Thread: Drawer Labelling

How about a laminator and some laminating pouches (both currently on special at Aldi) and some double sided tape?

Food for thought there MS, that is one thing I had not thought of. I wonder if I am clever enough to make a three sided low profile frame with a tapered inner edge and drop into it a laminated list or It might be possible to rebate the frame 1mm with a router.

Another technique is a piece of paper overlapped with clear contact to hold it to a surface...which is on special in just about every 'back to school' sale at the moment. Or use the contact to hold some clear plastic to the drawer with one side open so you can slide a paper label in and out as required.

OR

Clear polyester laserprinter compatible self adhesive film - 50 Sheets A4 Polyester Film Translucent EZI Signage | eBay

Peel and stick labels, all sizes on sheets, format on computer, then print off.
The advantage of this is you have created a data base that you can amend as needed.
To protect them from grim, use a pressure pack of artists sealer that protects their artwork.

I was wary of anything self adhesive because these labels are going to change, most probably quite a lot in the initial months of use and then as things are added or used and not replaced.

It is cheap and simple, especially if you get the ones that can be peeled off again, low tech and if at first you start with a small one and the contents of the drawer grow, you can upgrade the size as needed as opposed to a fixed slot/holder that could in the future too small.

It might be worth checking out Officeworks. I was looking at something similar to attach to magazine racks, and whilst the project was never completed I did purchase quite cheaply a pack of clear plastic pouches about the size of a business card. They had a slit along one edge to enable the insertion of a printed label on plain paper. I was intending to glue them on but I would think they could be tacked on with a small pin or nail. Unfortunately a quick look at the Officeworks site didn't uncover them but I wasn't sure what to look for. It might be a case of just wandering the store to see what may be suitable.

Not quite the same as the ones that I have but here are a few alternatives from Officeworks:
A6 Card Holder at $2.48 in Sheet Protectors
Rolodex Rotary Business Card Refills with Protective Sleeves Pk/40 at $10.66 in Address Books

Not really designed for the intended use but its just a case of seeing what is available.

This may be fiddly, but will work, and can be mass produced for fairly low cost. Get a stick of 8x8mm Tas Oak from any hardware.

Thickness it down to the minimum your thicky will go (or cut 4mm thick strips off with your new whizzo table saw from larger pieces of stick)

Route a rebate 1x3mm along one edge.

Make a rectangular mold(s) out of MDF to glue them up as a picture frame, except the top piece has the rebate taken right off (i.e. there is a 1mm gap).

There you have it: a card holder that protrudes 4mm from the draw that has a 3mm wide support for the card.

Using Excel, make up a page to print the labels in, and print them on slightly thicker card than Bond; James Bond. That way you can vary the font sizes (and styles if you wish) to fit things on the cards - I can email you my template.

HTH
Brett

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

I can email you my template.

HTH
Brett

That sounds like a good idea, I was thinking along those lines in the post above but the detail was a bit how ya goin' Thanks.

I used these on my tool drawers:

Card Frames - Lee Valley Tools

They are supplied with screws (from the back - those front ones are dummies), but you don't really need them. I just drill 8mm deep holes and press fit them in (or you could glue them in). Some are at 79mm centres, and some are 80mm, so measure every one.....DAMHIKT.

If they are small drawers why not just put a number on them and have a corresponding list in an easy accessible location. The list can be easily changed or updated without fiddling with the drawers each time.

A piece of perspex screwed to the drawer (slightly larger than a sticky label).

When the contents change put a new sticky one on. If the old one doesn't come off then out with the razor blade and scrap the old one off.

Or you could use really vague labelling so it doesn't matter if you change what's in the drawer:

• Stuff
• More Stuff
• Stuff I can't fit anywhere else
• Items
• Cool stuff that I'll never use
• I don't know why I have this stuff
• Good stuff
• Stuff that needs other stuff to make it work
• Stuff I will never truthfully admit the price of
• Rusty stuff
• Stuff with flat batteries
• Stuff I can't throw out, because reasons
• ....stuffed.

Originally Posted by The Bleeder

A piece of perspex screwed to the drawer (slightly larger than a sticky label).

When the contents change put a new sticky one on. If the old one doesn't come off then out with the razor blade and scrap the old one off.

I have experimented with the same idea in previous times as I have heaps of perspex. More food for thought. At the moment I am inclined to make low profile label frames out of pine and have drop in laminated labels. So many jobs and so little time.