Workshop security

I never have. Not a bad idea though. Then again I haven’t heard of many plane thieves. :-)

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

LOL—- those planes can be hard to conceal.

-- Betsy - There is no strength where there is no struggle

No I don’t Betsy.

My hand tools used to have a way of “appearing” at my two sons houses though. I solved this by getting them hand tools for Christmases and birthdays until they had their own collections.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Seem like a lot of work when tools are pretty hard to trace. I would take pictures for insurance replacement.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

Betsy,

I have a few LN planes and instead of marking them up, which I would never do, I found that my 12 Gauge, 3” Mag Turkey Gun sitting in the corner is the best security system I have! : )

Jeff

-- Jeff, Indiana

I have several Web cams put in obvious places in and outside of my shop. They turn on with motion and can record if needed. They are in plain view and act more as a deterant than anything.

-- Hope Never fails

I have my name on everything! Several years ago I was working with a non-profit organization in a not-so-nice part of Dallas. One afternoon a young gentleman showed up and offered to give us a hand. He acted a little strange but he was willing to help, he knew we were volunteers and he wouldn’t get paid, so we hesitantly let him on the site. An hour or so later he walked off with all of tools he could carry. A police officer just happened to see him walking down the street a couple blocks away and stopped him. He had taken a permanent marker and wrote his name on all of the tools in the mean time. The police officer couldn’t do anything. The officer drove up to the jobsite and asked if any of us were missing any power tools. We looked around and determined that we indeed were. He told us what had happened. By the next day everyone’s tools were color coded, engraved, and had our names on them in several places. Also write down all of your serial numbers on your power tools. Don’t forget to put your name on your batteries!!

I still do a lot of volunteer work and you can’t believe how many tools are left at the jobsite at the end of the day. If they have your name on them someone could track you down to return them. I have been doing this for a long time so I know what is needed on site, and have collected many tools at the end of the day this way by default. I just keep bringing them back hoping that someone will claim them. My toolbox is open for anyone to take what they need to use on the project as long as you put it back when you are done. Several of us do this. When your name is written on the inside and outside cover of your tool box and also on your tools, it makes it very easy for someone to put the tools back in the correct toolbox when they are done, or when cleaning up at the end of the day. This also helps friends remain friends.

-- NorthWoodsMan

Thanks guys.

North——I’ve had the same disappearing act happen when I teach classes. Seems my clamps, squares, etc. never quite made it back to my box. Now all my stuff that I take to classes has my initials on it. I’m just not sure that I want to mark up my nice planes.

As for the gun suggestion – my brother wants me to consider buying a 9 mm glock with a laser for protection. Not warm to that idea. But I’ve thought about it.

-- Betsy - There is no strength where there is no struggle

I don’t mark mine but I have photos of everything and the receipts in my safe deposit box at the bank. This is what insurance is for. isn’t it?

-- making sawdust....

Betsy:
If you are concerned with articles leaving your shop area, in addition to the other recommendations, I suggest that you contact one of the security companies and have them install a system for you. I have motion detectors and fire/smoke detectors in my shop.

The doors and windows are not monitored directly as you cannot gain entry and not be detected by the motion detectors. Removal of the phone line also notifies the alarm company and an alarm system lowers your insurance premium.

Roger

-- Roger1

I haven’t marked my tools, but it’s a very good idea. As much as tools cost, it makes a lot of sense to put something on each tool of value that identifies it as yours. Driver’s license number is widely used.

Dalec

I don’t know about this…as George Carlin said ” When you write your name on something the only good it does is that the person who steals it knows who he got it from”

-- Women love me.....trees fear me

I remember from high school physical ed class, coach saying “write your name on your shirts and shorts, people don’t want to be walking around wearing clothes with someone else’s name on it.” I thought at the time it was pretty cleaver.

But, it only works if people know everyone’s name beforehand and not when they see it on someone’s back.

Dalec

You should talk to Raymond about this.

-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.

never even heard of anyone doing this. i think id be more worried if i didn’t live in the big city. i’d have to guess that only about every 1 in 100 people ever ever pick up a hand plane in their life in my city.

sorry to hear this betsy but the same thing has been happening at red rocks latley,all our high end tools keep growing feet. i do agree that putting your name on a tool is not the best idea but design your own mark or symbol that you know and put that on them,that way maybe the guy who took your stuff will show it to you without knowing.

-- Roper - master of sawdust-

We once had some wedding gifts stolen. Stupid thieves tried to pawn them with ID marks still on them.

Lee

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.