Do I Label or use a Sharpie on dvd's???

[Jonathan]

Having just read tons of posts with many saying DO NOT LABEL YOUR DVD'S!!! I am confused. Labelling looks great, but should I just use a sharpie, or is that even safe??

Advice appreciated!!! Thanks Very Much!!

[lacywest]

I've read the negative posts ... but I use Sharpies and my friends dont complain.

DVD Players

Apex, Panasonic and JVC ... they read them.

[FulciLives]

It has been noted that in the LONG run maybe even a Sharpie is bad.

Best thing to do is mark on them with a WATER BASED marker.

The standard sharpie is NOT water based.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Jonathan]

Thanks. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

[handyguy]

Another sharpie topic?

Okay, according to sharpie.com writing on your disks is just fine.

[andkiich]

Maybe we should send some of these topics to MythBusters and have them give us the definitive answer.

[FulciLives]

Another sharpie topic?

Okay, according to sharpie.com writing on your disks is just fine.

Never believe the Manufacturor or a place selling said product.

It's a trick ... get an axe!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[gmatov]

How the hell can anyone believe or suggest that an alcohol like vehicle that is dry to the touch and impervious to wiping in mere seconds going to keep eating deep into .024 thick polycarbonate and destroy a disk in "the long run"?

As a test, take one you have marked 6 months ago and rub the printing off with a tissue and isopropyl alcohol, rubbing alcohol, and see how "deep" it has gone since you wrote on it.

If you hold it at the right angle, you may see some ghost of your print. Sure must have dug deep, huh? Why, in only 20 or so years it might actually migrate clear through and fall off the bottom of the disk..

Some people are so paranoid they would be best off storing in a case or sleeve, unmarked, and just keep that case or sleeve open at any one time so they can put it back in the one marked with the content of that disk.

Personally, I wouldn't be afraid to etch one lightly with a Vibra-tool, or scratch the title on it with a rusty nail.

Sheesh!!!

Cheers,

George

[Tom81]

As a test, I marked one almost solidly black with a sharpie, a month later is still plays perfectly.

[ZippyP.]

Personally, I wouldn't be afraid to etch one lightly with a Vibra-tool...

Vibra-tool...sounds kinky.

[Jonathan]

Hey, I'm new here and just looking for some help. That's all.

[lacywest]

Hey, I'm new here and just looking for some help. That's all.

Yeah ... we get a little bit on the feeding frenzy here ... when we find a new topic to squak over and about.

Even if we already talked about this last month

[gmatov]

Jonathan,

Don't take offense. But, and this is a very BIG but, don't take all the stuff here or at other sites as gospel, either.

People get something in their heads they will swear to it so hard you would think they have a wild hair up their ass..

Or, a financial interest, as shown by some barred members, former members, really.

On my + or - Rs I use a Sharpie. On my RWs, I use a dry erase marker, just wipe it off after a test burn.

ZippyP,

Where the hell is your mind, boy? In the gutter?

Well, OK, disks DO have a hole in them, so just maybe.....

But you do know what I mean, dont you, a tool with a recipocating carbide point that will etch a metal as you move it in a motion suggestive of writing?

Hell, maybe you don't, lots of the members here are of a more technical nature than us "mere" mechanics. This tool might actually not be such a good idea, as it could set up the beginng of a stress failure, especially as some machines are in the 10K RPM range. But, still....

Cheers,

George

[ZippyP.]

Where the hell is your mind, boy? In the gutter?

I've been accused of that before. BTW, I knew what you really meant.

[holistic]

Gotta concur with george.

WTF is all the paranoia over a sharpie ?!

Even if it does eat the 'backup' 5 years from now (which i find amusing) we still have the originals - right ........... right !?

Nevermind .......

[Thorn]

It has been noted that in the LONG run maybe even a Sharpie is bad.

I thought that only really applied to CDs. With CDs you're writing on the actual reflective layer (which might be chemical sensetive) whereas with DVDs you're writing on the polycarbonate. Causing damage to DVDRs seems unlikely, but then again NIST suggests storing discs on their sides rather than flat to prevent them from warping. Not every potental problem is likely to happen, and the long run may mean longer than any of us have had burners. Do a media refresh on anything important every few years.

