Forever Tree Tags

[PA Figs]

For the last year+, I have been using the impress-o-tag style tags to label my trees. (http://www.amekron.com/). I've noticed that after little more than a year or two they are separating at the seams. I will likely still use them to label newly rooted trees, but I want something more permanent for my larger trees.

I've seen brass stamped tags before, but they are difficult to read once weathered. What I am considering doing is purchasing blank stainless steel dog tags and a stamp set. Does anyone have any better ideas? I can get the dog tags for about 30 cents each and will need at least 50. I looked at laser engraved pet tags, but at $2+ each that will get expensive fast.

[Kelby]

I'm interested too. At the moment I have stick in tags, some with aluminum tags, and label maker stickers on most. Some young plants just have the name written on tape on the pot.

I'm planning on getting a stamping set and using can lids (I have a can opener that doesn't leave sharp edges). Can lids are free!

[PA Figs]

Kelby the can lids should work for a while, but they are bigger and lighter than I want. I imagine the constant flapping in the wind would snap the wire holding them on sooner or later. I also wondered about a wood burning kit and giving my trees tattoos

[Kelby]

I was going to get heavier gauge insulated wire and tie around the trunk. Shouldn't move except in wind where you have bigger problems!

[Bijan]

There used to be a website which would print dog tags for you. They had an Excel template you put your information (I think up to 5 lines with ~14 characters per line). In quantity they were pretty reasonable, and seemed much more cost effective than punching the letters at home. I'll see if I can find it.

[PA Figs]

Yes definitely let me know if you find the link!

[cis4elk]

I've noticed that after little more than a year or two they are separating at the seams.

.
Not sure what you mean, where is the seam?
The copper tags that you write on just the same don't have any seams. I like them so far, sure they tarnish and get dull but I can still read them just fine. And like Kelby said, some heavier gauge wire can be used, insulated or uninsulated and if you don't like to see twists you can use a double ferrule. Just give them plenty of slack to grow if you use the ferrule.

[cyberfarmer]

I use the DYMO Tapewriter Metal Tape EMbosser: http://amazon.com/DYMO-Tapewriter-Me...dp/B000FD7Z7I/

It comes with aluminum tape which can be torn if the tag is pulled on too hard. The stainless steel tape is much more durable. One roll of tape goes a long way. It may seem expensive, but I have hundreds of trees to label, so I think in the long run it is not so bad. It takes thirty seconds to punch out a label and it looks neat and clean.

[HarveyC]

I've used this and it does not impress the stainless steel very well so I went back to aluminum but I found the process too slow and I'd sometimes make a mistake (typo) and have to start over.

[WillsC]

I bought one of the Dymos as well and it works FLAWLESSLY. Harvey there is an adjustment for the amount of pressure the device imparts to the tape. You have to turn it up for the stainless but when you do it works the same on aluminum or stainless.

[don_sanders]

I know it's pretty ghetto but I've thought about just using a pencil and pop can strips. Not sure about the longevity or the disadvantages though.

[HarveyC]

I like the Impress-o-tags for several years and have never seen any signs of separation. They are fast and easy and that's of great importance to me. I have bought larger size tags and tend to like those better since they give room for more info and are easier to spot.

I remember someone before reporting that they were separating on them but they had used a stamp to put in letters and apparently had punctured through the aluminum. I just write on them with a ball point pen and have never had an issue.

[PA Figs]

I wonder if our humidity here has an effect on the cardboard inside them, swelling causing splits?

[Harborseal]

Given the time it takes to stamp a name, I think the laser engraved dog tags might be worth it. There are stamping machines for dog tags but they're very expensive.

[HarveyC]

link? I want to know exactly what kind of machine you're talking about for $5

[greenfig]

Harvey, not the machine, tags:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1764340...tag?ref=market

There are many different ones at different prices

[PA Figs]

$5 times 50+ trees will get expensive fast

[PA Figs]

Three year old copper tag; who can guess the name?



