I have been using tags that I bought from Fedco but I'm not completely pleased with the writing area and the price.
http://www.fedcoseeds.com/ogs/search.ph ... earch=tags
Can someone recommend another supplier?
For now, I'm considering the 2702's from National Band & Tag:
http://www.nationalband.com/nb.....#Tree_Tags
I haven't had a cut yet. There are also no shipping or handling fees. I also like the ability to control how many I get and need when I want to. It's under local control.
I mention it mainly so that others know that it is possible, because I only found out because someone shared the idea with me, and now it's what I do.
John S
PDX OR
[quote="John S":1ir956ib]Another option is to cut up pop cans. I just made about 100 tags during the super Bowl.
John S
PDX OR[/quote:1ir956ib]
hee hee! That's my MO too John! Out of a 12 ounce soda can I can usually get 24 decent tags. Use a paper punch for the hole.
I'm trying to get some aluminum cable from the power company, just scraps. Unwind some of that stuff and use a crimp of it to hold a soda can tag, then insert into a hold with some epoxy on a branch. How many years does it take for a branch to be 4 inches in radius to hide my label? LOL
Cheap and fun to make.
I've been making my own tree tags since last year. I'm trying to copy the commercial ones, which have cardboard (or thick paper) sandwiched in between thin aluminum. I haven't found a local source of the thin aluminum (.005 is what I remember the thickness is), so I've been using cheap cookie baking sheets, the kind you buy at a place like 99cent stores. There are many thin aluminum baking forms, but most are embossed and that limits the amount of flat area you have to work with. For the sandwiching paper I've been using two thicknesses of brown supermarket paper bags (the large grocery ones).
You just cut the aluminum with sissors, make the bottom piece larger than the top piece (so you can fold the edges over), then cut the paper the size of top piece( or slightly smaller). Then fold over the edges about 1/8th inch on the long sides, and more on the end sides. Crimp the folds with the widest pliers you have. Use a 10d (3") nail to make one or two holes at one end.
These are easy to write on with a nail, and while not perfect they are simple and cheap to make. I'd like to find slightly stiffer aluminum, but I want it to be easy to write on. Next batch I'll try folding the aluminum over the paper, which will make one side stronger and require less crimping.
I go the pop can tag route. I just cut them into rectangles with a scissors. I cut the corners off a little too. When I'm ready to tag something I have a piece of soft cedar board as a writing surface and just write on it with a ballpoint pen. Poke a hole in the end with the tip of my pruner, and wire to the branch with some phone or data wire.
I am new to the forum --today.
I was a printer for 20+ years and we had printers alum. plates. You might find some at a print shop.
Not sure about proper etiquette on this list, but some friends of mine are Gardenware, in Seaside, OR. They sell not only software, but laser imprintable tyvek and other durable weather proof tags. Laser print holds up well. If you print data from Word on a laser printer it will hold up well, if the sheet holds up like tyvek.
philphoto
[quote="jbclem":r5raqxc5]
These are easy to write on with a nail[/quote:r5raqxc5]
I bet you'd like using an old ball point pen better! Just dedicate one that is out of ink. I use a softwood block to write against, sometimes the soft portion of a telephone book. Anything softish really.
I have soda-can tags in good condition that have been in the weather since '93. Almost 20 years. They still look like they would go a hundred more years!
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
John S
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