I wouldn't trust the manufacturer either, but I have hundreds of CDs labeled with a sharpie and haven't had problems yet. If you want to take my anecdotal evidence as proof that's your problem

[little Mick]

Sharpie? what's that......sorry....I'm a little dull....being from Australia, and all......

[Tommyknocker]

Sharpie? what's that......sorry....I'm a little dull....being from Australia, and all......

A.



B.



A: Sharpie

B: Label

A: Evil

B: Good

[little Mick]

Sharpie? what's that......sorry....I'm a little dull....being from Australia, and all......

A.



B.



A: Sharpie

B: Label

A: Evil

B: Good

THANKS....... Me smarter, now...me thinks

[gmatov]

Mick,

In Australia, it could be a sharp nail, or a Bowie, ala Dundee, knife, it wouldn't matter.

Might be less clearly written, but if you know what the hell it is, what the hell does it matter?

Cheers,
George

[tkamin]

i just use a flat tipped one.. works great on cd's and so far also on dvd-r's... (just a begginer in that field...) never used labels, and i don't think i ever will...

[offline]

Sharpie? what's that......sorry....I'm a little dull....being from Australia, and all......

What.. we have had Sharpies here for ages

Oh.. you are from Queensland!!

PS: I have used foil lables w/o problems. I'm now printing direct
to the disc w/o problems thus far.

[The village idiot]

I like to use a rotary cutting tool and a nice sharp bit! I find the this is the only way to get a real waterproof and permanent label on the disk! Sometimes I do this on the written side, it makes nice colors then.

In more than 4 years, I have never had a problem with Sharpie on any CD's, and no problems on DVD's in the last 2 years. I never use labels, because I just can't be bothered, and now sometimes use inkjet printable disks (some of those still get Sharpie ).

[Boffo]

Having just read tons of posts with many saying DO NOT LABEL YOUR DVD'S!!! I am confused. Labelling looks great, but should I just use a sharpie, or is that even safe??

Advice appreciated!!! Thanks Very Much!!

If you really, really want to be safe, don't put anything on the DVDs!!! I use the paper inserts for all of my DVDs and write on the inserts. Works for me, and I am not lying awake at night wondering if a Sharpie, or a water based marker, or a DVD label is going to attack my DVD and deport it to coaster land!!!!!

[Tommyknocker]

Full labels do not like me, but since I like labels so much I use hub labels. No problems from them, nor have I heard any complaints about them yet. I cannot say the same for full labels (read errors), Sharpies (read errors), and printable disks (pricey vs. regular disks).

[fscrocco]

I just got the Epson r200 and did my first disk, I'll try to attach an image here. I used mostly text, multi-color and a small picture as logo. I left a lot of white showing. Used Maxell 4x white matte inkjet printable, got at buy.com, 50 for 63.73 and free shipping.

Question, I'm reading alot about labels and maybe sharpies that can make a disk unreadable. Does anyone know if printing right on a disk can throw it off balance because of ink that is on the disk in a random pattern. Also, I still can't seem to get a definitive answer on whether or not spraying the disk, to waterproof it, will make it out of balance. I used grumbacher (sp?) workable fixative on a photo, on photo paper, waited 24 hrs., wet my finger, and smeared the print. Not very good protection. I imagine Krylon "workable" fixative would be the same. I thinking of trying Krylon Clear coat, which I think is acrylic, hoping it does better, but I'm really worried about long term effects. They will be on home movies that are irreplaceable. Any thoughts???

[fscrocco]

I'll try again. disk.jpg

[fscrocco]

one more time. I'm not getting this attachment thing right.

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[Supreme2k]

I also got the Epson R200. This thing freakin' rocks! I paid $89 at Fry's, which is cheaper than my CW-50 ($93). Also, the photo printing quality is excellent.

As to "expensive" printable discs, these work great for me (near my home).

[bdf24]

I've always used permanent black marker to write on my disks. Been doing this with CDR's for years with no trouble. Just started in the DVDR thing but no problems so far.