Marking on dark wood?

[Jamie Buxton]

On light-colored wood, I make marks with a lead pencil. (.7 mm automatic pencil to be exact) The pencil line is fine enough for accuracy, is dark enough to be easily seen, and the pencil draws a long time without needing sharpening. And the pencil marks can be erased.

On dark-colored wood like walnut, the dark line of the pencil isn't as visible as I want. I've tried light-colored leads for the .7 mm pencil, but they break all the time. I've tried white chalk, but the line is way too thick. I've tried a white pencil -- the kind with cedar holding the lead -- but it needs sharpening all the time.

Anybody got a suggestion?

[Ernie Miller]

Try putting some tape along the cut line and draw your line on the tape.

[glenn bradley]

I use white pencil. I also use white ink to sign dark pieces.

[Lee Schierer]

Try putting some tape along the cut line and draw your line on the tape.

That is what I do.

[Nick Decker]

I use these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003V8A6HK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Have to sharpen them sooner than normal pencils, but I sharpen those a lot anyway. Hate dull pencils.

[Barry Block]

I use these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003V8A6HK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Have to sharpen them sooner than normal pencils, but I sharpen those a lot anyway. Hate dull pencils.

I use the same. Tape like someone suggested is a good idea. Not sure why I didn't think of that. lol

[Jim Becker]

I've been doing a lot of my marking with a red pencil as of late.

[Kevin Jenness]

For a fine visible line, apply tape, slice the line with a knife and remove the tape on the waste side. I use this all the time for scribing.

Alternatively, mark with a knife and rub chalk into the scored line. This works well for inlay pockets.

[Prashun Patel]

Look also at your task lighting. Tape is excellent but gets tedious. I was amazed at how well a pencil shows up on walnut under bright, direct led lighting.

[lowell holmes]

Like Glenn, I use a white pencil.

[Dave Cav]

Silver Sharpie.

[Wayne Lomman]

Use a darker lead pencil. I generally use 2H pencils but pick one with a darker than average colour. However, the real solution is good lighting and regular visits to the optometrist. I have worn glasses for over 50 years now and I still get a surprise at how clearly I see with new glasses. Lack of overspray spots and grinding spark damage is part of the improvement. Cheers

[Philipp Jaindl]

I wouldnt use tape, depending on which tape and finish you apply, glue residue from tape can be a pain to deal with.

I use a red/white pencil or a knife

[Jeff Heath]

If you have a local welders supply, they sell a silver soft lead pencil that is used by welders. It works great on woods like walnut and mahogany. Shows up very well, and a box of 10 (lifetime supply) is about $5.

[Bill Adamsen]

Look also at your task lighting. Tape is excellent but gets tedious. I was amazed at how well a pencil shows up on walnut under bright, direct led lighting.

I'm thinking along the same lines. I work with eastern forest sourced Black walnut ... which tends to be quite light in color. For me a pencil works fine, though I just added that "white charcoal" pencil to my cart at Amazon. I "engineered" my shop lighting for 1500-2000 lux ... lumens/sq meter. As the photo I think illustrates, the pencil line is visible on Black walnut.

[Patrick McCarthy]

I found the white to be too soft, and have been much happier with red and blue colored pencils.

[Carlos Alvarez]

Look also at your task lighting. Tape is excellent but gets tedious. I was amazed at how well a pencil shows up on walnut under bright, direct led lighting.

I was thinking along the same lines. I have a lot of daylight full-spectrum fluorescent lighting and now some LED lighting. I work with Wenge a lot and just use a normal mechanical pencil. I can't see it from across the room, but certainly at work distance. Also if a tool has a laser line, it shines well on the graphite if it's decently heavy (I typically make three pencil swipes on dark wood).

[Jim Tobias]

I use this. It works well on any dark wood. It is a thin chalk lead.

