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Paint Marker Selection.

If you're confused by the number of paint markers available, here are a few tips to aid you in selecting the best marker for your application: do you want a permanent or removable marker, what tip style will work best (steel, felt, solid paint), how do you want the mark to appear (rough, wide, narrow), and finally, are there any special features you need (high temperature resistance, high purity/low chloride).

Removable markers (such as Autowriter, China Markers or Dykem Rinz Off) can be removed from non porous surfaces with water and light scrubbing. Other removable markers (Posca, Big Glass, Bopagla) are resistant to rain but easily removed with mild cleaners. These are especially popular in the automotive service industry for mapping out damaged areas. Standard glass cleaners disolve the marks, special formualtions minimize ghosting on painted surfaces.

Permanent paint markers are filled with solvent and water-based pigmented paints resistant to fading and weathering. Solvents-based markers assist in bonding to surfaces and fast drying. Permanent markers using water based paints contain small amounts of alcohol to aid in bonding and dry slower. Some markers (Sharpie Paint) contain UV stabilizers while others are fade resistant. Solid paint markers such as Sakura and Markal B are a solid piece of paint. Most permanent markers can be removed from glass with razor blades. For improved bonding to oily surfaces and cold weather performance use xylene based markers such as Unipaint, The Pumper or Metal Mark.

Tip styles are determined by the roughness of the surface you're writing on: rough surfaces damage fiber tips so if your're marking on rusty metal, wood, concrete, use solid paint markers. If you need a narrow mark on rough surfaces use a steel tip (Texpens are available in 3 tip widths). Tip widths are available in extra fine (.08mm) fine (1.2 mm), medium (1.8 mm), bold (2.4 mm) and extra wide (30mm). Some markers (Sharpie Paint Bold) have chiseled tips that can make a 1/4" wide mark and used sideways, can make a 1/16" wide mark.

Special Features such as high purity limit amounts of ingredient such as chlorides and are used for aircraft parts and stainless steels. High temperature markers are available for marks that need to withstand up to 2000 deg F.