Replies

1. 
   stantheman | Jul 09, 2022 04:56pm | #1

   chalk

   or for some situations, a piece of masking tape that I write on.

2. 
   jim_hall | Jul 09, 2022 05:14pm | #2

   Try a white leaded marking pencil. Quilters use them to mark cloth material. If your wife sews, she may have one you can borrow.

3. 
   michael_sheehan | Jul 09, 2022 05:54pm | #3

   General’s white chalk pencils are great!
   https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwiYmMKX5ez4AhWXjcgKHfbFCEEYABAiGgJxdQ&ae=2&sig=AOD64_3jQPk8eN65-jMHug_J9usXRENXzQ&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwiR-LiX5ez4AhXpkYkEHRgeAp8Q0Qx6BAgDEAE

4. 
   bilyo | Jul 09, 2022 06:06pm | #4

   These were recommended on another forum a short time ago. I've not used them so can't vouch for them:
   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RD0TSMQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details
   I have used yellow or orange color pencils that work fairly well. The points break easily and don't stay sharp very long, but they get the job done.

5. 
   _mj_ | Jul 09, 2022 06:18pm | #5

   +1 White pencil... (mechanical)

6. 
   john_c2 | Jul 09, 2022 09:05pm | #6

   I use a regular pencil, with raking light I can see the pencil lines just fine. You'll want a lamp that's fairly low over the workpiece.

7. 
   elmaduro | Jul 09, 2022 11:13pm | #7

   Agree with all of the above, a good quality white lead pencil works great..

   
8. 
   user-7593569 | Jul 09, 2022 11:32pm | #8

   I use Chinagraph/glasochrom pencils, from a brand called Staedtler. They are wonderful, will write on anything and are easy to remove with a bit of turps and a rag. My father uses them for layout- he is a signwriter, in the traditional hand-painted sense. They are handy for the workshop. I keep white and blue around.

9. 
   rob_ss | Jul 10, 2022 02:51am | #9

   For rough sawn wood, chalk.
   For planed wood rough cuts, pencil
   For fine cuts - marking knife.

10. 
    user-6959514 | Jul 10, 2022 08:11am | #10

    Thanks everyone for the excellent ideas. I’ve placed my order and paid a little extra to have it delivered this afternoon by an A-10 fly over.

11. 
    _mj_ | Jul 10, 2022 10:15am | #11

    Scary delivery method! You may find that pencil embedded in the cast iron top of your tablesaw!

12. 
    fourier_transform | Jul 10, 2022 03:45pm | #12

    I've never had success with white pencils. The ones I've tried wouldn't take a sharp point and they crumbled easily. Definitely not ideal when accuracy is important.

    I'm with Rob_SS and John_C2. A marking knife is a wonderful marking tool because it is so darn accurate

13. 
    pantalones868 | Jul 10, 2022 04:36pm | #13

    I'll use a stringline with white chalk for straight lines. I tossed the fuzzy cheap string that comes with chalk boxes with Kevlar fishing line and it makes a nice crisp line. For curves I'll use a knife but in dark grainy wood sometimes that is hard to see. I've dusted the marked line with chalk dust and then blown the excess off and the chalk stays in the knife cut.

14. 
    geedubbee | Jul 11, 2022 01:01am | #14

    I use a lot of walnut. I have several white pencils scattered about the shop. There are times I will use green painters tape and a regular pencil.