Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Signing and Dating Pickups

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Signing and Dating Pickups

    I'm new to this forum and to making pickups. I have wound a few sets so far with great success. My question for the pro's is, what kind of pen or marker do you all sign and date your pickups with? Also, do you sign them before or after wax potting? Thank you very much

  • #2
    I'm not a pro and don't do this for profit. Just a hobby for me but I still like to put some info on the pickups I make just for future references. What I did was made up a little label in photoshop that has all categories I want layed out on it. Then I got some of that sticker paper from staples and printed out a sheet. Then when I need a label I cut one off the sheet and write in the details( magnet type, Resistance, whatever, etc...). I have stuck them on the bottom of baseplates before wax potting and had no problems with it coming off. I think it seals it on even better.

    Comment


    • #3
      There was a thread about this some time ago. The issue is to find a way that is permanent, despite solvents and hot wax.

      The quickest way is to write on the forbon with an archival pen (I like Pygma), or a common pencil (the potting will fix the pencil lines).

      With plastic bobbins, one must find an archival pen that will fuse with the surface. Labels tend to fall off.

      Comment


      • #4
        I have a lable printer, a Brother QL-500 and these labels stick and stay on in during a ten minute dip in hot wax.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Peter Naglitsch View Post
          I have a lable printer, a Brother QL-500 and these labels stick and stay on in during a ten minute dip in hot wax.
          The adhesive will dry out in a few years. The other thing to consider is how fade-proof the label ink is. The quick test is to leave a label on a windowsill exposed to direct sunlight for months, and see if it fades. Good inks may fade a little in a year, but remain legible. Bad inks will disappear in months.

          Comment


          • #6
            Thank you everyone for responding so quickly.

            Comment


            • #7
              We have an aluminum back plate, and I actually use a Cricut cutter to engrave it. I also use the Cricut for packaging stickers, iron-ons, and even to make a vinyl sticker which I can attach to the case as a temporary design.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by DialtonePickups View Post
                We have an aluminum back plate, and I actually use a Cricut cutter to engrave it. I also use the Cricut for packaging stickers, iron-ons, and even to make a vinyl sticker which I can attach to the case as a temporary design.
                That sounds like a cool machine. Which model do you have?
                Bobby, www.TysonTone.com

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Beef Coon View Post
                  That sounds like a cool machine. Which model do you have?
                  It's an Explore. $200 on sale at Michaels, and blades/vinyl/supplies are pretty inexpensive on Amazon. It's been a great investment!!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Thanks!
                    Bobby, www.TysonTone.com

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      That CriCut machine is very interesting. So, it does a decent job engraving aluminum? Do you just feed flat sheets into it? I may just get one of those machines.

                      I have a fairly nice German CNC circuit board engraving machine from 1990, which I bought from a friend. It's fine mechanically, but it needs someone more knowledgeable than I to sort out the controlling software. I have the original manuals and software; they are on 3 1/2" floppys, and made to run on Win 95. I've been planning to get this machine running to do some of my engraving. But it may be cheaper and faster to buy a CriCut.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Joe Gwinn View Post
                        The adhesive will dry out in a few years. The other thing to consider is how fade-proof the label ink is. The quick test is to leave a label on a windowsill exposed to direct sunlight for months, and see if it fades. Good inks may fade a little in a year, but remain legible. Bad inks will disappear in months.
                        I have a Brother label on my galvanized gate in full sun and rain. It's only just faded after 8 years (still clearly legible) and still stuck as firm as the day I put it there.

                        The genuine TZ tapes don't use ink and are laminated with mylar. I think inside a pickup they'll be there for ever. I have a PC connected printer as well as a handheld and you can put graphics, text, screen shots signatures or whatever you want onto tape.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Mick Bailey View Post
                          I have a Brother label on my galvanized gate in full sun and rain. It's only just faded after 8 years (still clearly legible) and still stuck as firm as the day I put it there.
                          That's quite the test. Most computer printer labels are not nearly this durable. I have a Brother printer. What kind of lables, by make and model, are you using?


                          The genuine TZ tapes don't use ink and are laminated with mylar. I think inside a pickup they'll be there for ever. I have a PC connected printer as well as a handheld and you can put graphics, text, screen shots signatures or whatever you want onto tape.
                          I guess the make is "TZ"? Or is it the model?

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            I have a commercial grade Brady TLS2200 labeler used by electricians, and communications.
                            Leftover from the Commtech job.
                            It too has permanent labels.
                            It's not the most user friendly labeler I've used.
                            The Labels and ribbons are pretty expensive.
                            T
                            Last edited by big_teee; 01-14-2015, 02:38 PM.
                            "If Hitler invaded Hell, I would make at least a favourable reference of the Devil in the House of Commons." Winston Churchill
                            Terry

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              I don't label my pickups. Very few go out "loose" anyway. They tend to be made for complete guitars. I have this one guy that requests I label them and they are always humbuckers. I use a custom made rubberstamp with etching ink. The same crap they used on transformers, light housings, etc.. Once dry you have to work pretty hard to remove it.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X