marking steel

Soapstone???? Yes, I know, it's difficult to get a nice point or line from soapstone and it constantly needs sharpening.

I like using a silver colored Sharpie felt tip. That reminds me, I need to buy another package. Having a different color is great if you make some mistakes (I NEVER have that problem ). It is a constant hassle to take the cap on and off. I tried one of the clickable ones in black, seemed to work but not as fine a tip - as is typical, I don't know where I set that one down.

I use soapstone sharpened with a coarse file. The steel has to be dry however. Properly sharpened you can lay out to a 64th. Don't press hard. I have used silver streak markers but the stuff is fragile although it will lay out on wet material. For the most critical stuff I use a self made scriber. It is a broken chunk of carbide insert sharpened to a point, silver soldered to a 1/8th welding rod. The commercially made scribers are too light for rough structural. Randy

Switch to Berol 949 Silver pencils. Made by the same company as your current Verithin's, but the lead is about 1/8" diameter. Welding supply and Art supply stores are the sources around here. For stainless they make a large lead dark red that works . Eyeliner pencils work well on stainless also.

I got started on the silver pencils while millwrighting in the local sawmill's around

Bill

thanks bill, i'll order a box full and give them a try cj

"E. Walter Le Roy" wrote: I use correction fluid like "White Out (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ How long will it be 'til White Out becomes as hard to find as typewriter ribbons or eraser shields. Remember those?

--FWIW Dykem sells layout fluid in a variety of colors including white. Not sure if it's available in a spray can or not (I've got some in the traditional brush can) but that might be an option..

Correction: Dykem used to make white layout fluid, but it is not in the online catalog now. I had a can of it years ago, and wish I could find another. Dykem does make white staining fluid, but I don't know if it works as a layout material.

Randy

I use the same Berols. Old fart showed me what to use. Now Im lost without one.

hummm where did I put that damned pencil again......?

Gunner

"Try thinking of the Libertarian Party as a rolled-up newspaper, useful in making the Republican puppy (I've given up on the Democratic bitch) go where he's supposed to -- not on that beautiful antique carpet we call the Constitution." -- L. Neil Smith, Bill Clinton's Reichstag Fire

They make neat hand hold white out rolls that are pressed and then rolled down or across as needed. Might be useful. Office supply.

The correction fluid "white out" - brought out new pocket pens that have a metal applicator and plastic pump. So new life comes to older products as they sputter and die. Or will they.

There are many in-place and functional blocks in life that use typewriters and use ledger books... Mistakes will out!

Mart> "E. Walter Le Roy" wrote: I use correction fluid like "White Out (clip)