Homemade marking blue

[Winegrower]

I have had the same small can of Dykem for 15 years. It’s still pretty full, and it seems like I use it often. I sure don’t see any need in my use to either improve its function or lower the cost.

 

[graham-xrf]

I have had the same small can of Dykem for 15 years. It’s still pretty full, and it seems like I use it often. I sure don’t see any need in my use to either improve its function or lower the cost.

For some of us, it is about getting hold of the stuff at all!
I agree, once one has scored a bottle, it will last well.

 

[Suzuki4evr]

For some of us, it is about getting hold of the stuff at all!
I agree, once one has scored a bottle, it will last well.

Graham you just made a good point. The stuff is not so available here where you can just walk in and buy it. I can order,but shipping usually is the killer and then the price is just too high just to make a mark more visible. So that is why I am exploring making my own.

 

[graham-xrf]

Graham you just made a good point. The stuff is not so available here where you can just walk in and buy it. I can order,but shipping usually is the killer and then the price is just too high just to make a mark more visible. So that is why I am exploring making my own.

I do understand. It's hard enough for where you are. Go a little further North and West, and you get to places where pretty much all stuff like that is import special order. In places like Grootfontein or Swakopmund, its probably rare to come across DyKem. Much easier to get together spices for boerewors party!

 

[Winegrower]

Ha ha, you mean there is more to the world than the US? Who knew?

 

[Suzuki4evr]

Ha ha, you mean there is more to the world than the US? Who knew?

That much is true

 

[Suzuki4evr]

Much easier to get together spices for boerewors party!

Now you are making me hungry.

 

[Larry$]

I can't buy Dykem locally but it is easy to order online. I've got red & blue but more often than not I use the Sharpies.
If you live were neither is available locally someone's suggestion of Shellac, alcohol and dye seems like a good substitute.
Shellac goes down hill with time but you can buy shellac flakes and just use a little as needed. Keep the flakes sealed and they will last a long time.

 

[graham-xrf]

@Suzuki4evr and I have been corresponding on this with the aim of getting a nice marking fluid that is reasonable cost, but more important, can be had at all in parts of the world less well served.

The eBay import from Bulgaria into UK costs $35.52 for the little 240mL with the brush-cap.
That works out at $148.00/litre, but I did find the much more reasonable priced 930mL from the official distributor for £26.99, which in dollars is $37.24, making it $40.04/litre. That would surely be a lifetime supply!

The problem for folk in Africa is that stuff like this just cannot be had, hence the attempt to find a recipe. I have been experimenting, and we are getting somewhere with (various) concoctions. Extracting some dye from a ball-point pen that I have no idea how I came to "own", mixed with some alcohol, and a little shellac from woodworking French polish supply places, actually works. I have another recipe that includes some borax (brazing flux).



I decided the friendly, least smelly solvent, would be IPA, and I used 500mg shellac in 1mL alcohol to test it.



We are not there yet. It is still too goopy, and needs more alcohol in the mix. Also, the budget aftermarket non-genuine injet refill, though it gives lovely colours, is water-based. That's OK, because it mixes with the alcohol, but slows down the drying time if one adds enough to get the colour intense. I plan to try raiding another ball-point pen next, this time having the shellac in play.



(Yes - that really is the underside of my ACME thread tool grinding gauge! )
If there is still interest in this thread, I will post the recipes here . Otherwise, I will continue with PMs to @Suzuki4evr.