Marking Discs with Permanent Markers

[grouch]

I've seen some "specialty" permanent marker pens that are labelled as a CD Marker. Now I usually use a regular Sharpie permanent marker, like the industrial markers for marking cartoons and boxes.

Are the special CD Markers just a scam (greater price than Sharpies), or does it really make a difference?? And if there really is a difference, are the Sharpies harmful and have the potential to damage my CD's??

[TheWizard]

Other people will probably chime in with the same conclusion: Sharpies are not harmful to the CD surface, at least not from what we have seen. The "specialty" CD labeling markers are just a scam. Why pay $10 for a CD marker when you can get the same thing, in a Sharpie, for 1/10 of the price?

[wicked1]

been using sharpies since I first started with cd-r burners in the 90's. No problems to date.Neato labels cause more problems than do sharpies.

[bob11879]

Just make sure it is not an alcohol based marker. They may dissolve the lacquer protective coating and ruin the disc. Sharpie is generally recommended by most users and vendors. Press on labels can cause drive imbalance and ruin the disc or the drive.

[cfitz]

http://www.itl.nist.gov/div895/careford ... ml#marking

The water-based CD markers really aren't that expensive and provide a bit of extra peace of mind, but people have been using Sharpies for years without any problems.

cfitz

[algrinch]

the last Sharpie that I bought said on the package something like "great for CD's". I have bought the waterbased markers specifically for CD's in the past and found the tip was mushy and made the writing look sloppy. The sharpie has a much firmer point and makes a thinner line. Good quailty, cheap price.. can't beat that.

[CowboySlim]

http://www.itl.nist.gov/div895/carefordisc/disc_care/conditions2.html#marking

The water-based CD markers really aren't that expensive and provide a bit of extra peace of mind, but people have been using Sharpies for years without any problems.

cfitz

Now, this is the perfect example of the "An Exception to Every Rule" hypothesis. At last, a government bureacracy, putting our tax dollars to work for the REAL benefit of mankind.

Slim

[xaer0knight]

I've used sharpies but the tip started to dull on me. I tried a laundry marking pen, works very well, and the tip is made out of durable Plastic.