Label Makers

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Peter Etheredge

Sophomore
Jan 11, 2011
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St. Charles, IL
tnprod.com
Looking for something that holds on well, does white text on black background labels, and preferably isn't a million dollars. What are ya'll using?

Thanks!

(EDIT: Meant WHITE text on BLACK tape, not the other way around..durrrrrr)
 
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Re: Label Makers

Brother P-Touch. Oddly, there's more color choices with the old style tapes than with the newer ones (they are not inter-compatible). The PT-20 is the best model I've seen, as it has a few more features (the handiest of which is two lines of text). The PT-15 and PT-12 use the same tapes. Finding the best price on each color tape requires going to several different resellers. I have a list of the available tape colors and numbers for these labelers if anyone needs it.
 
Re: Label Makers

Tim Padrick said:
Brother P-Touch. Oddly, there's more color choices with the old style tapes than with the newer ones (they are not inter-compatible). The PT-20 is the best model I've seen, as it has a few more features (the handiest of which is two lines of text). The PT-15 and PT-12 use the same tapes. Finding the best price on each color tape requires going to several different resellers. I have a list of the available tape colors and numbers for these labelers if anyone needs it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the replies everyone. Looking like it's gonna be better to compromise on tape color and go with the Rhino and it's tape that will actually hold, as in the end I think that's more of a professional thing than what color it is. At least I'll know we used the best tape that won't fall off on our clients. Being able to make labels and heat shrink wraps that can go on cables seems really valuable.

I'll report back on how it goes once I've used it.
 
Re: 3M

FWIW, I'm not particularly enamored with the Rino machines or tape. The hard-surface tape is the only one I found to hold; the nylon tape did not stay on the cables well, and the vinyl tape was about the same as the nylon at 1/2 the price and in twice the colors. Unless used with clear heatshrink, neither the nylon or vinyl lasted on the cables - fell off or came loose first or second time out. Extremely disappointed.

I've since used the hard-surface tape and put it on the XLR connectors - so far, so good.

I have the 3000 machine: it does not use the 1/2 tape - big mistake - the 5000 had fewer features, but could use the bigger tape.

Having the 3000 print sideways on the tape produced a label that was unreadable - font so small - that was not adjustable.
The plastic construction does not feel strong - feels brittle and thin. The latch on the tape door is too agressive, and it feels like I'm going to rip the door off the tape compartment every time I open it. It really does not fit all that well.

The rubber "boot" they supply for protection is a great idea as the unit feels somewhat fragile, however with the boot in place, one cannot change the tape - or the batteries hence my boot/protector never seems to make it back on. It is very hard on batteries - it does have a wall wart.

While I'm complaining, the keyboard is not QWERTY so it is slow to type out a message. I did not find the interface remotely intuitive.

I have had it two years now, I wouldn't buy another. I'm very disappointed.

frank
 
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Re: 3M

The brothers are OK except for the tape waste - it feeds out a ton of whitespace on either side of the text.

I have a 15-year old KSun labeler that I'm still using 15-year old tape in and it works great. There are more font sizes, graphics, and features, more tape choices, and there's very little waste compared to the Brother. The model I have is discontinued (shocker!), but they seem to have some new models:
http://www.wiremarker.com/ksun-2012-xlst-pc.html
 
Re: 3M

Zebra Technologies S4m and ZM400, with PVC superstick labels from LabelsDirect Onboard
Not very portable but i have dragged them through the mud and other things, there still on there.
And yes, I do sell such labels cusom printed, as soon as I get new rollers from doing 55,000 of them last month :/
 
Re: 3M

TJ Cornish said:
The brothers are OK except for the tape waste - it feeds out a ton of whitespace on either side of the text.

I have a 15-year old KSun labeler that I'm still using 15-year old tape in and it works great. There are more font sizes, graphics, and features, more tape choices, and there's very little waste compared to the Brother. The model I have is discontinued (shocker!), but they seem to have some new models:
http://www.wiremarker.com/ksun-2012-xlst-pc.html
Click to expand...

This can be adjusted on most of the new models. Shortening the margin and using chain print mode will save tape. I have a PT-2700 and it does just about everything I would expect a labeler to do.

For durability when affixing labels to cable ends, try a layer of e-tape under the label and a layer of clear tape over the label. The initial activity of any theatrical shop prep I've ever worked on is commonly referred to as "putting tape on tape".
 
Re: 3M

I was going to get one of the new hip Brother units, but there are more tape colors available for the old models, so I got another oldie - a PT-20 for under $50 shipped. No PC connection, but it can do two line labels and other useful stuff. We use the hell out of it.
 
Re: 3M

I have been very happy with the Brother Ptouch 9500 - you drive it from a PC and the layup software is very similar to the old Claris Draw - a breeze to use. Wish the TZ tapes weren't so bloody expensive though. Tapes go up to 36mm - fine for 1U rack panels.
 
Re: 3M

Something that I like about the P-touch stuff, and this may be the case with other companies too-i just haven't used them-, is that you can print on clear tape. I find this quite helpful if you want a label but not a huge honking piece of white tape to make it happen. I do agree with the seemingly large waste of tape on the left and right sides of the label, but maybe there is a way to turn that off?
 
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