WHICH MARKING BLUE?

[Andrew SchofieldParticipant @andrewschofield]

I bought a 38g tin of STUARTS MARKING BLUE which on opening is a syrupy consistency. I smeared it on steel but after several days it did not dry I have tried heating it and it is still wet.

What marking out blue do members use?

[Pete RimmerParticipant @peterimmer30576]

Stuarts is spotting blue, it’s designed to be non-drying. I suspect that you are looking for layout blue which you paint on a surface and it dries quite quickly so that you can then scribe setting out lines on it.

[FulmenParticipant @fulmen]

You’re looking for Dykem Layout Fluid.

[Andrew SchofieldParticipant @andrewschofield]

Ah yes, I have bought the wrong thing!

So what marking blue to scribe onto is easy to use?

[DiogenesParticipant @diogenes]

Try searching ‘Dykem’.. ..or asking for it an engineering supplier, if there’s one near you.

[peak4Participant @peak4]

I normally use a refillable Edding 850 marker, though I do have some copper sulphate solution too.

Keep the Stuarts, you’ll need it for other jobs, but somewhere dry, so the tin doesn’t rust or it will get very messy.

Bill

[Pete RimmerParticipant @peterimmer30576]

I use Spectracolor but any of the layout blues will do the same thing. They are thinned with alcohol so dry very quickly.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

For marking out, you need a spirit blue., which is thin and very runny

Thicker blues, such a “Micrometer” are intended for checking flatness, or concentricity of surfaces (Such checking the match of tapers)

Howard

 

[Fowlers FuryParticipant @fowlersfury]

Methylene blue is the dye for “layout fluid”. Try to get an empty bottle with a small brush in the cap (SWMBO’s discarded nail varnish?) and “try” to fill it from the bulk supply with minimum mess : – )
A small syringe & needle is best bet.
There’s loads of the stuff for sale on Fleabuy:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/386251207213?var=653794550290&hash=item59ee5db22d:g:m-UAAOSw8L1lRMV-&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0FtSL3%2F%2B33SIJhJ1cca3ssU0tzkfB8M%2B%2FNwqHjwX1X6VgRJtMYrrUP48YMTw4rd8anHGVBueLbc7%2Bmze6ULQfR9XVLVVGz4xKv9mjCsU92aIuT8jbeZGNvp7%2B4oH9ewIau%2B9UyaxOlfIUUmNyjUlYBCH4avGFktlCbu4dz2pG4dqt4l92JCBBFWBVO3cj4l4sNfJAALQlacAKf8GXzoL8FRbE97VmIl0IjodW%2BhAd8TPeHqY1wiWjGMNQRowMscOBApUn6U5WXU8yujpLtxNJDY%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_i5oOSxYw

[Andrew SchofieldParticipant @andrewschofield]

OK, Could I put the Dykem into a small Clear Plastic Perfume Atomizer/Spray Bottle and spray it on instead of brushing it on?

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Just recently been. a thread ab out the availability of refillable chisel tip markers!

[VicParticipant @vic]

Layout fluid I’d fine if you have the need to cover large workpieces. For smaller stuff, permanent jumbo markers are much more convenient and a lot less messy in my experience.

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Dykem seems to work just fine, but don’t be tempted to put it on too thick, otherwise it will take longer to dry, and will have a tendency to flake off when scribed.

Things are likely to get a bit messy for me I fear.  Just bought a refillable marker and am debating the least messiest way to fill it.  I’m going to try a syringe.  Wish me luck.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Depends on what it’s for, large areas or small.   I’m mostly small.

Unbranded layout blue is sometimes sold by hobby suppliers, but it comes and goes; possibly because a leaky bottle of dye causes havoc in transit!

Dykem is by far the most common brand, available in Red and Blue, brushed or in a spray can.   Not all stockists keep the full range.  Red vs Blue is largely personal preference I think, but there are probably times when it’s useful to highlight two or more surfaces in different colours.   Dykem is a serious product, quite expensive, and they recommend cleaning the metal with their preparation fluid, and removing it with their proprietary cleaner.  It doesn’t come off too easily.

