Best 'permanent' marker for plant labels

A bit of a double edged discovery, as I've recently put several hundred labels marked with 'permanent' marker pens into bleach to soak for a week, and expected 100% to be re-usable after a week, but not this time.



The 'culprit' is this pen

http://www.wilko.com/pens-and-pencils/uni-super-ink-permanent-marker-fine-line-black/invt/0261234 which has a fine enough tip to write a double row of text on a label

So great for long term use, but not so great for short term re-use.

 

Noted on my wilkos list

 

Next time you're at a coffee shop, "liberate" some of those wooden stirring sticks, then write the name of the plant on it, leave for a while for the ink to dry then go over with clear nail varnish.
Stick it (no pun intended) into the flower pot.
The nail varnish will protect both the stirring sick and the writing against the elements.

 

Especially for @ARMANDII:

Next time you're at a coffee shop, "liberate" some of those wooden stirring sticks, then write the name of the plant on it, leave for a while for the ink to dry then go over with clear lacquer spray.

The lacquer will protect both the stirring sick and the writing against the elements.

 

Scrungee thank you so much, I have been looking for a good label pen, most have a point which is too thick, sorry about your labels, but GREAT for me!!!!!

Val

 

As if we would, how can you say such a thing!!!!!!

Val

 

If the ink won't come off, then go over the side with the writing with the same marking pen to obliterate the writing, then turn to the other side and write the name of the new plant.
That way you will get at least one more use out of those labels.

 

I find I can clean a white label enough to rewrite it by giving it a good rub with a grimy finger as this has an abrasive effect on the ink. A bit of Vim would work much better but I'm too lazy to bother with that.

I usually buy a pen from Wilko called Sharpie which also has a fine tip. It is labelled as 'permanent'. Some of last year's labels are still crystal clear but a number have washed off completely but I can't remember now which pens were used!

I also use them double-sided.

 

Well, it's the lacquer or the nail varnish, you decide.

 

OK, maybe third time lucky: (I'm running out of chemical options here).

Next time you're at a coffee shop, "liberate" some of those wooden stirring sticks, then write the name of the plant on it, leave for a while for the ink to dry then go over with conformal coating spray.

The conformal coating will protect both the stirring sick and the writing against the elements.



Below one of many manufacturers of conformal coating.
http://www.techspray.com/p-59-sr-silicone-conformal-coating.aspx