Dumb Newbie Question..Marking Media

[mike83wvu]

Been using a Sharpie on burned dvd's. Have been using Verbatim , Memorex & Phillips DVD R disc & all have been fine but on the Phillips disc it states to use a Special Marker , what is the special marker & what is typically the best way to label your dvd's.




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[defense]

Some people have claimed to have issues with Sharpie markers. Because they are alcohol based they can apparently soak through the disk..affecting the write side. I am skeptikal about this personally...but people have said it can happen.

As a result, i've still personally never used a sharpie. I use those "special markers" you are referring to. Basically, there are many out there. The one I use you can purchase at places like Radio Shack and Best Buy. The one at Best Buy is a Maxell permanent marker. And it says right on the marker: PERMANENT MARKER FOR RECORDABLE DISKS.

It is water based and instant dry....so these have been tested safe for cd's..dvd's..etc. Again, I don't think you'll have any issues with Sharpies...but if you would rather be safe then sorry....get one of these types of markers.

[mike83wvu]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

[Bob W]

Sounds a bit strange to me that alcohol based markers should be a problem when every discs cleaner I have used is alcohol based. Anyway I don't use the makers and just put nice labels on all my DVDR's.

[freestyler]

I use fine-point Sharpie Industrial markers. They sell em over at Staples - says they are rated for chemical, laboratory and medical applications and can stand high temperatures, so they seem only logical for use on discs and in hot drives. They are also instant dry, and they are tougher than hell to wipe from discs.

http://www.cleansweepsupply.com/pages/skugroup7247.html

I think cd markers are gimmick devices for the most part, and some of them have sharp tips that can damage "CDRs," because I haven't seen any markers marketed solely at "DVD-Rs." That claim about alcohol eating through the top sounds bogus-as-all-get-out. I recommend you "stress test" your coasters, if you ever get any, to see how durable the discs you use are and how well they are made, overall. You can learn a thing or two about them in this manner quite often.

-freestyler

[lordsmurf]

I have problems when writing on silver-top or gold-top CD-R and DVD-R. For anything that has some sort of label or branding, I use ultra-fine-tipped Sharpies, something I bought at Staples. Since I like writing with a Sharpie, and since labels are bad for DVD as per my experience and horror stories I've read, I tend to only buy branded media, and I have no problems. It takes time for damage to happen to those discs, typically a few years, and only unbranded discs from what I've heard/seen myself.

[defense]

@ bob w, using a cd/dvd solution that is alcohol based is an entirely horse of a different color. You don't leave that solution on without wiping it off. Alcohol obviously does have its benefits as well. Problem "apparently" with sharpies is that OVER TIME that alcohol "seaps" into the disk with the change in temperature. This is over a few years from what i've read.

Do a web search and check it out. I don't think the majority of people who label their "DVD" blanks with Sharpies can comment right now because most haven't had their DVDR's burned for 3 years.

Check out this link here...some good info from sharpie's site posted which doesn't dispute that it COULD be possible to have sharpie's cause damage over time to data on disks. As well, there are others who posted that alcohol based markers are just bad news....glad I never used them personally....that's one less thing to worry about.

http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=900

Oh, and you said you use Labels to over time right? Unfortunately for you..that's even more of a problem then sharpies. Over time almost inevitabley the heat from the internal temperature of the DVD PLAYER will cause the labels to peel off the disks....sometimes very slowly.

I"m sure you haven't had any issues as of yet...I hope your not in the percentage of people after a couple of years who can say the same thing.

Fortuantely for me I've never used labels either....so that's "two" less things for me to worry about. Although I have to admit I was going to use one or both of the above options at one time...but hours worth of research on this site and the net made me change my mind.

Because the truth is...even if I could label all of my DVD's nicely....what am I really accomplishing? To me it's a waste of time and I don't know about anyone else....but I personally watch my movies...NOT MY DVD LABELS. lol

[BJ_M]

the alcohol would dissipate so fast that is not an issue .. i could maybe buy the die seeping into the plastic , would take a long time though.



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[Faustus]

I've marked so many disc with sharpies since I got my first burner 2x SCSI burner its not even funny and I've never had a problem with it. Labels on the other hand I had alot of problems with.