Why the hate for used "engraved" tools?

[espyking83]

People piss and moan to try to save a few dollars. Doesnt make any difference at all, some of our employers make us engrave our tools.

 

[neuralsnafu]

If it was a tool I had been looking for or needed, I'd not hesitate to snag a marked one. Course I'd get it cheaper too

 

[pressure teck]

For personal use, I have bought hand tools from swap an pawn shops. I have never thought about the markings that are on them. Maybe I need to look closer the next time I find some "good buys".

 

[Art From De Leon]

The quality of the engraving.

It is like a weld, it can be a beautiful thing, or it can be full of clumps and voids.

 

[Davefr]

I generally avoid them for many of the reasons already stated above:

1. Don't want future claims that the tool was stolen.

How often do cops come to audit your toolbox and compare them to theft reports? Do you really think there's a correlation between engraving and stolen tools?

2. Vintage tools are generally de-valued if they have any collector appeal.

Absolutely, but if you buy them cheap and intend to use vs. collect them does it really matter?

3. My name and/or initials are never the ones that appear on the tool.

You can always change your name to match your tools engravings

4. VERY often the engraving is just plain ugly and poorly applied to the tool. (see below) Now who wouldn't want that nice looking mark on their ratchet?

The fastener will be offended when removed with an ugly tool. Fasteners usually decide to come off faster because of it.

All jesting aside, I really don't mind engraving on very old/cheap garage sale tools but don't like it on newer tools.

 

[JarheadBoom]

Almost everything in my work toolbox is engraved/marked; requirement from a previous employer (I'm a helicopter mechanic). Stuff I've bought since moving on from that employer isn't engraved; I haven't felt the need to do it since then.

I prefer to buy unmarked when I buy used. However, I'd buy engraved/marked items: 1> if I needed that item; and 2> if the engraving/marking was neatly done and didn't affect the integrity of the tool.
I've got an old Snap-On 3/8" breaker bar (in my home toolbox) with an "F" that looks like it was cut into the shaft with a cutoff wheel... but I found it on the side of the road while riding my bike in my early teens. Hard to argue with a freebie like that, even if I really can't lay into it like a proper breaker bar.

 

[Strouty]

Engraved tools are great, because most people see them as less valuable.

I used to engrave all of mine, but now that I am in my own place and have no employees I stopped doing it.

 

[Jim C.]

How often do cops come to audit your toolbox and compare them to theft reports? Do you really think there's a correlation between engraving and stolen tools?

Occasionally I do sell some online and at vintage tool shows/meets.

Absolutely, but if you buy them cheap and intend to use vs. collect them does it really matter?

I'm a pretty serious vintage Stanley hand plane collector, and a collector/user of =V= Craftsman hand tools.


You can always change your name to match your tools engravings:lol_

No. I'm happy with my name.


The fastener will be offended when removed with an ugly tool. Fasteners usually decide to come off faster because of it.

I don't know about the fasteners, but a lot of the engravings offend me.

All jesting aside, I really don't mind engraving on very old/cheap garage sale tools but don't like it on newer tools.

That's just me Dave. I guess there's two sides to every coin. I generally don't like previously engraved/marked tools and don't buy them if possible. The ratchet I posted came with a vintage (you might call them a cheap garage sale) set of sockets that I wanted and none of them were engraved. Since the ratchet was part of the deal, I just accepted it. If the deal was for the ratchet alone, I wouldn't have even considered buying it. You make some legitimate points, but since I'm paying for the tools...... Well.... You get it. I also view engravings as damage. I'd rather wait for an "undamaged" tool to come along, or buy a new one if I really needed it and couldn't wait.

Jim C.

 

[Jim C.]

It's ugly. But I'd give that ratchet a good home. Just not for the same price as an unmarked one.

I'd rather have that ugly mark, than a rusted/discolored tool. When I go to the flea market, I see SO many tools that look like they were left out in the rain. Luckily, mostly cheap garbage tools.

Well, I took the picture today, so I still have it and I think that I've given it a good home. I use the ratchet, but would MUCH rather have it without that ugly scar on it. I'll admit that every time I pick that ratchet up I cringe a little. If you have one of the same vintage, in comparable condition without the engraving, please let me know. I'd be up for a trade if you'd really like to have mine.

Jim C.

 

[SignalZero]

Well, I took the picture today, so I still have it and I think that I've given it a good home. I use the ratchet, but would MUCH rather have it without that ugly scar on it. I'll admit that every time I pick that ratchet up I cringe a little. If you have one of the same vintage, in comparable condition without the engraving, please let me know. I'd be up for a trade if you'd really like to have mine.

Jim C.

Nope, I don't have that one. Admittedly, if I did have a comparable unmarked piece, I wouldn't "trade down" to an marked one.
But at the same time, if I was in your position I don't think I'd be too upset about that marking. It's still a decent garage sale find as it looks to be in great shape otherwise.

Nothing wrong with grabbing a marked tool for cheap to fill the void while you search for its unmarked counterpart. Then just sell on the marked one after it has been replaced.
Hell, you may use the marked one a couple times and figure out you don't care for the tool at all. Then you can save time/money scouting for that unblemished piece.

 

[bobadame]

I bought a whole box full of tools from a retired diesel mechanic. This was about 40 years ago and when I get too old to pull wrenches I'll sell them to the next guy. These tools have a history. They have put beans on the table for a few generations. I appreciate that. So some of my tools have my name on them and some still have Vic's name on them and some of them just say V.D.

 

[Kirbot]

If I have a tool with somebody else's name on it, I sort of have a hard time actually seeing it as mine.
Really just a somewhat silly pride of ownership thing.

An inconspicuous stamp or something along those lines isn't so bad. But I really try to avoid tools with a lot of chicken scratch..

 

[top drive]

if i need the tool - and theres a choice of the cheap one with the engraving for 50 bucks and the new one for 250 bucks .... im all over that 50 bucks tool to get my job done cheaply......how ever i do take into account where im buying the tool from - a van on the street - no thanks , someone shifting his dads tools after death - no problem.

ive got tools with all kinds of names on them , i inherret them mostly - all my imperial stuff and whitworth stuff (old british cars being an interest) came to me via my grandad - who got them from a friend of his whos husband was an engineer and who built his own miniture steam locomotive from scratch amongst other things......

those tools have history and when i use them and see his initials i am reminded of what they have done in the past.

 

[southalabama]

I found a set of s&k sockets in classic green metal box on ebay. Virtually a complete set of sae and metric 3/8 drive. Headline mentioned engraved.

I got the set. They each have "ch" engraved on them. If you are ch, sorry. My name is Charles or chuck, that was close enough. I bought them cheap. No other bidders apparently wanted the engraved sockets.

I understand the desire not to have another mans name on your tool

I've bought a few autographed pics that were inscribed to Charles or chuck. They go cheap.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Why is there so much hate for quality tools (snap-on, matco, mac, etc.) that just so happen to have the previous owners name or initials engraved on them? To me, it wouldn't make much of a difference if they are in good shape otherwise.

I suppose the same guys who wouldn't own a tool that was pre-owned also married virgins, right?

Can't snooker the warranty would be my guess.

 

[humber2]

My favorite used tool store puts their price sticker over engravings.