Can i write on DVD with permanent marker

[Sifaga]

I keep misplacing my DVD/CD Pen

Can I write on a DVD with a fine permanent marker ?

[tumbar]

I think "Sharpie" permenant markers are the standard

...another poll idea...what brand of permenant marker do you use?

[Sifaga]

Well the one I have here is a "Schwan Stabilo" fine permanent marker.

and Ive just used it so hope its ok.

I just dont like leaving the DVD with no label on it till i go out and buy another pen.

[FOO]

I think that if you write on the bottom of the DVD, it doesn't matter
what you use.

[garryheather]

Staedler "Lumocolor" markers are my weapon of choice.

[galactica]

I keep misplacing my DVD/CD Pen

Can I write on a DVD with a fine permanent marker ?

Can you? Sure!!!

Should you?! Depends. I use permanent markers that are NON ALCOHOL based and they work fine. I get mine from work, they are designed specifically to be used on plastic items that are to be placed at extremely low temperature -80C and beyond.

They seem to do fine on my dvd's

but I wouldnt use sharpie's or "standard" permanent markers, have heard stories about the contents seeping deep into the dvd layers and really causing problems...

[Metaluna]

Staedler "Lumocolor" markers are my weapon of choice.

These are MUCH better than Sharpies...they are water based, and don't run dry and skip halfway through what you're writing (except for the Superfine tip ones...avoid those). They also have a bolder, darker black ink. I can always tell a disc I've labeled with a Sharpie because I can see the double lines where I had to go back and retrace over a letter because the Sharpie's tip ran dry in the middle of writing something. Bic and Avery/Marks-a-lot make Sharpie-type markers that also flow better than the Sharpie, but aren't water based.

Unfortunately the Lumocolors are hard to find around here at the usual office superstores (Staples, OfficeMax). The Maxell CD marking pen is even better than the Staedtler, IMHO. Writes on anything, very bold lines, never skips. I can't remember where I bought mine though. I'd like to get a couple more.

No I don't spend my days obsessing over writing on DVD's . I just tend to lose most pens after about a week or so, so I've gone through a lot of brands over the past 10+ years (except that I watch my Maxell and Staedtler markers like a hawk ).

[defense]

The Maxell CD marking pen is even better than the Staedtler, IMHO. Writes on anything, very bold lines, never skips. I can't remember where I bought mine though. I'd like to get a couple more.

They sell these at Best Buy..that's where I purchased mine. I've never used a sharpie..and have used the water based Maxell CD/DVD marker from day 1. It writes very smooth and instantly dries.

Radio Shack also sells a CD/DVD marker and although it says RadioShack..I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if that's just one of the Maxell markers with Radio Shack's name...because I purchased one of them one time when Best Buy was out of the Maxell's...and it was basically identical to the Maxell.

[The village idiot]

I have never had a problem with Sharpie. Now in new metalic silver ! Great for those black disks! Though I haven't used the silver on a disk, and might not ever. It does not use alcohol, but something worse. SO it might really cause a problem! Smells like paint, so most likely something that will dissolve plastic. But it is great for labeling all those little powersupplies that come with almost everything. You know those that have all the electronics right on the plug. We usually call them wall-worts. Great for those.

[indolikaa]

My rule of thumb is the stronger it smells, the more likely it will damage the disc over time. I use the Maxell pens which promise not to damage the surface of the disc. I realize that the hallucinogenic effect is nowhere near that of my ol' trusty 2" permanent markers, but the aroma is pleasing nonetheless.

Wal-Mart sells the Maxell markers. They work. I recommend them.

[redwudz]

I use a Sharpie, tho don't blame me if it damages the disk. Probably should use a printable disk because it has a surface coating to keep the ink from penatrating. I think FOO is opposed to using any writing tool. QuoteI think that if you write on the bottom of the DVD, it doesn't matter what you use. ) Please don't write on the data side! I use isopropyl(Yes, I had to look at the bottle to see how to spell it) alcohol to remove my Sharpie typo's on CD's and I haven't lost any so far. I'd use a Dremel tool if it was quick and easy. My DVD's aren't for display, I just need to tell them apart.

[overloaded_ide]

I use Sharpie and some I got in a four color pack, maybe those maxells or something that's been mentioned or perhaps their just colored sharpies?

