Feature

Tools-day: Engraved Tools...Great or Gimmick?

Posted by aaron on October 18, 2005 6:07 PM

Marketing it as "the newest tool innovation," Craftsman has introduced laser engraving for some of their tools. Is it worth it?

The new feature is available for a variety of their shop tools, although the selection is largely slanted towards the mechanic variety. No custom engraved chop saws here. (They also offer engraving solutions for storage solutions via adhesive name plates.)

Engraving is built in to the cost of the tool, so the extra fee isn't immediately clear. Comparing items, though, a personalized 53 piece mechanics tool set runs $59.99 which its un-engraved sibling would set you back just $39.99. Not a fortune, but the free engraving you get when purchasing other well-known engraved toys.

So, given the premium you'd pay for the pleasure of having your name etched permenantly on your shop tools...is it worth it?

At first I thought it was a bit of a vanity item. Then I wandered through my shop and noticed how many of my tools were probably loaned to me at some point by someone...I think. (Did I buy that halogen lamp or is that the one my dad loaned me....?) Twenty bucks for engraving is definitely less than buying a whole new wrench set, from that perspective. And even if it is a bit of a vanity item, it seems like the perfect quasi-personal birthday gift for the person who has everything (hint, hint, for a few of you reading...you know who you are).

So, I'll give it a mild thumbs up myself. Anyone else have thoughts?

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Posted by aaron on October 18, 2005 6:07 PM | Filed under Headlines: Tools

 

Comments

Well the flipside is that you'd have to start returning tools others had loaned you, that you could now identify the owner of, right? That's no good!

;)

Posted by: Nick at October 19, 2005 9:33 AM

Of course, we could always paint a "band" around all of our tools in some interesting and horrifying color...like FUSCHIA! Or MANGO! That would remind folks whose tools they were.

However, I don't think that this is what you meant when you dropped your "hint, hint." (grin)

Posted by: jm at October 19, 2005 12:19 PM

Most of my tools are already engraved. They all say "Made in China". What we need is a set that says "HIS" and a set that says "HERS". No, make that two sets that say "HERS".....

Posted by: Gary at October 22, 2005 7:42 AM

I volunteer at our town's Tool Shed, which lends out tools like a library
http://www.mountrainiermd.org/community/toolshed/index.html
(I'm all the way on the right)
We've started just blasting some portion of every tool with a hideous color of spray enamel. Now they're not only identifiable as OURS, but they're also less appealing for someone to just... forget to return.

Posted by: Nathan at October 24, 2005 11:53 AM

I volunteer at our town's Tool Shed, which lends out tools like a library
http://www.mountrainiermd.org/community/toolshed/index.html
(I'm all the way on the right)
We've started just blasting some portion of every tool with a hideous color of spray enamel. Now they're not only identifiable as OURS, but they're also less appealing for someone to just... forget to return.

Posted by: Nathan at October 24, 2005 11:56 AM

You can just buy a cheap ($20) Dremel engraver and scratch your initials in the tools with it if this is something you're really interested in doing. This has the bonus on working on any type of object and was how we held on to our set of lab tools in grad school. What Craftsman has started marketing now that looks really useful are the ez-read sockets with the size etched on them in BIG numbers. No more searching for the right socket. THAT would be useful.

Posted by: amanda at October 25, 2005 2:24 PM