Best 'permanent' marker for plant labels

Right, for everyone else except 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 nail varnish/lacquer spray/conformal coating.

The clear nail varnish/lacquer spray/conformal coating will protect both the stirring sick and the writing against the elements.

 

If the labels are for sowing and young plants why bother with a permanent marker or nail varnish! A good old fashioned pencil does the job and it takes a good while to wear off!

 

And you're not even at the open day yet.

 

Armandii.......


We all love a sob story!


Yes, I know, you'll get your own back!

 

Because with my dodgy eyesight, I'd have to remove the label and hold it 6" in front of me in order to read it and I want to be able to easily clean them up for re-use after planting out, but I also want a decent marker that I actually permanent for stuff like fruit bushes/trees, strawberry beds, etc.

Those labels I haven't been able to clean all have the date sown marked on the other side, so I was going to strike through that and keep them with the appropriate seeds ready for re-use because even if the labels cost 20p/packet reduced I'll still save a few quid and it all adds up (I even re-use the ones cut from plastic tubs, and bleach/paraffin containers).

 

@Scrungee

Have you tried nail polish remover (hope ARMANDII isn't reading this ) to get that marking pen off?

 

Thanks Armandii and DIY-Dave, have only just stopped laughing and now have a stitch. Wonder if you are the next 2 Ronnies!?

 

I have always used methylated spirits for permanent ink marker, @Scrungee have you tried that?

Val

 

Haven't got any as I don't use nail varnish.

White spirit cleans it off, but it's £1.50 a bottle and takes about 1 minute off hard rubbing per label, so it would about an hour's work plus the cost of solvent to reuse a packet of labels that cost no more than 20p.

 

I should hope not.
What I meant was that perhaps acetone/nail varnish remover works out cheaper(in money and time) then bleach.

 

Acetone/nail varnish remover £7.99/Litre http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1L-1000ML...Equipment_Lab_Supplies_ET&hash=item3cde6aa649 and would require the same attention as an open container of petrol.

Bleach 14p/Litre http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=260550096 and can be left soaking for a week in a plastic tub with a lid on.

P.S. Acetone can be really nasty stuff for your lungs, skin and head, plus I've known (many years ago) somebody experience a fireball from it when the fumes were accidentally ignited, luckily only losing their eyebrows/lashes and fringe.

 

OK, that answers that.

What on earth were they doing whilst using acetone?

 

Can't remember, but I'm pretty certain they never did it again!