Dykem substitute

[kevin c]

I'm going to fix up some mold blocks and sprue plates, sanding them for a better fit. Went to the local Ace Hardware, and nobody there (went through five sets of puzzled looks and "never heard of it"'s) knew what Dykem Blue or lay out fluid were.

Will a Magic Marker do?

[Ozark mike]

Local machine shop would know where to find it locally or do a google search like this looks like fastenal grainger and harbor freight has it online cant say if they actually stock it or not. I dont see why a permanent marker wouldnt do just use isopropyl alcohol to clean up

[winelover]

For small jobs, a Sharpie permanent marker. Use them to coat a dummy round, to check the engagement on the lands.

Winelover

[EMC45]

Get a fat "Magnum" sharpie with the aluminum body. Make broad strokes to darken and scratch/scribe/sand to your hearts content.

[country gent]

Most tool supplies will have it theres a better one we had at work something laboratories. I dried quicker and thinner coating. You can order it online from most supply places.

[gwpercle]

Big Magic Marker is what I use now , the bigger the area you want to cover the bigger tip the marker needs to have ...don't get no fine point sharpie .
Gary

[GregLaROCHE]

I use a big blue Sharpie. The tip draws a line at least 3/8 inch wide. Works great.

[Mk42gunner]

I don't know where you are located; but I have seen Dykem at the local O'Reilly auto parts store, in the welding supply section.

Robert

[uscra112]

Amazon has if all else fails.

I use magic markers, anyway.

[mrbigsteel]

Big sharpie. Dykem is on Amazon and Ebay if you prefer it.

[kevin c]

Thanks, folks. I was just suprised that the hardware folks had no idea what I was asking for. I mean, I'm a white collar kind of guy who's never seen the inside of a professional machine shop and I've heard of it, but these supposedly knowledgeable grey beards hadn't.

[StrawHat]

Use a smoky oil lamp to soot the pieces. Or a carbide lamp.

Kevin

[1hole]

I've had very good performance using green/blue/black broad felt tip "Dry-Erase" markers from Walmart, etc. They're inexpensive, much easier to find than Dykem and works much better than any permanent markers for my "machinist" needs. And it wipes away without using solvents.

[Winger Ed.]

I've had good luck with a big fat sharpie too.

If there is any issue at all is they can sometimes 'soak in' and stain, or leave a ghost on brass or Aluminum.

[country gent]

I have used several agents to color metals for lay out. I have used dykem the something laboratories, markers ( rubs off easily), Both red and blue. Dykem 109 for spotting in. The best were common cold blue, made a nice surface and lightly scribed lines showed very well in it. The other was a liquid we called blue victor You lightly coated the steel and came back 15 mins later to a very fine shallow rust in a nice even light brown color. A very light wipe of oil to stop it. Light scribed lines showed good. The draw back to this was the fumes would also rust any tools around it. Both were durable to handling and working. Stood up well to oils and solvents.

The 109 was a spotting ink that showed bearing points well but it never dries and gets everywhere. Used for hand scrapping and fitting a thin coat will produce closer surfaces than grinding can with hills and valleys to hold oil.

[yovinny]

NAPA,, if not on the shelf, they can get it in a day or two..
If you have a decent NAPA nearby.

[country gent]

When intricate lay outs were more common it use to be thought funny to at some point put an ounce or 2 of solvent in the air line the guy was using. when he blew the piece off it erased all his work. Ive done layout for gauges that were 5-6 hours of work on the table. Always gave the air fun a quick blast at the floor first. Saved condensation or the jokers ruining work.