Seeking Labelling Advice

[PGH_RAM]

Last autumn I decided to organize my supply of wood chunks and coal, so I bought a charcoal caddy for each species and style. I labelled them, as shown here, with duct tape and sharpie.



The tape didn't last three months into a Pittsburgh winter before all that was left were just the reinforcement strings.

I like using the caddies. They're easy to move around and the wood stays nice and dry. What I'm looking for are ideas about weatherproof labelling methods so I don't have to just remember which caddy holds what. (That's what I was doing after the tape wore away, and then one day my better half decided to reorg the back deck and I had to play Junior Botanist to figure out which was which again.)

Thanks for any thoughts you have to share!

[Steve R.]

Maybe a silver paint marker?

[PGH_RAM]

Interesting idea! I did a search for weatherproof paint markers and found these. i never knew they existed!

https://www.amazon.com/Sharpie-Oil-Based-Markers-Assorted-Metallic/dp/B003YDYO1Q

[Steve R.]

Yeah, something like that should work PGH_RAM . The problem with a regular Sharpie is it isn't really all that permanent, especially outside in the elements.

[Finster]

What if you used your tape method on the inside of the lid also.
That way, even when you need to redo the outside each spring, the inside should still be good, and you can avoid the botany experiment, and relabel the outside as needed

I would also suggest that you convince the better half in the strongest terms possible (I know, I know) to stay in her lane.
After all, you don't go rearranging her make up drawer, now do you?

Edit: or, you could just do something logical like what Steve R. said 🤦♀️

[OC Sandy]

Putting the label on the inside is what I was going to comment. GMTA

[Panhead John]

I like this idea also, as a backup. You can also continue the way you’re doing now, but just replace the tape again as needed, while you can still read it. I use painters tape on mine…..

[RiverJeff]

go to your local sign company have them make up some vinyl sticky back labels pretty reasonably priced I have them make my boat numbers all on a back ground strip works great!

[Jfrosty27]

Why not just write on the caddy lid with the Sharpie? I myst be missing something.

[PGH_RAM]

I wanted higher contrast so my weak eyes could see it better. If I use those paint markers above I'll apply them right to the plastic.

[smokenoob]

why not just write on the containers with a permanent marker? When you wanna change the label, just use a little goof off. Goof off makes permanent not so permanent.😁

[texastweeter]

Just write on the lid directly

[Smoker_Boy]

Melt it in with a soldering iron.

[smokenoob]

and a heat gun to erase….. I like the way you think! 😂

[Mosca]

I have 4 of those. I used to label them, but had the same issue: the writing would weather off.

Now I just have 2 with lump and 2 with briquettes. If the briqs have a K, they’re Kingsford, a B they’re B&B, smooth idk what they are… sometimes they’re mixed, sometimes they’re not.

The lump is all mixed together. Not that all lump is the same, but I don’t care what it is. I made the decision to get the good stuff when I bought it, and I’m going to use it regardless so it doesn’t matter. A caddy of lump might be all one kind, or 2 or 3 different kinds mixed. What’s more important to me is lump size. I like about “tennis ball”, but I can work with “walnut” up to “grapefruit”.

[Finster]

Do you sort the lump into the separate bins based on size, or just dump and go?

[Mosca]

Dump and go, generally. I sometimes take a screwdriver and hammer to really huge lumps. In a kamado, the fire is air-modulated. Lump size doesn’t control burn speed through surface area, but it does affect air flow. As long as I don’t have what looks like a bucket of gravel it should burn okay. I’ve had one fire crater in 16 years.

[Huskee]

Who needs labels, live dangerously.

[Panhead John]

This morning I ran around the house with scissors!

[smokenoob]

Your pit will be like a box of chocolates……

[Alan Brice]

Run! PJ, run! You never know what yer gonna get!

[Sweaty Paul]

Brand them!

How about just writing with different colored sharpies.

[PGH_RAM]

The dark blue plastic makes it harder to read. I wanted higher contrast so my weak eyes could see the writing better. If I use those paint markers I mentioned above I'll apply them right to the plastic.

[Sweaty Paul]

Another thought is write your labels. Laminate them, then, glue the laminated labels to the containers.

[SheilaAnn]

Cover your labels or handwriting or whatever with packing tape.

you know, that stuff on a handle with a cutter-type edge….

[acorgihouse]

I came here to say same as SheilaAnn. Sharpies come in colors and metallics, you might not want the whole range, but there is a three pack of silver, bronze, gold. The other colors sometimes are more obvious than the black. The silver might stand out on that blue background, but wouldn't know until you try it. I agree with SheilaAnn, just as for packages going into mail, covering the pertinent writing with wide packing tape will protect it, and is pretty easily removable.

[Alan Brice]

Uhh huh, kissin up to the Sherriff will do you no good.

[realdocBBQ]

Dude... Duck Tape and it's derivatives don't last. What DOES last is GORILLA Tape. They have black, silver and white. Trust me, I used it to seal up holes in my car. The duct tape lasted a few weeks to a month or two - the Gorilla Tape, even the original black style lasted for several YEARS! And this was before they came out with their Permanent Gorilla All Weather tape.

Give it a try. Stuff is impressive!

Now I see they've got a Gorilla Tape Ultimate as well! Wow... seriously, give it a try.

[Alan Brice]

I currently have three rolls of the four inch holding the seam together on the roll away awning. Works great but you only get appx three feet to a roll.

[Oak Smoke]

IMHO print labels to white paper then cover them with clear laminating plastic. I have some you can apply nicely with an iron. Then just attach with clear packing tape or glue them on.

[Alan Brice]

Hot glue around the edges. ^^^

[Spinaker]

I would buy a stencil and spray paint them on. That is what I do with my chainsaw cases, it works great.