Label Printer

I'm thinking of getting a handheld, thermal, laminated tape printer for labelling plant labels.

Anyone used either the Brother P-Touch or the Dymo LetraTag who knows what the pro's / con's of them are please?

Looks to me like the P-Touch has more expensive tapes, but I can't work out if the Dymo actually laminates them (and thus makes them waterproof), which the P-Touch does.

Also seems that the Dymo will cut off immediately after the text, whereas the P-Touch uses 3cm of "clear space" at either end of the tape which strikes me as annoyingly wasteful.

I think that both will print 2 lines of text on a label; the Dymo looks like it will show true WYSIWYG whereas the P-Touch is just "text". Not sure if that would matter much though.

Both appear to have ABC keyboards, which in this day & age seems nuts.

Dymo seems to use fewer batteries fitted - not sure if that is significant?

If either manufacturer has a handheld which also had a USB connector that might clinch it for me They both have desktop versions of course ... I figure I need to be able to lug mine out to the potting bench though.

These things seem not to be about the price of the printer, but make their money from the Tape, so seems that making a choice based on Tape is the answer

 

Cant help with either of them - but can recommend a Dymo LabelWriter Duo 450 which I use for printing both the paper labels for wine & the plastic labels for plants & things ; not cheap but does the job & the software is simple to use.

I did get rather frustrated by the dymo battery printers which sometimes need a second print to get going from cold + seem to get thru batteries at a crazy rate, but that might be me.

Worth keeping an eye on Amazon 'cos they have the Brother on cheap fairly oftern.

 

Checkout Brother's website for manufacturer's cashback on their label printers http://www.brother.co.uk/g3.cfm/s_page/259470/s_name/latestpromotions Terms & Conditions http://www.brother.co.uk/display.cf...romo d200vp-2470-2430-2730 Oct - Dec 2013.pdf You also get a 3 year warranty when registering/claiming cashback.

There's also up to 50% cashback on selected Dymo label printers http://www.dymo-time.com/Q3Q4_UK_Cashback_2013/(S(jyjx3tlohjsl2as0utjyc3ih))/Home/?Culture=en-GB

N.B. I think both those cashbacks are for labellers purchased up to the 31st of this month.

Is this one a good price @ £49.00 incl VAT with a £30 cashback? http://www.printerland.co.uk/Brother-PT-2470-P115897.aspx EDIT £45.15 delivered from Amazon less £30 cashback (check the T&C) = £15.15 see Other buying Choices here http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brother-P-T...colour/dp/B004G6PF72/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_1_96G2
It states multi lines (up to 7) in the brochure http://www.printerland.co.uk/pdf/Brother/pt2470.pdf

I'm starting to become tempted myself..........

 

You don't have to remove the label from the machine, as such, it sticks out and you press a button to "cut it" (right at the base of the tape cassette) so nothing fiddly in that part as I understand it. But you do then have to remove the backing paper ... and stick it on.

However, like I said, I think the cost of the tapes is the decider - like buyer a cheap razor that needs incredibly expensive blades :(. Cheapest I can find the Brother tape is £12. Its an 8M tape, so assuming 4" per label that's 78 labels per tape and 16p each. Quite a lot to add to the cost of a plant that Mrs S might sell for only a pound or two ...

The Dymo LetraTAG tapes are £4.34 for 4M, so assuming 4" labels again that's 39 per tape and 11p each - so 30% cheaper ... which is pretty significant I reckon ... but ... only if the Dymo tapes are also Laminated and thus waterproof. Might be Brother has a crafty, patented, process and only their tapes are going to be weather-proof on plant labels etc?

Dymo call their LetraTAG tapes "Polyester" so not very clear how it works. Brother have a nice pretty picture of their P-Touch laminated tape

pretty spivvy how the P-Touch prints in the middle of that sandwich, eh?

 

I have had the Brother P touch GL200 for a couple of years now, still on the original batteries, over 200 labels printed & the first ones are still as new after 2 winters in the garden. You can adjust the label length so there is no waste after the text.

 

I have the Brother P-touch, it took me a while to master it but it is very good.

Val

 

I have this Dymo hand held labeller that I bought to label plants.



I found though that the labels would just peel off the pots when the weather got really hot. I don't use it for that anymore and use it for labeling cables at the back of the TV etc. I think I've only replaced the labels twice in the 10 years I've owned it.

 

Thanks JJ

I think that the Brother labels are superior ... however I can't seem to find anything that has compared them side-by-side :(

 

I'm sure gardeners world had an article comparing them years ago. I might have it knocking around but perhaps someone else might have the article still.

I will have a rummage when I get round to it.

 

Well I got this out this morning to print off a label and found that I have actually forgotten how to use it so if you get one try to use it often!!!

Val