Labeling and Inventorying Personal Gear

[Blah067]

How do you go about labeling and inventorying (with SN's) personal gear such as...

-cables
-mics
-adapters
-wireless gear
-racked gear (EQ, Comp/Gate/Lim, IEM, Receivers...)

I can't figure out a low-profile way of getting my name on my wired mics and cables. All my custom cables have special colored rings on them (Neutrik color rings).

I'm considering getting my last name engraved on my IEM gear though...since it is by far the most expensive gear I have.

Overall, I'm trying to avoid bulky or ugly labels that look kinda stupid during performances.

[Dionysus]

For cables the best way (requires removing an end) I find is to use clear heat-shrink and printed paper underneath. The heatshrink creates a clear barrier (and it's waterproof!).

You can have your name, phone number, even the length of the cable!

You can engrave yourself (I do) with an engraving tool. It's quite easy! I engrave everything from the flashlights, to my C-wrench...
It's quite funny when someone takes your wrench or something, you ask for it back, they say it's theirs and then you point out the engraving on it... Boy do their faces go red!!!

My lighting teacher in school, put PINK spraypaint on everything that was his... Said "Who'll steal it if it has pink paint on it like that??"...

You can label most everything with those two methods...

If you want an added layer of security my grandpa swears by writing his name on everything in UV security marker... Invisible, until a blacklight shines on it... Another way to make people's faces go red.

[len]

Sharpie makes paint pens, which is what I use. My cables get the company initials written on the XLR boot or on the female end of the a/c cord. Doesn't prevent theft entirely, but it solves disputes on site, not that those come up very frequently, either.

I've been looking for a security label but I haven't found one that I can imprint myself. Ideally, it would be something I could bar code, also (always thinking ahead). But every label I've found is either $$$$ or pre-printed or is easily removable.

Heat shrink is a good idea, but I would think that the amount of time to remove the connection, apply them, re-attach the connection would offset the savings in lost/stolen equipment. Unless the heat-shrink was factory applied and all you had to do was insert the labels and heat them up.

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

... It's quite funny when someone takes your wrench or something, you ask for it back, they say it's theirs and then you point out the engraving on it... Boy do their faces go red!!! ...

I'm always humored when the situation arises to use the phrase: "If it's yours, WHY did you feel the need to put MY name on it?"

Originally Posted by len

... Heat shrink is a good idea, but I would think that the amount of time to remove the connection, apply them, re-attach the connection would offset the savings in lost/stolen equipment. Unless the heat-shrink was factory applied and all you had to do was insert the labels and heat them up.

Many assemblers do this as standard whether it's requested or not. Also, 4:1 shrink tube is available that will fit over an XLR but still shrink down to all but the smallest of cables. It's a shame it doesn't come in an appropriate size for Socapex though.

[Sayen]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

My lighting teacher in school, put PINK spraypaint on everything that was his... Said "Who'll steal it if it has pink paint on it like that??"...

I'll second this method. Painting rainbows and pink stripes on all of our tools suddenly stopped theft from contractors and maintenance.

[willbb123]

Originally Posted by Sayen

I'll second this method. Painting rainbows and pink stripes on all of our tools suddenly stopped theft from contractors and maintenance.

I paint all my tools with a strip of brown spraypaint. Who would steal tools with a brown streak on them?