A friend asked me this evening about a problem and I don't know of a good solution.

 

His son is collecting autographs on a piece of wood with a glossy finish.  On his first one, he tried Sharpie and it smeared.   He's looking for a pen that won't do this.   Any suggestions?

 

I do not know what is on the wood as I have not seen it.   I do know that Sharpie's main solvent is alcohol, and secondary solvent on black ink is a glycol ether.   I don't know of an alternative that would be suitable for a non-smearing autograph.  

I would normally suggest you contact Keith on a question like this

 

When they tried the sharpie, did they simply write and try to smear it?  Maybe if they wrote on it and gave it a minute to dry before the smear test?

Or maybe a paint stick, like is used at a junk yard?

50 minutes ago, Cal said:

Maybe if they wrote on it and gave it a minute to dry before the smear test?

 

I agree with Cal.  Can't think of anything that dries quicker other than a good crayon.  Lefties smear while they write.

The paint sticks I used had an oil paint and would take a bit to dry.

 

Maybe if we attack this problem from a different angle. Like maybe changing the finish on the boards to shellac, it is alcohol based. Just guessing, or do they acrylic ,or lacquer markers at the art supply ? as a last resort, use lipstick.

 

Herb

I'd use a closed grained wood and not finish it till the autographs were collected.

Try these metallic calligraphy pen and then there is a paint pen made by sharpie. Problem with all of these is that is is not instant dry and the sharpie paint pen does clog.

Grease pencil the kind that has the paper wrapper that you untwist and tear off to get a new point.

I tried using a Sharpie on the inside of the lid on our cremation urn before any finish was applied. Shellac (wipe on) made it run some, not a lot but enough so I wasn't happy with it (cherry). Ended up with a ball-point pen! Shellac did not make it run or smudge at all.

Gary

 

Might try woodburning,

just saying,

Herb