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need something to write on plant labels that won't fade

  • Thread starter back2eight
  • Start date
  • #21
Hi all, I have blank plant tags/labels and I need something to write on them with that won't fade. Sharpies fade very quickly. I have tried paint markers, but if you scrape it with your fingernail they scrape off, so that won't work either. Any ideas?

I went the Brother label-maker (the one attachable to a computer) route a few years back, just for the reasons you listed. The markers fade and pencil smears.

The adhesive labels don't fade and the adhesive used should be attractive to even NASA -- to keep those damn insulating tiles from dropping off. The stuff is just indestructible . . .
 
  • #22
Ah, 26 feet! One seller has the tape size listed as 0.5" x 26" and I was thinking, that might only be half a dozen labels! lol

Even those pro-printed B & T Garden Supply labels I had ordered could be scraped off with a fingernail.
 
  • #23
Ah, 26 feet! One seller has the tape size listed as 0.5" x 26" and I was thinking, that might only be half a dozen labels! lol

Even those pro-printed B & T Garden Supply labels I had ordered could be scraped off with a fingernail.

What you read was, obviously, a misprint. It should have read 26' (think of the Stonehenge gaff in Spinal Tap), which is a common length for those tapes. Most of my labels are around 1" in length -- so 12 labels per foot x 26' = 312 labels per roll . . .
 
  • #24
But you figure with each single label you print you use about 3.5-4"... so on a roll of tape (approx 26') you'll probably get about 78-89 labels.
Most of my labels are around 1/2" in length -- so 24 labels per foot x 26' = 624 labels per roll.
.... and my average is probably in between these 2. While I do manage to keep some short - like 0.5" - most probably end up being 1-1.5". With 3 lines of small print on a 0.5" tape - that's a decent amount of info. As Andrew noted above, they don't give the tapes away, but even so, I have no regrets with my purchase ... well - maybe a little - I want the one that hooks up to my computer so I can create different formats and save them. My handheld will only hold 10 in memory.

btw - the tapes are listed as 26.2 feet.
 
  • #25
"Who were they? The Druids..." I didn't think 26" could be right.

I was wondering how many labels you could do, now I'll know, cos I just got back from target!


I picked up the Home & Office P-touch 1280 sp which comes with two rolls of tape and the 6 AAA batteries to run it for $39.99. It has a larger display than the "Personal model" but when I tallied it up the cheaper model actually came to more with the separately purchased accessories. I made my first label for my Euphorbia caput-medusae but the default font is huge. I've gotta play around a bit (or read the directions) - the label is longer than my plant tag! lol

I have a feeling there will soon be lots of things posted around the mail shop...:D
 
  • #26
LOL, I started something I guess
 
  • #27
One thing I notice now that I've got nice text is that I loose 1" on either end of the label, is that normal? Can't I have like 1/4" margins? Even when I choose "narrow" I'm still wasting space.
 
  • #28
I made my first label for my Euphorbia caput-medusae but the default font is huge. I've gotta play around a bit (or read the directions) - the label is longer than my plant tag! lol
Use the 'Return' button to make a new line - 1/2" tape holds 3 lines of super-legible tiny print. Even if I don't want three lines of print, I'll hit 'return' after 2 lines (so I get an empty 3rd line - or place a period on 3rd line) so the print shrinks to smallest possible size & uses less tape.
One thing I notice now that I've got nice text is that I loose 1" on either end of the label, is that normal? Can't I have like 1/4" margins? Even when I choose "narrow" I'm still wasting space.
That's one thing I don't like - every time you do a single label and press 'feed' to get it out of the machine you chew up valuable tape. Typically, I try to wait until I need to print a bunch of labels. Then there is very little wasted space between them. A little bit of planning goes a long way ...
 
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