Stupid Question: Engravings and Value

[jerk_chicken]

I've noted on fleabay and elsewhere, tool ads that declare "no engravings".

How much and why does it reduce value so much, and is engraving in the minority due to the lower resale? Are engraved tools that much of a gamble?

 

[SocketDeviler]

It's been my experience (and plenty of it) that engravings more often than not hurt the sell price, especially Snap-On tools. Decline in value often depends on the extent of the engraving. Not too many people want to drop top dollar on a SO ratchet with some guys full name and number on it. A tiny initial or two often isn't a big deal though.

As a seller I clearly state whether or not a tool has been engraved or written on. Outside of selling honestly it cuts down on tons of emails asking about such markings.

Some months ago I got a great deal on a Cornwell 3/8" flex ratchet ($17 shipped). The guy lightly etched his full name on it in three places. Doesn't bother me (though I prefer non-etched tools) but it clearly hurt the sale.

 

[lbgradwell]

Not such a stupid question!

Many guys just don't care one way or the other, but I personally hate tools that have been engraved (or otherwise defaced with grinder marks, etc.). Without question, such markings reduce the tool's resale value, but not its functionality, so if you want a "user", it's likely not an issue.

But I collect tools (mostly) and don't want somebody else's name or marks on the piece...

 

[snapmom]

Depends on the age, for very old tools, not to much, many were stamped,etc. I have a tool box from the 20s that says "stolen from smokey" on it, it just adds to the history, also, some of the boxes from the 40s have womens names on them, this adds to the value.
But on newer tools, engravings lower the value, hard to say how much, but some.

 

[jerk_chicken]

Ahhh, I automatically assumed that "engraving" was just stamping of two initials. Does it affect warranty?

I pretty much assumed off the bat that it was because of possible theft, or other stuff encountered with engraving unless the seller is the one who did the engraving.

 

[SocketDeviler]

Depends on the age, for very old tools, not to much, many were stamped,etc. I have a tool box from the 20s that says "stolen from smokey" on it, it just adds to the history, also, some of the boxes from the 40s have womens names on them, this adds to the value.
But on newer tools, engravings lower the value, hard to say how much, but some.

Good points. I don't get much in the way of vintage tools where I work.

 

[Danglerb]

An engraved tool could turn out to be stolen.
Trucks may be reluctant to warranty engraved tools, thinking you are just trying to get rid of the marks.
Some buyers flat out do not want engraved tools, reduces sales prices.
Frequently tools "without engraving" have grinding marks where it was removed, so I ask if the tool has ANY marks, grinding, engraving anything that damages the factory surface.

I don't intentionally buy anything engraved, but I have a fair amount of stuff with the engraving ground off.

 

[SocketDeviler]

Ahhh, I automatically assumed that "engraving" was just stamping of two initials.

Engravings can be anything. More than not it's a name, nickname, initials and or a number code (serial no., phone, work no.).

 

[T56 Impala]

Its all personal preference. I would not have a tool that was engraved. IMO it lowers the value of the tool. HOWEVER..... an old tool, say a 1930's era Vlchek, that is all scared up from use and or misuse is great! Those marks add to the patina. Is there a difference in functionality? No. Its all aesthetics.

If you don't mind the marks, by all means, buy and use the tool. Pay what YOU feel is a correct price for it.

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

Engravings definitely lower the value of the tools when sold. I too don't mind something very light, but if there is a noticeable mark on a tool then I will pass. I think that this is the eBay custom amongst the newer stuff, like SnapMom said.

Adam

 

[Bolster]

I try hard to avoid buying tools with engravings, stampings, grinds, etc. Sometimes, for the more rare tools, it's unavoidable.

Recently, at one of the southland markets, I came across a nice Snap On wrench. I turned it over and it was engraved, in a neat cursive handwriting: "This wrench belong to Pedro S. Escobar." LOL!!

A big problem I have with engravings is they'll often cut through the chrome, and you are left with a rusty gash in the tool.

My rule of thumb is that a medium-sized engraving on hand tools such as wrenches reduces the worth of the tool by about 1/2.

If you don't believe me, try selling an engraved tool. That's why so many eBay fleecers won't reveal engravings on tools they're selling, and thoughtfully photograph only the unengraved side for the eBay picture.

