Posted: 10/11/2009 7:41:06 PM EDT
| Im an A&P mechanic and have had the problem of others stealing my tools or getting mixed up with others tools. I had close to about $2k worth of tools stolen from me and Im constantly finding other guys tools in my box. I was thinking instead of engraving my name into them (Not very personalized and they can still get mixed up and hard to identify when others are using them) to duracoat my tools (Thinking maybe a red tiger camo pattern.) I have a good amount of duracoat left from a past project. Do you guys think that duracoat would stick well to that type of forged metal? Any ideas? |
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Good question, I look forward to other's experiences with coating tools. I'm considering parkerizing a bunch of rusty tools.
Duracoat will not stand up to frequent exposure to MEK/MPK. When I worked in a large shop, and the rookies would rummage through my box without asking, I made a very public confrontation with one of them, and the rest got the message. I also put a decal on my box that said "Avoid unnecessary bloodshed, get permission to borrow tools". I have little respect for guys that want to wrench, but won't make the required commitment in tools. How are other guy's tools ending up in your box? |
| We dont work much with MEK/MPK Im just curious to see how well duroacoat might withstand Skydrol. Whether it will just come straight off upon contact or if it will hold up. Aircraft finishes hold up as long as you clean it and I clean my tools after each use. Always have a bottle of alcohol with me when working hydraulics. I normally dont lend tools but if I do its only to people I trust on my crew. I did more or less the same thing as you with the decal but instead I have a piece of plexiglass on top of my box and put a bunch of pictures of my firearms, me shooting them, and my groupings on targets.. I also have a bunch of decals from different manufacturers. My tools were stolen while I was a contractor and was carrying a large bag with a lock. Someone cut a hole and took almost all of my tools. A lot of times when Im working with someone Ill have my tools out on a ladder and then tools get mixed up swapped or what have you. Im missing a 5/16, 3/8, and 1/4 sockets but I have four 7/32 sockets for the same set. I just want to make them so easily identifiable that I can point them out right away. |
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Duracoat will not withstand repeated exposure to skydrol, which is more aggressive than MPK/MEK on aircraft paints.
I've tried polyurethane paints, like Imron, Sterling, and JetGlo,on tools. It just chipped off with use. Even tried zinc epoxy polyamide paint, which also chipped. |
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I don't know where you work, but where I'm at, all tools are required to be identified. That tends to stop stuff like mixing up of tools. Also if you forget your tool on an A/C, they can get it back to you after a nice little tounge lashing in the boss' office. |
| I work at AAR Aircraft Services-Miami, the people here are animals. If its not bad enough that they steal my tools they are so desperate that they stole a picture of me I had on my box with two girls in thongs at a convention at the beach. Identifying tools isnt required and really doesnt do anything. I sprayed a couple wrenches today going to wait a few days to let the duracoat set a little before I try one. The other Im going to let sit the 6 weeks it says in the directions before it completely set. |
| Well, here it is I am also an A&P mech. I personally do not lend my tools out for this very reason. I only let friends use them while I am standing right there. I also wouldn't personalize them, especially if you let someone use them. If you do and that person leaves a tool on the AC and it gets jammed in the flight controls (just an example) and they find the tool, it will have your name on them and they will come looking for you. You would have to prove that you didn't do any work on that AC, then you get the problem of undocumented work and blah blah blah. Just my opinion, if you think differently that is okay too. |
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Quoted:
Well, here it is I am also an A&P mech. I personally do not lend my tools out for this very reason. I only let friends use them while I am standing right there. I also wouldn't personalize them, especially if you let someone use them. If you do and that person leaves a tool on the AC and it gets jammed in the flight controls (just an example) and they find the tool, it will have your name on them and they will come looking for you. You would have to prove that you didn't do any work on that AC, then you get the problem of undocumented work and blah blah blah. Just my opinion, if you think differently that is okay too. And if you think that doesn't happen, think again. Several months ago, I lent a large sheet metal tool to a rookie, doing a simple mod on airliner stub spars. Three weeks later, a mod shop 1000 miles away calls, and asks if we are missing that tool. I was the only one who owned one, and had started the mods, trained the rookie, and let him finish the fleet. The initial accusations were aimed at me, and the rumors flew fast and got substantially exaggerated. Thankfully, all maint records were available and well detailed. The rookie never fessed to it. But, the manager wrote him up for it. I don't know how he managed to finish other aircraft without that tool, probably butchered the spars. And, he had to have known it was missing, probably left in an aircraft, but didn't say anything, just let numerous aircraft fly away. He left it, and other tools, right next to the aileron bellcrank. I was amazed it DIDN'T jam the bellcrank. I'm done loaning tools. It pisses off others, who cannot easily finish their jobs, but too bad. They can go out and spend a few grand like I did. I also told the manager I was done training his chimps in structural repair. |