Marking Steel

Most of the time soapstone is used to mark steel for cutting and fabricating.  Soapstone is a natural element that can be easily found at hardware and welding supply stores.

A good alternative for marking steel can be found at any local discount store.  The silver metallic  sharpie works wonders on a piece of steel.  Several advantages are discovered when using a silver metallic sharpie.  The ink from the sharpie marks on oily stock.  Soapstone does not adhere to oily steel.  As any person who works regularly with metal knows, most steel has an oily surface. Soapstone is very wide and blunt and requires regular sharpening to produce a fine line.   Soapstone can be frustrating to work with as it breaks easily and the steel worker must stop and sharpen it more often than if he used a sharpie.

One can choose to use a grease pencil.  A grease pencil stands up to heat while cutting, but has several faults like soapstone. 

A grease pencil is hard to sharpen and does not hold a sharp edge.  A grease pencil seems to be more breakable than even soapstone.

Bottom line:  Every fabrication shop should have silver metallic sharpies on supply.  The key is to use a silver metallic sharpie.  Once you use one on your steel, you will find that you can make a quick, permanent, sharp mark to cut and fabricate by!

Photo to left shows soapstone mark on top and sharpie mark on the bottom.  Notice a finer line that hold up to moisture with the sharpie.