pen

[Luckless]

Does anyone know of a pen whose writing will not fade in the elements? I tried regular pens and permanent markers, but they faded away after a few months- even when I laminated them.

[+Manville Possum]

Does anyone know of a pen whose writing will not fade in the elements? I tried regular pens and permanent markers, but they faded away after a few months- even when I laminated them.

Depends on what you are trying to do, but paint pens seem to work for me when marking engine componants on vehicles.

[+cerberus1]

Even our paint pens on ammo cans seem to fade in the Sun.

The staonal crayons we've used for car parts with CJ's Grandfather last a long while.

The archival ink with our letterbox stamps hasn't faded.

- We check it time-to-time in a clear container out back (future project)

Never tried a grease marker with fading, thinking it may run.

[+NeverSummer]

When I've laminated cards for caches, I've always printed something on standard paper (laserjets are great!) and then laminated. I've never seen it fade, even on outdoor signs I've laminated and posted in the elements.

 

Can you explain a little more about what you're trying to keep from fading?

[Luckless]

When I've laminated cards for caches, I've always printed something on standard paper (laserjets are great!) and then laminated. I've never seen it fade, even on outdoor signs I've laminated and posted in the elements.

 

Can you explain a little more about what you're trying to keep from fading?

 

Just trying to write out coordinates to a multi. Some don't come with a container.

[+cerberus1]

When I've laminated cards for caches, I've always printed something on standard paper (laserjets are great!) and then laminated. I've never seen it fade, even on outdoor signs I've laminated and posted in the elements.

 

Can you explain a little more about what you're trying to keep from fading?

 

Just trying to write out coordinates to a multi. Some don't come with a container.

Why paper?

Why not something etched in a aluminum, copper, or even tin tag?

[+cerberus1]

After showing CJ how to make candle shadows with soup cans, she figured if we ever have another multi, we'd use tin (maybe flatten out a soup can) and punch the coords through it.

Lifting to the sky, the coords are visable.

Hidden somewhere, it's just a piecea tin.

[Luckless]

When I've laminated cards for caches, I've always printed something on standard paper (laserjets are great!) and then laminated. I've never seen it fade, even on outdoor signs I've laminated and posted in the elements.

 

Can you explain a little more about what you're trying to keep from fading?

 

Just trying to write out coordinates to a multi. Some don't come with a container.

Why paper?

Why not something etched in a aluminum, copper, or even tin tag?

 

Considered it. Thought cutouts from aluminum pie tins might be good. Haven't figured out how to burnish the edges so they aren't sharp.

[+cerberus1]

When I've laminated cards for caches, I've always printed something on standard paper (laserjets are great!) and then laminated. I've never seen it fade, even on outdoor signs I've laminated and posted in the elements.

 

Can you explain a little more about what you're trying to keep from fading?

 

Just trying to write out coordinates to a multi. Some don't come with a container.

Why paper?

Why not something etched in a aluminum, copper, or even tin tag?

 

Considered it. Thought cutouts from aluminum pie tins might be good. Haven't figured out how to burnish the edges so they aren't sharp.

Maybe just folding the edges 1/16" or so, using the back of a handsaw blade would work?

[+NeverSummer]

When I've laminated cards for caches, I've always printed something on standard paper (laserjets are great!) and then laminated. I've never seen it fade, even on outdoor signs I've laminated and posted in the elements.

 

Can you explain a little more about what you're trying to keep from fading?

 

Just trying to write out coordinates to a multi. Some don't come with a container.

Gotcha.

 

As others have said, metal tags work well. I've seen anything from stamped dog tags, to etched pet tags (the kind you get at a pet shop and pay to get engraved by a machine), and then heavy foil with the coords somehow pressed into them with a point and using a soft medium as a backing to get it to take. All of those metal options lasted well in the elements, but can cost money you might not feel ready to spend. The etched tags will run you $5 a piece or so, but sure could make for a lasting tag and an easy theme for the cache.

 

Otherwise, I recommend the laserjet printing and laminating with a high-mil heat lamination. Make extras just in case you need maintenance runs, and call it good. Replacement could be the cost of doing business...

[+J Grouchy]

I've also seen (and had) good results from one of the old school Dymo label makers that embosses a strip of plastic. Even when the color fades, the impression is legible.

[+niraD]

I've also seen laser-printed large-font text do well when encased in resin. Over time, the resin can discolor, so its important to use large fonts and not to make the resin too thick.

[+NYPaddleCacher]

 

Here is another option:

 

 

 

[+edscott]

Scrolling down to the end of the thread to suggest a wood burner... and there it was.

[Luckless]

I've also seen (and had) good results from one of the old school Dymo label makers that embosses a strip of plastic. Even when the color fades, the impression is legible.

 

Ah, at last, a use for those things. I'll keep an eye out at yard sales- don't think you can still buy them.

Edited August 19, 2015 by Luckless

[+narcissa]

When I've laminated cards for caches, I've always printed something on standard paper (laserjets are great!) and then laminated. I've never seen it fade, even on outdoor signs I've laminated and posted in the elements.

 

Can you explain a little more about what you're trying to keep from fading?

 

Just trying to write out coordinates to a multi. Some don't come with a container.

Gotcha.

 

As others have said, metal tags work well. I've seen anything from stamped dog tags, to etched pet tags (the kind you get at a pet shop and pay to get engraved by a machine), and then heavy foil with the coords somehow pressed into them with a point and using a soft medium as a backing to get it to take. All of those metal options lasted well in the elements, but can cost money you might not feel ready to spend. The etched tags will run you $5 a piece or so, but sure could make for a lasting tag and an easy theme for the cache.

 

Otherwise, I recommend the laserjet printing and laminating with a high-mil heat lamination. Make extras just in case you need maintenance runs, and call it good. Replacement could be the cost of doing business...

 

Copper tags and dymo labels are the norm around here.

[+J Grouchy]

I've also seen (and had) good results from one of the old school Dymo label makers that embosses a strip of plastic. Even when the color fades, the impression is legible.

 

Ah, at last, a use for those things. I'll keep an eye out at yard sales- don't think you can still buy them.

 

Actually, you can. I got one last year at Office Depot.

[Ranger Fox]

When I create multis in the woods, I use a notebook, space pen, scissors, and self-adhesive laminate. I've yet to have anything go wrong when I laminate the coordinates in such a manner. The self-adhesive laminate is really convenient in any situation.

Edited August 20, 2015 by Ranger Fox

[+zookeepertx]

Why paper?

Why not something etched in a aluminum, copper, or even tin tag?

 

Considered it. Thought cutouts from aluminum pie tins might be good. Haven't figured out how to burnish the edges so they aren't sharp.

 

It was suggested to me a while back to go to a plant nursery and get some "plant tags" to mark waypoints/turns and such. They're just copper (I think) tags about 3-4" long with a wire at one end. You can engrave coords into them and hang them in a tree or whatever inconspicuous spot you can find. They're very thin and can be engraved VERY easily.

[Luckless]

I might look into this. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Why paper?

Why not something etched in a aluminum, copper, or even tin tag?

 

Considered it. Thought cutouts from aluminum pie tins might be good. Haven't figured out how to burnish the edges so they aren't sharp.

 

It was suggested to me a while back to go to a plant nursery and get some "plant tags" to mark waypoints/turns and such. They're just copper (I think) tags about 3-4" long with a wire at one end. You can engrave coords into them and hang them in a tree or whatever inconspicuous spot you can find. They're very thin and can be engraved VERY easily.