How do you mark your parts before disassembly etc?

[e9999]

you know when you're about to take the pulley or the rocker out etc and you want to mark them. Sometimes for alignment but other times labelling.

Yes, a punch or scribe will work sometimes, especially for alignment.

I'm always hesitant to use permanent markers cuz most solvents will take that right off and then what...

So been thinking about these "paint pens". Never used one. Are they good? Is the stuff reasonably permanent with oil, gas, cleaner etc? How do they not clog up? Where do you get them? Good ones? Can they be used over oily or rusty parts?

Or other approaches?

 

[Tools R Us]

Most paint pens are only a little harder to wash off that the markers, plus your probably marking an oily surface, so doesn't adhere well. When taking something new to me apart, the digital camera is my favorite tool. Shoot a bunch of pix, close, overview, different angles, etc, to refer to if needed.

 

[plum crazy]

i agree about the digital camera, im doing a frame off on a 72 chevy truck right now, and one thing that helps besides the camera is BAGS lots of them too.... and you can write on the bags. the have lil ones, regular ones, big ones, really big ones, those really help. another thing i do is use blue painters tape, then lable that. if its greasy then wrap the tape around it a few times. these are the things that have really helper me.

 

[plum crazy]

i also have one thing for got what its called, but it looks like a huge crayon and writes well over grease/rust, ive used it to lable leaf springs and stuff. i think that have them at home depot or lowes

 

[e9999]

there are indeed times when you need to mark on vehicles. Hood hinge locations and stuff like that. Driveshaft parts alignments etc.

 

[knorrena]

For smaller bits I use ziplok bags and mark the bag. For things that have a particular sequence I sometimes ark the sequence, or I mark the step in the fsm on the bag.

 

[plum crazy]

we also have a lil electric scribing thing, i guess that would work, my grand dad used it to put his name and number on everything he owned, really everything

 

[2mbb]

I use a scribe but also an automatic center punch. The latter works well especially if the parts don't need a perfect re-alignment (such as a four bolt flange). I will then use the different numbers of marks (one, two three) to distinguish between front/rear, left/right, etc. The center punch leaves a mark that is easy to find and easy to apply.

I also use lots of plastic bags for collections of small parts and fasteners (hubs left/right, wheel bearings), then also bundle those together in larger paper lunch bags for organization (front axle).

I have tried one paint pen, and I had problems with flow, but maybe I would let it sit around in the drawer for too long.

If you don't mind drilling holes, one way to deal with hood & door hinge alignment is to drill a couple of 1/8" holes through the hinge flange and the first layer of sheet metal BEFORE your remove the hinge flange from the hood/door. To reassemble and align you can use properly sized guide pins (a small nail) through the holes to align the flange on the hood/door.

 

[e9999]

I've used the center punch too, but you do it a couple of times on the same parts around the same place for alignment and it can get messy/confusing

 

[2mbb]

I've used the center punch too, but you do it a couple of times on the same parts around the same place for alignment and it can get messy/confusing

I guess I don't understand why you would have to do it more than twice. You match mark before the first disassembly, then you can use the same marks next time.

 

[fledglingme]

in my past i used to work at an auto stamping plant. there they used a tooth paste type of a paint marker. it had a ball point type of tip( only a bit bigger than you'r modern day" bic") this paint had the ability of cutting thru grease and wouldn't desolve in most solvents, once dryed. and i belive they are also made in a small size. thesedays i work in construction, and i see beams & coloums that arrive on the site and they are marked with the same stuff. i think a trip to "macmasters&carr" online would yeild what you're looking for. sorry i can remember the name.

 

[e9999]

yup, McM has a bunch of them, see for example
McMaster-Carr

Interestingly, they also have some ink markers they claim are resistant to gasoline, most alcohols etc...

Of course, as usual for McM the issue is to figure out which one to get...

Don't they carry these things at NAPA etc too?

 

[zebrabeefj40]

Grainger and Fastenal usually have that stuff on the shelf too if you what to just pick it up instead of ordering. Or look in the yellow pages for industrial suppliers. Some of the stuff you're talking about (driveshaft alignment, hood hinge alignment) simple spray paint works good for. Couple of dots blasted on a driveshaft and you're set. A quick blast of paint on the corner of a hood hinge works too. For valve train parts that need to go back in the same holes egg containers work great; 'specially with a 6 cylinder.

Nick