Jim

https://smile.amazon.com/Bohin-Extra-Fine-Chalk-Pencil-91473/dp/B004M5BGD4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519234363&sr=8-1&keywords=bohns+white+pencil

[Jamie Buxton]

I use this. It works well on any dark wood. It is a thin chalk lead.

Jim

https://smile.amazon.com/Bohin-Extra-Fine-Chalk-Pencil-91473/dp/B004M5BGD4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519234363&sr=8-1&keywords=bohns+white+pencil

That's a winner. I bought one. I was a bit concerned by the word "chalk" in the product name. However, I think that's a hiccup in translation. This is a .9 mm mechanical pencil, with white leads. The leads are thin enough to make fine lines on the wood. They are strong enough to not break on rough wood. The white color is easy to see on walnut. And the mechanical pencil aspect means that sharpening a worn lead means just punching the button on the top -- not running around to find the sharpener.

[Jack Frederick]

By trade, I am a pipe fitter/welder. I always seem to have a piece of soapstone laying around or in my pocket. Sharpen it with a file and it shows well on walnut. You can get round or flat SS. I tend to use the flat and sharpen to a point. The round is to fragile.

[Ted Phillips]

I use the Dritz tailor marking pencil. It comes with several 0.9mm ceramic leads in white, green and pink. They are made for marking on fabric but work well on milled lumber. They are a bit delicate for marking rough-sawn lumber, but work well marking smooth lumber - they put down a really fine line.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0052WSQHK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[John K Jordan]

On light-colored wood, I make marks with a lead pencil. (.7 mm automatic pencil to be exact) The pencil line is fine enough for accuracy, is dark enough to be easily seen, and the pencil draws a long time without needing sharpening. And the pencil marks can be erased.

On dark-colored wood like walnut, the dark line of the pencil isn't as visible as I want. I've tried light-colored leads for the .7 mm pencil, but they break all the time. I've tried white chalk, but the line is way too thick. I've tried a white pencil -- the kind with cedar holding the lead -- but it needs sharpening all the time.

Anybody got a suggestion?

After reading this thread I bought this, .9mm while chalk lead. Got it yesterday.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004M5BGD4

I tried it on a half dozen different woods from walnut to some exotics and it is quite visible. Makes a fine enough line. The lead is a lot tougher than I what I was prepared for. The lead didn't break once while experimenting with the pencil.

JKJ

[Rick Moyer]

After reading this thread I bought this, .9mm while chalk lead. Got it yesterday.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004M5BGD4

I tried it on a half dozen different woods from walnut to some exotics and it is quite visible. Makes a fine enough line. The lead is a lot tougher than I what I was prepared for. The lead didn't break once while experimenting with the pencil.

JKJ

LOL, Me too John, and mine came yesterday as well although I haven't used it yet. (you know, need something for a project-do without-then order it for next time!)

[Roger Bull]

I use this. It works well on any dark wood. It is a thin chalk lead.

https://smile.amazon.com/Bohin-Extra-Fine-Chalk-Pencil-91473/dp/B004M5BGD4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519234363&sr=8-1&keywords=bohns+white+pencil


That is the one I use also. Nice thin line. The chalk is a little brittle when marking on a rough surface but it is easy to see.

[roger wiegand]

I use these : https://www.amazon.com/Prismacolor-Premier-Colored-Pencil-Silver/dp/B0035A12D6

Silver works better than white for me on in-between shades. They are also great for marking black pneumatic cloth, which is what I first bought them for.

[Brett Luna]

I bought a 0.9mm pencil, with white leads included (http://www.joann.com/fons-and-porter-white-mechanical-fabric-pencil-set-with-refill/8666760.html#q=white%2Bpencil&start=1), at a fabric/sewing supply store. The pencil quit working in pretty short order but the lead fits my Alvin drafting pencil just fine. I order refills on Amazon nowadays.

[Ira Matheny]

Try iron workers [welder's] soap stone. Round or flat. Reasonably hard, but sharpens easily. Marks walnut nicely.