How do I make these labels?

December 11, 2005 4:02 PM

How can I make this? I want to make small - 1" x 3" or so - labels that are rigid, weatherproof, and can be made one at a time. Needs to be low-tech, low investment, but decent looking. For instance, is there a simple way to etch / transfer computer-generated text on to a piece of metal or plastic? If I can't do this on my own, who can do it for me cheaply?
posted by Jackson to Technology (14 answers total)

If you don't need graphics, and can accept rectangles that have rounded edges & a hole through one end, try pet collar tags.

There are innumerable people online that will make custom tags for you.

Failing that, try an industrial label company like Electromark. I've used them before, with great results. YMMV, of course.
posted by aramaic at 4:05 PM on December 11, 2005

You could etch onto a lot of surfaces using a toner transfer technique- like the one described in the middle of this page but you will have some variability in your output, and the results will not be weatherproof without some kind of coating.
posted by fake at 4:17 PM on December 11, 2005

I'd probably just print it out on paper, cut to size, and seal it in a laminator. End result should be water proof, but might be a bit more flexible than you want.

Maybe if you could say what you're going to be doing with the labels?
posted by The Monkey at 4:48 PM on December 11, 2005

Try a trophy shop.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 5:36 PM on December 11, 2005

Not computer generated but how about metal stamps? Low tech, durable, classic.

I don't know how much they cost (probably not cheap) but I'm guessing that your local highschool metal shop might have some lying around (I remembered these from HS. Or if you know somebody in the machinery business.

I have a friend who runs/owns a metal cutting company - they have water and laser cutters that are able to cut out/engrave from a computer generated file (text/graphics). Perhaps there's a local company thats willing to take (extremely) limited runs?
posted by PurplePorpoise at 7:18 PM on December 11, 2005

Check your local high school, I have a CNC - Numeric Control engraving machine that can do this. I would be happy to do this or have a student do it for you. Probably for no cost!

Not sure where you are but most high schools are working with this technology.
posted by vidarling at 8:34 PM on December 11, 2005

Plastic or metal plant ID tags might work. I think you can buy them in sheets and could probably print right onto them or use those adhesive strips that you punch each letter onto individually. Forestry and wildlife research supply stores carry a wide range of this type of thing, garden centers carry a smaller variety. Or try a dive store.
posted by fshgrl at 8:45 PM on December 11, 2005

You might want to look into plant markers, which I think are sort of what you're looking for. There are some kinds that are plastic, that you can write on with an ordinary pencil. Others use a special kind of marker. And copper ones are easy to emboss with a ball-point pen.
posted by acridrabbit at 8:51 PM on December 11, 2005

What about a set of letter punches? (no endorsement, just first on Google.) They're about as low-tech as you can get, and pretty low-investment too. You could use any sort of metal tags as the medium.

You might need to work out some way of aligning the letters to make it look good, but you're resourceful, so no trouble.
posted by pocams at 10:47 PM on December 11, 2005

Whoops, I guess PurplePorpoise beat me to that suggestion - I had never heard them called "metal stamps". You may well find them under either name, depending on store and location.
posted by pocams at 10:49 PM on December 11, 2005

Simple, easy, low-tech, DIY?

Make paper labels and laminate them. Not as permanent as, say etched titanium, but fairly practical.
posted by INFOHAZARD at 2:49 AM on December 12, 2005

Check at Radio Shack for a circuit board making kit. You might be able to transfer computer text and graphics to circuit board material and use them as labels.
posted by Raybun at 5:07 AM on December 12, 2005

Make paper labels and laminate them. Not as permanent as, say etched titanium, but fairly practical.

If they have to go outdoors, I'd recommend against just laminating. I've made lots of laminated labels for outdoor use, and their lifespan is very limited. The lamination is not a perfect seal, so rain does get through the plastic, softening the paper and causing ink to run. It ain't pretty.
posted by Miko at 6:36 AM on December 12, 2005

These people made a nice 1.5x6" plastic engraved name plate for the front of the house last week. Very reasonable pricing.
posted by omnidrew at 8:02 AM on December 12, 2005