Our Brands
Markal.
An American marking and identification products manufacturer founded in 1934, producing paint markers, paint sticks, lumber crayons, chalk and metal marking products used in construction, metal fabrication, oil and gas, manufacturing and the timber industry to mark materials, components and structures in demanding outdoor and industrial conditions.
About Markal
Markal was founded in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois, and is a brand of LA-CO Industries. The company specialises in marking and identification products for professional use in industrial, construction and manufacturing environments, including paint markers, solid paint sticks, chalk, lumber crayons and specialised marking products for metal, concrete, wood and other industrial substrates.
The basic problem Markal products solve is marking materials and structures in conditions where ordinary writing instruments fail. Steel fabrications at temperature, wet concrete, oily or contaminated metal surfaces, timber in outdoor storage, and pipes and cables in confined spaces are all surfaces where a ballpoint pen, felt-tip marker or pencil will not mark reliably or last. The Markal solid paint stick (Paintstik), liquid paint markers (Trades-marker) and chalk-based products give marking that adheres to these difficult substrates and stays legible through handling, transport and processing.
In the UK steel fabrication and oil and gas sectors, Markal B Paintstiks are a standard marking consumable. The solid oil-based paint in a lipstick-style applicator marks steel, concrete and most other industrial surfaces cleanly, stays legible through the temperatures that welding preheat creates, and leaves a clear mark that survives handling and outdoor exposure. The temperature-indicating Tempilstik range, also from LA-CO/Markal, shows when steel has reached a specific preheat temperature through a colour change reaction, which makes it a critical quality control tool in structural and pressure vessel welding.
Products We Can Supply from Markal
B Paintstik solid paint markers. The Markal B Paintstik comes in white, yellow, red, blue, black, orange and other standard colours for marking steel, concrete, glass, pipe and most industrial surfaces. The oil-based solid paint formula marks on wet, oily and coated surfaces, survives rain exposure and stays legible through handling. It is available in standard size and in the larger B-L (Big and Lubricated) format for faster, more visible marks on rough surfaces, and is the most widely used Markal product in UK steel fabrication and construction.
Trades-marker liquid paint markers. The Markal Trades-marker is a valve-action liquid paint marker for marking wood, metal, concrete and most construction materials with a paint-based line. The valve tip delivers consistent paint flow, it comes in multiple tip widths and it dries quickly. It is used for marking timber framing, structural members, rebar and concrete formwork in construction, and for part identification and flow direction marking in fabrication and pipework.
Lumber crayons and chalk. Markal lumber crayons come in standard and fluorescent colours for marking timber, concrete and masonry, with chalk available in bulk and cartridge formats for chalk line reels. Lumber crayons are a fundamental site consumable for marking cut lines, measurements and material identification on timber and concrete block in building and groundworks.
Tempilstik temperature indicators. Markal Tempilstik temperature-indicating sticks verify that steel has reached a specific preheat or interpass temperature during welding. The Tempilstik marks the surface with a material that melts at a precise temperature, so when the weld zone reaches the specified preheat the mark melts and changes in appearance, confirming the temperature has been achieved. It is an essential QA tool for weld procedure compliance in structural and pressure vessel fabrication.
Industries
Markal marking products are used in steel fabrication and structural steelwork, oil and gas construction and maintenance, shipbuilding, timber and lumber processing, construction and groundworks, pipework and HVAC installation, general manufacturing, and any industrial or construction application where reliable marking on difficult substrates in demanding conditions is a daily requirement.
Product Categories
- B Paintstik solid paint markers
- Trades-marker liquid paint markers
- Lumber crayons & chalk
- Tempilstik temperature indicators
Good to Know
White Markal Paintstiks are the standard marking colour for dark steel and fabrications, though yellow shows up better on galvanised and light-coloured steel and in low-light conditions. For permanent part identification that survives shot-blasting and painting processes, contact us about Markal’s specialised marking products. Some Paintstik formulations are made to burn off cleanly during painting rather than bleed through the coating.
Buy Markal from The Tool & Gauge Company (UK) Limited
The Tool & Gauge Company (UK) Limited supplies Markal paint markers, paint sticks and industrial marking products to trade customers, contractors and businesses across the UK and internationally. We order directly from Markal and their authorised distributors, and can source products across the full range to order. We deliver to any UK mainland address and export to the Middle East, Africa, Asia and beyond.
To enquire about Markal products, send us a part number, product name or description and we’ll come back with availability and a price the same working day. Whether you need Markal Pro-Line HP paint markers, Markal Paintstik solid paint markers or Markal lumber crayons for construction and fabrication marking, we supply them to UK trade customers. Trade accounts with 30-day credit terms are available for qualifying businesses. Get in touch and we’ll take it from there.
Get in Touch
Send us your requirement and we’ll come back with a price, usually the same working day.