painted tools

[Branson]

There are two kinds of tool painter, it seems.  The one we really want to avoid is the guy who wants to dress up old tools, and/or hide defects.

The other kind is the fellow who wants his tools to be easily identifiable, so they don't wander on the job (one theater carpenter I knew painted all his lavender, and never lost a tool on the job), or so they are easy to find in the shop.  Red things are always easy to find in a shop, and that's the color I find most often.  Chevy engine orange would also stand out.

[HeelSpur]

There are two kinds of tool painter, it seems.  The one we really want to avoid is the guy who wants to dress up old tools, and/or hide defects.

The other kind is the fellow who wants his tools to be easily identifiable, so they don't wander on the job (one theater carpenter I knew painted all his lavender, and never lost a tool on the job), or so they are easy to find in the shop.  Red things are always easy to find in a shop, and that's the color I find most often.  Chevy engine orange would also stand out.

Pipefitting, 15/16" wrench was the most used on the job, so people had different colors because they always seemed to grow legs and walk away.

[john k]

From what I've seen its the generation right ahead of me, and I'm 61 that was brought up to think rusty is ugly and paint is pretty.   Paint doesn't bother me at all if I want the item, but when something like  a handsaw has seen 20 minutes at the mercy of a belt sander, then they wire brushed the wooden handle, I can't walk on fast enough. 

[scottg]

(one theater carpenter I knew painted all his lavender, and never lost a tool on the job),

 You would think this would work, wouldn't you?
I paint my prybars with stripes like candy canes!
Lay down one color, then spiral wrap masking tape and shoot a second color.
  You can see them from 50 yards!
 
  It helps, but not entirely.
  yours Scott

[HeelSpur]

Got some Stripper in a spray can gonna try it on these to test the product.

[oldtools]

in my "On the Job work" tool bag, most good tools have a florescent orange strip across because too many were walking away. Amazing how fast Good Tools walk in public. now I can say without a doubt what is mine when I see someone else with it... now the cheap ones still fly when I'm not looking...