Suggestions for good labeler? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: calzap
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2014, 06:17:49 pm
content: Any suggestions for a good, portable labeler? Primary use is for labeling parts bins, but also installed switches, breakers, etc. Important characteristics are ability to stick to slick plastics like PE and PP and resistance to UV light. Rain resistance would be nice, but not critical. We've been using Dymo labelers that have thermal printing. The labels have a tendency to loosen at the ends overtime. This problem can be helped with an overlay of clear packaging tape. Worse problem is the effect of UV light even from filtered, diffused sunlight. The letters fade and the background darkens until they are unreadable.Mike in California

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2014, 07:19:56 pm
content: I have had very good performance from theBrother P-touch labelers. I always buy the extra strong adhesive tapes if they are available in the size/color I am after.

author: ManateeMafia
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2014, 07:47:54 pm
content: I second the P-touch labelers. I am using the PT-2430 PC. Ever since I bought it, I have been labeling all my gear. Everything that gets sent to cal has a property sticker with barcode. All gear that has replaceable batteries gets a sticker with the replacement date. The strong adhesive is for the barcodes, and the remainder gets the various colors / sizes.The only thing I dislike is the small amount of wasted label on each print. I tend to print one at a time and each print wastes ~0.5in. Brother has done a good job updating the software.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2014, 07:48:04 pm
content: Here is some info on the adhesive strength and fading for the Brother tapes:http://www.brother-usa.com/virdata/content/en-US/PTouch/Consumer/ProductInformation/TZandSZTapeDurability_Ver.6.0_August232007.pdf

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2014, 07:51:08 pm
content: Quote from: ManateeMafia on November 08, 2014, 07:47:54 pmThat's because you can't print and cut at the same position. The tape is first printed, then laminated and cut. If you change the settings so that you have more blank tape at either side the machine will not waste any tape but you will

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2014, 08:02:51 pm
content: If you are doing multiple labels at one sitting, turn off theauto feed and cutand you won't waste any tape except the first and last label printed.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2014, 08:19:14 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on November 08, 2014, 08:02:51 pmCorrected that for you

author: Maxlor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2014, 08:21:05 pm
content: I have a brother label printer (PT-H300). The minimum label size, even if you only print a single character, is 64mm. It always prints 32mm of margin on either side of the label. I estimate that around 60% of the tape I put in is wasted through this.I can see no technical reason for this waste, the feeding and cutting mechanism could work with much smaller margins.For this reason, Brother's label printers get two thumbs down from me.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2014, 08:49:15 pm
content: I have a small Brother PT65 labeller, and it works well.Just checked the batteries, and of course one has started to leak. Must see about getting 6 AA NiMH cells and converting it to charge them.Wonder if I can add the USB interface on, the bigger one has it........

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2014, 09:21:45 pm
content: I love the brother label printer too and use them all the time.But the cost of the cartridges is almost as bad as the ink cartridges for the color printers.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2014, 09:49:41 pm
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on November 08, 2014, 09:21:45 pmWell, I guess I'm not telling you anything new if I say that's where the profit is...

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2014, 01:00:19 am
content: Quote from: robrenz on November 08, 2014, 07:19:56 pmI second that. After 2 Dymos crapped out on me I got a brother P-touch.Then again I usually use a small velt pen to label parts bins. It is quicker and easy to remove with a bit of alcohol.

author: calzap
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2014, 05:40:09 am
content: Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try a Brother. Just need to decide which model. Definitely want one where special characters only require a simple shift key instead of going through a menu. Yeah, I'm sure most of the profit comes from selling the cartridges. With the Dymo units, we spent far more over the years for cartridges than for the machines.Mike in California

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2014, 07:07:11 am
content: http://www.amazon.com/DYMO-Rhino-Industrial-Label-Maker/dp/B003ZTW63C#Without a doubt this is the best unit I have ever had. There are so many types and sizes of labels available for it, and it does patch bays easily. I use the flexible vinyl because it not only sticks to flat surfaces, but wraps around cords and does not fall off even though heavy use. They also offer heat shrink cartridges, but its expensive. Its more expensive for the printer, and tape, but it is worth it.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2014, 09:48:32 am
content: Quote from: calexanian on November 09, 2014, 07:07:11 amThat's what our IT department uses, don't know if they like/hate it but they keep using it so it must be good

author: TheWelly888
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2014, 09:54:44 am
content: I use a Brother P-touch 1090 hand-held labeller for labelling my drawers and I cannot recommend any hand-held labellers for drawer labelling because it is not possible to fix both label length and font size. Check out the variable font sizes on my resistor drawers!You are better off with PC controlled P-touch labellers as you can fix both length and font sizes. Also you have a lot more flexibility with the layouts of the labels as well. At work I use this (http://www.ptouchdirect.com/ptouch/new_pt9800pcn.html) to make barcode labels for medical equipment but there are cheaper PC ones on this page (http://www.ptouchdirect.com/categories/pc-connectable-ptouch-labelers.html)

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2014, 11:47:56 am
content: Quote from: calzap on November 09, 2014, 05:40:09 amI bought a PC connected label printer. The advantage is you can have any font, size and graphics and save labels to print them again.

author: wagon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2014, 12:10:26 pm
content: I've been buying 'aftermarket' or non-genuine labels off Ebay. They seem to work OK, and I bought 4 cartridges for about the same price as 1 genuine part. (It's a brother too. Has a QWERTY keyboard)

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 09, 2014, 04:46:36 pm
content: My company provided me a Brother PT-90. I normally keep it in my company van and power it with rechargeable batteries. I bring it in every 2 weeks to recharge the batteries. It is a nice little labeler. I picked up an extra cartridge for my own use. You can't go wrong with the P-Touch series.