Glass label suckage

echeveria · #1 2015-06-20, 6:24am

I like to label all of my rods. The labels I have gotten in the past year are terrible. They don't even stick to themselves or envelopes. I use Avery 5167 or equivalent 3M or Office Depot brand. All terrible. This is some recent change; they worked great a few years ago.

Putting labels on rods is the only thing that keeps me sane while I wait for the kiln to ramp down. Oh, and putting them in "color" order. Basically just fondling glass...

Speedslug · #2 2015-06-20, 9:19am

I think some one used alcohol or nail polish remover to reactivate the glue on price tags. Maybe that will work here.

Sounds like you got a hold of some very old stock.

Elektra · #3 2015-06-20, 9:37am

I just use either price tags, or cut up pieces of paper, and tape them on there. Since we label them to sell, it's faster for me and more reliable. I want to make sure they stay on, for us, and for whoever buys them.

echeveria · #4 2015-06-20, 10:00am

Thanks. Maybe I will just add tape. I like to print them out, so like the sheets.

Phil, I don't think they could have all been old. I tried three brands - I think they changed adhesives. I had several of the address size come off my Christmas card envelopes this year too.

Whatever the Post Office uses? That stuff knows how to stick!

Eileen · #5 2015-06-20, 10:15am

I got some with stickum problems too, but I thought it was because I got the ones made from recycled paper. I bet they did change the glue.

Eileen · #6 2015-06-20, 10:16am

And I wish I knew how to make them print, but I don't, so I hand write on 1/2 label, then wrap them on & tape if necessary.

echeveria · #7 2015-06-20, 10:45am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eileen

And I wish I knew how to make them print, but I don't, so I hand write on 1/2 label, then wrap them on & tape if necessary.

I have a spreadsheet I use as a data source for a mail merge in Word. Do you use Excel and Word? I can send you my spreadsheet. I have to retrain myself om mail merge every time I do it.

Eileen · #8 2015-06-20, 11:13am

I have a free version of some things (labeled document, presentation and spreadsheet) but don't know how to use them to make labels. I carefully refrained from learning that at work, so I didn't get sucked into doing that in addition to everything else I got pulled to help with because I knew how.

echeveria · #9 2015-06-20, 11:44am

I spend my days with my face buried in spreadsheets. If you find somebody that can help you use it, I will be glad to send it along!

When I first started labeling them, I was using a Brother label maker. That got old real fast.

neagle · #10 2015-06-21, 5:20am

Pilot silver pen. It shows up on any rod, and you can fuse the end onto the next rod.

echeveria · #11 2015-06-21, 5:24am

Quote:

Originally Posted by neagle

Pilot silver pen. It shows up on any rod, and you can fuse the end onto the next rod.

Thanks Neagle, I'll try a few to see if I have the patience to write it out. I order several lbs at a time, so not sure.

neagle · #12 2015-06-22, 5:33am

You should only have to mark one rod since you would be fusing the end of the written-on rod to the next one.

clh · #13 2015-06-22, 5:59am

I'm using a dymo label maker and the labels stick to themselves pretty well at the end of a rod.

echeveria · #14 2015-06-22, 6:04am

Quote:

Originally Posted by neagle

You should only have to mark one rod since you would be fusing the end of the written-on rod to the next one.

I want them all labeled. Even the ones I could recognize from the moon. Can't even really tell you why.

Charmaine · #15 2015-06-23, 4:44am

Onlinelabels.com has an "aggressive glue" you can choose as a label adhesive that sticks REALLY well to cardboard (I use it for shipping) and I also got it in smaller labels for labeling my Czech rods. Lots of sizes to choose, and you can use them in your printer. I have used them in my laser printer as well as ink jet. And, they have a "wizard" to help you print what you want on the labels you buy.

echeveria · #16 2015-06-23, 5:13am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charmaine

Onlinelabels.com has an "aggressive glue" you can choose as a label adhesive that sticks REALLY well to cardboard (I use it for shipping) and I also got it in smaller labels for labeling my Czech rods. Lots of sizes to choose, and you can use them in your printer. I have used them in my laser printer as well as ink jet. And, they have a "wizard" to help you print what you want on the labels you buy.

