Responses to my Questions About Ink for Use in Alcoholic (Sorry, I can't resist) Collections!
Diana G. Horton
dhorton at VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU
Tue May 23 15:25:26 CDT 1995
George -
F.Y.I.!
Best -
-- Diana
On Mon, 22 May 1995, Diana G. Horton wrote:
> Question:
>
> What is the best ink and paper to use for collections maintained in
> 70% alcohol? If either/both are specialized, can you give me names
> & 800 numbers for suppliers.
>
> Our Natural History Museum is redoing (sorry, I can't think of the right
> word) its alcohol-based collections. Thanks to the info. that a number
> of you supplied in the fall, they have got new jars w/ appropriate lids
> & liners, so now the only remaining question is labelling.
>
> Any information will be very much appreciated!
>
> -- Diana Horton
>
> Herbarium 312 CB
> Biological Sciences
> University of Iowa
> Iowa City, IA 52242
From: MX%"CHRISTAK at AC.GRIN.EDU" 22-MAY-1995 08:25:55.35
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Subj: labels
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Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 08:25:21 -0500 (CDT)
From: Kenneth A Christiansen <CHRISTAK at AC.GRIN.EDU>
Subject: labels
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The best is India ink upon thin pasteboard. File cards work fine. I have some
labels that have been in alcohol for 35 years with no dterioration. You must
be certain that they are dried thoroughly before putting them in the alcohol.
Ken Christiansen.
From: MX%"aa514 at broadway.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca" 22-MAY-1995 08:50:09.13
To: MX%"dhorton at VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU"
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Subj: Re: Question Concerning Collections Preserved in Alcohol
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Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 07:50:46 -0600
From: Dale Parker <aa514 at broadway.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca>
Subject: Re: Question Concerning Collections Preserved in Alcohol
To: "Diana G. Horton" <dhorton at VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU>
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Dear Diana
I had the same problem. When we were doing research we used basic
computer paper and HB pencil. This seems to work for many (10) years
or more but there is something about inked labels that look good.
After searching high and low for a pen I think I have found one
that works quite well and does not get gummed up and unuseable every
second time you use it. The pen is called a "MICRON PIGMA" it is
made by Sakura Color Products Corp., Japan. I get mine from an art
supply store. They come in sizes 005 an up. I find that O2 or O1
are fine enough for most labels I use. The only problems are the nibs
wear out before the ink is used up and they are a bit expensive up in
Saskatoon, Sask.(the backwaters of science). But they are permanent
in 80% ethanol (at least as long as I have used them for my work
which is about 2 years now) once they are dry which is in ten
to 15 seconds.
For paper I use a good quality acid free paper that I also get
at the art supply store.
Hope this helps.
Dale Parker
------------------------------------------------------
If you don't know the name the knowledge is wasted.
------------------------------------------------------
On Mon, 22 May 1995, Diana G. Horton wrote:
> Question:
>
> What is the best ink and paper to use for collections maintained in
> 70% alcohol? If either/both are specialized, can you give me names
> & 800 numbers for suppliers.
>
> Our Natural History Museum is redoing (sorry, I can't think of the right
> word) its alcohol-based collections. Thanks to the info. that a number
> of you supplied in the fall, they have got new jars w/ appropriate lids
> & liners, so now the only remaining question is labelling.
>
> Any information will be very much appreciated!
>
> -- Diana Horton
>
> Herbarium 312 CB
> Biological Sciences
> University of Iowa
> Iowa City, IA 52242
> dhorton at vaxa.weeg.uiowa.edu
>
From: MX%"CYO3 at aol.com" 22-MAY-1995 09:26:09.14
To: MX%"dhorton at vaxa.weeg.uiowa.edu"
CC:
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From: CYO3 at aol.com
Message-ID: <950522102547_127361949 at aol.com>
To: dhorton at vaxa.weeg.uiowa.edu
Subject: Re: Labels
Tyvek is a spun polyolefin "fabric" that you have probably seen used as
large , lightweight mailing envelopes. It looks like paper but it has very
long fibres . It is resistant to alchohol and takes printing from
pin-printers well. I hate to promote my competition , but University Products
is reported to carry some Tyvek labels.
Cap Offutt , Herbarium Supply Co. .
From: MX%"plago at sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu" 22-MAY-1995 09:55:41.05
To: MX%"dhorton at VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU"
CC:
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To: "Diana G. Horton" <dhorton at VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU>
From: plago at sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu (Paul K. Lago)
Subject: Re: Question Concerning Collections Preserved in Alcohol
Diana,
In my opinion, the best paper for alcohol labels is 36# linen ledger stock.
We get ours through ou printing services, I sure yours can get it as well.
The paper we use is produced by Byron Weston Co. and is called Linen Record.
If you can afford it, your printing services can produce your label by photo
offset. The ink is permanent. If you are going to hand write them, any
good quality India ink will work. I like Higgins Eternal Ink, if you can
find it. We use Pelican brand also. Some people like the fine tipped Pigma
pens. Their ink is also permanent, but I don't like to write with them.
I hope any of this is useful to you.
