Best CD label applicator?

[Rehan]

I'm looking to buy a few CD label applicators... I've used the applicator included in the CD Stomper kit, and that works well. It's a pretty old tool, though...have there been any "advancements" in CD label applicators that make some better than others?

I have several hundred CD's/DVD's to label.

[Umbearto]

I would encourage you to read this discussion/poll on the labelling of DVD discs before making your final decision on a new label applicator...

DVD Labels Can Screw-Up Playback

That many discs sounds like a commercial venture and you don't want to disappoint clients. I'd suggest an Epson R200 with a Continous Ink Flow System for a cost-effective alternative to labelling discs.

I hope you take this suggestion in the spirit it is offered as it's not my intention to thread-crap, or initiate a large debate on the disc label issue, but merely to bring the issue to your attention.

HTH

[Rehan]

Yeah, I'm aware of the issues with labeling. These discs will not be played many times, though...maybe once or twice in a year. So I'm thinking it might be okay to go with the labels. I didn't get any complaints from a similar but smaller set that I did earlier.

By the way, I do have a bunch of R200 printers available, if I decide to go with printable discs. My only concern with that is the time it'll take to print all those discs (as opposed to printing a batch of labels and then applying them). But I plan to test it out anyway. If it goes well, then I can have four of them running at once churning out the discs.

[Gee]

I have used several applicators and the best one I have found is the Smart and Friendly one.

I doubt you will be able to find these. Smart and Friendly are out of business. But this applicator looks like one of those old adapters that you would use to play your 45s on a phono player.

It is really small and you use it with a jewel case.

I didn't care for the Stomp or the Neat-O one.

[Umbearto]

Sounds like you have the situation well-in-hand; best of luck whatever path you ultimately decide on..!

BTW: Lemme know if you decide to go labels and want to sell any of your R200's

[audit13]

I have been using a Memorex label applicator (large clear and grey plastic) for several years and find that it works very well.

[porphyra]

DONT apply labels. Over this weekend I decided to look at some discs I had burnt about 2.5 years back, labeled them and stored them in a cool place, in a case logic small dvd binder.

I have 49 unreadable discs. Since I had goofed up on 1 label, only 1 disc didn't get labeled. And that's the only disc that plays. I am so furious. I have lost tons of data. I am going to try getting these labels off and see. I can just barely read info in the first 700 mb, after which nothing will read the DVDs.

Read that videohelp thread too. Its not just me. Labels are not worth it. use a sharpie. May not look nice but you will thank yourself later.

Now to try to go rescue my discs. They have been soaking in warm soapy water overnight so that I can pull the labels apart.

[The Digital Dolphin]

Now to try to go rescue my discs. They have been soaking in warm soapy water overnight so that I can pull the labels apart.

I'm not saying you have much of a choice really, but if the discs are not properly manufactured, the soaking in soapy water (or any water) may actually kill them. Just fyi.

As has been said, labelling DVDs is bad... but if you're going to do it, use only brand name labels manufactured for the same brand name applicator. I'm thinking in particular CD Stomper. Do *NOT* use "compatabible" labels in this case (ok for CD-Rs though). Why? because "compatable" labels are often just SLIGHTLY different sizes then the Stomper Brand labels, and will be adjusted just slightly on the applicator when applied. This will offset the balance dramatically and could lead to a lot more problems. If you use properly matched labels and applicator, you will minimize the damage you cause your discs.

[YLSF]

I'm not saying you have much of a choice really, but if the discs are not properly manufactured, the soaking in soapy water (or any water) may actually kill them. Just fyi.

What do you think the best way to remove the label is? I used steam before and it seemed to work to at least recover the data.. but I have a few more in my collection that I want to remove also (I have a problem playing them on an older dvd player)... I guess I can re-backup but some of them are stuff I copied off of video tape so I would rather not have to go through the process again..

[The Digital Dolphin]

Well, cold water is the only real option. Using steam you will have a much higher risk of causing seperation of the surface from the plastic layer, and that would result in a dead disc very quickly. You also want to avoid any kind of scratching or scrapeing motions on the disc. Only a gentle rubbing, with the assistance of as little water as possible.

Basically, if the water gets in between the surface and the plastic layer, it's all over. If the layers seperate on their own, it's all over. And if you accidentaly DESTROY the top surface in the process, it's all over.

Not a heck of a lot of options really. So simple, clean, cool water is probably the least likely to destroy your media.

[porphyra]

Just to post an update..

After soaking in warm soapy water for around 8 hours, the labels started to come off. It just take some gentle scouring to get most of it off. However, there were still streaks of paper that I couldn't get off for the life of me.

And the result: Voila! I can now read and copy all the data to my HDD. 1 disc did get a little damaged to the end but I managed to get all the stuff, off the other discs.

These were Ritek G03 disc, way back when Ritek first came out with G03. When they actually did manufacture good discs and consistent products.

Anyhow, am glad it worked out. Just to let you guys know my experience. Have never looked at labels again.

I have also read that Goo-gone works well, and takes only about 20 minutes compared to the number of hours you have to soak in a mild soap solution. Stuff similar to goo-gone should work too I guess, but if you have time then use warm (NOT HOT) water.

[Rehan]

Okay, so I've decided to go with printable discs from Blankmedia. Hopefully that will avoid any horror stories a few months/years down the road.

[The Digital Dolphin]

Okay, so I've decided to go with printable discs from Blankmedia. Hopefully that will avoid any horror stories a few months/years down the road.

Just don't use Prodisc!

If you stick with Taiyo Yuden, you'll get a good long lasting disc. If you stick with Verbatim, you'll get a good disc with an excellent print. If you use Ritek, you'll get an excellent print, but questionable lifespan. If you use Prodisc, you'll get an ok print (although I've now seen some Prodisc printable DVDRs that have peeling inkjet surfaces!! ) and evn more questionable lifespan. If you use Acro Circle (which blankmedia.ca will bring in if needed I'm sure) you will get an ok print quality, and ok lifespan, assuming your burner isn't incompatible.

One question though... is this all the SAME disc? or are you printing/burning multiple things? If it's the same disc, why not just get it replicated? It's cheaper in the long run, faster, and about 1 zillion times easier on you.

[Rehan]

I bought a few Verbatim DVD-R's, Verbatim DVD+R's, and TY CD-R's. I haven't used Verbatims before, so I bought just a relatively small number to see how it goes; the reviews on Blankmedia indicated that they were slightly better than TY's. I'm burning them on Pioneer DVR-109's, by the way (in a 1 to 9 duplication tower).

I'm burning around 25-50 copies of about 20 different discs, so the quantities are too low for replication. I've had CD's manufactured by Cinram previously and I was very pleased with the results (and pricing), but in this case I can't use them and the pricing we were getting for duplication weren't that great.

[Umbearto]

Yep, Prodisc/Ritek/Generic have led to less than predictable results. Certainly not worth the saving when considered for a commercial venture, and of very dubious value for data-secure back-ups. I got fed-up and went with TY's and am very pleased with the quality.

Short-run printing on DVDR and CDR is cost prohibitive; with 4 R200's going Rehan outta be able to do this fairly easily/economically. It's alot of work!