Pen for Incra Marking Rule

[christoph clark]

I've had an Incra Marking Rule for an age but have yet to find a pen small enough to fit thorugh the tiny holes...
I have pens that are 0.4mm but even they are too big..

Anyone ?

 

[motownmartin]

Hi Christoph,

Tilgear sell the incra precision pencil, it has a 0.5mm propellling lead, price £0.95, code number INC005PPC
Phone number 01707 873434

 

[pooka]

I just use a standard 0.5mm propelling/mechanical pencil. These are available in most stationary shops. The 0.5mm lead fits snugly in the Incra holes and slots, but I expect that this is deliberate. I often break the lead on "rough" wood because it is so fine - I would imagine that a thinner lead would be too fragile to be used with wood.

I believe that Incra also suggest that you can use a 0.5mm cardbide scraper, or a fine awl, with their rules, although I would worry about damaging the rule with either of those (they might widen the holes if you move them too much once inserted).

Both a 0.5mm pencil, and a fine awl, are available here, as one option: http://www.fine-tools.com/incra.htm

 

[christoph clark]

Thanks both for that but I would of liked a marker black pen so it can be seen. The ones I have have 0.4 on the label but I measured the tip and it's more like 0.9.

 

[wizer]

yep I use a propelling pencil.

 

[pooka]

I have seen 0.5mm marker pens (according to their labels that is), but I have never tried one with my Incra rule. I would expect that they would work well though if their real size is 0.5mm.

Scratching with a fine awl, or carbide "pen", and then going over the scratch mark with a standard marker might work although the resulting line might not be as precise.

 

[jasonB]

The problem with most fine point pens is that although the line produced may go down to 0.1mm the metal sleeve that supports the fibre is usually much thicker and will not work with stencils etc.

If the metal of the rule is less than 1mm thick then you may have luck with a 0.1mm Pilot DR as the fibre protrudes about 1mm when new.

Jason