Paul K. Lago
University of Mississippi
From: MX%"parfitt at mobot.mobot.org" 22-MAY-1995 10:29:25.68
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From: parfitt at mobot.mobot.org (Bruce Parfitt)
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Subject: Re: Question Concerning Collections Preserved in Alcohol
To: dhorton at VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU
Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 10:31:31 -0500 (CDT)
In-Reply-To: <9505220648.AA45271 at mobot.mobot.org> from "Diana G. Horton" at
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> What is the best ink and paper to use for collections maintained in
> 70% alcohol? If either/both are specialized, can you give me names
There was some discussion of papers in TAXACOM a while back, if I recall
correctly. My Ornithology professor was also involved with arachnids.
He had jars and vials of spiders. All were labeled with india ink on
bond paper. He used a very fine-point rapidograph pen to squeeze in
lots of info on small labels.
Bruce
From: MX%"shultz at oeb.harvard.edu" 22-MAY-1995 11:39:48.00
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From: Leila Shultz <shultz at oeb.harvard.edu>
To: "Diana G. Horton" <dhorton at VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Question Concerning Collections Preserved in Alcohol
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Diana,
I think pencil + acid-free paper would be your best bet, using a fine-line
(0.5 mm) lead in mechanical pencil.
By the way, greetings!
- Leila
*******************
Leila M. Shultz
Harvard University Herbaria
On Mon, 22 May 1995, Diana G. Horton wrote:
> Question:
>
> What is the best ink and paper to use for collections maintained in
> 70% alcohol? If either/both are specialized, can you give me names
> & 800 numbers for suppliers.
>
> Our Natural History Museum is redoing (sorry, I can't think of the right
> word) its alcohol-based collections. Thanks to the info. that a number
> of you supplied in the fall, they have got new jars w/ appropriate lids
> & liners, so now the only remaining question is labelling.
>
> Any information will be very much appreciated!
>
> -- Diana Horton
>
> Herbarium 312 CB
> Biological Sciences
> University of Iowa
> Iowa City, IA 52242
> dhorton at vaxa.weeg.uiowa.edu
>
From: MX%"plago at sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu" 22-MAY-1995 16:26:20.38
To: MX%"dhorton at vaxa.weeg.uiowa.edu"
CC:
Subj: Re: Question Concerning Collections Preserved in Alcohol
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From: Paul Keith Lago <plago at sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu>
To: "Diana G. Horton" <dhorton at vaxa.weeg.uiowa.edu>
Subject: Re: Question Concerning Collections Preserved in Alcohol
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Diana,
One thing I forgot to mention was the ubiquitous laser printer. I
suspect that you will get responses that tell you that the high quality
printers, like the HP LaserJet 4, will print on the good paper and
produce fine labels. I use labels produced in this way for pinned
specimens, but it has yet to be shown that the ink they use is permanent
in alcohol, so I do not use them for this purpose.
Paul
On Mon, 22 May 1995, Diana G. Horton wrote:
> Many thanks for the prompt response & for the info.!
>
> Best -
> -- Diana Horton
>
From: MX%"shielr at watson.canberra.edu.au" 22-MAY-1995 19:15:28.17
To: MX%"dhorton at VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU"
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From: Russ Shiel <shielr at watson.canberra.edu.au>
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To: "Diana G. Horton" <dhorton at VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Question Concerning Collections Preserved in Alcohol
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On Mon, 22 May 1995, you wrote:
>> What is the best ink and paper to use for collections maintained in
70% alcohol?<<
Hi Diana - chanced upon your request, and for your interest thought a
mention of what I've done with 5000+ aquatic samples transferred from
formaldehyde storage into ethanol/glycerol - the labels were originally
in pencil on light cardstock, but I noticed some fading, and a few of the
labels had begun to disintegrate - not all the cardstock (cut from 6x4"
reference cards) was stable.
I found a local printer who had a very light plasticized sheet - lighter
than bond paper, who printed small labels containing site information,
date, ref. #, with spaces for temp, pH, conductivity, and 5 lines for
comments - 36 fitted on an A4 page, with final dimensions 1x1.75". The
printing is actually a modern formula paint, which we tested in both
alcohol and formalin solution for over a year - both label material and
print are permanent.
We use Rotring/Koh-i-noor pens to fill in the details, using a
proprietary ink. Rotring changed their recipe at one stage, so some of
their inks are not alcohol stable - we had to experiment. If I recall,
Koh-i-noor Rapidograph 3080-F Universal Black India drawing ink for
paper or film, which I obtained at the Indiana University bookshop, has
lasted me for 10 years without problems - but of course it, and the
comparable Rotring ink, has to be dry before placement in EtOH,
otherwise they both run.....
>>If either/both are specialized, can you give me names & 800 numbers for
suppliers.<< Bit far away for that, but I'd be happy to send you a
sample sheet of our labels if you wanted to follow it up in the U.S. -
just let me know and it will be in the mail....
All the best (with your quest!!)
Cheers, Russ Shiel, Microfauna Lab, Murray-Darling Freshwater Res.
Centre, Albury, N.S.W. 2640, Oz
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