Refilling a sharpie for etch resist. Which ink?

[John Lyons]

Looking for which ink to refill fine point sharpies to touch up circuit boards.
Even new sharpies are not juicy enough often times.
Anyone use liquid ink for etch resist?

[bean]

I don't have an answer to your question but with Sharpies I find you can get better etch resist by dabbing the point rather than steady application.

[CodeMonk]

I've used fingernail polish to fix gaps, etc. in my toner transfers.
I'll usually use a toothpick to apply it.

Maybe if you thin the polish out, you can apply it with a fine tipped brush, or maybe even fill up a sharpie with it.
Just kind of an "Off the top of my head" thought.

Maybe you could try some Dykem?

[11-90-an]

https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-fix-dried-out-sharpie-607941

Don't know if this works, never tried it...yet 

Never tried etching, so i can't really say anything

[davent]

Hi John, At an art supply store you should be able to get small refillable plastic bottles with extremely fine or wider metal tips that you could use for nail polish. Was using one today to work up some lettering and no issue getting regular artists acrylic paints through, no thinning and about the same consistency as nail polish.

I have this set and did not buy them from Amazon.ca but from a local artist supplier for a handful of dollars.

https://www.amazon.ca/Line-Detail-Bottles-Creative-Mark/dp/B0049UVJYS
dave

[John Lyons]

https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-fix-dried-out-sharpie-607941

Don’t know if this works, never tried it...yet 
Thanks, the only thing is that the solvent evaporates and there isn't much
left behind as a resist. It would work on paper though.

Hi John, At an art supply store you should be able to get small refillable plastic bottles with extremely fine or wider metal tips that you could use for nail polish. Was using one today to work up some lettering and no issue getting regular artists acrylic paints through, no thinning and about the same consistency as nail polish.

Interesting Dave
I'll have to check those out. Thanks

I've used fingernail polish to fix gaps, etc. in my toner transfers.
I'll usually use a toothpick to apply it.

Maybe if you thin the polish out, you can apply it with a fine tipped brush, or maybe even fill up a sharpie with it.
Just kind of an "Off the top of my head" thought.

Maybe you could try some Dykem?

I've done nail polish in the past for large areas for etching plates but it's hard to get much control for tiny areas.

I think I'm going to try this. https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Permanent-Marker-Dropper-43500/dp/B0006OM39Q

[anotherjim]

I had to search for "Dykem". The first hit was for erectile dysfunction products! Ah, but it's Engineers steel marking ink!

[Mark Hammer]

When I used to have to make my PCBs in the days before toner-transfer and laser printers cheap enough for mere mortals, I would use Staedtler Lumocolor fine tipped waterproof markers, like these.

One of the things I would do is use two colors.  The second color was to let me know which areas I had already gone over.  It also provided a thicker layer.

Alcohol does help to dissolve dried bits in Sharpies and similar waterproof markers, but one needs to assist the ink in flowing again once the tip has been rid of dry bits.

[jimitrader]

how do you refill a sharpie? have not heard about this? my fine tip is going dry anyone figure this out? besides buying a new pack at costco?

[jimitrader]

these are on amazon for cheap..going to order some..thanks for the tip

https://www.amazon.com/STAEDTLER-Lumocolor-Permanent-Marker-PensSpecial/dp/B017RC09BS/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=Staedtler+Lumocolor&qid=1596567746&sr=8-5