Re: Labels

This is interesting co-evolution Helen.  I do almost the same thing except I
use a soldering iron with a 45 watt element and a sharpened tip for engraving.
However, I do not have the patience to burn in the name of the plant and would
probably get far enough behind in labeling new acquisitions to forget
something.  Therefore, I only burn in the 4-digit acquisition number I use to
track plants in my data base.  This way, I can number a hundred-or-so PVC
sticks ahead of time, keep them in a field notebook, and just write the name on
the next stick when a new plant is received.  With the number burned into both
ends of the stick, I write the name with a sharpie pen on both sides and only
leave about 1 inch protruding above the mulch.  The Sharpie pen is good for
several years underground.  The PVC pipe and the engraved number is there for
at least 20 years (I have seen PVC pipe in direct sunlight for 20 years with
little degradation) so if the pen fades I can always look up the name in the
data base using the acquisition number.

If the sticks are wiped with PVC cleaner, the shiny coating is removed.  This
seems to make the Sharpie pen ink penetrate the plastic a little and may
prolong the life of the marking.

I cut my sticks about 1/2 inch wide (ca. 12mm).  Initially, I made 8 inch (20
cm) sticks.  However, I soon switched to a 10 inch stick which can still be
fully inserted into the soil without bending but cannot be pulled up by a
curious dog.  The label is strong enough that it can be pounded in with a
hammer if necessary.  I do not sharpen the end of the stick.

I have looked at the archived information about labeling (there is a lot of it)
and am sure this system suits my needs and is more fool-proof than anything
discussed before.

No, this is not for everyone.  Yes, you do need a power saw.  I use a bandsaw
but a hand-held saber saw (some incorrectly call it a jigsaw) would work too.
I think a circular saw or table saw might be a little dangerous when trying to
cut the last few strips from the pipe circumference.

Stephen Hopkins
zone 8b
coastal South Carolina


Helen Lacey wrote:

>      Anyone interested in a cheap and not too unsightly label that will
> last as long as the plant?   The method I use has evolved gradually, with
> my latest improvement probably the most important.  For several years, I
> have been stopping off at my local builders supply to get 10'length
> thinwall 4"drainage pipe.  I take a saw along to cut it in two for ease in
> transportation.  I rip it on my bandsaw into strips from 5/8 to 1 1/4".  I
> then pile up the strips and crosscut each pile into any length I want.
> Final step is sawing off two corners of each short pile to sharpen.  I had
> been using a marking pencil but it usually washed off after 2-3 years.  I
> tried an elctric engraver, but found it unsatisfactory and too laborious.
> This spring I bought a Craftsman 30 watt Wood burning tool, part #954032
> and found it to be just dandy for burning names into these plastic markers.
> You can even smear black paint over your work and wipe it off to highlight
> the names even more if desired.  Until this spring I have always bought
> white pipe because that was the way it came.  This spring they had aqua and
> I went home without it. Then I thought hey-maybe there will still be enough
> contrast and this will lessen my wife's complaint about the mouse graveyard
> in the garden. Brown or green might be better than aqua but you can't have
> everything.  This tool, comes with 7 different tips but I find the sharp
> pointed one works best.  After making about 50 labels, I go to the
> grindstone and reshape the tip. It will eventually wear out but no problem.
> This afternoon, I went out to my shop, hunted up some 5/32" copper rod, and
> made 5 new tips in 1/2 hour. I just cut them into the desired length with a
> bolt cutter, tapped them with an 8-32 thread cutter, screwed them into the
> tool and sharpened them on the grindstone.  If you don't have a bandsaw, a
> table saw will work, but is more wasteful.  If you have a good pencil
> soldering iron it would probably also work, especially if it has a
> removable tip.
>
> Lawrence Lacey
> Sioux City, IA
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