal them in.

Polish works great also for closing cuts and wounds. Burns like hell but works even better.

One color for SAE and another for Metric... Then you can see the different ones at a quick glance.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[PugetDude]

You guys can use your lipstick to transfer the outline of electrical boxes to the back of new drywall.

....and showing material to be removed when precision inletting wooden gunstocks. Never found anything better.

 

[IdahoMan]

Good topic, mind if I bump this?

What is the shade/color for "SAE Red" and "Metric Blue"?

Keeping tools oiled (even sockets/wrenches) is important. How does oil affect some of these marking ideas? (Ex: If you used a strip of electrical-tape, rubbing over it with an oily rag might cause to start coming loose.)

Fingernail polish comes off with acetone, paint would come off with mineral spirits (depending on the exact ingredients). Just curious: What stands up to brake-cleaner?

 

[shedfullatools]

Since its already been bumped Ill jump in I did my Sae set of wrenches a couple years ago with red nail polish and left my metric set plain so I could quickly differentiate. Has held up epically well, there is one 7/16'' I think that is starting to fade cause I use it so often but all the rest are bright and filled well still. Oil seems to have no effect on the nail polish.

 

[HenryAZ]

Works on guns too!

Another alternative, that gun owners have been using for years to highlight roll marks, is lacquer sticks. Brownells sells them. I use denatured alcohol or acetone to clean and degrease the area first.

 

[pioneer1]

Another alternative, that gun owners have been using for years to highlight roll marks, is lacquer sticks. Brownells sells them. I use denatured alcohol or acetone to clean and degrease the area first.

Just wish they still made a BLUE lacquer stik

 

[evercl92]

I did similar for my rafter / framing squares. Makes the lines and numbers stand out so much better.

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

One of the sound guys I worked with taught me that very same mnemonic device. He also told me never to repeat it to anyone! LOL

I taught high school electronics for years. There are PG versions of the mnemonic.

 

[jetlag]

I taught high school electronics for years. There are PG versions of the mnemonic.

Yes, and I probably learned one or two at some point, yet only retained the non PC version.

 

[pioneer1]

Used Lacquer Stik on the SAE Wrenches but used a Red paint marker/pen on the sockets.

Since they don't make a Blue Lacquer Stik anymore I used a Blue Paint marker/pen