The WE2's Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 While out garage sale snooping, we bought a really nifty, battery operated label maker for $5. Going to use it on my jars & bags etc. I can buy the roll of labels at WM so I think it's going to do a bang up job of labeling for just about anything...including my garden squares. I'm going to take some of MM's paint stir sticks, saw them into 1/3's and then label them with what's in that square etc. Quote Link to comment
themartianchick Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Is it one of the P-Touch labelers? If so, they are great and the batteries last a long time. I use mine for just about everything. However, be careful about using them in the garden, the labels fade in the sunshine. Maybe the company makes a fade resistant type of label? Quote Link to comment
The WE2's Posted May 7, 2013 Author Share Posted May 7, 2013 Yes, it's a Brother's P-touch type. Thanks for the heads up on the fading. Quote Link to comment
Amishway Homesteaders Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 She be right about using outside! You spend all the time to make good labels.......... Then when you 'need' to read one - blank! b.t.w. IF you want good 'sticks' to go with that system- at yard sale look for "CHEAP" mini blinds (the white ones work best) Cut off all the strings and you have lots of white plastic strips. Cut them up into nice size pieces (I angle cut mine) and round the tops and you will have a TON of sticks for gardening. Black markers works well on the but will fade after a few months. Also keep a few long so you can divide you seed trays by placing one on its side. These also work great all around the house for all kinds of things! Even book marks and we have them in a few colors as well! Quote Link to comment
The WE2's Posted May 7, 2013 Author Share Posted May 7, 2013 She be right about using outside!You spend all the time to make good labels.......... Then when you 'need' to read one - blank! b.t.w. IF you want good 'sticks' to go with that system- at yard sale look for "CHEAP" mini blinds (the white ones work best) Cut off all the strings and you have lots of white plastic strips. Cut them up into nice size pieces (I angle cut mine) and round the tops and you will have a TON of sticks for gardening. Black markers works well on the but will fade after a few months. Also keep a few long so you can divide you seed trays by placing one on its side. These also work great all around the house for all kinds of things! Even book marks and we have them in a few colors as well! Wonderful! Mtn.Man's usually always finding some when he's working on job sites etc. Quote Link to comment
Twilight Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 We have used the venetian blinds for years in the greenhouse and garden. We found that a lead pencil will last longer than ink. Quote Link to comment
Jeepers Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 I really need to get out more! I didn't even know about those P-Touch machines. I thought label makers were still those things that had a dial and spit out those hard embossed plastic strips. And I love to label things. Looks like a trip to Best Buy/Office Max is in my future this week. Any recommendations on the best one or the ones to stay away from? Thanks Philbe...I think $$$ Quote Link to comment
Sarah Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 Philbe, depending on your box office store they may have the cheapies, made by p-touch, which have suddenly glutted the market. Avoid those. And the strips available for the cheapies are harder to find, and more expensive. Get a standard p-touch unit. You will understand when you look at them. Another issue I have with p-touch is that I have one of the first units, for which some size strips are no longer made, so stock now the strips you will need, as you may be caught like we were. And to answer the other question, there were alternate 'inks' available. If memory serves me right, I saw them in a library supply catalog. Sorry to not have more information for you. Since we started making our own 'magic marker', I only use the labeller when making spine labels. Sarah Quote Link to comment
The WE2's Posted May 8, 2013 Author Share Posted May 8, 2013 I really need to get out more! I didn't even know about those P-Touch machines. I thought label makers were still those things that had a dial and spit out those hard embossed plastic strips. And I love to label things. Looks like a trip to Best Buy/Office Max is in my future this week. Any recommendations on the best one or the ones to stay away from? Thanks Philbe...I think $$$ I'd check at WM first, that's where they're supposed to carry the refill cartridges. Would probably save you some $$ Quote Link to comment
The WE2's Posted May 8, 2013 Author Share Posted May 8, 2013 Thanks Sarah...all info appreciated. It doesn't hurt that we only paid $5 for it :-) It was a church group garage sale and they "said" the refill cartridges were available at WM. Quote Link to comment
