Can Sharpie Ultra Fine Marker damage the DVDR disks?

[xcool]

1) I read somewhere that the alcohol based (nontoxic) Sharpie could actually damage the underlying reflective layer on some disks over time like few years. Have you had this problem? Also I hear that the water based marker does not ruin the disk, which one do you use?

2) For all the critical data files, I backup them on Memorex DVD+R &Imation DVD+R. After mark them with the blue Sharpie ultra fine marker, I usually stack them marked side up in the spindle. Could this cause any problem?

3) Also I am interested in buying the Epson R300 for DVD printing, but concern the ink might damage the DVDs. If you use R300, have you encounter any problem?

Thanks in advance.

[Jester700]

Not likely. Unlike CDRs that often only have a thin layer of laquer or similar on the label side, DVD recordables have a layer of polycarbonate.

Should be fine.

[sacajaweeda]

I usually just buy those paper sleeves with the celophane window in them and just write on those instead of on the disc.

[andkiich]

Probably not.

[louthewiz]

No and I always use the sharpie and brother brand label maker and I never had a problem with my backups and finally I use the princo brand which has a white tops I hope this helps.. 8) 8)

[redwudz]

I have used Sharpies on CD's for more than 5 years and on DVD's for 3 more. No problems. Just looks crappy.

[xcool]

Okay, looks like nobody has problem with Sharpie, I will stay with it.

Thanks all.

[mcorpse]

I wouldn't necessarily reccommend the "ultra-fine" Sharpie, as it has a sharp point that may damage the disc surface.

I'd reccommend using either the "fine" Sharpies, or purchasing a pointy soft-tipped CD marker (some are better than others - basically, if it's a plastic tip with a small bit of 'marker' material at the end, this is what you're looking for - the ones that are all 'marker' on the end tend to wear out quite quickly).

[Cannonball888]

I've used Sharpies for years on CDs and for a few months on DVDs without any playback problems. I remember reading on a different site that Sharpies were safe for CD/DVD marking but that those stinky toxic toluene markers were not.

[mcorpse]

I wasn't debating whether Sharpies were not safe to use on CDs, I was just saying that the ultra-fine ones are capable of scratching sometimes.

[sacajaweeda]

Well why would anybody write on that side of the disc anyways? Who cares if the top gets a little scratched up? The laser never even hits that side.

[mcorpse]

On CD-Rs, the data is stored in the surface of the top - it is basically like a silver foil with a dye layer that is attatched to the top, and the only thing between your marker and the data is a thin layer of laquer.

[sacajaweeda]

Oh ok, I thought this was a thread about DVDs. My bad.

[mcorpse]

Sorry, I thought I said DVD-R above, I got confused. DVD-Rs are the same way, I believe.

[handyguy]

If you read at sharpie.com they said they are safe on cds.

yet another sharpie topic with the same answer

[mcorpse]

*Sigh* As I state again, it's not the Sharpies or their ink, it's the ultra-fine ones, and it's that they may be sharp enough to scratch!

If you look at Sharpie.com, it says "We Recommend Sharpie Fine Point" - which is exactly the same type that most people reccommend that you use. The ultra-fine one is the questionable one.

[indolikaa]

Sharpies are for sniffing.

[mcorpse]

Not as smelly as those nasty magic marker ones...

[indolikaa]

You mean like those 2" markers they used to use on grocery store signs? Man, those were some good ones! But a bitch to label a CD with.

Oh. Well. For the record.

I had once CD I burned in 2000 that became unreadable because of a Sharpie. There was a scratch on the label side of the disc and I wrote over it. About 2 years later that spot on the disc matches the place on the disc where the laser won't track anymore.

So I did what any other heartbroken owner would do. I set it in the noon sun of Phoenix (in August, of course) and three hours later I had the darkest shade of purple I've ever seen on the dye side of the disc. I showed it to my wife and she said, "Damn, that's darker than those bruises you get when I horsebeat your ass!"

Oh. This thread was about DVDs. Sorry.

[Jester700]

I'll repeat: many CDRs have only a laquer layer at the top. DVDRs have a layer of POLYCARBONATE. The reflective layer is sandwiched between 2 poly layers. Don't take my word for it - go look!

[indolikaa]

I'll repeat: many CDRs have only a laquer layer at the top. DVDRs have a layer of POLYCARBONATE. The reflective layer is sandwiched between 2 poly layers. Don't take my word for it - go look!

But I'm looking at my Mulan disc, and all I see is this silk-screening on the label side. How do I know there's polycarbonate on that side? I can't see it.

And what about the play side of the disc? I read on one of these forum threads that you can use sandpaper to blend out small scratches. I'm not allowed to use sandpaper anymore because it looks too much like the cat's grooming mitten, but I do have some toothpaste and that's a mild abrasive isn't it? Would that work just as well?

Or a dremel tool? defense once mentioned you could use a dremel tool to burnish the acrylic coating on the DVD. What do you think about that technique?

.indolikaa.
Transparent Polycarbonate Kicks Ass
http://www.disctronics.co.uk/technology/manuf/rep_metlac.htm

[FOO]

I don't screw around . If I want scratches removed , I use
a milling machine or belt sander.

And Methy Ethyl Ketone is Good for removing those stubborn sharpie marks

[xcool]

I don't worry about scratching the label side with Sharpie ultra fine marker, only concern the ink (alcohol, nontoxic) might penetrate the silver protective coating (label side) over time like few years.

Can the Sharpie ink penetrate?
What about the Epson R300 ink?

[tito13kfm]

I don't worry about scratching the label side with Sharpie ultra fine marker, only concern the ink (alcohol, nontoxic) might penetrate the silver protective coating (label side) over time like few years.

Well, I would say no, the alcohol is just used to keep the ink wet after it has evaporated and dried you are left with very little alcohol residue left in the actual ink. I would be more worried about storing them on a spindle than I would with sharpie ink.

The R300 ink being an issue, well if it is there are going to be a WHOLE lot of people suing epson in a couple of years.

Just my 2¢