I realized today that the vinyl plastic labels I’m using for grafts and trees got brittle after one summer. So I started making aluminum ones with a seltzer cam and thought others might like to see the quick and easy method.
Makes 5 labels with one aluminum can in less than 5 min. I used a nail to write on one side (on top of something with a little give) and a UV resistant garden marker on the other (that didn’t fade over the summer).
The key is having the tin snips to get it started at the top and once you turn the corner and get it started, the aluminum rips cleanly and the top comes off. The tin snips do the rest…
I pretty much use this method to make labels - recycling at it’s best! Need more labels, drink a beer. Any labels made from hard seltzer cans were consumed by my wife. Honest!
I do sometimes get jagged edges, but I’m careful how I handle the labels.
The stamp kit is ok, but for me it takes to long to label the grafts and I do a lot of grafts. I found that the easiest way to write on it is to use an engraver (amazon has one that works for $25).It is very easy to engrave, almost like using a pen to write on the label once you practice a little. For the aluminum tag I mentioned, the pen or sharp tip punch doesn’t write deep enough but this engraver works well. You can read it nice.
I like using aluminum for tags. My choice for several years has been aluminum window blinds. They are a little thicker and I use a battery powered etcher to put the name on it.
I still have some of this left over 10in X 10ft roll of aluminum flashing is about $14 now… at Home Depot etc. not sure how it etches havent tried it yet. Good idea on the blinds. I use the plastic blinds for my potted stuff and seeds i start.
Krismoriah, I will try the tags you mentioned, it does seem to be similar to the ones I use now with the fiber board inside (pacific forest supply). Maybe the one you use has a little more resistance to birds/rats/squirrels that seem to like to eat up my tags after a few years. I switched to the solid aluminum tags since I know they can’t chew these up.
You can make tags from the aluminum rolls, but when you calculate the time to cut, punch wire hole, buy and cut aluminum wire, it might not be worth your time. To me it’s much cheaper to buy 100 already made tags with wire for $13. I’m a retired mechnical/electrical engineer(manger) and can tell you from experience sometimes its not as economical. In engineering we say, “Not invented here (NIH)”, and my engineers would try to design their own mouse trap and I would say just go buy it, stop wasting money!
Yes, I have been using the ones from Pacific Forest Supply which has the aluminum wrapped cardboard, not that strong and doesn’t last more than 5-6 yrs. This one which is solid aluminum should last much longer, but as I mentioned you need to use an engraver tool or it is difficult to mark it with a pen or sharp tool.
