Over the years, I have slowly pieced together a collection of tools that I have spent considerable money on.

I have no problem lending close friends and family my tools but, I have so many tools that I can't keep track of everything and often don't realize something is missing till I need it. My friends have tool sets also so when everyone gets together for a big project, there are tons of tools all over the place and it gets confusing remembering which belong to who.

I would like to find a cheap way to mark my tools. I have tried an engraver but it is very time consuming. What are some other options?

get one of these bad boys

http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/87/05/pr-Label_Makers-Dymo_Labelpoint_200_Electronic_Label_Maker-resized200.jpg

yes that is a label maker

hehe those labels wouldnt last long!

I need something that will be permanent and not come off after cleaning the tools or from them being used in general

newspaper and that last quarter can of rattle can paint left over...

You can get an electric engraver pretty cheap. That's what everyone in my shop uses.

There are also sets of punches at harbor freight, I don't know how well they work, if they worked well, I believe it would look more professional.

I use something along the lines of this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/36-Number-Letter-Punch-Jewelers-Metal-Stamp-Tool-5mm_W0QQitemZ280151792881QQihZ018QQcategoryZ10323Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Get a hammer and punch you initials into your tools. Doesn't interfere with functionality and can be made to look decent.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=46099

I use a UV pen and clear coat.

Write your name on it, clear coat of it a few times and your good...... this way its invisible and if someone snags it, and they say its theres, you just turn a UV light on over it and ta da !!! is *** !

I do this to all my stuff, psp....tools....computer....phone...mp3player .... car parts even on the inside ...( car was stolen so now I mark my stuff with it )

Or you can be ghetto and zip tie each one ... yea, you heard me .... get a zip tie, and zip tie it ... it wont come off (wrenchs usually ) .... and its plastic ...it wont matter if it gets greasy or covered in solvent .... if somehow it breaks off while getting in hard to get areas(doubtful), you just zip another one on and your good .......ends up being a better solution then taping them , which i use to do, then they came off cause of oil ... and then you have adhesive residue on the tools ....

...seroiusly...spray a papertowel with whatever color rattle can you have left...and rub it into the already existing markings and pores ...the rest of the paint will come off with wear or a good clean-up.