Tool Tattooing
- Thread starter ToolmanTom
- Start date
OP
ToolmanTom
Well-known member
Yes! Cool huh?
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
are you sure the etching won't get worn off? if you're gonna do a tattoo a broken heart with "mom didn't love me" or "born to lose" has stood the test of time 
OP
ToolmanTom
Well-known member
"The value of a tool is only as good as the mechanic using it." -ToolmanTom
OP
ToolmanTom
Well-known member
Who said anything about selling them?
Merkava_4
Banned
I'm staunchly opposed to such acts.
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
I'm against it for professional use, but home use would be ok. I'm not against it because some other schmuck may not to pay as much, or that I might hurt my snap-on tools that get polished every day, though.
It's HIGHLY discouraged at work to mark your tools for one simple reason. If a tool gets stolen from you, and ends up in a plane that crashes, you're sh-t out of luck trying to explain that. So, none of my work tools get marked. My box however, has almost everything shadowed so at the end of the night a quick inventory shows anything missing.
If it's a personal home box and you want to do it, go for it.
It's HIGHLY discouraged at work to mark your tools for one simple reason. If a tool gets stolen from you, and ends up in a plane that crashes, you're sh-t out of luck trying to explain that. So, none of my work tools get marked. My box however, has almost everything shadowed so at the end of the night a quick inventory shows anything missing.
If it's a personal home box and you want to do it, go for it.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Merkava_4
Banned
A lot of my tools came laser etched already from the factory; they say Snap-on. 
A lot of my tools came laser etched already from the factory; they say Snap-on.
Stack-On???
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
I like the idea. And if they get stolen you can identify them. But I would stay with a more traditional flame and not a dragon or anything that looks remotely Chinese. I would rather have a tool tat than initials carved into them.
Dodgepu360
Well-known member
cool
I would also incorporate the some numbers or intials into the tatoo also
it is posable for someone else to put the same logo on thier tools so it might be hard to convice the police they are your tools, but there is no reason for someone else to have the same logo with your intials, birthday, DL#, or whatever incoprorated into it
I would also incorporate the some numbers or intials into the tatoo also
it is posable for someone else to put the same logo on thier tools so it might be hard to convice the police they are your tools, but there is no reason for someone else to have the same logo with your intials, birthday, DL#, or whatever incoprorated into it
I seriously doubt someone else would take the time to etch an intricate design like those into their tools and end up with an identical tool and identical design.
Those look far too complex as a marking for all tools. Maybe you are an amazing totoo artist or something I don't know. Those look like they could take a quite a while to etch one that looks good.
I'd say go for something like a rancher's brand. A few uniquely placed circles and bars can make a good brand.
Usually what I do when I mark something is modify an existing item to make it unique. It's less likely someone will catch it and remove it. Like underlining brand names etc.
Those look far too complex as a marking for all tools. Maybe you are an amazing totoo artist or something I don't know. Those look like they could take a quite a while to etch one that looks good.
I'd say go for something like a rancher's brand. A few uniquely placed circles and bars can make a good brand.
Usually what I do when I mark something is modify an existing item to make it unique. It's less likely someone will catch it and remove it. Like underlining brand names etc.
MAD
Well-known member
They are your tools. I say etch them if you want. But like any permanent marking make sure you are sober when you do it. No hearts with you Snap-on dealers name etc...
I hope my three year old daughter will be able to forgive me when she is able to read her tattoo that says: "My mom and dad went to biker week and all I got was this disfiguring tattoo"
I hope my three year old daughter will be able to forgive me when she is able to read her tattoo that says: "My mom and dad went to biker week and all I got was this disfiguring tattoo"
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
You can get stencils made up, then acid etch. They use acid type etching to mark tools quite a bit, or used to. You have the stencil made from a special paper then dab it with an acid type solution. But if you knew someone that did laser etching....
hamburglar
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2008
- Messages
- 523
...........
Last edited:
On a purely practical note - if it's an electrolytic etcher they don't hold fine detail very well at all. Some of the tattoo designs are too intricate to come out as more than a blur.
Something like a monogram might work better ?
Weird, I thought you'd have done this to them
-
Something like a monogram might work better ?
A lot of my tools came laser etched already from the factory; they say Snap-on.
Weird, I thought you'd have done this to them
-PAToyota
Well-known member
The OP states he just got a metal etching machine... I'm guessing you put the piece in place, throw the design on the computer, and it does all the work. Sounds like a certain amount of just wanting to play with the new toy!
I'd say go for it - whatever trips your trigger, blows your skirt up, or makes you happy. For personal use, it seems like a good way to identify your tools. As for resale value, I'm sure that I've destroyed the resale value of a lot of my tools by grinding on them, heating up and bending them, using the plasma cutter, or whatever else I've done to make them work for me... Heck, they're tools - not collectibles... Don't get me wrong. I take good care of my tools, but the last thing I have on my mind when I'm using them is that I'd better not hurt their resale value...
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
Heck, they're tools - not collectibles... Don't get me wrong. I take good care of my tools, but the last thing I have on my mind when I'm using them is that I'd better not hurt their resale value...
THANK YOU!
