Marking-Out Tools

What falls under marking-out tools?

Marking-out tools include anything you use to make a mark on a workpiece before sawing, drilling, cutting or forging. Think of chalk, markers, pencils and pastes that leave a visible line on metal.

In construction, that also includes a try square or chalk line reel, but in a forge the emphasis lies elsewhere. You work on steel that is rough, rusty or greasy, and your mark has to survive a trip through the fire or past the grinding wheel. That's why this range focuses on marking tools that keep writing on untreated metal, and not on marking-out tools designed for smooth wood.

What do you use marking tools for in the forge?

In the forge, you use marking tools to record a measurement that survives the work. You mark out the length where you're going to cut off, the centre of a hole before setting the punch, or the profile of a blade on sheet steel.

A mark also plays a role when clamping. If you put a workpiece in a heavy bench vice to bend it, a line on the steel shows where the clamping faces should grip.

A third application is preparatory work for welding and cutting. Soapstone leaves no residue that contaminates the weld seam, so you can mark out the cutting line without weakening your joint.

Types of marking-out tools for metal

Our range of marking-out tools for metal consists of the following types, each with its own surface and line thickness:

• soapstone chalk: sticks of 10x10x100 mm in packs of 10 or 50, for clear lines on steel and cast iron.
• marking pencils: a holder with a soapstone lead, with a sharpener and clip in the cap.
• replacement leads: sets of five leads in soapstone, graphite or red, in the same size as the original lead.
• graphite marking chalk: sticks of 12x120 mm with a paper wrap, also usable for sketches and designs.
• industrial markers: paint markers with waterproof, quick-drying paint, line width approximately 4 mm, suitable for metal, glass, plastic and stone.
• marking paste: a 50 ml tube with a steel ball valve, line width approximately 3 mm, suitable for surfaces up to 1,000 °C.

We also supply natural slate pencils about 130 mm long and white wooden pencils for finer line work. If you work on several types of surface, go for the professional marking set: two marking pencils with a sharpener, plus five red spare leads and ten soapstone leads.

Which tool should you use for marking out?

The tool you reach for when marking out depends on the temperature and the condition of the surface:

• hot workpiece: marking paste, which keeps writing on surfaces up to 1,000 °C and adheres in all weather conditions.
• rough, rusty or greasy steel: marking paste or soapstone chalk, because both also grip on untreated surfaces.
• fine line work: slate pencils or a marking pencil with a freshly sharpened soapstone lead.
• sketches and designs: graphite marking chalk, which works just as well on paper as on sheet steel.
• cutting and welding work: soapstone chalk, which leaves behind no components that contaminate the weld seam.
• smooth surfaces such as glass and plastic: an industrial marker with quick-drying paint.

When working with heated material, always mark out before the steel goes into the fire. Then take the workpiece out of the forge with blacksmith tongs that match the thickness of your material, so you don't rub the marking away as you grip it.

Buying marking tools

You can buy marking tools at Parrot Shopping individually or as a complete marking set, with delivery throughout Europe. We carry over 1,100 specialist products for forging and smelting, so you can restock your workshop in a single order.

Not sure which marker suits your surface? We're happy to think along with you. That's the promise behind the parrot: your guide in the forging trade, even when you're buying just a few sticks of chalk.