Marking tools.

[Hawk Thor]

Do you mark your tools? What method do you use to make sure the tools are recognizable as yours?

I put my first and middle name (We don't call people by their surnames around here.) or my initials on the tools. My tools at work get my 4 digit employee number as well. I use a pneumatic engraving pen to make the mark hard to erase and easy to spot.

This can be very clean and precise or messy and badly written, depends on the material being engraved. But I'm not too concerned about looks, I'm more interested in the tool performing its job.

I used to put some red paint on my tools but it wears off and is easy to get off if someone steals a tool. Did make it extra easy to spot them though.

Share your methods. I'll try to catch some pics, don't know how well the marks shows up on cell phone pics.

 

[BigAl62]

I use my initials in a unique script (easy for me to identify). Using an employee number is OK as long as you don't change companies!

 

[plinker]

I use an electric engraver (Dremel mfg.) and put my inital's on my tools, some tools get it in a couple of places. I also use green spray paint on things like punches, bars, vise grips, & some other things simply for ID (mainly for vise grips) and the punches & bars to prevent rust.
I also have my pipe wrenches painted green thinking about it.

 

[2oolhound]

I don't mark mine as I work out of my home garage and can keep an eye on my tools. I certainly don't hold it against anyone who does ID mark their tools in different situations but I must say I dislike buying used tools with owner's marks. Even though it may be an estate sale or you are looking to buy from the actual owner it bugs me to have someone else's marked tools in my box. I own a few and every time I pick one up there's a little brain activity of distaste that goes on when I 1st grab it. On the other hand if I inherited them or they were from a good friend then it wouldn't bother me one bit, I may even enjoy it.

 

[NAYLOR]

I use electrical tape to mark most of my tools at work. It's not permanent but it does the trick.

 

[JohnFreeman]

It's good to also drill a hole in the handle !

(Who was it that used to have this in his sig line? )

 

[chris fresh]

everything with a soft part/handle got my first and last initial,all my sockets,wrenches and such got a ground mark in them.working in a shop with 8 guy's and everyone buyin mac,snap,and matco,it was manditory that you marked your stuff, or it would be gone.sad,but true.

 

[crewchief888]

i used to mark my tools, i havent done it it at lest 15 years.
all my air tools are stamped with my name and date purchased.

on my non hand tools, grinders, saws ect, i mark the puchase date on them, just for sh*ts and giggles just to see how long they really do last.

"lookee here sonny, i bought this HF grinder back in '04"

 

[TozziWelding]

Weld marks, or a Dremel with a ball end carbide, deep and big.

 

[american lockpicker]

At one time I used my initials on a Dymo label. Now I don't mark them but I keep them locked up when not in use and I stay with the tool when its being borrowed.

 

[Honda 1]

I purchased an engraving tool from Sears years ago for this purpose. I mark all my tools with scripted initials, which are easy to see.

 

[bspearson]

http://thetoolnetwork.com/etch_o_matic_1.html

I don't mark my tools but I just saw this and thought it was interesting. I'm not sure how well it works and it's $99.

 

[bentwrench54]

i have a carbide marking pen that i use to mark my tools. seems to work okay.

 

[Ritter4.0]

I haven't been marking mine as much as I used to. One of the advantages of buying used "outdated" tools is that nobody else in the shop has them. I am one of the only ones in the shop who could name off more than 20 different tool brands, not including Snap-On, Matco, MAC, or Cornwell. I have more than that in my box.

When I do mark my tools, I do it in a spot where its not quickly noticed, so it can't be quickly erased. My engraver has a fairly sharp point, so I write my initials pretty small.

A few places I've marked mine are:

-inside the open end of wrenches
-on the end of the square drive on ratchets and extensions
-inbetween/inside part numbers or brand names

 

[plinker]

When I do mark my tools, I do it in a spot where its not quickly noticed, so it can't be quickly erased. My engraver has a fairly sharp point, so I write my initials pretty small.

A few places I've marked mine are:

-inside the open end of wrenches
-on the end of the square drive on ratchets and extensions
-inbetween/inside part numbers or brand names

Good idea. I also do similar on certain tools

 

[ncfh]

I treasure the tools my father and grandfather marked, but I'm not much of a mark maker myself.

I do give easily 'misplaced' things like clamps, cords, shovels, etc., a splash of paint. Pink of course!

pink whips on my stingers
and I have one fully pink Smith gas axe,

I was going to do all of my torches but I just couldn't bring myself to do it after I did the first one. lol

 

[Boiler]

I don't mark mine as I work out of the house, and I can't stand getting tools at auction that have other guys names on them in 3 places, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS!, etc etc.

Recenly I found a set of wrenches that were marked and didn't bother me at all. In the stamptings of the tool brands there was a small "7" stamped, and not deep enough to feel an upflow of metal. If I were to engrave mine, I'd probably pick a single digit or letter and do mine like this. Much less to rust, and since it just pushes the chrome, I think it will rust less (but I'm not sure).

 

[jason1970]

I use a dab of nail polish,it lasts a long time and can be removed easy,if I trade up.I got that tip from a lady harley tech.

 

[Kirbot]

I mark most of my tools with spray paint.

I don't want to do anything permanent to hurt the re-sale value.

 

[canuckian]

I don't mark mine at home (no need to-I doubt i'll steal from myself) but just found out today that we have to start marking our work tools for security purposes (I work in a prison). apparently, we have to mark it with the 3 letter acronym for the name of the institution and a 2 or 3 letter/number code for our section.....and we have to mark each item! even 1/4 drive sockets!! thank God my section doesn't have a lot of tools (IT) but I pity the maintenance guys! they're going to have sore eyes and numb hands!

we now also have to do a full tool count at the end of every day and log the count. that's a bit of a bother because no inmate ever sees our work area and our tools rarely leave our area but when they do, we're very cautious about them and do a mental count when leaving and when returning. all in the name of personal security I guess.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Blue Point air scriber here and only on tools that are over $100 or hard to get.
My initials only. Things like German ratcheting tap handles and F80's love to go bye bye on a 100 man floor with lots of temp. and contract employees.

I LOL at all you OCD/Mental types that will not buy previously inscribed tools.
To each their own but if it doesn't affect the way the tool functions, then all it means is that it's the owner's or buyers issue.

Now I;m off to watch the Discovery Channel for the adult girl that wears diapers and acts like a baby 24/7.
Creepy. And almost as much as you tool marking phobes.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I quit engraving stuff after a chrome peel incident where I laid my hand open. Now I just put a band of paint or heat shrink tubing on stuff.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Blue tape on screwdrivers, I write my name on the inside of pliers handles. Does not always last long, lol

 

[Rossco]

Well I engrave a few tools .. But I mainly own Industrial wrenches so they dont need marking, Most i've worked with havent even seen Industrial never mind own any.

Never engraved any socket thou ..