Label maker-technical question

[harringg]

I've read many of the post relating as to WHY a label maker is an integral part of the GTD system and got some great tips/tricks on actual filing methods, and am planning on getting a new label maker.

I have a technical question now. I already have a lower priced label maker like this type and the issue with it is the leading and lagging excess white-space for each label is such a waste of the actual label and a person goes through label tape very quickly. For example if I typed the words 'ALPHABETIZED LABELS' it would look like this on the label:

[__________________ALPHABETIZED LABELS__________________] <---CUT HERE

Are there any higher-end label makers people recommend that if I print something it's not wasting so much tape? So it would look like this:

[_____ALPHABETIZED LABELS_____] <---CUT HERE

Or is this just the way it is with handheld/desktop label makers?

Thanks for any advice.

[Oogiem]

the issue with it is the leading and lagging excess white-space for each label is such a waste of the actual label and a person goes through label tape very quickly.

I've got a pTouch and I think it's just the way label makers work. The money is in selling you tape not the devices so they want to make sure that you use as much as they can get away with but not so much you switch. I can reduce the amount of waste if I have several labels to make by doing them one right after the other and cutting them off at once. That doesn't work for the ad hoc labels I make allt eh time now though.

My tactic was to find a cheaper source of label tape.

[harringg]

The money is in selling you tape not the devices
<SNIP>
My tactic was to find a cheaper source of label tape.

Like the toners in printers. I've got an HP Color Laser printer that cost ~$250 and to restock the four toners is ~$400.

Do you have any label sources you could share (or even PM me)?

For now, since I’m getting started, I'll print on Avery Labels since labeling will be a big initial project anyways and then see down the road how convenient/inconvenient it is.

Thanks.

[harringg]

The PT-2700's default setting is to leave 0.94 in margins before and after the text on your label. You can set it to leave 0.16 in before and after, BUT it still cuts 0.92 loose scraps between each individual label. I'm not against a company making money, but don't gouge us on consumables by building intentional waste into your system.

You can chain cut and only have a .31 in space between printed words, but then you are fumbling with scissors, making uneven cuts, and wasting time, which by DA's definition won't be productive.

My printer is in the same room as the file cabinet. I've already got a box full of Avery labels To me, that's more convenient and cost effective than these label makers and would motivate me more by saving money on superfluous 'gadgets'.

Edit: Even the 18R has the same margin specs as the PT-2700, so no advantage there over the lower priced ones. Sigh....

[Oogiem]

Do you have any label sources you could share (or even PM me)?

For now, since I’m getting started, I'll print on Avery Labels since labeling will be a big initial project anyways and then see down the road how convenient/inconvenient it is.

I buy mine from Sam's Club usually.

I tried the avery file folder labels. My experience was that within a year all the glue came off the labels and they fell off the folders. It was a mess. So far my label maker labels have stayed on and some are over a year old now.

[mkeeneo]

I have a P-touch PT-1750 and one thing I've started incorporating is using the 2-line option like this

__________Alphabetized__________
Label

The font is quite a bit smaller and when you combine it with the smaller feed option mentioned earlier, it tends to save me some space on my labels. I also like to put a category name and/or project name on the top line, and a sub project or reference category on the second line of my labels to help with my filing.

My company uses a office supply delivery service, and we got the labels in a 2-pack rather than the one pack that I was buying at Office Depot, etc. which seems to save a buck or two. I also lucked out a couple weekends ago and found a new label package at a local thrift store for a buck!

[harringg]

Thanks for the feedback.

I did pickup a 2700 when it dropped ~$30 for a weekly sale at OfficeDepot (5/2-5/8/10). And later that evening went shopping at Sams and found a 3-pack of 26 FT tapes for ~$30.00 (had bought a two-pack at OD for ~$40.00 which I'll return).

Will give it a try and see how it fits into my workflow.

[DavidRParker]

I use the above and it doesn't was as much tape as a Dymo as Oogiem says.

I fell out with Dymo after they failed to support the LabelWriter I bought on the Vista operating system.

The P-touch 65 has battery and main operation but it may have been superceded by the P-touch 80. David has a P-touch 18R on his desk that connects to his laptop by USB. See my post at http://www.parkerquality.com/gtd/fil...filing-system/

Dave