Thanks, I will look into those. Would those have been the labels on the tutorial and shampoo glass I got from you?

bclogan · #17 2015-06-23, 6:35am

The last time I bought glass was a few years ago. At that time the Staples brand was working well, but the Avery ones weren't sticking at all. Really annoyed me. Kind of a bummer to learn that they're all bad now...

PerfectDeb · #18 2015-06-25, 6:46am

I find i need to give the end im labelling a quick wipe with glass cleaner, they get dirty and greasy during manufacture, storage and shipping

harperdesigns · #19 2015-06-25, 5:21pm

I use finger nail polish...you can write on it with a sharpie. I also use different color polish on rod ends to code my colors when it's hard to distinguish what it is, like T yellow, or light ivory and dark ivory.

echeveria · #20 2015-06-25, 6:00pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PerfectDeb

I find i need to give the end im labelling a quick wipe with glass cleaner, they get dirty and greasy during manufacture, storage and shipping

It isn't really the glass that is the problem. They don't stay stuck to their own selves, so the ends are little flags.

jaci · #21 2015-06-25, 8:56pm

I use colored electrical tape. Works great! I write on it with pen or sharpie. I've taken to laying strips on a cutting board writing them out then taking a razor to slice them to size then wrap my rods. It comes in a zillion colors. I had found a big pack of yellow at a surplus store. That was perfect.

you could choose a different color for every COE, or if you want each different brand of glass manufacturers too.

Ravenesque · #22 2015-06-26, 1:05am

Quote:

Originally Posted by harperdesigns

I use finger nail polish...you can write on it with a sharpie. I also use different color polish on rod ends to code my colors when it's hard to distinguish what it is, like T yellow, or light ivory and dark ivory.

I do this also.

You need to find what CIM uses, I hate how well they stick when I'm at the torch and want one off

echeveria · #23 2015-11-15, 6:03pm

Wanted to report that I ordered OL25AT from Online Labels and am very happy! They stick to the glass about the same as the old Avery labels, i.e, sometimes not too well and sometime way too well, but they do stick to themselves just fine. No more little flags or falling off labels.

I could not make their online mail merge work, but finally figured out that there is a template available in Word, if I change the label vendor when I select my template. The Avery template does NOT work.

Eileen · #24 2015-11-15, 6:11pm

I labeled a bunch of glass recently, and I found out if I wiped the end of the rod with alcohol first it stuck to the rod much better. I forgot on a few, and those had a tendency to slide off.

Dani · #25 2015-12-09, 10:28pm

I use Brady self laminating write on labels. My husband uses them for labeling electrical wires. They are not inexpensive but I cut them in half. They will not come off until you want them to, then you just peel them off, no residue. Because they are self laminating the writing will not smudge, stays nice and crisp.

knittyditty · #26 2015-12-10, 4:50am

Quote:

Originally Posted by neagle

Pilot silver pen. It shows up on any rod, and you can fuse the end onto the next rod.

Actual silver colored ink? I guess it would show up pretty good on most colors then.
Gonna try that....
Thanks

glass addict · #27 2015-12-19, 10:56am

I use a brother p touch, using labels made to go around electrical cord. I print off the labels, trim the excess off both sides, and use the 2 excess pieces to create 2 rings around the glass. Then I stick the label on top of these. It really seems to help the adhesion.

judydoell · #28 2015-12-22, 12:08pm

I label every rod as well. Totally OCD. I use avery return address labels. They stick like glue, and I can just do a whole sheet on the computer, print, and stick.

echeveria · #29 2015-12-22, 2:59pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by judydoell

I label every rod as well. Totally OCD. I use avery return address labels. They stick like glue, and I can just do a whole sheet on the computer, print, and stick.

Avery, 3M and Office Depot return address labels all stopped working for me. I tried all of them within the last 18 months. But the Online Labels version is great!

Just for comparison's sake, I took some from the office that we purchased about 5 years ago - Avery - and they were still fine, so I do think there has been a change in the last couple of years.

Eileen · #30 2015-12-22, 5:12pm

My recently purchased ones are fine if I wipe the end of the rod with alcohol before I put it on. There is often a greasy film on them for some reason, and I don't think anything much would stick on there before I wipe them off.