How do you mark your tools?

[Johannes]

Good evening gentlemen,

Question,

How do you mark your tools?

I`ve bought a lot of personal tools lately that I will use on jobs where there will be sometimes just me and sometimes a lot of people.

Marking or not marking is not even a question, the question is how do you do it?

So far I have used a waterproof pen(sharpee?) and sometimes written my initials or even my whole name depending on the tool and how much there is to write on.

I know there are electrical pens you can use to actually engrave in the metal or the plastic.

Perhaps I should consider that. Or is there a better way?

Thank you in advance!

[Toolwhore]

I engrave my drivers license # in an inconspicuous place and then draw a skull & crossbones on them with permanent ink. Larger tool boxes get a drawing of a gravestone that says "Tool Thief" on them.

[Jeremy]

I use an engraver on some tools and scratch my initials in a couple of places. In the past I have made a template of my initials out of cardboard and used bright spray paint to mark my tools. (Especially cordless tool batteries, they seem to grow legs fast, or get traded without my knowledge). Probably the biggest thing I do is keep only the tools out I am currently using, and keep a clean work area so I can see what is where.

[mdannolfo]

Engraver here too. And a splotch of orange marking paint on my batteries.

[davestrim]

I used to use an engraving pen to mark my tools, but eventually just used a marking pen, and I haven't kept up. One approach I've found by accident is just using tools that are less common. In this area, DeWalt cordless tools and miter saws are everywhere but Porter-Cable cordless drills and Hitachi miter saws are not, for example. On another note, I don't buy 100 ft. extension cords anymore. They WILL be stolen, even if marked.

[Cornerstone Tim]

When I worked on a large crew I used a paint marker, and put a red ring on every tool I had. One day a co-worker was making fun of how everything I owned had "lipstick" on it....
....Fast forward to last week, and I ran into the same guy at Home Depot in the parking lot, he had just dropped some coin on a new DeWalt combo kit, and was having one of his crew put RED RINGS on everything....I of course reminded him of the "lipstick" comment!

You can mark em' up anyway you want, but when was the last time you heard of someone getting them back after they had been stolen? I feel that it is more for jobsite ID than for theft.

[jemcon]

Engraving pen and either bright green or even better pink spraypaint. I do prybars, pliers, anything thats common with bright spraypaint. I mark drill under the batteries with the last 4 of my ss# and initals.

[Ottoman]

I mark mine with a flourescent(sp?) paint, not for theft prevention, but to make it easier to pick up a the end of the day. For the theft prevention I make it a policy to only leave out the tools I wish to have stolen, that way it's just easier for everyone, thiefs have schedules to keep too. :>)

[smtitmas]

most tools that get stolen from a job site are fenced and shipped within days out of the country to help build some banana republic or terorist traning camp so names, marks, or engravings are really a non issue. however, the punk arse punk who has no ethics is a different story. you my not stop it from ever happening but if it's peace of mind you want than do what i do, splash some pig's blood on the tool (i like a framing hammer) let it dry and than leave it out in the open on the job site and when someone asks "whats that ?" reply with dead pan and say "thats the last guy that that touched my tools". works every time.

[Toolwhore]

And if you catch them lifting your tools, the blood splatter and imprint of the nose they used to have, makes a pretty convincing statement!

[Dancing Dan]

I pee on them. Keeps other predators away.

[Toolwhore]

I knew that was coming! LOL!!!
By the way Dan, it keeps prey away, it draws predators.

[smtitmas]

pissing on your tools might attract the wrong kind of predator. but than again, if you into that, who am i to say anything.

[Drew4thgen]

I put a shot of hot pink spray paint on my tools. I also have some pink cords. 90% of guys are to in-secure to grab tools with pink on it, never had a problem once. I do also have my name engraved and in Sharpie

[Joe Wood]

I engrave my drivers lic #, and mark with blue spray paint. Last year I had some tools stolen out of my truck, three days later I got 'em all back when the police stopped the guy as he was pushing a shopping cart loaded with my and others tools down the street. Use your drivers license number is what I've always heard, worked for me!