I have quite a few cabinets in my garage shop, and have recently been adding more (all made of wood). While I love the organization and keeping dust out of things, it is often difficult to remember what is stored in every cabinet and drawer in my shop. Especially if my wife needs to go get something in the shop and has to look through every cabinet to find it.So, I am looking at options for adding labels to the cabinets and drawers so I can identify the contents. Obviously, I need an option that I can change easily as I reorganize from time to time. I also want to be able to print the labels on my laser printer, as my penmanship is horrible. :)I could always go with the traditional screw on metal holders that you slip the name cards into. But, they're fairly expensive when you need a lot of them.I have also seen plastic adhesive label holders at office supply stores. You stick them to the cabinet, then slip the label into the holder. Not too bad on cost, but not necessarily attractive either.Another option I have used elsewhere in my shop are adhesive backed magnetic business cards. I print my labels on the laser printer, then stick them to the business card magnets. I usually make the label slightly smaller than the business cards and cut them to size with scissors. Obviously, these stick directly to metal tool cabinets. For non-metallic boxes I simply use two magnets. I stick one blank magnet to the box, then my magnetic label sticks to that magnet. I can easily move or change labels when needed.Barring any better solution, I will probably go with my magnetic business card method, as it has worked well for me. But I thought I would see what options others are using.Thanks,Anthony

Blue painter's tape and a black Sharpie. It's even easier to change.Cut the pieces with a scissors - then it'll look professional. ;)R

Labeling Shop Cabinets?

Sep 16, 2011 44 Replies

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Stuart 14 years ago

That is my experience too.

Brother also offer a range of "extra strong adhesive" tapes for their printers, though I've never found that necessary.

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Larry Blanchard 14 years ago

Yes, the embossed ones. I wasn't aware that Dymo made printed ones. I'll have to look them up.

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Doug Miller 14 years ago

I use one of these -- works great. I think I paid about $12 on sale at one of the chain office supply stores a couple years ago.

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easy to use, the batteries seem to last forever. Even the "starter" tape cartridge lasted long enough to make seemingly hundreds of labels. And the labels are durable, too: labels on a couple of

2-quart pitchers are still firmly attached despite dozens of trips through the dishwasher. The type will fade away before the labels begin to peel off.

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Eric 14 years ago

I use one of these -- works great. I think I paid about $12 on sale at one of the chain office supply stores a couple years ago.

formatting link

easy to use, the batteries seem to last forever. Even the "starter" tape cartridge lasted long enough to make seemingly hundreds of labels. And the labels are durable, too: labels on a couple of

2-quart pitchers are still firmly attached despite dozens of trips through the dishwasher. The type will fade away before the labels begin to peel off.

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We have used Brother's P-Touch labellers for years with the "laminated" labels on outside equipment and have not noticed any fade over the last

14 years on more than 100,000 units. Barcodes and numbers are still like the day they were printed. The labels are mostly under glass or polycarbonate protectors, helping with the UV protection. Some are not and still seem to be fine.

The tapes are expensive though. Laminated ones run about $1 per foot. Less with some commercial discounting.

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krw 14 years ago

I have a similar Dymo. I've replaced the batteries once in four years (maybe six months ago). Three+ years isn't bad for battery shelf life.

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