What to use to clearly mark dark brown wood???

[Quinny]

Hi,

I have been working on a uke with Walnut as the neck and Zircote for the body, but it was really hard to see pencil marks. This was a problem when cutting and filing, as I struggled to see the lines to guide my work. Made things a lot harder as it made me leave more margin in sawing, which let more sanding and filing!! I tried a light but it wasn't really helpful.

I'd be really grateful for any ideas on what to use to mark dark wood so it is more easily visible.

Thanks

Andrew

[Allen]

Get yourself a white pen from Office Works. Or a white pencil from the art supply rack.

I've got a handful of them because I simply can't see anything dark on a dark background. It's terrible getting old.

[peter.coombe]

I've got a handful of them because I simply can't see anything dark on a dark background. It's terrible getting old.

+1 on that!

[56nortondomy]

I got a heap of white pencils from the reject shop, they were in packets of 3 for $2, so i bought about 6 packets, for the money they are ok, but not as good as the General charcoal white.
Wayne

[curly]

For coarse writing on dark or wet timbers I use thick lyra branded artists pencils , sky blue is the pick . They can be sharpened to a reasonable point .
For marking up accurately in building I use a scribed line off a burin or knife . Rub chalk or pencil into the scribed line for the best of both , accurate and visible .
Pete

[vandenboom]

Sometimes, I put a small bit of masking tape in the approx position and pencil mark that. eg. When marking out dark fingerboards, waist position when side bending, centre line on the back when the join is (hopefully) difficult to see.

[Quinny]

Thanks guys - I could use all those ideas and will get some white pencils. Pretty obvious idea now I have heard it!!

Part of the problem was the advent of needing reading glasses, made worse with a not-so-bright shed.

Thanks again

Andrew

[Trevor Gore]

A quiet word of warning: It is remarkable how your deleted white marking out lines can magically reappear just as you're about to buff out...

[Hard Road]

I use white chalk, then a normal pencil to mark over the chalk

[Jim watts]

Scribe a line with a knife and rub chalk into it.

[Nick]

A quiet word of warning: It is remarkable how your deleted white marking out lines can magically reappear just as you're about to buff out...

You too Trevor? Those 'little' moments certainly increase your vocabulary

[kiwigeo]

Give the wood a coat of Taubmans ceiling white......no problems then with the pencil showing up

[lauburu]

no problems then with the pencil showing up

.... or pore filling

[Craig Bumgarner]

I use welder's chalk, which I think is actually soapstone. Sharpens and removes easily.