Toggle sidebar

How to make labels?

  • PATRONS: Did you know we've a chat function for you now? Look to the bottom of the screen, you can chat, set up rooms, talk to each other individually or in groups! Click 'Chat' at the right side of the chat window to open the chat up.
  • Love Gotmead and want to see it grow? Then consider supporting the site and becoming a Patron! If you're logged in, click on your username to the right of the menu to see how as little as $30/year can get you access to the patron areas and the patron Facebook group and to support Gotmead!
  • We now have a Patron-exclusive Facebook group! Patrons my join at The Gotmead Patron Group. You MUST answer the questions, providing your Patron membership, when you request to join so I can verify your Patron membership. If the questions aren't answered, the request will be turned down.
Barrel Char Wood Products
B

bjswift

NewBee
Registered Member
Jul 26, 2007
71
0
0
Ok, so is there a way to print out your own labels using regular computer paper, or glossy computer paper, and an ink jet printer? How about glue? I read somewhere that you should use 1 part elmers to 3 part water.. How should I glue my labels once I figure out a good paper source?

Thanks,
 
I'm pretty amateur, but I used Avery 2x4? address labels. The print on them isn't perfect, but they were easy to do.

Rick
 
Avery labels have a bad habit of being a pain to remove once they are on.

I print onto regular printer paper, lacquer the labels with spray, and then glue them on using elmers glue sticks when the lacquer is dry. They stick well, but come right off when you place the bottles in hot water.

Angus
 
Thanks for the tips! I'm looking for somthing cheap, and easy to remove so I can reuse with as little frusteration as possible. I like the idea you bring up Angus, what type of lacquer do you use, and do you spray just the printed side of the paper, or both sides?

Thanks
 
Try using 'Static Cling' labels to make reusable labels :laughing7:.
 
you can print to a pdf file, go with a USB stick to the local copy shop, and have them output the file on a color laser. Unlike inkjets, color laser stands being wet :)
(this being said good quality inkjets are somehow waterproof).

What is 'elmer' ? (haven't got that in europe :p )
 
"Elmer's White Glue" is a tradename for a brand of white glue that historically was used both for wood and paper here in the US. It has been pretty much of a fixture in school classrooms for over 50 years here in this country. "Elmer's" is now used as a more generic name for any white, water soluble adhesive (including the glue sticks) sold by one particular company. Any water soluble glue stick should work as well for this application! I suppose if you wanted to be a traditionalist, you could use modified wheat starch paste (the stuff used to hang wallpaper), as that was used almost from the invention of the paper bottle label until recent years when various heat cured resin-chain (thermoplastic) formulations were adopted as replacements.

BTW - "Elmer" and "Elsie" were the names of a bull and a cow, respectively, that were used as character trademarks to sell a variety of products manufactured by the Borden Companies, which started out as a dairy operation and patented the first process to evaporate and condense milk for canning. They were into everything from milk to plastics at one time, but now are mostly a dairy operation again.
 
The lacquer I use is the type that you can buy in Arts and Crafts stores for spraying on charcoal drawings etc. to set them. I only spray the printed side. I have heard that you can use hairspray, although this type of lacquer is a lot less potent and you may need a couple of extra coats.

Angus
 
OK, thanks. So, white water-based glue or wallpaper glue, indeed (both have the same kind of basis now, that is an acrylic media that polymers while drying).
 
I use Avery address lables for my meads. I print up enough for about half of the bottles from each batch and just hand write small lables for the rest. The bottles with the printed lables are for gifts and long term aging while the bottles with the small hand written lables are for personal consumption. To remove the lables I scrape as must as I can off the bottle with a knife and then scrub the rest of the glue off with a Scotch Brite pad and soap.
 
I also use injet printed labels and Elmer's glue. Works great, though I'm thinking of making generic labels and hanging them over the neck (so they're reusable).
 
Really Really easy way to labels is with a ribbon and a whole punch. You can fix the labels just about where ever you want with a little inventive wraping and tying. Even a few professional wines have this style of lable on it. You could even re use leather straps for cost savings long term!
:happy10:
 
Great tips! Now I have another craft I can keep busy with while I wait for my mead to finish! That is, of course, when I am not making mead.
 
I have had some success with Avery "Easy Peel" labels. They're like regular address labels, but the adhesive is like the stuff on Post-It notes, so it peels off easily. I got mine from Staples. Here's a link: Avery Easy Peel Labels. (They make them for laser printers too.)
 
I use the Avery labels with my ink jet and have good results. However, they run when moisture hits them, like bottle sweat on a humid day, so I may start laquering them as someone suggested.

I have found the labels come right off when soaked in water with a little common amonia cleaner in it. I usually do bottles in bulk and take one of my old 5 gallon honey pails, put the bottles in after filling them with water, fill the bucket up to the neck of the bottles with water, and then add a little bit of the amonia and put the lid on and let them soak. They need to soak for a couple of hours. This method also works for all but the stingiest of commercial labels.

I peel the labels off, sometimes it takes my fingernails, then scrub whatever adhesive remains off with a brillo pad...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Barrel Char Wood Products

Viking Brew Vessels - Authentic Drinking Horns

Top Bottom