best thing for marking out on steel

[BrokenBiker]

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

we have the same issue in work with chinagraph pencils...3 months ago i was issued (because i am of a suitable position) a box of 40 pencils, brand new to distibute as and when they were needed...now i am lucky if i can find a stub to use

 

[Bill Edwards]

If you want to never have a pen, buy a box of 100.
If you always want to have a pen, buy 1. Because you then look after it and don't really lose it.

 

[Maker]

Where do the bits of chalk go?
When I moved wprkshop i did not find a single piece of it.

I found them all and crushed them in a vice.

 

[oddbob]

I tend to give a light dusting of primer from a rattle can and then just use a pencil! Ideal for transferring cardboard templates to sheet

 

[bump]

I was always a fan of the Edding paint markers. Could see them when welding or cutting without any issue.

 

[Johnseat]

French chalk for roughing out and metal scribe for precise marking.

 

[Brad93]

Forget the name but there are these silver pencils really waxy lead in them, draws a very nice fine line, last longer than French chalk and narrower than paint marker

 

[Welderpaul]

Forget the name but there are these silver pencils really waxy lead in them, draws a very nice fine line, last longer than French chalk and narrower than paint marker

Markal welders pencils. Silver streak or something

They are ok, but don't drop them or you end up spending all day trying to sharpen it without the point dropping off

 

[bigegg]

I use tailors' chalk - cos mum was a tailor, we always had some about the house growing up.
Plus the fact i bought a case of it at the carbooty

 

[skotl]

I mentioned the difficulty in seeing sharpy marks behind the mask to the lovely Italian gent that runs our local sandwich shop and he gave me a purple liquid chalk pen that he uses for his chalkboard menus. Been great and I can see really easily through the mask - need to buy some more as I've managed to lose the freebie!

 

[jerrytug]

Tipex pen, £3 from WHSmiths or much cheaper on ebay, last for ages.
The blue, oblong-shaped Pentel brand are best with about a 1mm wide line, they are very visible through an auto mask in a gloomy shed or railway arch.

 

[Depaugie]

Tipex pen, £3 from WHSmiths or much cheaper on ebay, last for ages.
The blue, oblong-shaped Pentel brand are best with about a 1mm wide line, they are very visible through an auto mask in a gloomy shed or railway arch.

How do you stop them from stuffing up?
I find I have to spend 5mins trying to get them to work, shaking the livin bejesus out it and then heating up the tip to get the ink to flow.

 

[gaz1]

Tipex pen, £3 from WHSmiths or much cheaper on ebay, last for ages.
The blue, oblong-shaped Pentel brand are best with about a 1mm wide line, they are very visible through an auto mask in a gloomy shed or railway arch.

never thought of that one ive been using a red pencil works great at best of times but cant see when mask is on but use it more for cutting on the steel

 

[oddbob]

I used to use Chinagraph pencils for marking on painted/shiny surfaces. White ones would probably be good for black steel and the like.

 

[Welderpaul]

Why do you need to be able to see a chalk/pencil line with a welding screen on?

 

[BrokenBiker]

Still the same reason that I put in the first post...I want to draw various things out and then weld over the lines with a stainless rod on a mild steel plate

 

[Welderpaul]

Still the same reason that I put in the first post...I want to draw various things out and then weld over the lines with a stainless rod on a mild steel plate

 

[Maker]

Still the same reason that I put in the first post...I want to draw various things out and then weld over the lines with a stainless rod on a mild steel plate

What process are you using?

 

[BrokenBiker]

What process are you using?

Mma, did a name plate ages ago for my Mrs grandparents gate (that I ended up making anyway) and put the house name on in 312, rusted the mild steel off a bit with some form of patina type paste then give it a coat of clear. Still looks good and I saw it the other day and made me think about doing a few more like it

 

[Maker]

Mma, did a name plate ages ago for my Mrs grandparents gate (that I ended up making anyway) and put the house name on in 312, rusted the mild steel off a bit with some form of patina type paste then give it a coat of clear. Still looks good and I saw it the other day and made me think about doing a few more like it

I was just thinking, if you're using tig the ink could contaminate the weld. Should be fine with MMA though. Be sure to take a picture of the finished piece.