LIPSTICK. A use for lipstick for mating surfaces.

[Philip Davies]

I found outside our home a make-up etui, and scattered up the road, the contents. It probably fell out of a car. I daresay the owner would regret the loss, but how would I restore it all to her? Not a neighbour’s, but likely to belong to a mum collecting her child after school. And they have the six week summer holiday now.
I was going to throw it all away, then remembered I was almost out of Dykem Red. I can’t just go to a hardware store to buy this. Then I thought, “Well, before they invented engineers’ blue, they used lampblack mixed with grease, and lipstick is, apparently, a colourful grease. So, to illustrate, I took this old wooden smoothing plane, discovered that it had never been properly fettled, and smeared lipstick on the iron to see where the high spots are in the plane’s mouth, which can then be pared away.

[mklotz]

"colourful grease", I love it. Just be sure to not touch your face while using it. Or, if you do, wash your face before approaching SWMBO. :-)

Another good Dykem substitute is a Sharpie marker. The Magnum size...

https://www.amazon.com/Sharpie-Magnu...%2C148&sr=8-13

can cover area quickly but the slightly smaller king size...

https://www.amazon.com/Sharpie-15674...s%2C148&sr=8-6

is better for more detailed work.

Dykem has picked up on the simplicity of a marker-like applicator and now sells a version with a built-in felt tip applicator...

https://www.amazon.com/Dykem-02001-B...s%2C151&sr=8-4

[Jon]

I couldn't help but think of this guy.

[desbromilow]

When I first started gunsmithing I was using lipstick to mark where the barrel/action would contact the wood of the stock as I bedded it in. I still have a large selection of cheap nail polish which gets used as thread locker(weak), sealing fibre threads(clear or coloured), and miscellaneous paint touchups.
My grandfather used to do special effects for training first responders, and his old "makeup kit" contained a great number of lipstick tubes in unusual colours, chicken and lamb bones, and great quantities of glazier's putty mixed with baby oil to keep it soft.
I have yet to get good contact blue, but when I made the replacement Z-handle for my bridgeport mill, I simply took an imprint of the 9 teeth using blue marine grease.

[Toolmaker51]

Colorful grease; no kidding. I don't care what is being matched, there are ridiculous shades that will contrast.
Felt tip is great, up to point it soaks into wood.
Another material that can transfer markings, is carbon paper (ie typists). Biggest advantages; not only very thin, but can lay very flat.
First time was inletting a 91 Argentine Mauser to a stock blank with only a rough barrel channel. With receiver home, paper monitored progress in the tightest bolt handle cutout "ever".

[Philip Davies]

Nothing new under the sun, is there? But can you still get carbon paper?

[mklotz]

Nothing new under the sun, is there? But can you still get carbon paper?

Don't know about the UK but it's still available here...

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=CARBON+PA...f=nb_sb_noss_1

[DIYer]

Thanks Philip Davies! We've added your High Spot Marker to our Measuring and Marking category,
as well as to your builder page: Philip Davies's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

High Spot Marker by Philip Davies

tags: marking

[WmRMeyers]

Nothing new under the sun, is there? But can you still get carbon paper?

yep! https://www.amazon.com/s?k=carbon+pa...f=nb_sb_noss_1

There's usually some available at office supply stores here in the US, I'd expect stationers shops would still have some, too. It's gotten more expensive, though.

And I see Marv has already beat me to it!

Bill

[Toolmaker51]

Unsure who uses black carbon paper, I'd guess instances where a typewriter is still favored means of input. Lots of receipts and government forms using 'carbon-less' duplication for notes and signatures; cleaner too, it doesn't transfer unintentionally like carbon.