Anyway I guess I use anything soft tipped like felt so far, though I am using those slick gloss top leda/princo 1x disks. I could probably get by writeing those with a ballpoint

[Lobe]

Sharpies are very bad for CDRs/DVDRs. I use the Dixon Redisharp -water based permanent and cheaper as it's not marketed for the sole purpose of writing on media.

[sparker366]

I just stick a return address label on mine. Never had a problem with them peeling up or anything.

This may not be an approved or sanctioned way of labeling cd/dvds but is has worked for me for over 5 yrs. So if it aint broke don't fix it.

[johns0]

just curious,has anyone ever had a bad experience with a sharpie for labeling causing damage or is just rumour?

[lordsmurf]

Just be sure to do it one the top side.

Had a friend get a DVD autographed on the bottom one time. Don't worry, it was on purpose. The celebrity gave him a funny look.

[Metaluna]

just curious,has anyone ever had a bad experience with a sharpie for labeling causing damage or is just rumour?

I've heard some anecdotal stories about people damaging CD-R's (usually cheap ones that don't have a good protective coat over the reflective layer). But supposedly DVD-R's have much better protection, so it could be a rumor that carried over from the CD-R technology. Still I'd like to hear an authoritative statement on this from a manufacturer before I'd trust a Sharpie. Also, it's the kind of problem that doesn't necessarily show up right away, but could effect the reliability of the disc over time.

[handyguy]

Sharpie says not to use them but everyone I know does. The acid eats through some cheap disks. how about just writing on that small inner ring?

[The village idiot]

Sharpie says not to use them but everyone I know does. The acid eats through some cheap disks. how about just writing on that small inner ring?

last time I checked, Sharpie is not acid. In fact, last time I checked sharpie is archivally neutral. It is an alcohol based solution and sometimes the dye can impregnate the plastic, which I guess could cause a problem. But I used to do it all the time. Now it is inkjet printable for me

[The village idiot]

Just to make sure, I looked up the MSDS sheets for sharpies

http://www.sharpie.com/sanford/consumer/sharpie/downloads/msds/Sharpie_Ultra.pdf

http://www.sharpie.com/sanford/consumer/sharpie/downloads/msds/Sharpie_Metallic.pdf

Nothing of any acid.

[digitalmaster]

Permanent nowadays, dries very fast. Most marker packaging states this. Once a marker dries, get it?, dries, it is no longer a liquid. So I do not understand this seeping thing you people are stating. It should not have time to seep. Unless you are pushing down real hard on the marker, I do not think anyone should worry about this. If you are really worried, once it is dry, blow on the DVD to blow out any microscopic residue. On the Verbatims and FujiFilm DVD packaging, they show you the layers on a DVD, and it sure looks like more than the ones on the two layer cheap cd-rs. DVDs are thicker than most CD-Rs so seepage should never get to the writing layer.


Permanent ink is like powder toner in its raw dry form. They add alchohol, water, acid, etc, to turn it into a liquid for writing.

[Lobe]

it is still a chemical, and even if it IS "dry" it could still have a reaction with the compounds of the dvd over time. This even happened with manufactured cds from PDO, they were destroyed by "disc rot" by a chemical reaction from the CD BOOKLET and the media! so who knows what may happen over time. The safest way is to buy those mini label rings that only cover the center non-data ring(from Gaylord) these are what archivalists and libraries use. so who knows? time will tell, and by that time all the media formulations will have changed and there will by new technologies, so we'll be guessing again!

[PJV]

http://www.sharpie.com/sanford/consumer/sharpie/home/faqs.jhtml?faqcode=1200


I have stuff that is several years old written on with Sharpies and have had no probelms with. I also have seen the same ASTM D4236 compliance listed on many so called "cd label" markers, and it the same that is used for Sharpies. That standard is acid free and is what any marker you give to a 3 year old will also comply with.

Then again, I agree with above posters in that you just don't know what will happen over time. So if your worried, just don't write on the disc...and for my DVD's I think I will start marking just the inner clear circle and on the case to be on the safe side.

[Dubber]

Another user of [/b]Lumocolor, actually, I have a 'CD Marker' that IS the same and made by Staedtler... Make sure you use Lumocolor series 317 thou.

Used the markers on VCDs and DVD-Rs for up to a year, never a problem so far.

[kamuixtv]

I write this way (on the center) with any marker and I think it's safe...it sez adisk35 or anime disk35