which is the favorite label maker among the GJ crowd?

[stevep1954]

i'm thinking of labeling my parts drawers and was wondering if anyone has a favorite label maker? is there a better way to keep track of what is where? thanks

 

[premierplayer]

@ work, Brother P-touch
no issues
$30, Staples

 

[n8n]

^this, at least for electricians, p-touch is the standard. Available basic to fancy.

 

[Catadj78]

I am interested on opinions as well. Id like to pick one up

 

[David Paul]

I have 2 p-touch label makers, 1 desk and 1 hand held model. Both work great. I can't even think of the name of another manufacture.

 

[bwringer]

P-touch. You will go nuts and label everything.

On my desk right now, for example, I have "Phone", "Maus", "iMac", a stupid numeric code needed for something or other, "Screwdriver", "Stapler", "Bustimicated" (on a broken office phone), and "Rubber Duck", all in neat, clear self-adhesive lettering.

 

[Catadj78]

Which model? 1880 any good?

 

[Whitworth]

P-Touch. I get the multi paks of cartridges at BJ's wholesale, much less expensive than buying separately.

 

[MDSPHOTO]

P-touch as well.

 

[coleman10]

Nothing beats an old fashioned Dymo to make labels and strengthen your grip at the same time!

P-touch, please.

 

[raddksn]

I have a p-touch love it! But still miss my old DYMO!

 

[Norcal]

P-Touch but the cartridges are not cheap.

 

[toplessHO]

P-Touch but the cartridges are not cheap.

kinda like those "free" inkjet printers,the consumables are what get ya

 

[BillK]

crayola

 

[Charles (in GA)]

P-Touch by Brother. I have three. One is a keyboard model, doesn't do anything fancy. Other two are USB connected to computer. One is older model, other is fairly new. New V 5.0 software is frustrating to use. Older software is much easier.

Charles

 

[pstnbly]

I had a P-touch. It was difficult to use, wasted label tape, and the cartridges were expensive, but it made nice labels. Then it ate another cartridge. I went to amazon and read the reviews and they all complained about the same P-Touch problems I had. Everyone seemed to like the Dymo's so I was going to order one for $20 or so. I stopped at Staples and they were on sale for $9.99. The labels aren't quite as nice but the machine is a ton easier to use and the label stock is far cheaper. I gave my P-Touch to my son and hope I never see it again.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

LINK to P Touch TZ series label guide

LINK to TZ series extra strength tape guide

LINK to specialty TZ tape guide

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

I use a Dymo Rhino 4200, personally. I am happy I went for it and no regrets I didn't buy the P Touch regardless of how many others are using that. I prefer a portable, standalone unit.

 

[4xdog]

I have a Dymo Rhino 4200 and a Brother P-touch extra.

I prefer the P-touch. The fonts are clearer and better-sized for my use. The labels stick well yet can easily be peeled and reused when containers change. I get cartridges at Costco.

The Dymo tape, at least for the cartridge I have, is more flexible and has a stronger adhesive. I got the Dymo for free by trading in an older one with the intent to use it labeling cables, which is an optional cartridge. Haven't tried that yet but I like the capability.

If you know how to type, get a QWERTY keyboard. My old Dymo labeller had an ABCDEF keyboard and it was a PITA.

And I still have my ooolld Dymo embosser -- but haven't used it in twenty-plus years!

 

[ca90ss]

http://www.amazon.com/Brady-BMP21-Handheld-Printer-Multi-Line/dp/B003X27H9O/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1426215210&sr=8-3&keywords=brady+bmp21

 

[dbabicky]

I have an Epson Labelworks LW-400. Works great makes awesome labels and not as pricy to use as the P-Touch. JMO

 

[The Cobbler]

Brother p touch for long lasting labels with tz tape but tape is pricey.
dymo thermal label printer for labels that don't need to have longevity

 

[rancherbill]

Print your labels on magnetic paper. They're cheap and you can add graphics or color code your labels.

http://www.staples.ca/en/Staples-Magnet-Sheets-Gloss-White-4-Sheets/product_386943_2-CA_1_20001

 

[QtrHorse13]

I have an older Dymo Rhino Pro 5000. It works great and I really like the labels, they stick to just about anything, the adhesive is aggressive and they last.

They make a printable heat shrink tubing for the Dymo printers. I prefer the standard vinyl label material but the heat shrink tubing is a nice option.

 

[MushCreek]

I have a P-Touch, and I used it extensively for marking my wiring and boxes when I wired my house. It works great, but the cartridges are kind of expensive, and it EATS batteries like there's no tomorrow. The printer was $20, but they want $25 for the A/C adapter! Still, at the price of batteries these days (when did that happen?) it probably would have paid for itself by now.

 

[CNGsaves]

+1 Brother P-touch. Great except cost of refills.

