2025 The Best Markers for Metal Fabrication, Welding, and Beyond – My Favorite Markal Picks 🔥✏️
If you’ve spent more than five minutes in my shop, you know two things:
I’ve probably got a welding hood on my head.
There’s a Markal marker within arm’s reach at all times.
These aren’t just “markers” — they’re the unsung heroes of my builds, the sidekicks to my steel masterpieces, and yes… the reason I can mark a tiny spot in the most awkward corner of a project without looking like I’m trying to write with a garden hose.
Here are my top 5 Markal products I can’t live without — all linked up so you can check them out (and yes, when you click, I get a little commission love 💵… so thanks in advance).
1️⃣ Needle Nose Permanent Marker – The Reach-Anywhere Legend
When I say needle nose, I mean this thing can sneak into spots a normal marker wouldn’t dare. Inside tubing, between brackets, in a tight weld prep gap — this is my surgical tool for precision marking. Writes clean, lasts a long time, and doesn’t smudge.
2️⃣ Dura-Ink Permanent Marker – The Everyday Workhorse
This is my “always-on-the-bench” marker. Works on almost any surface — steel, wood, plastic, even that random scrap you found in the corner. It’s bold, it’s permanent, and it holds up to shop abuse.
3️⃣ Rough Surface Paint Marker – ScrapFest Champion
Special shout-out here — ScrapFest handed these bad boys out the last two years, and they were a HUGE hit. The yellow paint pops like crazy on dark metal, rough surfaces, and rust. Perfect for layout lines you actually want to see when sparks are flying.
4️⃣ Markal Oily Surface Paint Marker – Bold. Bright. Built for the Tough Stuff.
Paint markers are game-changers when you need a highly visible, long-lasting mark that laughs in the face of dirt, grease, and weather. Perfect for industrial jobs, outdoor work, or anything that needs to be seen from across the shop. These bad boys don’t fade easily and can even mark underwater (not that I’ve tried… yet).
5️⃣ TRADES-MARKER Mechanical Grease Pencil – The Refillable Rebel
This one’s a newer addition to my arsenal — and I’m hooked. Works on pretty much everything (glass, plastic, metal, wood, you name it), wipes clean when needed, and best of all — it’s refillable. A true pocket tool.
Why I Stick with Markal
They work on metal, wood, plastic, and more – perfect for fabrication, construction, and creative builds.
Shop-tough durability – no more dried-out markers after one job.
Colors that pop – because visibility matters when you’re making sparks fly.
💡 Pro Tip: A good marker is like a good tape measure — always keep extras. You’ll thank yourself when the one in your pocket mysteriously disappears into the shop void.
🚀 Ready to Gear Up?
If you want tools that can keep up with your builds, grab one (or all) of these Markal markers and see why I swear by them.
Every click helps support my projects and videos — so thanks for keeping the sparks (and ink) flowing.
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Disclaimer, I wanted to be transparent with my readers, fans and customers… I have been a Markal customer, user and fan for many, many years now! this year I was asked if I wanted to work a little closer with Markal and become an affiliate. So with that said, I do earn a super small commission every time you click on any of the links above. It is not based on sales at all and this blog post was created to promote and share the Markal products I like and use in my weld shop. Also all my content creation has a Markal marker in it or the markings from a Markal marker somewhere in the background. Regardless of being an affiliate or not I would still be a Markal customer. Thank you all so much for reading my blogs, visiting my website and the support.