Ink or Paint to Metal Surface (Permanent)

Unobtanium....

I'd use a two part epoxy ink and a pad printer.

Can you Google?

And then I'd use a wire brush, emery cloth, or sandblaster to remove it.

(Vandals can always win, if they put their minds to it. Or TonyS's "Ivan".)

Maybe a virtuoso graffitist might have some good ideas--any of those guys on CR4?

I know, I know. I's jus anserin the question.

You need to do a search on acid etching

If there was such a thing as permanent ink or paint, all of the companies that sold them would be out of business.

Well, not immediately--they would get the first sale!

Have you considered "powder coating"?

That stuff can be very resilient and the process is well understood.

I've also seen some really nice enamelling done (fused by heat) but there are some coatings available for restoration of enamel surfaces that should have good hardness characterisitcs.

For transfer of wet ink or paint search "TECA" as a supplier of TAMPO printing process.They use shaped silicone transfer tips that can be specifically shaped to your needs. The also supply inks.

Thank you to all of you

Darned good answer. You beat me to it!

As far as I am aware, (could be wrong!), there are no "true" permanent ink methods on metal. Naturally the manufacturer will not agree with me....I am sure you could polish off any ink in a short space of time.....seconds.....

But today there are other systems that are far more permanent, depending upon the number of units to be marked.

A good flexible, but not cheap method is with Laser that actually changes the structure of the metal slightly......

Metal stamps and a big hammer - very cheap, no explanation needed.

Acid etching systems that use plastic stencils, can be done with a relatively cheap system to quite expensive I am reliably informed. How deep the metal is etched is controlled. Some use an electronic/electric probe, have been around for years....

Moulding of some parts can be done with extra pieces in the mould (removeable/replaceable) that leave readable infos in the metal surface.

I am sure that there are other methods as well.....

Media blasting with a course carbide media and stencil and then painting the roughed surface with an epoxy paint.

Or, using a small drill bit, perforate the number into the metal. If you don't want to make holes, just leave drill tip dimples. Then, after painting the entire surface, fill the dimples by painting over the number with a contrasting color and wiping off (or scraping using a piece of cardboard) the surface, leaving paint in the dimples.

http://www.etching-metal.com/

I've simply just etched what you want to write ( or use some type of lettered punch) and than use whatever paint (I've used a paint marker). Try and get atleast .03" deep.