best thing for marking out on steel

[BrokenBiker]

looking for something to replace my permanent markers for marking out on steel.

i need to be able to mark out on mill scale, bright shiny steel, painted steel, galv'd too and most importantly i need to be able to see it while welding (some of the stuff i have in mind is going to be decorative so want to draw it then weld over it) or plasma cutting (probably going to be my next purchase)

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Chalk

 

[BrokenBiker]

Chalk

just normal chalk?

 

[daleyd]

French chalk normally, or paint markers I also use.

I inherited a few white and blue ones from my old job which are pretty good for marking out.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

just normal chalk?

French chalk, the hard stuff. Millions of fabricators can't be wrong!

 

[visor_down]

French chalk or if your feeling flush markal silverstreak are great

 

[BrokenBiker]

will try some french chalk then...is that the stuff i have seen advertised in a posh looking steel holder?

arent silverstreak just paint markers? or am i thinking of something else? ive used silver paint pens for a while but they get messy when you drop a lump of steel on them and they split

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Here you go, all the sizes in all of the colours..... Other retailers are available......

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&...hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_k17ot83wr_e

 

[Burdekin]

As above for general fab.

For more accurate stuff use layout blue and scribe the lines, for extra pression centre pop the lines.

 

[pedrobedro]

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.

 

[Welderpaul]

Sharpie/Engineers chalk sharpened with a file/Paint marker/Scriber

Does everything we ever need.

 

[Pete.]

Markal B paintstik

 

[Bill Edwards]

It's worth getting the holder for french chalk, otherwise I find they just break constantly.

 

[brightspark]

-spectracolour lay out fluid specialy if- u get half a pint free

 

[BrokenBiker]

-spectracolour lay out fluid specialy if- u get half a pint free

is that like engineers blue? ive got a few tins of that from an old boy on the shoot, used to be a model maker but packed it all in and gave me a bit of gear, few lengths of bar stock and a few hand toold etc, plus about 7 tins of engineers blue

 

[wheresmejumper]

Chalk sharpened on the grinder.
for visible when welding,nothing beats a scribe

 

[daleyd]

is that like engineers blue? ive got a few tins of that from an old boy on the shoot, used to be a model maker but packed it all in and gave me a bit of gear, few lengths of bar stock and a few hand toold etc, plus about 7 tins of engineers blue

I've only found engineers blue useful on bright shiny steel, it's not much kop on darker mill scale.

 

[Welderpaul]

I've only ever found engineers blue useful for workshop practical jokes...usually on the sweat bands of welding screens and hard hats..? You mean it has a practical purpose too?...

 

[BrokenBiker]

I've only ever seen engineers blue used for workshop practical jokes...usually on the sweat bands of welding screens and hard hats..? You mean it has a practical purpose too?...

we used to use it for similar things in work...triggers on air dusters, insides of gloves, mug handles, machine door handles, pens, safety glasses, even had one lad cover his finger in it and fish hook another lad...and someone had their keys covered in it, but didnt realise untilt eh woman at the checkout in tesco handed them back to him...she wanst happy by all accounts

 

[Richiew]

I use a scriber or Stanley knife making lines with a set square or steel rule. Needs good light or keen eye sight mind. Gives a fine accurate mark though.