Labeling Glaze Containers Large And Small

[ChenowethArts]

We talk about safety when handling materials, mixing glazes, managing dust, and the consequences of not complying with best practices in all of those areas.  This is a small twist on those same topics.

 

On a recent inspection of our studio (at school), the risk management people expressed concerns over the re-use of food containers (i.e. lidded plastic containers for sour cream, salsa, etc.) that still displayed the original product use but were being used for other things in the studio.  Evidently, there is risk of someone opening a sour cream container filled with red iron oxide wash and confusing it with sour cream (insert sarcasm here...yeah, I get it. White slip might look like sour cream).  Their most reasonable solution was to make sure that re-purposed containers are clearly labeled as to their contents.  I agree.

 

On our large, 5 gallon containers of mixed glazes, the lid and sides of the bucket are labeled using Magic Marker on tape of some description.  That works most of the time until multiple wipings/cleanings marginalize the readability of the labels.  Obviously, we can break out the Magic Marker and refresh the text...but, I am hoping there is some ingenious system floating around out there that we can use consistently for large and small containers...perhaps including more info than just the name of the glaze.

 

What is your best practice for managing labels on glazes, slips, stains, etc?

[Mark C.]

I just whip my red iron ox into the sour cream and keep in fridge -Salas also works with red iron ox

You can also add any white powder to one gallon mayonnaise  containers which besides having say whiting in it you can also make a sandwich-I would keep this refrigerated to.

Next time the risk management  folks show up arrange for a lunch with the Lawyer group as these two can come up with some really great ideas to keep you safe.

You could put a sign up saying no eating in studio which may cover this whole deal.

[Tyler Miller]

For things I don't want mixed up with anything else, I paint the container a loud colour.  

 

But no food in the studio really does answer their concerns, i think.

[ChenowethArts]

For things I don't want mixed up with anything else, I paint the container a loud colour.  

 

But no food in the studio really does answer their concerns, i think.

The "No Eating in the Studio" rule is already in-place...maybe there should be a "No Eating Anything Especially if it Comes from @Mark C.  's Refridge."

[Joseph Fireborn]

I would just print labels off with the plastic over them like everything was when I was back in school. Laminated I think it was called? Then just gorilla tape them to the buckets.

If you change buckets you can just remove the laminated labels and store them somewhere. Maybe put them on the sourcream barrel.

[LinR]

Oh you guys.  Thanks for the huge belly laugh!  Our studio also has problems with the risk management folks.  There is no sense that we can act a adults.

Lin

[oldlady]

wish i could post the picture online that is titled "cowboy after OSHA requirements". thanks, giselle, she posted it below.

 

those re-used containers drive me crazy.  i absolutely will not allow them in my studio.  there are very sturdy plastic containers that are sold by the restaurant supply stores very inexpensively that i use all the time.  they are a translucent plastic that lets you see the amount of whatever is inside and takes magic marker, sharpie or whatever brand marker you use as a label.   large markers for white glaze buckets, smaller ones for quart, pint and half pint containers.  i write directly on the plastic.

 

removal of a marker label is easy.      do not try acetone, it will not work.   use cheap hair spray, shake, spray and wipe the words off with a cotton ball.  yes, your fingers will temporarily smell and you might find black marker ink on your fingers but the clean container will take a nice, new name once the old one is gone.

 

these pics show how it is done.  yes, some of the hairspray ran down the numbers and i will fix them tomorrow.

[GiselleNo5]

  http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y135/arpahl/Misc/UNTITLED.jpg

[GiselleNo5]

Something I've done for a good, clear label is use any size of index card to write all the info I want, then create a sort of lamination over it and with an inch border or so on all sides, put it on the bucket and seal it well on all sides with my fingernail. 

If that didn't make sense, I can post a photo tomorrow! 

[ChenowethArts]

wish i could post the picture online that is titled "cowboy after OSHA requirements".  

 

those re-used containers drive me crazy.  i absolutely will not allow them in my studio.  there are very sturdy plastic containers that are sold by the restaurant supply stores very inexpensively that i use all the time.  they are a translucent plastic that lets you see the amount of whatever is inside and takes magic marker, sharpie or whatever brand marker you use as a label.   large markers for white glaze buckets, smaller ones for quart, pint and half pint containers.  i write directly on the plastic.

