Melting letters

[JackOfDiamonds]

I just spent big on a DeWalt stacking toolbox system. I'd like to mark it clearly as my own so there's no confusion at job sites.

I'll put label tape on it but what I'd like to do is put my initials in the plastic directly by scribing or melting letters. Does anyone have a good method of doing that?

 

[strength_and_power]

Soldering iron and a steady hand

 

[MushCreek]

I would buy a cheap set of letter stamps, make a way to clamp them together, and experiment with heating them enough to mark your initials before using them on your expensive toolbox system. If it was expensive, it's worth trying to make it look good. I used to hand engrave some of my tools, and they always look amateurish. I later engraved them with a pantograph, CNC, or burned them in with an EDM, and they look professional.

 

[Firebrick43]

There are multiple places that can make a “brand” to fit into a soldering iron, any design you want but to mark plastic I would keep it fairly simple and not a lot of flat area

Custom Branding Iron | Branding Iron | The Custom Brand Shop

Our Custom Branding Iron is proudly made in America using a fusion of traditional craftsmanship and high-tech 3D printing and CNC design technologies.

www.custombrandshop.com

 

[PCustoms]

What does tiny engraved/embossed lettering truly accomplish?

If they dump the tools then you might get your cases back (empty).

If it's someone accidentally rolling away with the stack, I think something more obvious is needed. You should be able to get "permanent" outdoor rated stickers made. Yellow with black font would sort of match...

But, doesn't everyone else have Milwaukee anyway? Should eliminate the confusion

 

[rust in the eye]

If crude but effective will work for you a fabricated from stiff wire branding iron ought to do the job.

 

[LXCam]

I’ve tried the melted initials thing and it wasn’t obvious enough for me. So I went caveman with black and/or silver sharpie. That stands out and unless you ground it out leaves an indelible mark.

 

[GaryM909]

Paint works pretty good, more and uglier is better. Especially for tools that you can spot from a distance.
I have also used a die grinder with a carbide burr to carve my initials into metal and a Dremel for smaller stuff.
I also had vinyl hardhat stickers made up with my company name. my name, and phone number.
At the time they cost about $100 for two hundred stickers that were 1" x 2".
I stuck them on everything except my hand tools.

It ***** that people have to mark their stuff but I'm sure it's the same everywhere.

 

[mike93lx]

Bright spray paint on part of it or maybe a stencil. Burned initials won't be visible enough to matter

 

[MovingAlong]

Used to spray paint stripes across my coiled extension cords. Looked pretty distinctive when run through a hallway with a half dozen other cords...

 

[dnschmidt]

I’ve tried the melted initials thing and it wasn’t obvious enough for me. So I went caveman with black and/or silver sharpie. That stands out and unless you ground it out leaves an indelible mark.

Cam, that Sharpe can easily be removed with lacquer thinner or Acetone. I would use a Markal paint pen in yellow. https://markal.com/products/paint-riter-rough-surface/097251 It really stands out and is harder to remove once dry.

 

[mike93lx]

Cam, that Sharpe can easily be removed with lacquer thinner or Acetone.

Initials won't stop someone from stealing them. Just make it easier to sort them out if they get mixed up

 

[LXCam]

Cam, that Sharpe can easily be removed with lacquer thinner or Acetone. I would use a Markal paint pen in yellow. https://markal.com/products/paint-riter-rough-surface/097251 It really stands out and is harder to remove once dry.

Where the plastic is dead smooth I completely agree D. But on the roughened areas I can’t get the shadow removed even with brake cleaner. You’re right, those paint pens do a good job to, this battery is probably 4-5yrs old and it’s seen some serious use and the yellow all though faded stands out in a crowd.

 

[MushCreek]

The uglier they are, the less attractive they will be to thieves. I've heard of making a fake 'repair' with tape on an extension cord to make it less attractive to thieves. When I worked as a tool maker, theft wasn't an issue in the shops I worked in.

 

[seber]

If you have a sandblaster you can buy brass letter templates and do a professional job.

 

[rust in the eye]

I’ve tried the melted initials thing and it wasn’t obvious enough for me. So I went caveman with black and/or silver sharpie. That stands out and unless you ground it out leaves an indelible mark.

Wow, what's all that battery power used for? Submarine?

 

[GaryM909]

The uglier they are, the less attractive they will be to thieves. I've heard of making a fake 'repair' with tape on an extension cord to make it less attractive to thieves. When I worked as a tool maker, theft wasn't an issue in the shops I worked in.

Quite a few years ago I worked in a large fab shop. Sometimes there would be 200 - 300 people working there.
They were always short of air hoses and cutting torch hoses. Night shift would raid the shop for the good ones.
I always had some tape and paint all over mine hoping nobody would steal them.

 

[LXCam]

Wow, what's all that battery power used for? Submarine?

Catalytic converter theft…




We build and retrofit jail / prison controls and camera systems. For some odd reason there’s no receptacles in these joints

 

[slowtwitch73]

Just spray bomb everything like a 6 year old painting a Hotwheel car.

 

[rust in the eye]

Catalytic converter theft…




We build and retrofit jail / prison controls and camera systems. For some odd reason there’s no receptacles in these joints

Oh, you are the free jail door guy.
I'd be all over those like a bum on a bologna sandwich if you were closeby.

 

[bigredcornhead]

I tried the melt brand thing as well it work fine, but make sure you get large enough letters it doesnt bleed together. Keep it simple intials or something to that effect. Only other clean way is a lazer etcher i imagine.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Milwaukee Inkzall pens and a particularly hideous pastel or neon shade of pink, purple etc. spray paint seem to work well for most applications.

 

[Beerhippie]

I've seen melting letters a few times. Faces, too. I don't do that stuff anymore.