Marking out on mild steel with mill scale- good markers?

[StevSmar]

What’s a good marker to use on steel with mill scale? For typical fabrication accuracy

I have a soapstone pen, but the lines rub off easily.
Sharpie pens are hard to see unless there’s lots of light.
Dykem layout fluid with a scribed line is hard to see when I add cutting oil. I do love the smell though.
The tips of White correction fluid pens doesn’t appreciate being dragged across mill scale.

I found these products:
Pica Water jet resistant deep hole marker
Markel Silver Streak Pro
Super Met-Al white paint pen

 

[DavidR8]

What about a silver Sharpie?

 

[StevSmar]

What about a silver Sharpie?

I tried a Silver Sharpie “paint” pen.

Maybe I just need better glasses…

 

[RobinHood]

This works very well for me: I use the Silver Streak welder pencil

Product Result

markal.com

 

[Dan Dubeau]

I use a red sharpie, and also have one of the markal silver pens. Sometimes use soapstone, and black sharpie as well.

 

[Susquatch]

No experience.

What about crayon? Or chalk?

 

[YotaBota]

@RobinHood - do you have a Canadian supplier?

 

[YYCHM]

https://www.princessauto.com/en/silver-round-lead-marker/product/PA0008831125

 

[RobinHood]

@RobinHood - do you have a Canadian supplier?

Any welding supply store should have the markal products.

In Calgary it is OxyPro, Gregg Distributors, Grainger…

 

[YotaBota]

@YYCHM - thanks, our local PA is out of stock.

@RobinHood - Thanks, I'll check the local guys.

 

[phaxtris]

soapstone is the industry standard, followed by a grease marker

 

[Bandit]

Soap stone on plate to be cut. Any oil on the plate or on the soap stone seems to make a fainter line. Some soap stone seems a bit softer, seems to blow away easier when using torch. Lighting can make a difference. Not many markers like mill scale. Don't know a garenteed marker for all times and places.

 

[Aliva]

I bought some of these in white blue and black haven't used them yet but for the price I'll give them a try

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003989972576.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.4ce756437B9lPx&algo_pvid=dfc00d40-a5b3-407d-a029-3852c66394cb&algo_exp_id=dfc00d40-a5b3-407d-a029-3852c66394cb-0&pdp_npi=3%40dis%21USD%215.42%210.49%21%21%21%21%21%4021021d7b16812989646116736d06d0%2112000031619888217%21sea%21CA%210&curPageLogUid=0LpZtCNjMt48

 

[Dan Dubeau]

I like the soapstone better when I'm plasma/torch cutting. The sharpie, and silver pencil when I'm saw cutting.

 

[Six O Two]

@RobinHood - do you have a Canadian supplier?

The red & silver streak pencils can also be bought at KMS tool.

LA-CO Markal Silver Streak Welder's Pencil

Highly visible marks illuminate when cutting or weldingGreat for marking metal surfaces even when oily, rusty or wetMarks resistant to torch flames

www.kmstools.com

I alternate between a silver sharpie and and the silver pencil for saw cutting, like @Dan Dubeau above.

 

[SomeGuy]

I use a sharpie, often coloured, does the job...I just take into account the line thickness when I'm marking and know to cut either on the edge of the line or split the line or whatever. This is if you need better than say 1/8" accuracy with your cuts, since sharpie lines are thick.

Otherwise, if I need more accuracy I usually use a carbide scribe.

 

[phaxtris]

I don't mark anything when saw cutting/chop sawing/shearing

You should be measuring from the blade, if you have a line that's really only a sanity check, after all it's not a 2.50$ 2x4, mistakes are expensive

 

[Susquatch]

I don't mark anything when saw cutting/chop sawing/shearing

You should be measuring from the blade, if you have a line that's really only a sanity check, after all it's not a 2.50$ 2x4, mistakes are expensive

It's no wonder I can't weld. The sphincter on my wallet is too tight......

 

[phaxtris]

It's no wonder I can't weld. The sphincter on my wallet is too tight......

Measure twice cut once right, and if a cut takes several minutes you surely don't want to be cutting twice

 

[SomeGuy]

I don't mark anything when saw cutting/chop sawing/shearing

You should be measuring from the blade, if you have a line that's really only a sanity check, after all it's not a 2.50$ 2x4, mistakes are expensive

Uh, not exactly. You can put a mark exactly where the cut needs to be made (at least to visible accuracy) and then align the blade to the mark. Trying to measure from the blade on anything handheld or where the blade moves (chop saw, horizontal bandsaw, etc.) you cannot accurately measure off the blade anyway. About the only thing you can measure from blade is where the blade is fixed and you measure to a fence. At best, saw cuts aren't going to get beyond say 1/32nd of an inch accuracy anyway. If you need more accurate than that, you're doing a rough cut and then setting it up on the milling machine or lathe or whatever.