Engineer's Blue

The problem with some of the suggestions for paint like substances is that if you don't clen them off the surface pate before drying then they can be a bit of a nuisance to get off and non setting is the target. Layout blue needs the opposite property which is why fast evaporating alcohol is the normal solvent..

The requirement is some pigment in which every single particle is fractions of a thou thick. Cheapo paints might have some coarse bits in.

Before commercial blue came along I believe red lead and chrome yellow (yeah yeah shock horror poisons alert) were used for the colouring but not sure of the carrier - glycerine for water based or vaseline for oil based perhaps.

Stuarts Micrometer Blue can be purchased from Arc Eurotrade £4.75 for a 32g tube that will last you a lifetime.

Hi Clive,
You could try some of the ink from a ball point pen. I seems to have a similar consistancy to engineers blue.

Les.

I have to agree with first time poster Peter Amor and Eric. despite having tried felt tip pen etc., my long-lived tin of Stuart's Micrometer paste from Chronos is ten years old, still works and shows strong colour even when you are putting it on really, really thin and is the iodeal solution for fitting. I have spent far more in felt tips for marking out over that period.

I'm as tight fisted as the next of you, but this is one fairly cheap item that repays the investment.

Neil

Hi Clive, Both Clive H and Mike beat me and yes it is comon practice in the UK gun trade to use a smoke lamp for fitting and possibly may be more accurate than engineers blue.

The usual type of lamp uses pariffin oil and I have used a kelly lamp for years for this because it is useful to be able to raise and lower the flame.

Whether its possible to use smoke depends on what you want to fit, e.g. fitting a bearing in say a lathe headstock would be difficult because you need to hold the bearing above the flame to deposit the soot but the method is ideal for smaller work.

As for supplies nearer to "home" try India, I feel sure that it will be used there and remember not everyone uses blue, in continental europe much of the product is orange!

Good luck in your quest. John

Hi

Think Ian has the answer printers in and a spot of meths

Bob

Hi

It realy is a no brainer, buy the correct item. I got a small tin from my dad (I am 68) 25 yers ago, and it will outlast me.

Never dry's out, why play about when it is sold for pennies?

Ian

With all respect, have the people who are suggesting buy the proper stuff not read the original post where Clive clearly explains that it is simply not available where he lives (see his profile for location). He also explains that overseas post in that country is not reliable.

Ian

Indeed I did read and understood the original post when I posted that Arc Eurotrade supply the "proper stuff". What Ian should realise is that forums like this lead from one person's question to another and it is quite possible that people who do have access to a reliable postal service may not know a source of the commercial product.

If I were in Clive's position I would perhaps chance the postal service however unreliable with such a low value item.

Hi Clive.

For a drying marker I use an extra large permanent "Sharpie" marking pen It dries quickly.

For large castings you can buy line marker in pressure packs from builders suppliers White, Orange, Black and Blue are available from local suppliers in Melbourne OZ where I live. it is fairly thick so not ideal for fine work.

I use Prussian blue artists oil colour as a marker for scraping and fitting. This is available from artists suppliers. Don't make the mistake of buying the "Student Grade" (I did) Ask the assistant for the best available it will cost more but it is worth it, High quality Prussian blue artists colour is very finely milled and pure without additives. You do not need a huge tube a small tube will last a long time.

The real art is in applying it to the work thinly and evenly. For large flat areas a small softish rubber roller about 50mm wide; also available from artists suppliers, will assist in rolling out a thin even coating. (Make sure it rolls true.....or make your own) the coating should be almost transparent. once applied place the two parts to be mated together and if possible slide them a few millimetres. You will find the high points to be scraped off clearly marked.

If you have a surface plate you can roll the coating on that. and use it as the master. A small sheet of plate glass works well.

The oil paint should not dry out for a few hours allowing you to work for quite a while touching up the coating as you go with the roller.

For non flat areas I find a finger is hard to beat although it is a little messy.

At the end of the session clean up the work, master, roller and your hands! (use sparingly on them) with mineral turpentine.

Hopefully the materials are available in your area.

Cheers

John

Edited By John McNamara on 25/05/2012 14:00:41

Clive to Clive, This is a long shot for you, If you know anyone from the British Emabssy could you not try and get a small package through safely in a postal system that way?

I think I mentioned this earlier, lipstick is a good alternative to marking blue, should be available just about anywhere. I wouldn't ask the embassy.

For sure not. Walking into the embassy and asking them for some lipstick might get some very strange looks - to say the least

The mension of printers ink gave me an idea and I tried ink from a ball point pen,

Cut the end of the pen and extract the ink and wipe over the plate with a cloth.

Works a treat in an emergency for small jobs.

A standard pen holds enough ink to cover an area 100mm x 100mm.

One of the larger "Parker" type pens would do a bigger area.

Edited By Paul Lousick on 29/05/2012 13:21:07

In my ignorance, I recently bought some Micrometer Blue thinking it was Engineers Blue. Wrong! A friend then put me right in that Micrometer Blue was used to detect highlights between two parts whereas I had wanted a 'marking out blue'. I think a broad tipped felt tip such as Edding or Sharpie will fit the bill.

hi clive,

i agree that engineer's blue for fitting is quite different.

i have a spare tin that im unlikely to use before i pop my clogs and you are welcome to have it.

cheers,

julian

Be careful if using printing ink, it is a known cause of cancer.

Emgee