best thing for marking out on steel

BrokenBiker · Dec 31, 2015

i only ever actually use it for marking out ali or brass...i prefer torch bluing steel and scribing for marking out dimensions on small parts

brightspark · Dec 31, 2015

engineers-blue - is paste in a tin or tube used for mating surfaces-accurately together then scraping till perfect

daleyd · Dec 31, 2015

brightspark said:
engineers-blue - is paste in a tin or tube used for mating surfaces-accurately together then scraping till perfect

Also good for coating a surface and then scribing to get a real good clear ultra fine line.

ukracer · Dec 31, 2015

pedrobedro said:
Sharpie markers for the more affluent among us I use anything that is handy sometimes just to scratch a line if I am cutting out roughly to shape.

Sharpies are in the pound shops now. Much more affordable.

rtbcomp · Dec 31, 2015

brightspark said:
engineers-blue - is paste in a tin or tube used for mating surfaces-accurately together then scraping till perfect

daleyd said:
Also good for coating a surface and then scribing to get a real good clear ultra fine line.

Engineers blue (paste) for checking mating surfaces, marking blue (liquid painted on) for marking out. Two different products.

Welderpaul · Dec 31, 2015

rtbcomp said:
marking blue (liquid painted on) for marking out.

Anything will do for this really, scribble over with a fat marker pen, soot from acetylene-only flame, spray paint, even rub with a dirty cloth/overall sleeve

mechman · Dec 31, 2015

Owt that's handy.

chunkolini · Dec 31, 2015

The chalk holders are a waste of time. I used them for years these days I just break a piece off, use it till I lose it and get another piece.
Where do the bits of chalk go?
When I moved wprkshop i did not find a single piece of it.
One thought.
If you use a blackboard for sketching on; engineers chalk is hopeless. I found this out recently when I pinched a piece of blackboard chalk which draws lovely bold lines and rubs out easily.

Gritineye · Dec 31, 2015

A box of these, never found a blunt one yet...

http://www.screwfix.com/p/goldscrew-woodscrews-double-self-countersunk-5-x-80mm-pk100/17131

brightspark · Dec 31, 2015

Gritineye said:
A box of these, never found a blunt one wet...

http://www.screwfix.com/p/goldscrew-woodscrews-double-self-countersunk-5-x-80mm-pk100/17131

they must have to be kept dry then do they :whistle:

BrokenBiker · Dec 31, 2015

have bought some of the pens that slim linked to, a box of french chalk and some fake silver sharpies...will have about 15 pens and bits of chalk so should do for now lol

daleyd · Dec 31, 2015

rtbcomp said:
Engineers blue (paste) for checking mating surfaces, marking blue (liquid painted on) for marking out. Two different products.

Yes but if you only have engineers blue then it can do both jobs

BrokenBiker · Dec 31, 2015

daleyd said:
Yes but if you only have engineers blue then it can do both jobs

i hate the liquid version, had to use it in college and we actually got marked down for using the paste instead, the liquid was always kept in a manky bottle and everytime you used it you either needed gloves or got covered in it... with the paste i just dab a bit of paper towel in the tin, smear it over the material and then wipe the excess off, throw the towel away and its ready for marking out with no time needed to dry off

chunkolini · Dec 31, 2015

BB
Get realistic.
You need a million bits of chalk and you will still never be able to find them.

Burdekin · Dec 31, 2015

Ha ha yeah occasionally it's used to mark stuff out.

daleyd · Dec 31, 2015

brokenbiker said:
i hate the liquid version, had to use it in college and we actually got marked down for using the paste instead, the liquid was always kept in a manky bottle and everytime you used it you either needed gloves or got covered in it... with the paste i just dab a bit of paper towel in the tin, smear it over the material and then wipe the excess off, throw the towel away and its ready for marking out with no time needed to dry off

Yeah, we only ever had the paste version, used normally for doing high spots, mating surfaces etc or as you described to blue a surface for scribing. Sometimes thinned it down with meths or similar solvent but more often than not just wiped across neat with a rag as you say.

Depaugie · Dec 31, 2015

'Pica' expensive!
2mm wide permanent ink long reach for marking through deep holes.
Sold for electrical trade but very handy as the stem is stainless steel, so it does not go to mush when you use a straight edge as a guide.

BrokenBiker · Dec 31, 2015

chunkolini said:
BB
Get realistic.
You need a million bits of chalk and you will still never be able to find them.

this will no doubt be the case in the end...when i started welding again for my own needs i bought a bulk pack of 30 fake sharpie markers in black and red and within a week i had lost every single one of them and had resorted to a ground down drill

gordon stephenson · Dec 31, 2015

French chalk sharpened on a file, Sharpie bullet point permanent markers in black and silver, spectre colour and scriber for fine work, When serving my time we used whitewash when working on the marking off tables, worked well, plus had time for a few minutes chat while waiting for it to dry.

Tinbasherdan · Dec 31, 2015

brokenbiker said:
this will no doubt be the case in the end...when i started welding again for my own needs i bought a bulk pack of 30 fake sharpie markers in black and red and within a week i had lost every single one of them and had resorted to a ground down drill

There is a full box of engineers chalk spread around my single garage, yet can I find it???

best thing for marking out on steel

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