 

removal of a marker label is easy.      do not try acetone, it will not work.   use cheap hair spray, shake, spray and wipe the words off with a cotton ball.  yes, your fingers will temporarily smell and you might find black marker ink on your fingers but the clean container will take a nice, new name once the old one is gone.

 

these pics show how it is done.  yes, some of the hairspray ran down the numbers and i will fix them tomorrow.

@oldlady, This works for me. And thanks for the hairspray tip!  But getting rid of all those small containers is going to be a challenge.

[ChenowethArts]

Something I've done for a good, clear label is use any size of index card to write all the info I want, then create a sort of lamination over it and with an inch border or so on all sides, put it on the bucket and seal it well on all sides with my fingernail. 

 

If that didn't make sense, I can post a photo tomorrow! 

 

@GiselleNo5, I like this idea...still not sure that it is 'student proof'.  It definitely works for me in my personal space...as long as I don't forget to change the label when I'm in a hurry. Thanks!

[High Bridge Pottery]

I have just been scribbling out my permanent marker, off to buy some hairspray.

 

I don't tend to over label things but they always link back to notes in a book or on a computer with more information. I guess it is different in a school studio as the notes are bound to go missing or be forgotten etc.. 

[Marcia Selsor]

when I was in UH Manoa, the same thing had happened and all containers had  to list the detailed contents. The professor printed out blank recipe labels for every container in the studios. There were several.All ingredients were required to be on the container.

Old Lady, the hairspray tip is golden. Thanks.

 

Marcia

[Tim T]

I think I've got the perfect solution. With the studio out in the countryside amongst farmland, where they put out grain for the pheasants before shooting them, we have to keep rats under control.

The large rat poison containers are perfect for mixed glazes and for dry materials used in bulk.

As rat poison is more toxic than most potter's materials, by leaving the original labels on and then relabelling with a marker pen we should get a commendation from health and safety, as rat poison is muh more toxic than the material in the container!

[Pres]

Throw out your magic marker and buy an assortment of paint sticks. I have been using these lately, and they last so much longer on the plastic than magic marker. At the same time you can use color to arrange color. I have really gone to simpler labeling on my glaze containers just using a big number. But then I am the only one in the shop.

 

best,

Pres

[What?]

Spend the time to create proper labels or use online templates and laminate them (use the 10mil) attach to lids and containers. Spend the money to purchase proper containers. Recycled food containers are great for the studio potter. I know I have my favorite gelato I eat just for the container(my wife still does not believe me on this). Materials properly labeled and uniformly stored appear professional and safe. Oh and it's the law. Materials not for immediate use by the individual must be properly labeled(in the USA). There are many new requirements regarding labeling and SDS.

 

I do like using my kiln to bake cake. Then after I use terra sigillata followed by different colored slips as decoration. Man this sounds like one of those community challenges.

 

Have also enjoyed pizza fired out gas kiln no joke it was great.

[RobS]

The 4"x6" clear plastic "packing list enclosed" envelopes work well.  You can insert an index card or folded paper into it and seal it up on the container.  Wipes clean and stays dry.  Something like these:

 

http://www.uline.com/BL_6854/Super-Stick-Packing-List-Envelopes

 

If you have a UPS account, you can get their 6" x 10" address label pouches, UPS #171604, for free.  These are also self adhesive and adhesive closure.  50 pack for the asking.

[oldlady]

just the name of rat poison containers make me shiver.

 

we potters do use containers of all sorts.  i had some friends who set up a shared sales studio at the Torpedo Factory early on.  they needed display space and got some really attractive boxes from a restaurant to stack up for shelves.  when their studio was finished and full of pots they noticed that there was an unpleasant smell.  the space was large and it took awhile for them to realize that the boxes they got had been originally used for fresh fish.

[Maidenearth]

I am just getting up to speed with my home clay studio. It has been slow going, but I am a veteran at reusing and labeling plastic containers. (much to my family's chagrin, many things don't stay in the recycle bin) because I am an active fiddler, fixer, putterer and absent minded artist type.