 

[davestlouis]

I'd give $100 for a tool with my grandfather's name engraved on it, but aside from that, I avoid them like the plague. I just don't like the idea of it.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I love buying engraved or otherwise marked tools, in fact I get what I can cause so many guys take a pass on them.

Since I buy primarily for my use, collect little stuff, and I am not selling it, engraving or marking makes the tools generally cheaper for me, great stuff there!

 

[Uncle Buck]

I'd give $100 for a tool with my grandfather's name engraved on it, but aside from that, I avoid them like the plague. I just don't like the idea of it.

Tell me grand daddy's name and I am sure we can work something out!

 

[snapmom]

I have several wrenches from my father in law with his initials engraved, also a rat with "RED" engraved, purchased it from a good friend of mine, whose hubby was a wrencher. He had passed away. These tools are special, I get to think of these people everytime I pick up those tools.

 

[Junkman]

A lot of my tools have an engraving on them but I have no idea who the guy is/was that owned them in the past. All have been purchased used. They all have been deeply engraved with the name MAC......

 

[davestlouis]

Buck, I just knew somebody would think of that...

 

[Bolster]

Tell me grand daddy's name and I am sure we can work something out!

LOL! I think you may have found a market niche, Buck!

 

[rsanter]

I do not mind using the tools that have engravings on them, espically if they are mine.

I either will not buy a tool that is engraved of it would have to be so cheap that it just cannot be passed up (like 85-90% off)

when you sell the tools they are greatly devalued, but I do not mind engraving on my tools as I really do not intent to sell them off.
tools with my name or my dads name are cool with me.

the other issue is that the SO warranty is for the original owner of the tool. I would think that it can be tough to convince the SO guy that you are the original owber of a tool with someone elses name on it. thus lowering the value

bob

 

[FNFS2000]

I hate having a tool with someone elses name on it. I was given a warranty replacement crapsman ratchet years ago with "frank" engraved on it and I cringe everytime I see it, when someone else is working around me(at home, this thing does get out) and they see it I feel embarrased and have to explain that I didn't steal it...

 

[J.A.F.E.]

I'm a little sqeemish about it. I have a limited number of engraved tools (someone else's name) but it's got to be something I really want.

To me it's like having a girlfriend/wife with her ex's name tattooed somewhere.

It just makes me wonder why the PO got rid of them and no one ever gets rid of good tools for a happy reason.

 

[dxdexter]

I have seen many auctions where the engraved tools just will not sell or sell for less than half what they could have gotten otherwise.

I will not buy engraved tools and least of all those of unknown origin. I have had a lot of engraved tools stolen and I know that the potential exists that some poor SOB may have had his means of support stolen from him.

I do own a few engraved tools that have both my initials and those of a friend who gave me some his fathers old wrenches. I hot brand all the plastic housings of my electric tools with a custom made branding iron from Lee Valley. It has my name and province.

 

[slack]

I don't think an engraved tool is more likely to have been stolen at some point than any other used tool. In fact, I think it more logical that a non-engraved used tool may have been stolen than an engraved one. In any event, unless you know additional information when considering a purchase, you don't know the history of the tool and that's just they way it is.

When buying used tools, I prefer they not be marked. I tend to pass on mechanics tools that are marked, but own many machinist tools that are marked. I don't think mechanics permanently marking their tools is really sensible, but it's been done by machinists for so long and so prolifically that I just accept it. Nonetheless, in either case, any desirable tool is devalued by non-original owner markings (unless the owner is notable, then it becomes a collectible).

 

[Merkava_4]

I won't bid on a tool that's been engraved; simple as that.

 

[caper]

I don't think mechanics permanently marking their tools is really sensible, but it's been done by machinists for so long and so prolifically that I just accept it.

If you ever worked in a shop with 20 other mechanics,most of whom had the same type of tools you do,you would understand why its sensible for a mechanic to mark his gear.Most of my gear is marked with my name and alot of it is also marked with whoever I bought it from as well.Markings don't bother me unless they are huge grind marks.As for resale value,if I'm ever hard up enough to sell my tools I'll probably be too far gone to care what I'm getting for them.Once they're in my box they pretty much stay there,I buy not sell.

