Where to buy layout/marking fluid locally? (Sacramento)

[VictorFranko]

Once you go red you'll never use blue Dykem again.
And Dykem is for all metals, not just aluminum.

[RustyIron]

Once you go red you'll never use blue Dykem again.

Interesting. Never tried red. My can of blue is half full and probably as old as I am, so I may not run out in my lifetime. When working on small stuff, I find it quicker to use a sharpie. Recently my wife gave me a gift and the box was marked "magnum." I thought it was condoms, but it turns out that Sharpie makes a GIANT marker. They're much better for painting areas that you're going to lay out. I find the Sharpie ink easier to see than Dykem.

[kendog4570]

Sharpie ink is also a very thin deposit. Dykem is quite a bit thicker. Tom Lipton did a comparison with a super fine electronic measuring device. If I find the Utube link I will post it up here. I have a big Magnum fattie Sharpie that stays right at the lathe.

[Lingwendil]

Dykem or equivalent can be found at some automotive supply places, especially ones that cater to the hot rod crowd and machinists. I stopped using Dykem and use sharpie or paint pen nowadays, less mess and works just as well 99% of the time.

[ForesterPumice]

Sharpie and paint sharpie work well as a substitute

[ROOS_HAPPENS]

If you're in Sacramento, it looks like there's an MSC warehouse near you:

MSC Industrial Supply
2688 Del Monte St,
West Sacramento, CA 95691
(916) 617-2002

I don't know if there's a minimum purchase requirement, so ya might call 'em & ask. MSC is one of the major machinist suppliers in the US.
By the way, get the blue stuff. To us machinist types, red is for scrrrrappp! (Although tool & cutter grinders prefer it over blue, when sharpening end mills.)

[kendog4570]

Interesting short video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46DBNUfhATo

Of course, ALL gunschmidts work to tolerances such as these...

[ar15barrels]

Interesting short video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46DBNUfhATo

Of course, ALL gunschmidts work to tolerances such as these...

I'm sticking with my red dykem.
I know that when I am grinding something and dress the wheel that I can come right back to the part and grind half the dykem off the part as I am approaching my new wheel zero.

[kendog4570]

Old trick. Throw some layout fluid on the part and remove just the film to get that last half a thou.

[fishoot]

I buy mine at Murray Industrial Supply, 11290 Sunrise Gold Cir
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742. They are around the corner from Western Tool, which I also frequent.

[xsefan]

Amazon prime. You won't have to go out of your way to find it.