At friend's house while doing CATV/ethernet wiring, didn't have any label machine so did poor man labels with paper printed off normal printer, then cut out and use clear packing tape to wrap around wire. Think this is actually better for wire labeling.

 

[brycez28]

Print your labels on magnetic paper. They're cheap and you can add graphics or color code your labels.

http://www.staples.ca/en/Staples-Magnet-Sheets-Gloss-White-4-Sheets/product_386943_2-CA_1_20001

I did similar....printed my label on cardstock. Cut the labels out and spaced them out on laminating paper and laminated them. Then cut the labels out again and stuck magnets on the back. Makes it really nice for when I decide to rearrange my drawers (have done several times since I made the labels last fall).

 

[Kevin54]

Brother P-Touch all of the way. Look for it and the tape on Amazon. Cheaper than Staples or Office Max. And get more tape that what you think you will need

 

[Todd.Brock]

+100 on ptouch. I bought mine refurbed on Amazon. Came with tape. I think once in 5 years i refilled. That stuff is on the kids lunch box Tupperware lids and goes through the dishwasher unfazed.

My only problem is I lost the damn thing in our house move...I had to buy my brother one for Christmas and borrow his.

 

[66HertzClone]

I usa a P Touch, one way to reduce waste is to print several labels at once. I type in the first label, hit the space bar a few times, enter the next one, and so on. When I print I cut the individual labels from the long strip, this saves a lot of label because of the long leader and trailer when printed individually.

 

[mobiledynamics]

I've got 3 label makers.

1 Brother handheld, one large one with full keyboard and connects to PC as well.
My favorite is my BRADY BMP 51 though - labels are pricey though, but AWESOME

 

[ford33]

I have the p-touch model PT-6100 available at Home Depot for $40. It is sturdy and easy to use. It also has many options for printing labels such as 2 line labels, automatic letter size and spacing and it uses different tape widths.

Also strongly recommend the TZe tapes. They do not fade in sunlight and the backing is two pieces split down the length of the tape. To peel the backing bend the cut tape along its length and the backing folds open. Real easy to pull the backing off.

 

[Firebird 1]

P touch. On a similar note, I was at staples looking to get a paper card I have laminated for longer life, and they had a $249. laminator on sale for $149. with a $100. mail in rebate. Rebate was expired but they still had it adv. on the shelf so they gave it to me for $49. !!! Not sure what I will do with it but I think it will come in handy on occasion.

 

[volleyball]

I have an ancient dymo 3d plastic, some factory sheets of labels, a portable and computer attached P touch, as well as sheets of paper labels. It all depends on the project. And don't forget permanent markers.
You'd think I mark everything, I don't. It is nice to be surprised when you find stuff in an unmarked box.
Those **** that label EVERYTHING need a 12 step program.
They would probably love it because they could label all the steps.

 

[Modern Jess]

I've been through a couple of label makers, and was never quite satisfied with them. I'm now using the Epson LabelWorks LW-600P and I am very happy with it:

Everything is done on the phone (supports iOS and Android) and you can use your own photos (though still only prints in B&W) to accompany your labels. Printing happens over Bluetooth, just like many other printers. You can print from a desktop computer as well.

My only complaint is that in "fixed width" mode, the software doesn't scale the font size automatically -- you have to do it yourself. Fortunately, you get a preview of what the label will look like in advance of printing it, which is the whole point of doing the layout on something with a decent screen (i.e. your phone).

 

[QtrHorse13]

Jess,

That is a really nice little printer and not overly priced. It has a good variety of label widths, colors and types. Not sure I would ever use them but the glow in the dark and iron on labels are a nice option.

I really like my Dymo RhinoPro but I will most likely pick one of these up home use.

I've been through a couple of label makers, and was never quite satisfied with them. I'm now using the Epson LabelWorks LW-600P and I am very happy with it:

Everything is done on the phone (supports iOS and Android) and you can use your own photos (though still only prints in B&W) to accompany your labels. Printing happens over Bluetooth, just like many other printers. You can print from a desktop computer as well.

My only complaint is that in "fixed width" mode, the software doesn't scale the font size automatically -- you have to do it yourself. Fortunately, you get a preview of what the label will look like in advance of printing it, which is the whole point of doing the layout on something with a decent screen (i.e. your phone).

 

[lat905]

I have a small handheld Dymo Letra Tag that I got at Target for about $15. I use it to label all of my drawers and parts bins. Works well and the cartridges aren't expensive.

 

[lat905]

Looks like they still make the old school one: http://www.dymo.com/en-US/label-mak...<sup>®<-sup>-labelmanager-organizer-xpress--1

 

[paranoid56]

i use a dyno one as the one i picked up can write on shrink tubing. makes doing wiring nice.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I'm going to pick up a Brother sometime.

The Dymo Letratag LT-100 I have is a complete *************. Labels don't stay stuck where you put them and they are hard as hell to peel the backing off of and aggravating.