Is there a permanent marker pen for steel, aluminum, and polymer mags?

[IMtheNRA]

Just wondering if there is a good pen that I could use to mark all of my mags - steel, aluminum, polymer, stainless, and nickel plated.

 

[~Abstract~]

 

[taliv]

i wrap colored electrical tape around mine and then use sharpie to mark on the tape

 

[BCRider]

There's not a marker pen made that will stand up to the solvents and oils we typically use for such things. Either you'll need to mark them using a good paint or stamp/engrave them.

I'd suggest either an engraver of some sort or look at a number or letter stamping kit. With stamping numbers and/or letters you'll need to take the mags apart and insert a solid steel bar as an "anvil" to avoid bending the mags.

 

[Creature]

Actually, this is an interesting topic to me. I had never thought much about engraving a magazine. Seems easy enough to do and could be done either by hand or with a computer-controlled engraving machine.

A google search turned up this photo:

 

[RPRNY]

Nail polish? I use it as a timing mark on my Land Rover distributor. Has held up to the heat and gunk in the engine bay for 4 years now.

 

[mdauben]

There are markers that use actual paint instead of ink that can be found in artist or craft supply stores. Not sure if they hold up to typical cleaning solvents but they might be worth a try. They come in different colors, too.

 

[jmr40]

I use a sharpie. Silver works good on dark surfaces. I own several Glocks includinga G20 and G21 and it really makes identifying which mags go with each gun easy. It will wear off with time, but lasts plenty long especially on plastic parts. You can get it off if you want later. I not only write the guns model number, but the type of ammo in the magazine.

I have 15-20 AR magazines, loaded with different ammo weights and types. Same with my handguns. If I change the type of ammo in that magazine I can rub it off with 0000 steel wool and a little oil. I do the same with handgun magazines.

About once per year I may have to brighten up what I have written on the magazines. It gets a little faded by that time, but is still legible.

 

[Captains1911]

I use white "Painty Pens," that use actual paint. You can find them at Party City. I switched to these after getting tired of silver sharpie wearing off constantly. Painty Pens last MUCH longer and work on every material I've tried (plastic, stainless steel, blued steel). Since I don't subject my mags to solvents I have no idea how well it will hold up to such. I do know that you take the paint markings off easily with acetone.

http://www.partycity.com/search.do?query=painty

 

[rcmodel]

I have used acrylic lacquer Appliance Touch-Up paint in the past with excellent durability.

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay...gId=10051&cmRelshp=rel&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

rc

 

[Krzyshng]

I use the metallic silver sharpies. Its yet to come off on any of my magazines whether it be stainless, aluminum, or polymer. Works well for my needs as I usually just mark them numerically in a small spot for identification in case of malfunctions.

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[Captains1911]

To the people having luck with the silver sharpies, I am curious, do you use your mags? I use mine and they wear off quickly, I just don't understand how people could have such different results.

 

[dampoo]

Watch the pawnshops. I found a tool and die maker electric engraver, etches the metal with electric current, for $50 and sold it a year later for $200. Should have kept it.

 

[Krzyshng]

To the people having luck with the silver sharpies, I am curious, do you use your mags? I use mine and they wear off quickly, I just don't understand how people could have such different results.

I mostly just number mine on the bottom of the baseplate to identify if/when a particular one might be causing problems. Doesn't get touched by any solvents or scratched up much down there. Maybe theres just not much to wear off or the location of the marks but the silver sharpies work great for my purposes.

I've got mags for both work and range toys so some do get used harder than others but I make use of them all. Though I haven't tried the paint pens you suggested I would think the paint would be chipped/scratched off easier than the sharpie ink since its a raised layer on top of the metal.

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