Got a new toy...
coinpictures
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Back in August I posted this thread about the holder solution I'd decided to work with for my raw coins. All fine and dandy, except that the little slots for label inserts was clumsy and I didn't like the idea of something with chemical ink being inside the slab with the coin.
So I decided to look for a labeling solution in order to put the information on the outside of the holder. There's all sorts of laser and inkjet label sheets available, but that's a REAL clumsy workflow: you either (1) print one label at a time, each time refeeding the label sheet and making sure your software puts the labels in the right places, or (2) gang your labels and print a sheet or half-sheet's worth at a time. I usually don't have time to sit down and do a whole bunch at one time, so the latter solution is not an answer.
Enter the Brother QL-500 thermal label printer (this is the actual seller I bought mine from; they're $70+ everywhere else I found, and this seller shipped fast).
It's a bit bulkier in hand than I envisioned (5.5" wide x 8" deep x 6" tall), but it works like a charm. It's completely silent, and is extremely fast. It's 300 dpi, so you get decent print quality. It comes with a "starter roll" of 100 labels. Most of the label sizes I saw for the unit are far too large, so you'll most likely end up ganging 2 to a label, cutting labels down, or using a continuous label roll rather than die cut. I've ordered some additional label rolls from Amazon (2 rolls of 400 labels each for $26 shipped) but am still awaiting their arrival.
Installation was a breeze, and the software is quite capable.
The thing I like about this solution is that I can do onesies; I don't have to wait until I get a bunch to fill up a label sheet. Also, it will be cool for doing address labels, since I have a number of different business names and addresses I occasionally need to print.
Two pictures:
1. Label on a slab so you can see the relative size. The dimensions of the printed area in this case is 9/16" x 1.75".
2. Here's a screen capture of the software that comes with it. There are also plugins for MS Word, Excel, and Outlook included.
So I decided to look for a labeling solution in order to put the information on the outside of the holder. There's all sorts of laser and inkjet label sheets available, but that's a REAL clumsy workflow: you either (1) print one label at a time, each time refeeding the label sheet and making sure your software puts the labels in the right places, or (2) gang your labels and print a sheet or half-sheet's worth at a time. I usually don't have time to sit down and do a whole bunch at one time, so the latter solution is not an answer.
Enter the Brother QL-500 thermal label printer (this is the actual seller I bought mine from; they're $70+ everywhere else I found, and this seller shipped fast).
It's a bit bulkier in hand than I envisioned (5.5" wide x 8" deep x 6" tall), but it works like a charm. It's completely silent, and is extremely fast. It's 300 dpi, so you get decent print quality. It comes with a "starter roll" of 100 labels. Most of the label sizes I saw for the unit are far too large, so you'll most likely end up ganging 2 to a label, cutting labels down, or using a continuous label roll rather than die cut. I've ordered some additional label rolls from Amazon (2 rolls of 400 labels each for $26 shipped) but am still awaiting their arrival.
Installation was a breeze, and the software is quite capable.
The thing I like about this solution is that I can do onesies; I don't have to wait until I get a bunch to fill up a label sheet. Also, it will be cool for doing address labels, since I have a number of different business names and addresses I occasionally need to print.
Two pictures:
1. Label on a slab so you can see the relative size. The dimensions of the printed area in this case is 9/16" x 1.75".
2. Here's a screen capture of the software that comes with it. There are also plugins for MS Word, Excel, and Outlook included.
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[EDIT: From wikipedia... I guess we'll see.]
Early formulations of the thermo-sensitive coating used in thermal paper were sensitive to incidental heat, abrasion, friction (which can cause heat, thus darkening the paper), light (which can fade printed images), and water. However, more modern thermal coating formulations have resulted in exceptional image stability; theoretically, thermally-printed text should remain legible at least 50 years.
Hospitals commonly record fœtal ultrasound scan images on thermal paper.
(emphasis added)
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But I could use a few ideas from your system to keep some track of my incoming and outgoing coins. I like your price coding.
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<< <i>The new ones I buy are always submitted sooner or later. >>
Well, the problem is that I own far too many coins that simply aren't worth slabbing.
The Canadian dollar toners and the slider morgan toners just don't justify the slabbing expense.
I was doing some more reading overnight, and yes, thermal printing is more susceptible to fading, primarily in environments that have high heat or light. All of my coins end up being stored in dimly lit areas with room temperatures below 80 degrees. I pulled out some old credit card receipts from 2003 (most credit card terminals are thermal printers) and while there was some fading in 4 years, it was nowhere near the extent of being difficult to read.
We'll see...
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