Thread: Tool Re-Engraving

I recently (and legitimately) bought a set of good hand tools, mostly Snap-On. The previous owner did the right thing by engraving them with his initials, but now that I own them I either have to change my name or somehow re-engrave over his initials. Do members have any good ideas about how this might be done, keeping in mind that I don't really want to undermine the integrity of the chrome? I was thinking of stamping my initials over his with letter stamps, or maybe ... well I don't really know. Any ideas?

Could you convert his initials into a personal mark instead of your name. When I had my business, instead of writing the full name I had the letter A with the letter E joined to it.
Just a thought.

Phil

Unless his initials can be incorporated into your name, it won't be easy to do a neat job.

I did this on a couple of spanners I got at a garage sale, I changed the D to a B and it fitted in with my name.

How deep has he engraved his mark? SnapOn has fairly thick chrome, can it be buffed out?

I have seen tools which have the previous owners name taken off with a grinder, it doesn't look real good.

Don't have an answer for your question but if your in a workshop situation with other workers just tell them your old uncle with the initials, so and so, gave you his tools and to keep an eye out for you if you leave any about the place, as they are of very sentimental value and you'd hate to lose them.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by Ironwood

Unless his initials can be incorporated into your name, it won't be easy to do a neat job.

I did this on a couple of spanners I got at a garage sale, I changed the D to a B and it fitted in with my name.

How deep has he engraved his mark? SnapOn has fairly thick chrome, can it be buffed out?

I have seen tools which have the previous owners name taken off with a grinder, it doesn't look real good.

Thanks for the suggestions. I may work out some new mark to go over his. He did engrave them lightly, thank heavens, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue. At one stage I though of knurling a sort of a background into them and then stamping over that, but I could see rust developing in that spot in the future. I know it all sounds a bit over the top, but I want to keep them for life and pass them on.

I have a few of my FIL's tools with his initials either stamped or (literaly) welded onto them.

I just put up with it and use them as they were intended.

If I was in a workshop situation it may be different but I only work in my own garage.

The trouble with removing engraving and re-engraving is that it looks a bit sus. I'd be putting a line or two through the old engraving rather than trying to remove it. That way suspicious people like me can assume a legitimate transfer of ownership.
Be careful of trying to knurl or stamp over the top - they could be hardened so that it is an expensive exercise.

Michael

Originally Posted by drsed

I recently (and legitimately) bought a set of good hand tools, mostly Snap-On. The previous owner did the right thing by engraving them with his initials, but now that I own them I either have to change my name or somehow re-engrave over his initials. Do members have any good ideas about how this might be done, keeping in mind that I don't really want to undermine the integrity of the chrome? I was thinking of stamping my initials over his with letter stamps, or maybe ... well I don't really know. Any ideas?

I wonder if you could accurately grind through the engraving to leave a regular, neat flat in which you could then engrave your own name, or leave blank?

Otherwise, I'm sure a deed poll name change would be cheaper.

I was lucky enough to get my Snap-On tools from the now defunct Windsor And New Kingston Envoironment Research facility, so I'm good

Originally Posted by Greg Q

I was lucky enough to get my Snap-On tools from the now defunct Windsor And New Kingston Envoironment Research facility, so I'm good

Sorry for a quick threead hijack but that reminds me of a red dwarf episode where Rimmer wants to form the Committee for the Liberation and Integration of Terrifying Organisms and their Rehabilitation Into Society. LOL

At least your name isn't Wayne Kerigan or some such.....

I fitted out a small lab once and I called it the SIDRAT. It was chock full of stuff and there was hardly room to move inside it. When my boss asked me what SIDRAT stood for I said it was tardis backward because it was even smaller on the inside than it looked like on the outside.

Originally Posted by Ueee

At least your name isn't Wayne Kerigan or some such.....

Actually, it is ...

Unless the initials can be altered to fit in with your name or initals, which it sounds like they can't, then I would be inclined to leave the markings alone. I would though, record on some paper a list of all the description of the tools and the said initials and tuck it away safely.

That way if they ever get stolen or go missing you will be able to identify the tools. If any one ever asks how they came to be in your possession, you will be able to explain it away with proof of ownership.

Trying to alter or erase identifying marks is not easy and they will still look like somone elses, if you are ever asked to explain how they are in your posession.

I wonder if you could plasma metal spray with chrome or a high chrome alloy and the linish and buff the name out completely. It may require a second coat of metal to look uniform and God knows how expensive it would be.

Originally Posted by drsed

Thanks for the suggestions. I may work out some new mark to go over his. He did engrave them lightly, thank heavens, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue. At one stage I though of knurling a sort of a background into them and then stamping over that, but I could see rust developing in that spot in the future. I know it all sounds a bit over the top, but I want to keep them for life and pass them on.

Just remember that if you pass them on the receiver is going to have the same Dilemma.


Dean

got any photos. ive used my roller marking press a stamp some tools.
Aaron