 

[Mike83]

I was helping my BIL with a car project at his parent's house. I was looking in one of their storage cabinets for something and saw a random Matco ratcheting combo wrench, 13mm, with the initials M.A. - MY INITIALS. I knew it had to be fate, so the FIL let me keep it. He didn't even know he had it in there (he doesn't have many tools at all). Still use that wrench fairly often.

 

[Rickster]

Somtimes the tools I pick up at garage sales and estate sales are marked with initials. But I know those are from either retired guys or dead guys. I would worry more about stolen tools from pawn shops and flea markets. I expect the price of marked tools to be somewhat cheaper, but you need to take into consideration the degree of markings, overall condition of the tool and also value of the tool.

 

[slack]

If you ever worked in a shop with 20 other mechanics,most of whom had the same type of tools you do,you would understand why its sensible for a mechanic to mark his gear.

Let me clarify: I do not believe it is sensible to mark mechanics tools permanently. Besides defacing the tool, practically speaking, in most cases, I don't think it accomplishes anything. (You certainly can't identify the item by a simple glance.) I do not think it's sensible to engrave items, but I do think it's sensible to mark them for ID purposes.

I work professionally in environments where there are hundreds of workers and an extraordinary amount of very high value tools and equipment spread around, often over large areas, often remote or complicated areas, spread around over hours or days, and everyone scrambles to recover and account for everything in minutes, often in the dark. That being motion picture and television production. Grip, electricians, carpenters, rigging, camera support, props, stagehands, special effects, etc... Besides power tools, mechanics tools, carpentry tools, very specialized camera and lighting tools there hundreds of pieces of equipment and hardware from light fixtures and countless accessories, stands, stingers, rigging hardware, cribbage. All this stuff comes from different sources. Unloaded from dozens of trucks, often semi-trailers. A misplaced or lost lens for an HMI par light can cost $2000. A header cable $1200. A missing accessory for a quarter million dollar dolly big bucks, a one-of machined accessory for a million dollar camera setup big bucks. When it's time to strike a set or wrap a location, you recover everything, and lookout for everyone's stuff. How is everything marked or ID'd ? Mostly some type of color, such as paint or tape.

 

[Kevin54]

At work, out tools get engraved with a vibrating pencil and is a 6 digit number. I hate it, but it is a requirement whether they are personal tools or company owned tools. Anything that is required to be calibrated has it. I think it takes away. Tools that I have made, have my name and date either stamped, or put in with a CNC. I have bought tools off of older retired Toolmakers and the name and date on those tools add character. I guess it is because i am using a Toolmaker made precision piece of equipment that is 50+ years old and still like new and using it to make precision parts. It makes it "history" then. Sockets, wrenches and such...I don't care for initials or engravings.

 

[krusty the clown]

when i first started buying tools it was common to engrave your name in the tool as soon as you got off of the truck. all of my oldest tools has at least an inital engraved to identify it as mine. i have since quit doing it for several reasons and resale isn't one of them. i can say it has helped on a few occasions, like when you find one of your tools in someone else's box. a couple of time's it came to a shouting match untill i pointed out my initials on it. as far as buying used tools that are engraved it depends........if it's a working tool it doesn't bother me TOO much. if it is a collector tool it depends on the markings, some aren't too bad but some are hideous.

 

[Junkman]

After reading all this, I am going to be selling off all my tools that belonged to this guy MAC. I sure hope that they are not stolen, but once I sell them, it is no longer my problem... Watch the classifieds... starting next week...

 

[jerryW]

After reading all this, I am going to be selling off all my tools that belonged to this guy MAC. I sure hope that they are not stolen, but once I sell them, it is no longer my problem... Watch the classifieds... starting next week...

You can jut ship them here for proper disposal. I'll even cover the postage!

Personally I don't mind the engravings. I do like to get it as cheap as possible though. Alot of times it helps to tell the story of the particular item. I look at them as a tie to the past.


jerry

 

[Moose-LandTran]

A lot of my tools have an engraving on them but I have no idea who the guy is/was that owned them in the past. All have been purchased used. They all have been deeply engraved with the name MAC......

My dad is often referred to as "Mr Mac" even though my last name starts McA. Of course, if they said McA i'd be more inclinded to buy them..

Only my older impact gun and one prybar have Moose engraved/etched on them. I would put my name on my tools, but i'm a perfectionist and it's al or nothing. I don't want to engrave them badly, so i don't engrave them at all.