Jeepers Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 I always check Wal-Mart first. Don't know why they slipped my mind. I guess I didn't figure they had them. I'll do a little online researching first though. Quote Link to comment
Amishway Homesteaders Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 I really need to get out more! I didn't even know about those P-Touch machines. I thought label makers were still those things that had a dial and spit out those hard embossed plastic strips. And I love to label things. Looks like a trip to Best Buy/Office Max is in my future this week. Any recommendations on the best one or the ones to stay away from? Thanks Philbe...I think $$$ here's a great hint when buying things like this or computer prints........................ After you find the one you like - go find out how much the replacement ink is! some time you can get something on sale that will save you money until you have to replace the ink, then they get you. We had gone to Staples to get a new printer - found 2 we like 1 had a replacement ink for $32.95 and the other one was $98.95! Guess which one we got? LOL Quote Link to comment
Jeepers Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 That's a huge difference in price! I'll be sure to check out ink and tape prices first. The ink for the printer I have now isn't too expensive but it doesn't last very long either! I remember my old printer ink lasted a long time and I printed a lot more back then. They are probably using less ink in the cartridges now. Quote Link to comment
The WE2's Posted May 9, 2013 Author Share Posted May 9, 2013 Fortunately the ink cartridges we use aren't nearly as expensive as some, and yes, that's one thing we looked at when we bought our printer (several years ago). I can usually buy large packs of them at Sam's Club which saves us some $$ and we don't have to buy at places like Staples, Home Depot etc. But it is aggravating that we have to "read the fine print" on everything we buy only to find out we're being "tricked" by packaging! Quote Link to comment
Jeepers Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 I saw one online from Best Buy that was interesting. It is a little more expensive but it says it doesn't use ink or toner. I'm not sure how that works because I'm not at all technical but I'll go in and ask about that this weekend. I'll shop around on line for the best price first though. I forgot we have a Staples too. I like the ones that plug into the computer so I can use my own font and logo etc. Quote Link to comment
The WE2's Posted May 9, 2013 Author Share Posted May 9, 2013 Sounds like a plan! Quote Link to comment
Jeepers Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Liar Liar Pants' On Fire! I went online and saw that Best Buy and Office Max had the label maker I wanted in stock at my closest store. Since I was driving right by B.B. today I figured I'd pick one up. They didn't have it. So I drove over to Office Max and they didn't have it either. I guess they thought I'd upgrade. I'll give Staples a try but I'll phone first. I did almost get a different brand (other than P-Touch) but they only had a few packages of labels and I wondered if I'd still be able to get them in a year or so from now. So I passed. I found out that the ones that don't use ink or toner print by thermal something or another. Paper or plastic? Anyone know which ones are better? I usually cover my paper labels with that wide clear packing tape anyway. It keeps them clean and in place better. Especially in the garage and basement. Quote Link to comment
Jeepers Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 Got my P-Touch label maker today. My house is being touched. Kinda like me I suppose... Quote Link to comment
The WE2's Posted May 19, 2013 Author Share Posted May 19, 2013 I've sure enjoyed labeling my jars of dehydrated stuff. Now I gotta go buy some more labels! Oh, did you get your labeler at WM Jeepers? Quote Link to comment
Jeepers Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 No, my WM didn't have any! I got it at a different Office Max. I just got the P-Touch 2430pc. I was going to get the bigger one that made the 2 inch labels but I don't think I'd use that many labels that big. If I need one or two that size I'll just use my regular printer with Avery labels. This labeler doesn't use any ink or toner so that will save and it was $10.00 off so I got it for $69.00. The labels were killer though. I got 2 boxes each of 1/2, 3/4 and 1 inch. Figured I'd go ahead and get them while they still make them for my machine. My luck they stopped making that model as soon as I left the store! While I was there I was going to pick up one of those short 3 ring binders/note book for a different project. It was a 1 inch binder. Nothing special about it. Just solid blue. It was $7.00. I'll be at Wal-Mart this week ... Quote Link to comment
The WE2's Posted May 19, 2013 Author Share Posted May 19, 2013 Yes, binders can be expensive! When we're nosing around at yard/garage sales etc. we always keep our eyes open for used binders. I could care less if they have lettering on them, I just use my permanent wide path black marker to cover it up. Quote Link to comment
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