After going through the process of making my own mistakes while labeling chips, and after seeing countless images of labels either not centered, creeping up the edge of the recess, or not fully pressed down on the edges...I thought I would share what I have found to be the most effective technique so far.
Caution: this is FAR from the fastest technique.
The tools I use are:
Tweezers (the small one from the Harbor Freight set found here.)
A burnisher (this one is a part from a caulking set, but any soft plastic item with a pointed edge will do)
A plastic sculpting tool (I think it’s used mostly for plastic clay sculpture)
I start by bending the backing of each row to expose the front edge of the labels (these are @Gear labels and the labels separate easily) and grab with the tweezers. I squeeze the tweezers and the label sticks to the bottom tine. I can release the tweezers and the label is still secure.
While resting the bottom tine on the chip (I’m not squeezing the tweezers closed), the label is able to float a tiny fraction above the chip, so I can put it EXACTLY where I want it.
I then “set” the edge of the label by gently pressing with my finger. While continuing to hold the label down, I can separate and slide out the tweezer.
To burnish and set the adhesive, I use the blue burnisher in a circular motion starting from the center and working outward. The sharp corner of the burnisher can get almost all the way to the corner of the recess.
To finish, I use the sculpting tool at a 45 degree angle into the corner of the recess, where this burnishes the outer edge and also “rounds over” the sharp edge of the label.
I know this takes quite a while longer than peeling with your fingers and sticking down, but I’ve found the results to be superior, and will give the best chance for the labels to make the best contact and adhere fully.
Any techniques you’ve found effective are greatly appreciated!
Caution: this is FAR from the fastest technique.
The tools I use are:
Tweezers (the small one from the Harbor Freight set found here.)
A burnisher (this one is a part from a caulking set, but any soft plastic item with a pointed edge will do)
A plastic sculpting tool (I think it’s used mostly for plastic clay sculpture)
I start by bending the backing of each row to expose the front edge of the labels (these are @Gear labels and the labels separate easily) and grab with the tweezers. I squeeze the tweezers and the label sticks to the bottom tine. I can release the tweezers and the label is still secure.
While resting the bottom tine on the chip (I’m not squeezing the tweezers closed), the label is able to float a tiny fraction above the chip, so I can put it EXACTLY where I want it.
I then “set” the edge of the label by gently pressing with my finger. While continuing to hold the label down, I can separate and slide out the tweezer.
To burnish and set the adhesive, I use the blue burnisher in a circular motion starting from the center and working outward. The sharp corner of the burnisher can get almost all the way to the corner of the recess.
To finish, I use the sculpting tool at a 45 degree angle into the corner of the recess, where this burnishes the outer edge and also “rounds over” the sharp edge of the label.
I know this takes quite a while longer than peeling with your fingers and sticking down, but I’ve found the results to be superior, and will give the best chance for the labels to make the best contact and adhere fully.
Any techniques you’ve found effective are greatly appreciated!