Dykem is over the top in my workshop, and – when coverage is needed – I just splash on some unbranded blue.   However, buying a DRO for my mill removed much of the need for conventional marking out.  Having established a few references on the job, it’s generally easy to accurately move the table into position, and less work than painting, scribing, centre-popping and cleaning up.  I rarely do old-school marking out now, but it does depend on what your workshop is doing.

Mostly, I find it easier to mark out with a felt-tip pen, only applied where needed, not all over.  Cheap felt-tips are usable, but the more expensive brands have better depth and wearing qualities.  I’m using Berol at the moment, non-permanent, because Tesco’s were selling them reduced!

Home-made.

At a pinch adding Meths to Stuarts paste produces a mildly inferior layout blue fluid – they’re both based on Methylene Blue dye, which is soluble in alcohol.

In the good old days, steel was painted with acidified Copper Sulphate solution, which leaves a thin layer of Copper on the metal.  Works well, but even worse than dye to sort out when it’s spilled, and being toxic means it has to be handled with care.    Another mix involved meths, size (animal glue), and ‘Whiting’.  Whiting seems to mean ‘any cheap white pigment’ – finely ground chalk, or Zinc Oxide.   Not as effective as Copper Sulphate, much stirring needed, and messy, but it can be painted on any metal.

These days felt tips are an excellent option unless a lot of metal has to be covered.

Dave

[SillyOldDuffer]

On SillyOldDuffer Said:

 

Dykem is by far the most common brand, available in Red and Blue, brushed or in a spray can

 

I would humbly suggest that Dykem is a product of the North American colonies and is not the most common brand on these shores. Spectracolour (also marketed as Spectracolor) is UK made and more likely to be found in engineering suppliers.

[Mark Rand]

On Mark Rand Said:

On SillyOldDuffer Said:

 

Dykem is by far the most common brand, available in Red and Blue, brushed or in a spray can

 

I would humbly suggest that Dykem is a product of the North American colonies and is not the most common brand on these shores. Spectracolour (also marketed as Spectracolor) is UK made and more likely to be found in engineering suppliers.

I’ve got a gallon of the stuff so if anyone is local in North Kent bring a pot and you can have enough to last you years.

[Mark Rand]

On Mark Rand Said:

On SillyOldDuffer Said:

 

Dykem is by far the most common brand, available in Red and Blue, brushed or in a spray can

 

I would humbly suggest that Dykem is a product of the North American colonies and is not the most common brand on these shores. Spectracolour (also marketed as Spectracolor) is UK made and more likely to be found in engineering suppliers.

Not heard of Spectracolour before, but searching for it on the web finds several sellers.   Made by Walters and Walters who turn out to have a large range of other marking products such as crayons, french chalk etc.

Thanks Mark, this supplier is worth a look.

Dave

[mele67Participant @mele67]

Not heard of Spectracolour before, but searching for it on the web finds several sellers.   Made by Walters and Walters who turn out to have a large range of other marking products such as crayons, french chalk etc.

 

Spectracolor may not be as easy to find as other brands. It didn’t work for me in any case

[Chris CrewParticipant @chriscrew66644]

I use Spectracolour but I clean any surface to be marked with Loctite solvent first. It’s not cheap, I think the last batch I bought was around £18 each for a couple of spray cans but used sparingly it lasts a long time. I am sure others will suggest cheaper alternatives which I may pursue.

[john fletcher 1Participant @johnfletcher1]

If you take an empty washed out and dry plastic washing up liquid bottle to your local engineering firm, they just might fill it for a box of tea bags. Worth a try. John

[john fletcher 1]

On john fletcher 1  here Said:

If you take an empty washed out and dry plastic washing up liquid bottle to your local engineering firm, they just might fill it for a box of tea bags. Worth a try. John

I might say this is a creative and potentially cost-effective idea worth trying.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

rtefillable marker has just arrived and well made it is so looking forward to finding a non messy way to fill it up with dykem.

[Author]

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