Marking Tools (by Deanna [TX]) Mar 15, 2019 10:02 PM
Marking Tools (by JKJ [MA]) Mar 16, 2019 4:35 AM
Marking Tools (by myob [GA]) Mar 16, 2019 4:51 AM
Marking Tools (by Ne [PA]) Mar 16, 2019 4:58 AM
Marking Tools (by plenty [MO]) Mar 16, 2019 5:01 AM
Marking Tools (by gevans [SC]) Mar 16, 2019 5:09 AM
Marking Tools (by NE [PA]) Mar 16, 2019 5:15 AM
Marking Tools (by LindaJ [NY]) Mar 16, 2019 5:21 AM
Marking Tools (by Vee [OH]) Mar 16, 2019 8:04 AM
Marking Tools (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Mar 16, 2019 10:57 AM
Marking Tools (by MikeA [TX]) Mar 16, 2019 8:34 PM
Marking Tools (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Mar 17, 2019 3:00 PM
Marking Tools (by 6x6 [TN]) Mar 17, 2019 3:50 PM
Marking Tools (by Small potatoes [NY]) Mar 17, 2019 9:48 PM
Marking Tools (by Pmh [TX]) Mar 18, 2019 2:52 PM
Marking Tools (by Deanna [TX]) Posted on: Mar 15, 2019 10:02 PM Message:
I'm sure a lot of us have experienced attrition with our hand tools. Our big stuff, we don't have any problems with it walking away. But somehow, the small stuff just kind of vanishes at some point. The post hole diggers, the channellock pliers, the screwdrivers, the measuring tapes...
Some of it might just be a case of not getting put away, and consequently not being there when you reach for it next. But other bits of it might be a jumble of tools on a worksite, and sometimes the wrong tool goes in the wrong bag.
I've heard about people who spray-paint their tools pink or some other obnoxious color so that they're distinctive.
I'd thought about hammering in my initials with letter stamps, but I don't think I'd be able to get a hard enough hit to get a good stamp.
I'd heard about people who engrave their tools.
Any recommendations? Anecdotes? --96.46.xxx.xx |
Marking Tools (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 4:35 AM Message:
I have always painted my tools. Not the entire tool, but just like a racing stripe almost. I have always painted them yellow and silver. I started doing those colors because where I was working a lot of guys did it and there were only so many colors of paint the shop kept in stock and all the single colors guys were already using to mark their tools, so I just picked 2. Not sure why those 2 colors, probably the first 2 cans I grabbed. It’s always worked for me, a quick glance and I know the tool is mine. I do it to everything, ladders, extension cords, hand tools, power tools, and the power tool case.
My father use to burn his initials into everything he could. I still have some of his old shovels or wooden handled screw drivers with his initials burned into them. I’ve seen guys Dremel in their initials too, but paints always worked for me. Even after it wears off there’s still some in the nooks and crannies left behind, then just respray em. It stays on longer than you think as long as you don’t paint it in a high wear area. Some of my tools were painted 25 years ago and have never been (touched up). --71.248.xxx.xxx |
Marking Tools (by myob [GA]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 4:51 AM Message:
It depends on what your business is. I worked for a major airline in Atlanta for 25 years. Tools where VERY expensive -- one snap on wrench could run 200 to 300.00 so it was natural.
Then the day comes when a plane takes off - pilot puts the gear up and a ball peen hammer comes through the window of a car on the interstate. Low and behold there it is YOUR name and dept number. YEEEEEEKKKKKKs!
Car mech or LL tools don't really matter that much. --99.103.xxx.xxx |
Marking Tools (by Ne [PA]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 4:58 AM Message:
They fall in garbage cans and other guys tool bags and get buried in walls behind insulation and Sheetrock. I forgot my channel locks last fall in a crawl space under an apartment. Crawled out, said "nope". Not crawling back in for them. They're still there. I wouldn't worry about it. You get a new fleet of garden tools at each bank foreclosure. Shovels, hammers, screwdrivers etc. --50.32.xxx.xxx |
Marking Tools (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 5:01 AM Message:
I just buy another one. Sigh --99.203.xx.xxx |
Marking Tools (by gevans [SC]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 5:09 AM Message:
I use blue spray paint and/or a paint pen in florescent yellow.
But my tools still disappear.
I found my missing amp probe 5 years later, still hanging on the wire doing its job.
I find my tools in my sons toolboxes. Oh yeah dad, I was going to return that...
And sometimes they are just not worth going back for as someone else said. --173.233.xxx.xx |
Marking Tools (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 5:15 AM Message:
Also, don't forget to clean your truck! I was using pex cutters about 2 weeks ago. Couldn't find them anywhere when I was done. Bought a pair the next day to finish.
The other day I took my tools and work bags out of the truck so it could go into the shop and the old cutters were on the floor under the bags and other junk. They were about shot anyway, so not a bad time to buy new. --50.32.xxx.xxx |
Marking Tools (by LindaJ [NY]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 5:21 AM Message:
My outside tools for gardening or hunting have pink flagging tape tied to them. That way when they get dropped in the grass or weeds, the bright tape shows where they are. All the key to tractors and mowers have bright pink or orange tags on the ring. Also easy to find when fall.
Other tools are spray painted with a dot or stripe in my color, or colored tape, depending on what the tools are. --108.4.xxx.xx |
Marking Tools (by Vee [OH]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 8:04 AM Message:
I have tried a few things like dipping into leftover oil paint, wrapping with colored tape and duct tape, they disappear anyway but a month after you get another the original shows up!
--76.188.xxx.x |
Marking Tools (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 10:57 AM Message:
I've noticed the uglier tools tend to stay around longer. Maybe use rust colored paint. --108.69.xxx.xxx |
Marking Tools (by MikeA [TX]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 8:34 PM Message:
The small stuff like screwdrivers, pliers, utility knives come and go. I just buy another one and replace it. Then when I clean out my truck low and behold I have 5 utility knives show up. --50.26.xx.xxx |
Marking Tools (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Mar 17, 2019 3:00 PM Message:
Deanna,
As you mentioned...My brother laid all his out and spray painted the entire tool, both sides Barbie pink with the objective to make the tool undesireable to another man AND to make it easily visible across the shop or in someone else’s tool box. Hopefully an honest worker would realize je picked up the wrong tool.
Engraving, stamping, painting a stripe... all easily covered or removed.
My Porsche mechanic has a sign on his giant tool box DON’T EVEN ASK TO BORROW MY TOOLS.
Practices: Back when I worked with others in the house I used a tool belt. Never lay down a tool so no need to pick it up.
Never leave tools overnight.
Realize not everyone is honest, even my most trusted helpers.
Me: I hire it out. Tools are the contractors’ problem.
And
Think big. I move too fast to worry about a $10 tool.
Big machines use a lot of grease.
I’ve lost a lot of stuff building my next mill$.
BRAD
--73.102.xxx.xxx |
Marking Tools (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Mar 17, 2019 3:50 PM Message:
I have a problem with my big stuff walking away. Or any stuff for that matter. I would like to get the guy that stole my power tools. I know who it is but can't prove it. --73.120.xx.xxx |
Marking Tools (by Small potatoes [NY]) Posted on: Mar 17, 2019 9:48 PM Message:
I will put my initials in inconspicuous places on power tools and such. I use green electrical tape on garden tools that way after a community build I know which ones are mine --66.87.xxx.xxx |
Marking Tools (by Pmh [TX]) Posted on: Mar 18, 2019 2:52 PM Message:
I get my throw away tools at HF. no-one can use the tools I inherited from my Dad which he inherited from his Dad. --70.119.xxx.xxx |
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