 

Containers that hold things like yogurt and sour cream are often printed with an ink that is soluble to acetone. This can be bought in the hardware store, or a cheap bottle of nail polish remover will do the trick. I suggest wearing nitrile gloves and wipe the containers with solvent soaked old rags outside, the smell is awful, it is flammable, and acetone is terrible for you. But, you end up with nice clean white containers to label as you please. (Dispose of flammable rags appropriately, of course)

 

I print out labels on my computer, I give them nice borders, cut them out and then use a good quality packing tape to stick to the containers. I am about to start mixing my own glazes and I intend to put the glaze recipe on the glaze containers also, hoping this will save me searching through reams of poorly organized notes and magazine clippings to find it again when I run out. Also I put the date on my labels and often the company I purchased the material from, this makes reordering a breeze.

 

I make the labeling easier when I buy online by copy/pasting the material name and code from my digital invoice into a label I have formatted with the date and company name, so it really isn't crazy difficult to get all of that info in one place.

 

Peanut butter jars (plastic) are my absolute favorite and everyone knows I want them so bad that I will even wash the leftover PB out of them. I never have enough of these in my studio. I only use glass in some very small containers, I like the weight for things I wil be using with brushes, I know plastic doesn't break as easily but it gets knocked over much easier.

 

I also find that putting things where they are with like materials is helpful, honest truth that was the biggest innovation in my life so far. In the studio, this means that stains and oxides that I will be tinkering with rather frequently, go alongside small containers of frit and gerstley, and the 50 lb bags (transferred to 5 gal buckets and labeled) can be put out of the way for when I pull everything out and I am making recipes.

 

I am the kind of idiot who, when painting and drinking tea, for example, will wash a brush out in the tea and drink the solvent/water, so definitely no eating or drinking in the studio while I am working. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pres]

Spend the time to create proper labels or use online templates and laminate them (use the 10mil) attach to lids and containers. Spend the money to purchase proper containers. Recycled food containers are great for the studio potter. I know I have my favorite gelato I eat just for the container(my wife still does not believe me on this). Materials properly labeled and uniformly stored appear professional and safe. Oh and it's the law. Materials not for immediate use by the individual must be properly labeled(in the USA). There are many new requirements regarding labeling and SDS.

 

I do like using my kiln to bake cake. Then after I use terra sigillata followed by different colored slips as decoration. Man this sounds like one of those community challenges.

 

Have also enjoyed pizza fired out gas kiln no joke it was great.

Used to fry eggs on top of the kiln on aluminum foil!

[Pres]

Paint sticks also work quite well on the bins I use for glaze materials. Usually the dark surface of these will not allow magic markers to show up. However, the bright colored paint sticks will show up quite well on a dark background.

 

 

best,

Pres

[rakukuku]

what? you mean I can't snack on my nice thick creamy raku glazes while I work? Shucks.

 

I used to use yogurt cups but they eventually crack and the lids don't last. I have better luck with purchasing the reusable food storage containers with screw on lids. Also there is an herb store that sells various sizes of glass and plastic wide mouth jars that are great for smaller amount items. permanent sharpie marks them fine. I mark the tops of even commercial glazes so i can see what it is in a drawer.    rakuku

[Mark C.]

I use 1 gallon unmarked plastic jars with black marker-some where bought new some had labels I long ago removed-You can get great containers at restaurant supply as Oldlady mentioned.

I never use old small food containers except for glaze testing-never dry material storage.

Pres where to you get these paintsticks?

[Callie Beller Diesel]

One of the New Years cleanup projects I have is to write out the glaze recipes and put them in page protectors taped to the buckets, both on the lid and side.

The full sized paper is too big to be mistaken for anything else, if the bucket gets reused there is no messing around with solvents to remove marker, and I don't have to find the recipe in my book when I need to mix more.

[oldlady]

wow, this topic has brought out a lot of things, good discussion.  

 

i especially like the suggestion to fry my morning egg on the kiln since i have run out of propane for the house and it might be a little messy to break an egg on the gas grill.  oh, yeah.  put aluminum foil on the grill and THEN break the egg.     (cannot believe the cost of propane, i think it is called paraffin in the UK.)