The other day, I had a guy ask to borrow a snap-on 30/60 of mine. I said sure and slid it across the floor to the other side of the plane he was on. The guy flipped, he was looking at my wrenches for scratches and stuff saying "I can't believe you just did that to a snap-on wrench!" "Umm, it's a tool." "Yeah, but it's SNAP-ON!"I just don't get it.
hguerrero
Well-known member
JUST DO IT!
nike
nike
You man you dont have a little velvet-pillow creeper made for snap on tools so you don;t have to slide them?
I know what you mean about tools but I guess I can understand the idea that you want to keep them nice for as long as possible.
I bought some new ratchets and started working on a project when the ratchet fell and I had a flashing thought "aw man, did it scrape it up?" and then I thought "What the heck am I saying!" I don't make my living with tools but really, they are meant to be used. I don;t call it "wear" i call it "patina".
I know what you mean about tools but I guess I can understand the idea that you want to keep them nice for as long as possible.
I bought some new ratchets and started working on a project when the ratchet fell and I had a flashing thought "aw man, did it scrape it up?" and then I thought "What the heck am I saying!" I don't make my living with tools but really, they are meant to be used. I don;t call it "wear" i call it "patina".
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
The airline I work for REQUIRES that all tools be clearly etched or marked with the owners name or ID number. Its written into our company operation procedures manuals.
Charles
OP
ToolmanTom
Well-known member
So many opinions...all I wanted was some Ideas on what to put on not weather I should. I like some of what was said about not putting a dragon on but this is America where I live, and tis country was built from many different cultures, to include Chinese immigrants. also about The warning of the electrochemical etching (Thats what it is). Maybe after some of you are done joy riding my hijacked thread, you could give more ideas?
transammanv8
Active member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2006
- Messages
- 29
Same here....I work for a company owned by Bell helicopter. Our boxes have to be shadowed and all tools clearly marked with our initials.
So many opinions...all I wanted was some Ideas on what to put on not weather I should. I like some of what was said about not putting a dragon on but this is America where I live, and tis country was built from many different cultures, to include Chinese immigrants. also about The warning of the electrochemical etching (Thats what it is). Maybe after some of you are done joy riding my hijacked thread, you could give more ideas?
This happens everytime, do not take it to heart!!!
OP
ToolmanTom
Well-known member
Crossthread
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2007
- Messages
- 103
have you asked the tools if they are ok with it?
RAYJAY
Well-known member
The OP states he just got a metal etching machine... I'm guessing you put the piece in place, throw the design on the computer, and it does all the work. Sounds like a certain amount of just wanting to play with the new toy!
I'd say go for it - whatever trips your trigger, blows your skirt up, or makes you happy. For personal use, it seems like a good way to identify your tools. As for resale value, I'm sure that I've destroyed the resale value of a lot of my tools by grinding on them, heating up and bending them, using the plasma cutter, or whatever else I've done to make them work for me... Heck, they're tools - not collectibles... Don't get me wrong. I take good care of my tools, but the last thing I have on my mind when I'm using them is that I'd better not hurt their resale value...
lmao fell off my seat on this one......... same here with my tools........polish my wrenches .....the only polish they get is the grit from using them.......
Jeff
Merkava_4
Banned
There's no way in hell I would let an employer tell me to etch my own tools; if they want them etched, they better buy the tools for me. In all actuality, I just wouldn't be working there.
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
Aircraft manufacturers are very picky. From talking with mechanics who worked for Lockheed-Martin Marietta prior to coming to my employer, they all say their boxes have to have "serial numbered" drawers, shadowing, inventory, tool marking, etc. This is common with government contractors. You do it because the pay is good.
We don't go to that extreme, but most everyone abides by the rules and marks their tools. I haven't left things in an airplane, but I know guys who have, and they get brown envelopes from outstations with dykes, pliers, etc in them, because they were marked and identifiable. If they are not marked, they don't come back.
Trust me, if you think that if you don't mark them, and leave one in an airplane and it crashes, and somehow they won't figure out whose it is, you are only fooling yourself. Between paperwork trails, fingerprints, and such, they will track you down.............
Charles
Merkava_4
Banned
I've got my name laser etched by a machine on a pair of safety wire pliers and it looks damn good. I wouldn't mine that, but I don't like the look of engravings done by a hand with an electric engraver.
MajorPayne
Active member
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2008
- Messages
- 37
So the moral of the story is dont work for the airlines if you dont want to etch your tools? Do I have it right?
To the OP, I say do what you want, I certainly dont buy tools thinking im gonna be getting rid of them one day
Anyway, all my extra tools, or tools I upgrade go to building my Dad and brothers sets of thier own
To the OP, I say do what you want, I certainly dont buy tools thinking im gonna be getting rid of them one day
Anyway, all my extra tools, or tools I upgrade go to building my Dad and brothers sets of thier own
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
I agree. I have all of my tools at work, and about three peoples worth of tools at home (I have all the tools my dad accumulated over the years, Plus my home tools and a bunch more) and they can do what they want with them when I'm cold, buried in the ground. Before then, they are mine and I'll use them as I need to. I do limit the use of some of the real old stuff as it has sentimental value and I have enough tools that I don't have to use them.
Charles
OP
