2015Cases/Carts/Stands and Transport forum
Methods for labeling and organizing film equipment and gear
What the thread found
- Laser etching provides permanent identification on equipment but may complicate resale of the gear.
- Thermal label makers with adhesive tape can be used to label equipment and cables, with surfaces cleaned using denatured alcohol beforehand to improve adhesion.
- Heat shrink tubing sealed with a heat gun creates durable, waterproof labels on cables, with the label applied both to the cable itself and the connector barrel.
- Removable metal identification plates attached with double-sided tape offer a permanent look while allowing removal if the gear is resold.
- Stainless steel dog tags embossed with information and attached via holes, screws, or straps provide rust-resistant labeling suitable for multiple lines of text.
- Dog tag machines can produce customized identification tags with capacity for up to five lines of fifteen characters each.
Depends on
- Laser etching is difficult to remove if equipment is later resold.
- Adhesive label effectiveness depends on proper surface preparation with denatured alcohol.
- Heat shrink application on thin cables may require tools like needle nose pliers to stretch the tubing over connectors.
- The discussion does not address longevity testing or comparative durability of different labeling methods under heavy use.