 

[caper]

Let me clarify: I do not believe it is sensible to mark mechanics tools permanently. Besides defacing the tool, practically speaking, in most cases, I don't think it accomplishes anything. (You certainly can't identify the item by a simple glance.) I do not think it's sensible to engrave items, but I do think it's sensible to mark them for ID purposes.
How is everything marked or ID'd ? Mostly some type of color, such as paint or tape.

I can identify mine with a simple glance at it,I see my name and I know it's mine.Tape and paint can be removed,engraving is a little harder.You sound like you have a good bunch of people to work with,its been my experience over the years that all co workers are not so trustworthy and that its easier to have the tools engraved and then there is no doubt who owns that $100 tool.I have had numerous things go missing over the years and have recovered them fromm coworkers boxes because of them being engraved.A lot of things I engrave in places its hard to see and the person who takes it doesen't notice it until I say "hey this is mine".

 

[Paladin]

I don't buy engraved tools as a general rule. For example, I saw several nice Proto wrenches at a pawn shop the other day that were engraved "ACC". Well, the Air Force base here happens to fall under Air Combat Command (ACC). I am on active duty, so I wasn't touching those wrenches with a 10' pole! No way someones going to say I stole those! I DO, however, engrave my tools with a small SV. I have lost too many tools to folks "borrowing" them...

 

[Tool Pants]

I was watching some large Proto combinations wrenches on ebay.

Seller said they were government surplus, and had USA engraved on them.

I sort of do not believe it, but I just work here.

 

[wrenchr]

If it is rare or a tool that I need I buy it as long as it is cheap, then take my time finding a better replacement. Then I resell the damned thing

 

[PZ 1]

A name prominently engraved on a tool will make it less likely of others in the shop to have possession of them - by mistake or not by mistake. I will buy a used tool that is engraved, but I wonder of the circumstances on why the guy who's name is on there does not have them anymore. Were they stolen? I do not buy tools with resale value in mind. Seldom will I have a reason to sell a tool. I suppose that tools with grinding marks where the name was ground off are more likely to have been stolen which would make me think twice before buying.

 

[slack]

I can identify mine with a simple glance at it,I see my name and I know it's mine.Tape and paint can be removed,engraving is a little harder.You sound like you have a good bunch of people to work with,its been my experience over the years that all co workers are not so trustworthy and that its easier to have the tools engraved and then there is no doubt who owns that $100 tool.I have had numerous things go missing over the years and have recovered them fromm coworkers boxes because of them being engraved.A lot of things I engrave in places its hard to see and the person who takes it doesen't notice it until I say "hey this is mine".

I understand what you are saying, and I understand that it's long been a practice in shop situations. It's not that I've worked with a good bunch of people (though I certainly have), and production folks go from working with many strangers to working with another group of strangers, and again and again... It has been my experience in professional production, from coast to coast, that the overwhelming majority of people are responsible and ethical—it's a very competitive industry where your reputation and work ethic is your livelihood.

I gave the example of that work environment because, and I state this based on many years of experience: engravings or etchings doesn't float as a method of quickly ID'ing tools in lots of situations if the intent is to prevent them getting picked up by others or getting misplaced. In lots of situations, finding a tool mixed in with yours that has someone's engraving on it probably wouldn't happen until after everyone returns to their respective states. You usually wouldn't have time to scrutinize items when wrapping, in the dark, after a 16 hour day. Sure, later you might discover something that isn't yours, and maybe even get it back to the proper owner. But my point is that collecting all your tools in many work environments, the goal being to end up with your stuff (not necessarily have to prove it's your stuff); well a dab of paint, colored tape, etc. has served that purpose for decades (like in film and television production). Yes, that type of marking is removable, but if someone really wants to steal a tool I don't think its being engraved really matters that much. I acknowledge that it's a practice in in automotive shops and may make more sense there. I would hope that there's zero tolerance of people who make their living with tools stealing from peers or coworkers.

 

[jerk_chicken]

How often does shop theft by coworkers and recovery take place? Is it also generally a no-no to borrow tools from your coworkers?

As far as engravings, I'd probably shy away, but there's stuff like those really thick masking tapes that one can wrap as a band around their tools and I'm sure that could help in ID when it's not a case of theft.