In Praise of Waterproof Pens

My water proof pen, the kind that will write on shiny surfaces, is always within reach. Preferably a red one so that it is not easily mislaid. They’re brilliant:

1. For soldering multiple jump rings, where it might be difficult to see a well closed joint, small red marks can indicate exactly where to place the solder and speed the process.
2. When trimming the surplus back plate around a bezel cup. A red line in the angle between the two, will help to pierce it more accurately and avoid unwanted undercuts.
3. It is often important to have a bezel the right way up, or even an addition for sweat soldering, so red marks can signal ‘top’
4. Lastly, marking centres, making parallel lines, or cross-marks on the metal, or the soldering block, will ensure that parts are correctly aligned prior to soldering.

The red marks burn away and will not interfere with soldering. If you make a mistake, they can be removed from metal with a little meths on a cloth, or from a brick with a torch.
If you have found other uses, please add them here. Dennis.

1. I use a black fine tip Sharpie to mark out the shapes on silver sheet before cutting them out with a disc cutter. Doing it this way allows you to position the shapes in such a way to produce the highest yield from your sheet. Although I am considering using an engineer's scriber now.
2. I have also marked the shank of the drill bit I use for jump ring holes with a red Sharpie. It allows for quick identification from a set where the size increments are difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. I was constantly checking with a Vernier Caliper, now I just get the red.

I use Stabilo "Write 4 all" fine permanent marker pens, they are fine pointed and are good for drawing around stencil type patterns. See; https://www.stabilo.com/com/products...o-write-4-all/

James

Thanks for the link, coming from a drawing background, a like a fine precision line:D i have been using a ultra fine sharpie so far.

I go through fine black Sharpies like no-one's business. I also would like a lie-detector test to find out which child of mine 'borrowed' my technical drawing pens and lost them. (I have my suspicions).

Hi, Lydia, happy you're back.
One member recently asked about a spare barrel for stone tumbling, so that she could share her Lortone with her children. Can you imagine the friction? Dennis.