diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index d58ad86..bf5d902 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 -- Version 2.1
 
 -- Changelog: 
+-- 01.10.2014 * Added inspect-tool.
 -- 12.01.2013 * If digging the node was unsuccessful, then the replacement will now fail
 --              (instead of destroying the old node with its metadata; i.e. chests with content)
 -- 20.11.2013 * if the server version is new enough, minetest.is_protected is used
@@ -36,6 +37,8 @@ dofile(minetest.get_modpath("replacer").."/check_owner.lua");
 
 replacer = {};
 
+-- adds a tool for inspecting nodes and entities
+dofile(minetest.get_modpath("replacer").."/inspect.lua");
 
 minetest.register_tool( "replacer:replacer",
 {
@@ -230,3 +233,5 @@ minetest.register_craft({
                 { '',              '',              'default:chest' },
         }
 })
+
+
diff --git a/inspect.lua b/inspect.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0250f7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/inspect.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+
+minetest.register_tool( "replacer:inspect",
+{
+    description = "Node inspection tool",
+    groups = {}, 
+    inventory_image = "replacer_inspect.png",
+    wield_image = "",
+    wield_scale = {x=1,y=1,z=1},
+    liquids_pointable = true, -- it is ok to request information about liquids
+    -- the tool_capabilities are of no intrest here; it is not for digging
+    tool_capabilities = {
+        full_punch_interval = 1.0,
+        max_drop_level=0,
+        groupcaps={
+            fleshy={times={[2]=0.80, [3]=0.40}, maxwear=0.05, maxlevel=1},
+            snappy={times={[2]=0.80, [3]=0.40}, maxwear=0.05, maxlevel=1},
+            choppy={times={[3]=0.90}, maxwear=0.05, maxlevel=0}
+        }
+    },
+    node_placement_prediction = nil,
+
+    on_use = function(itemstack, user, pointed_thing)
+
+       return replacer.inspect( itemstack, user, pointed_thing, above, false );
+    end,
+
+    on_place = function(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
+
+       return replacer.inspect( itemstack, placer, pointed_thing, above, true );
+    end,
+})
+
+
+replacer.inspect = function( itemstack, user, pointed_thing, mode, show_receipe )
+
+	if( user == nil or pointed_thing == nil) then
+		return nil;
+	end
+	local name = user:get_player_name();
+ 
+	if(     pointed_thing.type == 'object' ) then
+		local text = 'This is ';
+		local ref = pointed_thing.ref;
+		if( not( ref )) then
+			text = text..'a borken object. We have no further information about it. It is located';
+		elseif( ref:is_player()) then
+			text = text..'your fellow player \"'..tostring( ref:get_player_name() )..'\"';
+		else
+			local luaob = ref:get_luaentity();
+			if( luaob ) then
+				text = text..'entity \"'..tostring( luaob.name )..'\"';
+				local sdata = luaob:get_staticdata();
+				if( sdata ) then
+					sdata = minetest.deserialize( sdata );
+					if( sdata.itemstring ) then
+						text = text..' ['..tostring( sdata.itemstring )..']';
+					end
+					if( sdata.age ) then
+						text = text..', dropped '..tostring( math.floor( sdata.age/60 ))..' minutes ago';
+					end
+				end
+			else
+				text = text..'object \"'..tostring( ref:get_entity_name() )..'\"';
+			end
+
+		end
+		text = text..' at '..minetest.pos_to_string( ref:getpos() );
+		minetest.chat_send_player( name, text );
+		return nil;
+	elseif( pointed_thing.type ~= 'node' ) then
+		minetest.chat_send_player( name, 'Sorry. This is an unkown something of type \"'..tostring( pointed_thing.type )..'\". No information available.');
+		return nil;
+	end
+	
+	local pos  = minetest.get_pointed_thing_position( pointed_thing, mode );
+	local node = minetest.env:get_node_or_nil( pos );
+       
+	if( node == nil ) then
+		minetest.chat_send_player( name, "Error: Target node not yet loaded. Please wait a moment for the server to catch up.");
+		return nil;
+	end
+
+	local text = ' ['..tostring( node.name )..'] with param2='..tostring( node.param2 )..' at '..minetest.pos_to_string( pos )..'.';	
+	if( not( minetest.registered_nodes[ node.name ] )) then
+		text = 'This node is an UNKOWN block'..text;
+	else
+		text = 'This is a \"'..tostring( minetest.registered_nodes[ node.name ].description or ' - no description provided -')..'\" block'..text;
+	end
+	if( minetest.is_protected(     pos, name )) then
+		text = text..' You can\'t dig this node. It is protected.';
+	elseif( minetest.is_protected( pos, '_THIS_NAME_DOES_NOT_EXIST_' )) then
+		text = text..' You can dig this node, but others can\'t.';
+	end
+	minetest.chat_send_player( name, text );
+	
+	if( show_receipe ) then
+		local res = minetest.get_all_craft_recipes( node.name );
+		-- TODO: show a nice formspec
+minetest.chat_send_player( name, 'RECEIPES: '..minetest.serialize( res ));
+	end
+	return nil; -- no item shall be removed from inventory
+    end
+
+
+minetest.register_craft({
+        output = 'replacer:inspect',
+        recipe = {
+                { '', 'default:mese_crystal', '' },
+                { '', 'default:sign_wall',    '' },
+                { '', '',                     '' },
+        }
+})
diff --git a/textures/replacer_inspect.png b/textures/replacer_inspect.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea47b56
Binary files /dev/null and b/textures/replacer_inspect.png differ