It seems like every time a buy a new tap or end mill they are marked by some different method. I can remember when everything you bought, drills, end mills taps reamers etc. they were all stamped or rolled. Now I get stuff that's laser etched or even worse acid etched.
I used to complain about not being able to read the fine stamping on some drill bits but that issue is easily addressed by just rubbing some chalk into the markings and wiping it off with your finger. That worked well for black oxide bits. If they were bright steel a red crayon would do the trick. But some of these taps and end mills I have that are silver etched are next to impossible to read and you have to play around with it under a light or near a window to be able to read it and sometimes that doesn't work. I have some small drill bits that are etched in gold markings, that's real easy to see against the black oxide finish. The worst I've had to deal with are the markings on some small reamers, they are black acid etched. Almost impossible to read. They look like they were marked with a worn out felt tip marker and they tend to rust around the etched area. I really wish these companies would standardize the way they mark their products.
JL.................
I used to complain about not being able to read the fine stamping on some drill bits but that issue is easily addressed by just rubbing some chalk into the markings and wiping it off with your finger. That worked well for black oxide bits. If they were bright steel a red crayon would do the trick. But some of these taps and end mills I have that are silver etched are next to impossible to read and you have to play around with it under a light or near a window to be able to read it and sometimes that doesn't work. I have some small drill bits that are etched in gold markings, that's real easy to see against the black oxide finish. The worst I've had to deal with are the markings on some small reamers, they are black acid etched. Almost impossible to read. They look like they were marked with a worn out felt tip marker and they tend to rust around the etched area. I really wish these companies would standardize the way they mark their products.
JL.................
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