Label Printer.

[Chako]

Back in 2013, I bought a Brother P-Touch 2030 label printer just so that I could label my First Day Cover collection. It did the job, but at the time, I was still expanding the collection, and consequently, the labels did not fit anymore. This has bugged me in a low key way for many years now. Part of the reason is that using the Brother 2030 is a major pain in the rear. It is by no means an easy machine to use. Fairly complex actually, and I never did get used to using it. The media it uses is fairly expansive as well. It uses TZe laminated tape with a maximum width of 18 mm or 0.7".

I found a new tape cartridge and was about to fill in the gaps if you will, then quickly realized that I could not do that. I would have to start fresh from the start. I tried to get the same label as the old ones, but I struggled. In short, I dislike the P-touch 2030. Time to upgrade to something hopefully easier to use.

IMG_8782A by Chako, on Flickr

Yesterday, I decided to get one that plugs into the computer. I figure the desktop software should be easier to use and learn. I was going to go with a Dymo 450, but looked at what Brother had, and ended up ordering from Amazon, a Brother QL-800 that is USB only and can print in both black and red using special paper labels. There were 2 higher models in the 800 series, but I did not need wireless or Bluetooth connectivity. I just bought a roll of the red/black paper labels at the local Staples, which should get the job of labeling the FDC collection finished.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stu47AnduuE

I just finished peeling off the old laminated labels.

IMG_8784A by Chako, on Flickr

When I bought the P-Touch 2030, I was sure I would be labeling everything...much like the old labeling machines that used a rotary wheel and would indent the words into the plastic tape. However, I found it to be rather intuitive. The LCD did a lousy job of showing what you were getting, and the ruler feature showing the length of the label to be not all that easy to use.

Now to wait for the printer to come in.

[Don Pablo]

Don't forget to label the label printer!

[Chako]

Still waiting for it. Nobody knows where it went once it arrived in my city. I called the local Canada Post supervisor today and they are looking into it and going .

[Don Pablo]

I hope you get it.

[WoodsDuck]

Don't forget to label the label printer!

Right on 

[Chako]

 

[Don Pablo]

[Aloha]

 

[Chako]

Just got a phone call from Canada Post. They think it never arrived in the Sault as there was nobody who scanned it here. 

Package lost...I hope not. 

[Chako]

Still no updates....nothing. I think the package is gone. I am going to wait another few days and initiate something with Amazon.. 

[smiller43147]

Just had to dig out my old Dymo label maker...

[Chako]

Just got in contact with Amazon. They refunded me. 

[Chako]

So now they have told me that if it arrives...I get it for free and do not have to return it. I am more than certain my package shall never arrive now due to that statement alone from Amazon. Guess I am now free to buy one at Staples locally. 

With my luck, I probably won't be able to get one from them. I hate wasting 2 weeks and the time spent waiting at my home specifically to intercept this package is a bit tragic.

[Chako]

Just got home and am currently downloading the drivers and software for it. I went to Staples and of course they didn't have any Brother QL-800 models, but they did have a single Brother QL-810W. I guess I got an upgrade even though I gave some consideration for going with the cheaper 800 because I did not need WiFi. I guess I can now toss the USB cable I suppose.

[Chako]

Once all the drivers and software got installed...and there was many...time to design a simple collection label.

IMG_8930A by Chako, on Flickr

I still need to learn my way around things, but I did get the basics quickly.

Sad that it took 3 weeks of waiting to do a 5 minute job. Once I got up to speed, it was nothing in making each label. The auto cutter is kinda cool. Now the collection is all properly labeled.

IMG_8932A by Chako, on Flickr

I bought an extra roll of red/black label spool thinking that the little amount that comes with the printer would't be enough. This job hardly took up any label length.

And the Brother QL-810W. Networked and ready to print.

IMG_8929A by Chako, on Flickr

[Don Pablo]

Very nice labels!

[Chako]

Thanks. This label printer is so much quicker than my older brother stand alone label printer.

[Chako]

Just playing around with the software. I have noted that the desktop editor is no Photoshop application. The image is one of mine.

IMG_8944A by Chako, on Flickr

[pfrsantos]

Just playing around with the software. I have noted that the desktop editor is no Photoshop application. The image is one of mine.

IMG_8944A by Chako, on Flickr

Oh, yeah! You REALLY needed a sign like this...

 

[pfrsantos]

As per the label "problem", I had a similar need at work, some time ago. There are A4 sheets of stickers, with different sizes. You get 12/page, 27/page, 33/page, etc. Just find out what size you need, buy these and use a regular printer to make the labels.

I used Excel to create the labels' text. It's easier to define the cells dimension to match the sticker. Print the final result to a PDF file, so as not to have borders messing up the size and then print the PDF with borders=0.

 

[Chako]

 

[cody6268]

Nice one! I've been looking at the smaller models with built-in keyboard at Lowe's to help organize my diecast models in their boxes and storage cases.

I'm gonna have to get one that is capable of shipping printing labels, so might as well go for one of the fancier ones that can print bigger labels. Starting to trade/sell quite a bit of stuff lately, and I don't think using packing tape over the label (printed on regular paper) is such a good idea (I've got one going out this morning, and I'm worried that, despite the fact I used "crystal clear tape" to hold the label on, the USPS machinery might not read the barcode--USPS says not to tape over the label, but I did, as it was the only way I had to hold it on.  USPS, when I did warranty returns for my LM and Gerbers, typically just did it the way I did, but slipped the label into a special window that stuck to the box. They do make specialty labels that fit in inkjet printers. Should've known that existed.

[SteveC]

cody, I've been taping over shipping labels for years and never had a problem with USPS not being able to read them.

[pfrsantos]

cody, I've been taping over shipping labels for years and never had a problem with USPS not being able to read them.

+1

With regular Post, I mean. I use scotch tape, it takes 2 or 3 strips to cover the address label but it protects it and was never an issue. I think that, as long as you use fully transparent tape, you have no problem.

[Chako]

I cover mine all the time with packing tape...and never an issue with reading bar codes.

[cody6268]

It did work, just fine. It was picked up and accepted.Guess it works just fine. While I used Gorilla Clear Repair Tape to assemble the Small Flat Rate box and tape it shut, I used thin Duck brand packing tape to cover the label.  I'd never before sent anything I myself packed and prepared for shipment. I threw a bunch of boxes I'd had stuff stored in (mostly action figure and diecast boxes) away today, mostly from eBay purchases, and noticed that several of the labels were done the same way I did--taped on.