Today was a bad day for ink markers. We have been using these Ideal Mark brand marking pens for years. Often without too much trouble. Occasionally you need to replace the tips and get ink dripping on your hands but they have been pretty dependable as far as putting some good readable ink on lath and lasting for many months of constant use.
But today I couldn't find one in the truck that worked well for the life of me. Out of frustration I actually threw one marker across the site. I ended up going back to pick it out because it actually worked the best out of all 5. And still not satisfied with the readability on the lath I borrowed a fat sharpie from the contractor. Worked well for about 10 lath then his sharpie went dead too.
Once we got back to the office I searched the truck and found the baggie of replacement tips in the depths of our console. That would've solved the issue. Oh well, too late.
Anyways, a year or so ago I got tired of removing the cap on these Ideal Mark markers 200 times a day so I ordered 3 different retractable tip markers: Sharpie brand fine point (width is barely acceptable), Skilcraft Retractable Permanent Marker, and a Pentel Handi-Lines Retractable Marker.
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Although all 3 were great in terms of the retractable tip, none performed as well as the Ideal Mark brand (when they have a good tip). All 3 of the retractable markers couldn't even last half a day before showing signs of weakness. Retract the tip and put it back in your vest for a day and then it might be great for another 20 lath the next day but that's about it. I guess it might be fine if I had 4 markers in my vest and rotated them throughout the day?
Just wondering if anyone has found the perfect marker that I seek.
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I needed to mark the high and low spots on our kitchen floor as I worked at applying leveling compound before the tile, and wore out an old marker.?ÿ I was surprised to find Milwaukee brand markers at the big box store.?ÿ One of those worked but I haven't had time to test its life.
Beginner pencil and a benchmade 100% reliable?ÿ
We use various markers (usually Dixon RediMark, but generally speaking I often went through 3 or 4 markers in a day, so 20 lath per is about right. They are disposable and cost about $1.50 apiece. Throw half a dozen in the bucket in the AM.
Smoothness of the lath matters.
Same here, the RediMarks have been a standby for me. Good when new, and they stay okay if you aren't too rough with them. Keep them point-down in the vest and the ink stays at the ready.
Sharpies are a joke unless you like doing arts and crafts.
Try these
"Milwaukee Electric Tools 48-22-3130 Marking Pens | Crescent Electric Supply Company" https://www.cesco.com/Milwaukee-Electric-Tools-48-22-3130-Milwaukee-Tools-48-22-3130-Inkzall-trade-Chisel-Point-Permanent-Industrial-Marker-7-13-Inch-Acrylic-Tip-Black/p1988471?gclid=CjwKCAjwwqaGBhBKEiwAMk-FtK2uQBSKGEWSyJNBcw2JIZaude0mCA-ywsk8O14GvdLDLNWsUv7aEhoCbRwQAvD_BwE
Ideal by Diagraph.?ÿ There's nothing quite like them.
I carry replacement tips in my vest?ÿ
All other markers have sucked way worse.
THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!!!
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@leegreen My marker of choice when marking out precision layout!?ÿ I loved these for doing anchor bolts.?ÿ Especially even if the pad was a little damp.
Lumber pencil and a pocketknife.?ÿ Truly permanent for stakes that might not be used 'till next spring, works in the rain, tip doesn't wear out and best of all, 15 bucks for 72 pencils.?ÿ I've run in to 20 year old penciled stakes set in the forest that were still legible thanks to the "dent" a pencil tip makes.
Paint crayon.?ÿ For Metal,?ÿParticle board / MDF, Concrete, Stone, Plastic / PVC, Rubber, Glass, Terracotta.?ÿ Also marks on oily, wet, dirty or rusty surfaces. Less permanent as you don't want permanence on structures.?ÿ Best of all, 16 bucks for 12 crayons.
I'll jump on my high horse here and state spray paint and flagging are an anathema.?ÿ Spray paint on structure will last for years and if the owner complains you're responsible for its removal.?ÿ Flagging in livestock/deer country is an attractant and if ingested can injure or even kill animals.?ÿ Sure, judicious use is warranted, like spraying the top foot of lath orange for visibility and a few inches of flagging on a stake in dense ground cover for search/recovery purposes and a snippet on a branch above the stake as high as you can reach so animals ignore them.?ÿ But nothing more.?ÿ And on active earthwork jobs the more flagging the merrier on your control stations to keep the big boys driving 'dozers and cans from accidently obliterating them.
I've got a box of the ideal markers and a box of ChrisNik chisel tip markers lying here in my cube.?ÿ I haven't had a chance to put the ChrisNik markers through the paces yet as we just got them.?ÿ The tips aren't replaceable but they have some big claims on the box.
THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!
Hard to beat good ol' blue lumber crayon (kiel).
It rains so much around here we always have a few chunks of keel in the truck???
An I the only one who still carries a Negro lead holder in his vest??ÿ I also keep a fat sharpie for making on concrete, but the Negro lead is what I use on lath.
@jim-frame?ÿ Is that the waxy fat lead similar to a China marker that you can twist the top and more lead comes out? I had one but can't find it. it will write on anything.
@jim-frame what is the lead hardness and where do you purchase it?
@oldpacer I believe the marker you are thinking of is the Listo mechanical grease pencil
@mike-marks I agree with indentation comment on enduring readability. Also on being able to shave off an error with the knife and re-mark the lath.