Backside of the tag is a bit better:



Cheap metal tag:


Cheap plastic tag with carpenter's pencil (4 yrs old):


Not so impressed o tags (2 yrs old):





Now that I look closely, the cheap plastic label with carpenter's pencil seems to be kickin butt!

[jmaler]

A little steel wool rubbed on that copper tag will make it more readable. Spray it with some type of clear sealer. I hope so because I just received 100 of those little suckers.

[don_sanders]

Haha, I like it. Pencil and cheap plastic :-)

[cis4elk]

Ronde de Brodeaux!

[sppsp]

Here you go buddy,

$14.99 36 Piece 1/4 in. Steel Letter/Number Stamping Set
http://www.harborfreight.com/36-piec...set-60671.html


or
$22.99 36 Piece 3/8 in. Steel Letter/Number Stamping Set
http://www.harborfreight.com/36-Piece-38-in-Steel-LetterNumber-Stamping-Set-60669.html

[PA Figs]

Thanks Shailesh!

[figherder]

I have an engraving tool I bought 30 years ago. I just havent decided what I want to use as tags.

[jmaler]

SS Blank dogtags $23/100
http://www.ballchain.com/estore/merc...ct_Code=SSTAGS

The engraving tool is a good idea.

[figherder]

Thank you. Looks like a great resource

[greenfig]

I like the link jmaler provided. For about $1 I can have a very nice tag that will last forever ! For $1.50 they will make it in color with a UV protection.

[cis4elk]

These are also 3 yrs old. It's important to set the tag on top of something like a magazine when you write in it with a ball point pen. Maybe writing a bit bigger would help also. Mine were very easy to write on. The only thing that makes them hard to read is the camera glare.





I will eventually go to a thicker gauge wire and double ferrule, I think these tags work great.
In the end, if you don't like them..you don't like them. I hope you find something you like.

[PA Figs]

Calvin for some reason your pictures aren't showing.

[WillsC]

I bought one of the Dymos as well and it works FLAWLESSLY. Harvey there is an adjustment for the amount of pressure the device imparts to the tape. You have to turn it up for the stainless but when you do it works the same on aluminum or stainless.

[Hershell]

Never mind the tag, I just want that tree!

[Coop]

I second what Hershell said. Wills, I think that could be the next crazy hot tree on eBay

[Taverna78]

Especially with that fancy look tag! I just give you $1.00 ea and have you print my tags out ahaha!!

Business idea lol?

[rusty hooks]

Will, those look great...is that copper for dymo's?.....stainless with the same stamp set?

We have a small nursery where id is imperative....especially when we are hybridizing...and then speading out the seeds....what we found was...avery all weather, waterproof labels, applied to those cheap metal stakes in the above photos with "paint pen" markers...works for 7-8 years...in the sun. At that length of time the stakes are usually pulled and redone....for our display garden we use a laser printer on the same tags with a 7-10 year good clear use from them.

but with the life expectancy of our figs...I'd be looking at something like the plate sent into space with "ager"....(voyager). Those copper tags, in an appropriate thickness....I think would outlast us...which is what our trees will do...in some cases.

occaisionally, copper roofs are torn down or copper paneling taken out...so salvage yards are a possiblity...but even then I've seen copper scrap at 4.00 per pound....if you only buy it once, and stamp it one time...the time spent is neglible...taking the time to do it right the first time is time well spent.

Those Harbor fright....sp.....stamps are great

[WillsC]

Ross,

No that is actually stainless steel, it is just reflecting some light which was orangish I guess. For the dymo you can get stainless or aluminum tapes, I think the stainless is perfect. The Dymo is a great gadget, it is HEAVY duty.

[AscPete]

Permanent Tags...

Heavy Aluminum Angle Flashing (4.5" x 4.5") cut into 1" wide by 3-1/2" and 4-0" long strips both ends doubled, stamped with Harbor Freight 1/4" Stamping Set, drilled with 1/4" mounting hole and attached to tree with 12" (one loop) of solid 14 gauge copper electrical wire.


