Hate Sanding off Pencil Marks?

[peter halle]

I hate sanding off the inevitable pencil marks on wood. I also hate putting on a piece of masking tape and then writing on that. I bet I am not the only one out there who feels the same way. I know that sanding is inevitable, but somehow I still hate those marks. So, in an effort to be helpful, and after ordering some for myself, I thought I would post this link for a non-sanding way to mark your work. And it works.



Peter

 

[jeffinsgf]

Obviously, Peter, you didn't learn woodworking from YouTube. Don't you know that you're supposed to make all your layout lines on blue tape, then rip the blue tape off and cover your entire project with pencil marks so you know where to sand?

Love that pen. Have to try that.

 

[derekcohen]

Oh for goodness sake! No special pencils needed. Just wipe off pencil marks with denatured alcohol. In Oz I use methylated spirits.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[ChuckM]

Denatured alcohol doesn't work for me; I mean it works just like an eraser. I tried it on different kinds of wood species and unless the pencil marks were super light, I ended up using an eraser and/or sanding or card scraping to remove some of the stubborn pencil marks.

I'll give the heat-sensitive pens a try. Do they have white ones -- the walnut is giving me the most annoying marking/erasure problem? Wait, in the comments section, cold could bring back the marks?

 

[jeffinsgf]

This looks like check fraud just waiting to happen...if anyone ever actually writes a check again.

 

[Mini Me]

Don't use a pencil use ink like Japanese woodworkers.

 

[ChuckM]

If by ink you mean this: https://www.robin-wood.co.uk/wood-c...woodworking-marking-measuring-and-laying-out/ , I can't see how it is better than a pencil.

I can't even imagine how every ink mark left on a Domino Joinery project can be removed unless tedious sanding is applied.

 

[PaulMarcel]

So reflecting on what I do, I don't typically mark a show-face without first putting tape. It's easy when you have a couple dispensers (don't neglect the utility of a blue/yellow-tape dispenser or packing-tape dispenser)

I guess when I mark for a Domino, I tend to do it on the edge so it is hidden in the glue-up anyway.

 

[Vondawg]

That’s pretty amazing…yea what if it re-appears with cold

 

[semenza]

He comments in the video about maybe needing to sand out indentations or scratches from the pen point. I think that will be a definite. I (I'm guessing most others viewers too) could see them after the heat gun treatment in the video. Not sure which is better ....... sanding out pencil marks that you know are gone, or sanding out invisible "scratches"?

In any case this is pretty cool and should have some useful applications!

Seth

 

[Steve1]

Don't you know that you're supposed to make all your layout lines on blue tape

No, you are supposed to use green tape.
Better contrast. On blue tape, the lines can be harder to see.

 

[hdv]

I have been using acetone to remove pencil marks or years now. Never had any trouble with it. As fas as I experienced, it has no noticeable negative effect when finishing. Just make sure you don't make an indent by pushing too hard on the pencil.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Do they have white ones -- the walnut is giving me the most annoying marking/erasure problem? Wait, in the comments section, cold could bring back the marks?

For Walnut, my go-to is a white charcoal pencil. It shows very well and comes off with the most minimal sanding.
I get them from Amazon, about $5 for a 3 pack.
As far as regular pencil on lighter colored wood, I have found differences in the graphite. Once in a while, I run into one that is harder to remove. It's nothing crazy, a little sanding takes it off. The main thing to watch out for, is when the graphite is too hard. You have to push harder to for it to make a mark, then it scratches/ gouges.