Do you have an idea, something you want to make? We are making more products and having some fun in the metal fabrication shop this week. This one tip surprised a lot of people and is one of our favorite things in this area… blue layout fluid.
![](https://www.757makerspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/D23AA1A3-8A0C-4D58-96AC-5721AD85DD82-1024x1024.jpg)
Also called marking blue, is a layout stain or Prussian blue dye used for metal working that lets you mark out rough parts for machining on metal.
![](https://www.757makerspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Image-10-4-20-at-3.13-PM.jpg)
You use this by painting it on your metal (with a brush typically) that stains with a very thin layer of dye that can be scratched off using a scriber or other sharp object to reveal a bright, yet very narrow line in the metal underneath.
Simply put, you can draw your design idea on the metal and it will stay so you can cut/shape/form to those marks to make your idea easily!
Another advantage using this is that any existing scratches or marks are covered with the dye and the new lines have a contrasting background.
From here you can use any number of methods to work on your metal
![757 Makerspace Vertical Metal Bandsaw](https://www.757makerspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_3520-768x1024.jpg)
![](https://www.757makerspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_3517-1024x768.jpg)
Looking to take an idea you have and make it? Come join us and we can show you this and more tips to successfully make it!
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