How can I label my light switches??

[Chevy-SS]

I recently built new garage/addition onto house, with LOTS of new light switches. I need to start labeling them somehow. Any ideas (besides scribbling with a magic marker)?

I honestly think I would spend the money if there was some company that supplied engraved switchplates - that would be my preference...

Thanks for any help

Dave F. in "great blizzard of 2015"

 

[kd3pc]

I would be leery of any thing permanent, as when it comes to resale....it will turn off potential buyers, really quick....kind of like water stained toilets.

Perhaps a "road map" style of document or drawing, until you learn where what is and what it does.

You could buy a slew of covers and take them to the local trophy shop/engraver, as the machines should be able to easily do them. Perhaps even lasered.

best of luck,

 

[aka Larry]

I used a label maker. You can peel these off later if needed.

 

[Chevy-SS]

I would be leery of any thing permanent, as when it comes to resale....it will turn off potential buyers, really quick....kind of like water stained toilets.

Perhaps a "road map" style of document or drawing, until you learn where what is and what it does.

You could buy a slew of covers and take them to the local trophy shop/engraver, as the machines should be able to easily do them. Perhaps even lasered.

best of luck,

Well, I'll likely be dead before I move out, so it's a non-issue for me, LOL. Besides, they could just buy new switchplates for grand total of ~$50.....

However, I truly like your idea about taking to local engraver. I never even thought about that, but there is a trophy shop less than a mile from me.

Thanks for suggestion!

 

[fireeqpsrv]

Some sign shops will make them as well as trophy shops. I Liked the the earlier post of using the label machine. You can color code them and then also label the breaker box to match. just a thought.

 

[Chevy-SS]

Some sign shops will make them as well as trophy shops. I Liked the the earlier post of using the label machine. You can color code them and then also label the breaker box to match. just a thought.

Yeah, I could easily make my own labels and stick them on, but they wouldn't look anywhere near as nice as engraving IMHO. I don't mind spending extra $$$ to get something nice. I spent a boatload of money on the garage/addition and these labels will be very visible, so they gotta look professional........

 

[Plump]

I do precisely what Larry does. Get a nice label maker and some colored labels and you'll find multitudes of uses for it.

 

[Chevy-SS]

I do precisely what Larry does. Get a nice label maker and some colored labels and you'll find multitudes of uses for it.

This will most assuredly be my fallback position, if I am unable to locate engraver..... thanks

 

[aka Larry]

I spent a boatload of money on the garage/addition and these labels will be very visible, so they gotta look professional........

I think you just insulted my labels. A Sharpie is unprofessional, but I thought mine looked pretty good.

 

[Chevy-SS]

I think you just insulted my labels. A Sharpie is unprofessional, but I thought mine looked pretty good.

LOL, no man, yours look plenty good. That's precisely what I did in my old shop. Just looking to upgrade a bit.......

Hey, what's on that exhaust fan switch? Is that a clock, or maybe a timer of some sort??

 

[BigGMC]

of course, if the lights are not on, how you gonna read the switchplate
LOL!

I plan on labeling mine too eventually, once they get wired..... more so for others benifit, so they don't have to keep trying switches to see what they do

 

[justsam]

There are many companies that do this such as:
http://www.colonialengraving.com/wallplatesswitchplates.html
Use Google to find one close, or that meets your needs.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Brother P-Touch.

 

[billp603]

There are many companies that do this such as:
http://www.colonialengraving.com/wallplatesswitchplates.html
Use Google to find one close, or that meets your needs.

That looks like just the thing you are looking for, I may have to stop by there and look at those, I drive right by there a couple of times per week.

 

[ambenz]

Might want to consider making your own clear plastic switch plates, adding a mask on top and illuminating the plastic with LEDs. Engrave the label in the mask. Kind of like a aircraft instrument panel. At night, the label will be illuminated! Add colored LEDs based on importance. They make some pretty small AC to DC solid state power supplies that could fit inside the switch electrical box.

 

[dfiler2]

You can also check with someone who makes name tags, here is one I found that seems pretty reasonable.

http://www.plaquemaker.com/name-tags

 

[James_B]

There are many companies that do this such as:
http://www.colonialengraving.com/wallplatesswitchplates.html
Use Google to find one close, or that meets your needs.

It's a shame I'm on the wrong side of the border. That's the kind of stuff my LASER was designed to do.

They're using a LASER bonded CerMark or TherMark coating for the stainless steel plates and metal junction boxes and direct LASER engraving for the painted metal and plastic ones.

I might have to set up some templates so I can offer that service.

 

[Black_Z28]

I know a few guys have used this place for their home breweries, on their control panels. Most people seem to be very happy with them.


http://www.signsbannerstags.ca/

 

[Stuff]

How about brass labels? http://www.rensup.com/Brass-Label-Plates/cl/317.htm

 

[James-W]

I am confused. If this label thing is just temporary, then what is the big deal if the labels aren't exactly perfect/professional?

 

[Chevy-SS]

I am confused. If this label thing is just temporary, then what is the big deal if the labels aren't exactly perfect/professional?

Temporary??? Where'd you ever get that impression? I am gonna leave the labeled switchplates on as long as I reside here. Technically, I guess you could say that is 'temporary', LOL.

 

[wssix99]

I like to use dry transfer lettering for this. If you take your time, it will look professional and printed directly on the plate. It's also pretty durable.

Here's a video of how it works. If you use smaller letters and a mechanical pencil for the transfer, you'll get a much cleaner result than they are showing in this example:

 

[James-W]

Temporary??? Where did you ever get that impression? I am gonna leave the labeled switch-plates on as long as I reside here. Technically, I guess you could say that is 'temporary', LOL.

I got the impression this was temporary from the first post. You said that you had just built a new garage with LOTS of switches and you needed to start labeling them. I had thought, wrongfully I guess, that this was just temporary until you were familiar with what switches operates what. If I got it wrong I am sorry, it's just that when I read the post I got that impression.

 

[BackMarker]

Give this guy a try...

www.sichertengraving.com