Don’t know if you’ll get something for as low as $20, but a small thermal printer. Functions as a label maker on steroids, there is no ink, or proprietary* paper. Some thermal paper rolls have built in stickers, some are transparent, some have special shapes and colors, etc.
I’ve used it to label plants, tools, cables, boxes, so-so-many gridfinity boxes. It takes 1-2 seconds from hitting print to having it ready.
* not entirely the case, in that some have set sizes, or markings to automatically feed and count. However, these are low tech, and there are third party vendors.
I just got a little phone printer and I’m using it everywhere! It’s now in my work backpack. Adding my cell number to the back of my business cards for people i like. Labeling everything i set up for people. Printing an Amazon return label. Giving a kid a sticker of their face. One million uses!
I got this one. It says 30, but I paid $30 for it plus extra three rolls of sticker paper. If you scroll down to see what other people bought, I think there’s now one that’s a little higher rated, but I’m happy with mine. I even bought another one to give to a friend because we have a joke about her organization system that uses stickers.
iDPRT Mini Printer with 1 Roll Sticker Paper, Portable Sticker Printer Efficiently and Quickly, Thermal Printer Pod for Study Notes, Pictures, DIY, Label, Free App with Multiple Templates Inkless https://a.co/d/a9QRHzs
Obviously you’ve never been… everything here causes cancer. We’re amending the law next year so we can just label everything that isn’t carcinogenic because it will substantially reduce the number of Prop 65 labels that end up in landfills ;-)
Is the one I went for. I like the flexibility in being able to use different width rolls. I don’t have a lot of suggestions other than that, since it depends a lot on which use case you have.
I’m starting to avoid things with custom apps because the dev dies out and the product is abandoned long before it’s dead. This one is developed by people who can’t spell, and that’s a red flag too.
I’ll be happy when we’re back to some common app again.
I don’t really know my use case, I just like the idea and I’ll find uses for it. Always avoided label makers because the cartridges are too expensive. Thanks!
Since you don’t know your use case, I’ll also mention a different approach that solved a similar problem, which is how I’d go about it if I needed color labels, a lot of labels, or special labels for outdoor use, etc.
The Herma brand were decent quality, and also had templates (see link example, a bit further down on the page). The downside is that you need to put in some effort. But if you want full control, high quality labels, that’s not a bad way to do it.
Don’t know if you’ll get something for as low as $20, but a small thermal printer. Functions as a label maker on steroids, there is no ink, or proprietary* paper. Some thermal paper rolls have built in stickers, some are transparent, some have special shapes and colors, etc.
I’ve used it to label plants, tools, cables, boxes, so-so-many gridfinity boxes. It takes 1-2 seconds from hitting print to having it ready.
* not entirely the case, in that some have set sizes, or markings to automatically feed and count. However, these are low tech, and there are third party vendors.
I just got a little phone printer and I’m using it everywhere! It’s now in my work backpack. Adding my cell number to the back of my business cards for people i like. Labeling everything i set up for people. Printing an Amazon return label. Giving a kid a sticker of their face. One million uses!
Link to the printer?
I got this one. It says 30, but I paid $30 for it plus extra three rolls of sticker paper. If you scroll down to see what other people bought, I think there’s now one that’s a little higher rated, but I’m happy with mine. I even bought another one to give to a friend because we have a joke about her organization system that uses stickers.
iDPRT Mini Printer with 1 Roll Sticker Paper, Portable Sticker Printer Efficiently and Quickly, Thermal Printer Pod for Study Notes, Pictures, DIY, Label, Free App with Multiple Templates Inkless https://a.co/d/a9QRHzs
pretty sure that paper causes cancer
Nowadays, what doesn’t :(
California, I think.
Obviously you’ve never been… everything here causes cancer. We’re amending the law next year so we can just label everything that isn’t carcinogenic because it will substantially reduce the number of Prop 65 labels that end up in landfills ;-)
I have a cheap label maker and honestly it’s a game changer for home storage
My brother label maker is over 20 years old, I’ve put batteries in it a handful of times.
The cartridges haven’t been cheap until recently. Now they’re like $4 each. I can live with that.
Could you please share a link to it?
https://phomemo.com/products/m221-label-maker
Is the one I went for. I like the flexibility in being able to use different width rolls. I don’t have a lot of suggestions other than that, since it depends a lot on which use case you have.
I think all of them use the same app (don’t quote me on it), which had decent enough reviews: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.project.aimotech.printmaster
I’m sure there are other brands too.
I’m starting to avoid things with custom apps because the dev dies out and the product is abandoned long before it’s dead. This one is developed by people who can’t spell, and that’s a red flag too.
I’ll be happy when we’re back to some common app again.
I don’t really know my use case, I just like the idea and I’ll find uses for it. Always avoided label makers because the cartridges are too expensive. Thanks!
Since you don’t know your use case, I’ll also mention a different approach that solved a similar problem, which is how I’d go about it if I needed color labels, a lot of labels, or special labels for outdoor use, etc.
Which is to combine a normal, (in my case, a laser) printer, and use something like this: https://www.herma.co.uk/office-home/product/weatherproof-film-labels-a4-white-extremely-strong-adhesion-4581/
The Herma brand were decent quality, and also had templates (see link example, a bit further down on the page). The downside is that you need to put in some effort. But if you want full control, high quality labels, that’s not a bad way to do it.