BTW, the Stamping Set was purchased on sale last year with a 25% Off coupon for less than $10.00. The wire and angle flashing was "laying around" but the Flashing costs $15.00 for 10 feet, enough to make 216 tags with 10% waste (240 without factoring waste).

[rusty hooks]

I'm a real sucker for "repurposing" materials.....

my wife says its junk...until I turn it into a silk purse...

[COGardener]

Pete,

I was planning to do basically the same thing. Stamping set from Harbor Freight and roll metal from the hardware store. I am going to use tool dip on the edges to protect trees and add the date I acquired the specimen, and where I acquired the specimen from.

[AscPete]

The Flashing and Stamping Set were recommended by a forum member in an older post 2 years ago. The heavier gauge Angle Flashing comes with 2 factory turned edges, doesn't develop any sharp edges or burrs and is easily filed and or hammered smooth, eliminating the need for an "edge treatment" unlike thinner metals and aluminum soda cans. All my tags will also include a suffix with the source of the cultivar, as shown (EL = Edible Landscaping).

[COGardener]

The edge protection may not be nessisary, I just want to do it. I'm also going to round the corners and so on.

[cis4elk]

2nd try, daytime pics.

[AscPete]

Nice penmanship.... and Tags

[cis4elk]

Thanks Pete. My wife always tells me she can't read my writing, and I say I can write nice when I want to. Usually she is reading things I write for myself in a hurry like a shopping list, I know what it says and that's all that matters. It's probably a good thing she has never read my tree tags..she'd be all "Sure, you'll write nice for your stupid figs but I can barely read a thing on the fridge note board!". _

[Dave]

I was just reading this post and have been interested in the Dymos like Willis has, so I looked on Ebay and ran across this one I couldn't believe when I saw Buy it Now $24.00 It looked brand new and I read the description

Known issues/defects: It seems to be jammed up. It could just need oil or there could be something more serious wrong with it. The character wheel that's in it is damaged and probably needs to be replaced. This would be a good purchase for someone who is good with mechanical things.) I then went and looked up the company and found out there repair center is 3 minutes from my house so I hit the Buy it Now It will probably cost me $200.00 to fix it LOL "YOU KNOW THE SAYING IF IT LOOKS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT PROBABLY IS"

[WillsC]

I wonder how it is jammed up? I guess you will find out

[Harborseal]

I can't imagine hand stamping or squeezing 100 labels 1 letter at a time, and it gets worse with every 100 that goes by. And that's not even thinking about the inevitable mistakes...

Has anyone tried any of the Brother machines using this tape? You send the labels in bulk from your PC via USB cable to one of their label printers. They claim it's durable outdoors. I sent them an email asking how long the label will be legible.

http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Lamina...9JZ8GMTG1EGWAR

[Harborseal]

What brand of tape? The Brother tape is laminated after printing and they claim it's more durable that all of the others. Dymo only recommends their plastic tape for indoors. So far on Amazon one guy says it lasts forever and another says it only lasts 6 months. I'm hoping for more comments.

[AscPete]

Its the Brother TZ 3/4" tape... in Yellow and White, both with black lettering. Its laminated during the printing process, the laminated lettering is sturdy, it lasts for years (over a decade so far indoors) but the tape's adhesive backing may be the weak link.

[Harborseal]

I'm not going to use the adhesive. I'm going to use the 1" tape and punch a hole in it and attach with a zip tie. Or at least that's the plan now until I hear more. I haven't bought it yet

[WillsC]

Bob,

I'm just using the dymo for the permanent tags on the in ground trees. For the rest a silver metallic sharpie on the pot is good enough for me.

[AscPete]

Bob C,
I use Elmers Painters to write on the cuttings and main stems as temporary ID's, but am in the process of labeling all the cultivated fruiting plants with the stamped metal tags they are cheap, easy to make, reusable and will never need to be redone....