Welding Soapstone chalk holder...

[mckutzy]

So a few months ago I was doing a bunch of cutting at work(I'm a weldor, work mainly with grating). My standard chalk holder kinda like an Olfal blade knife, works alright but overall it's a pain... I look at it the wrong way and it breaks a chalk into pieces... Then it don't hold the pieces well at all... So a bunch go into the bin, floor heap ect... And I have to grab a new one...
So a couple of weeks ago I found this guy in the Pinterest that makes these holders for little stubs of soapstone, kinda like what I'm after...

I found out he's not producing them right now... But after a few more frustrating days of laying out with broken chalk... I had to make my own....
The standard chalk holder... And my creation...
Forged it out of a blank rod from a grate, we had a bunch kicking around, and a bit of flat formcoil motor wire I had....
Copper keeps the grip on the stub, also orientates where I like to hold it for marking..
The loop makes for hanging it in the back bench wall...

It seam like a simple thing... But sometime the stupid things drive you nuts...

 

[itsid]

looks nice;
well it doesn't actually..
it looks raw forged and grunty..
but that's ...well; nice



'sid

 

[mckutzy]

Ya... It's hastily made but functional... Helps to keep my sanity...
I had to use a cutting torch, we don't have a rosebud burner or fire bricks, or I would've made a mini forge and done it a little mor properly..

We're not really aloud to take off our gloves to work on stuff or handle pretty much anything, including walking around... Other wise I'd just use my hand to mark out... But can't..
Were Big on hand injury safety... Fare enough....

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

I love it, looks "middle ages", like something a Viking would make.

 

[TT540]

There's holder for those? huh. who knew. I've been doing it all stone ages wrong.

 

[mckutzy]

The rods are twisted at the mill... Then they are welded into the bearing bars of the grating...
I snagged it cause it does look like that extra work into it... But ya I didn't twist it...

 

[supermanotorious]

I've used chalk, sharpie, but have graduated to scribes, about 1,000X more accurate, I know you cant use them for everything though

 

[mckutzy]

I have found the sharpie is good when you can see it... The paint markers are good till the tip wears and mushrooms over... Then it has no accuracy...
So chalk wins for now... But I'm still looking better handier marking techniques..