People are getting stumped by the security devices on certain Dewalt hammers.
I saw a social media post the other day, where someone thought a retailer slapped an anti-theft tag onto their hammer. No, this was done by Dewalt. Don’t worry, I was confused at first too.
I accidentally purchased a duplicate Dewalt hammer and grabbed this one from my “spares” box to show you how to remove the security device.
Advertisement
Flip the Dewalt hammer over and you should see the seam at the back of the plastic security tag.
Here’s a closeup. Take a utility knife and very carefully split the seam in half. This allows you to remove the security device and start enjoying the use of your new Dewalt hammer.
Aside from being confused by this, I remember being very surprised and please by how easily the tag is removed.
The plastic seam has such a thin layer of bridging material that it’s super easy to slice right through.
I wish that there was a graphic of scissors or similar to provide a clue on how to get started, like what I typically see on theft-deterrent tape measure packaging, but maybe that would defeat the purpose.
Advertisement
Ray
Pro tip: To remove tag prior to purchase, simply locate another hammer and strike plastic repeatedly. You are welcome.
Champs
I was thinking similarly, namely “is this post bait?”
Stuart
Someone on Reddit took to Reddit to complain that the online retailer stuck this on, presumably thinking it’s one of those alarms that are impossible to remove yourself.
I was confused too. If there are some, there will be others.
I’ve had this in my spares pile. Been cleaning up. Places it aside for donation. Saw the post. Went back, took some pics, made a post.
KokoTheTalkingApe
I prefer the angle grinder. 😉
Kevin
Not being sarcastic, how is it a security device?
Blocky
Passive rf chips are so thin and cheap now they can be embedded in anything – I’ve found them in the laminated layers of stickers.
Recently had my first checkout experience where I plopped an armload of clothing onto a counter and everything rang up automatically without any physical scanning or assistance. No bulky magnetic tags.
Kevin
Right, but that assumes the exit gates can detect an RFID tag. And I don’t know if anyone confirmed there is an RFID tag in it. I thought it might contain a chunk of metal to ensure the magnetometer goes off, but it’s a hammer, so I’m assuming that’s not a problem. It’s not like a clamshell case; you can use the hammer with the piece of plastic there.
MattT
If it’s this easy to remove, I don’t think it really is.
Bonnie
Eh, there’s levels of security. A barrel latch is technically a security feature, but the screws supplied with a lot of them could be ripped out by a motivated toddler.
TomD
The point is to be visible, really. It may have nothing in it.
Jimmie
Since this was attached at the factory, it seems like it would be cheaper to just hide a permanent passive RF sticker under the handle grip or something. Of course, that has the disadvantage of there being no visual anti-theft deterrent.
Mark M.
Wow. If you can’t figure out how to remove a plastic tag you probably have no business owning a hammer.
Stuart
It’s not very intuitive, and most “security devices” require special tools for removal. People struggle to open retail packaging all of the time. Let’s not judge.
Bill
Not surprised at all with the increase in “securing” devices. However, even if someone just picked it up and walked out of the store without paying for it, I honestly doubt anyone would go after the person. I have seen it happen at the Lowe’s I was shopping at, and they didn’t even bother to turn around to look.
Dave C
What’s that supposed to stop? I sell Dewalt framing hammers at a contractor focused supply house, and I don’t have those on my hammers.
Terry S
I ordered a set of Grearwrench ratcheting combination wrenches from Sears.com, of all places, about a dozen years ago. It looks like it was packed at a retail store, because it still had one of those steel cable security alarms wrapped around the box. Nobody thought to remove it before sending.
So, I cut the wires–and it was LOUD. I lived in a house on the side of a mountain in a rural area at the time, so I wasn’t concerned about unwanted attention. But I could have used one of those Dewalt hammers to smash the little thing to bits. Instead I attempted to tear it apart to remove the battery. I am pretty sure smashing it up ended the noise.
MT_Noob
That security tag is certainly better than putting the whole thing in a clam-shell package. So if I had to choose between the two, I would take the security tag every time.
blocky
In the wild, a newborn hammer may have a vestigial security tag for a few days or weeks; it will shrivel and fall off in due time.
In modern times, most users find the security device to be unsightly and opt to have it surgically removed, but no harm will come to the baby hammer from allowing nature to take its course.
Joe E.
I ordered new work jeans from Kohl’s online back in the early summer. When the bag arrived to my house, one of the jeans still had the ink dye security tag attached. I drove to the store and a cashier removed it. She told me you’d be surprised how often this happens.