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Labels or Stickers for Bowls

Randy Anderson

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I'm looking for advice on small labels or stickers I can put on my bowls that will stay, not leave a mark and not require mineral spirits to remove. When at market shows I put a business card in a bowl with the price or I put items in sections that are all the same price. I've tied brown string around them when I'm not there to attend and watch them but that's a challenge to keep in place. I'm considering putting some bowls in a consignment shop and want some way to put a price on items and know what's been sold. I use walnut oil as my finish so not sure what label sticker might work best or at all.
 
Joined
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Our local chapter take pieces to a local cheese shop that sells them and get a percentage. I use small stickers on them and only had a few come off. I also assign an inventory number to eac piece and keep track on a spreadsheet. I wish there was something better than the stickers too.
 

Dave Landers

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dlwoodturning.com
I use these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01926WM4Y

Never had a problem with them coming off, and they peel off pretty easily - I use my finger-nail to get them started off.
After about a year or so they start to stick more, so I replace them, otherwise they do need some cleanup when you remove them.
They will also eventually soak up walnut oil if I put them on before the oil is really cured well, but it takes a few months. Of course, once they're oiled they come off pretty easily :)

So I'd say if you're moving product, and it's not just sitting around, these might work for you.
 
Joined
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Kind of a repeat of the one above, but as I said there, I use the blue painter's tape. It will stick to just about anything, and when you peel it off, no residue. Cut to size with scissors rather than tearing it...

robo hippy
 
Joined
Jan 7, 2019
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Kind of a repeat of the one above, but as I said there, I use the blue painter's tape. It will stick to just about anything, and when you peel it off, no residue. Cut to size with scissors rather than tearing it...

robo hippy
There is painters tape that is especially for sensitive areas, I think that’s the one I would use. Hadn’t thought of that Reed. Duh!
 

Tom Gall

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Feb 20, 2013
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Put the price labels on the bottom. Some wood is photosensitive and turns darker with time and sunlight. When you take the sticker off there is a light spot. I put prices on the bottom on all wood.
I agree with Fred. Learned to do that early on when I used to do shows. I also carried around a can of paste wax to easily remove any residue that may have been left.
 
Joined
Nov 22, 2009
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Location
Midland, MI
I use removable multi-use labels from Avery. See picture below for model number. I actually cut them in thirds so individual label is 1/2" high by 3/4" wide. That's enough room to hand write on the type of wood, a (short) inventory number and the price. The labels do not leave any residue that I've been able to see. I recently got some bowls back from a gallery that closed its doors for good. The labels all came off cleanly. The oldest one had been in place for more than a year.

I agree with Fred too, be sure to put labels on the bottom of the bowl, out of direct sunlight. One of the bowls I got back was cherry. The wood is very slightly lighter in color where the label was, even though the label was on the bottom of the bowl. That surprised me.

Here's the labels I use:
labels.jpg
 
Joined
Feb 6, 2010
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Brandon, MS
I agree with Fred too, be sure to put labels on the bottom of the bowl, out of direct sunlight. One of the bowls I got back was cherry. The wood is very slightly lighter in color where the label was, even though the label was on the bottom of the bowl. That surprised me.


Air causes oxidation in woods like cherry and that will also darken the wood. I found a 3M tape with light adhesive that works well.
 

odie

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Dec 22, 2006
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Panning for Montana gold, with Betsy, the mule!
I'm using tiny little round colored dots used for color coding on the bottom of my bowls. They are about 1/4" round, and the only thing I put on them is an inventory number, but are certainly big enough for a price. There are other sizes and shapes available, and are available in the stationary/office supply section at Walmart. Sometimes I use a little bigger label, when I want to add more information, like the species. For writing on them, get an extra fine gel pen, I believe the one I've been using is 0.5mm (Pilot G-2 05)........

(Note: If anyone else decides to go this route, get yourself a set of tweezers for mounting the dots......well, except maybe for the ladies with dainty little hands! :D)

-----odie-----
1693 birdseye maple (14).JPG
 
Last edited:

Randy Anderson

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Thanks for all the ideas. Sure one of them will work great for me. And Odie, VERY nice birds eye bowl. I'm embarrassed now about how plain the bottom of all my bowls look compared to this one.
 
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