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Fine tip water-based paint pen?

  • 1.  Fine tip water-based paint pen?

    Posted 09-18-2019 18:12
    We have long used Sharpie water-based paint pens (white paint) for writing on dark materials.  Recently, Sharpie discontinued the extra-fine size in white.  Does anyone know of a similar product?  The paint must be water-based acrylic and the tip must be finer than ~0.8mm.

    I'm on my last two pens!!
    Thanks

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    Adam Rountrey
    University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology
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  • 2.  RE: Fine tip water-based paint pen?

    Posted 09-18-2019 19:25
    Following as well. We have tried substituting with others but no luck

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    Evelyn Fidler
    Collections Manager
    Kings Landing
    Prince William NB
    (506) 476-1905
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  • 3.  RE: Fine tip water-based paint pen?

    Posted 09-19-2019 10:50

    Dear All

     

    In the UK we have used Pilot white gel pens for some time and found they have a nice fine tip (without being so sharp they risk scratching the underlying object). We always put a protective layer on the object first, of 20% Paraloid B72 in acetone, then a top coat of the same to protect the number.

     

    Another alternative for dark objects is to write the number on a small slip of acid-free archive paper using a fadeproof, waterproof pen and attach that with Paraloid B72 in acetone. Some museums have used cellulose paste adhesive for this method, but do be careful to make sure it has a good bond with the object and won't peel off when dry.

     

    With best wishes

    Helena

     

    Helena Jaeschke

    Conservation Development Officer

    South West Museum Development Programme

    www.southwestmuseums.org.uk

     

     

     

    See our privacy notice for details on how we manage personal information.

    Disclaimer: http://www.exeter.gov.uk/disclaimer






  • 4.  RE: Fine tip water-based paint pen?

    Posted 09-19-2019 11:36
    I'm following this one too.

    in ,

    sJean-marie










  • 5.  RE: Fine tip water-based paint pen?

    Posted 09-19-2019 10:50
    Copic used to make an empty pen you could fill with your own paint. However I do not know if the tip is that fine. You can find them online and at art supply stores.

    ------------------------------
    Brad Bredehoft
    CEO
    Museum Study, LLC
    Minneapolis MN
    (612) 790-1645
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Fine tip water-based paint pen?

    Posted 09-19-2019 11:36
    Carr-McLean in Canada sells a liquid label in white, you place it over the B72 and write the number in black ink.​

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    Evelyn Fidler
    Collections Manager
    Kings Landing
    Prince William NB
    (506) 476-1905
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Fine tip water-based paint pen?

    Posted 09-20-2019 14:45
    I have started using the white Sakura Gelly Roll in 0.5mm on dark surfaces, sandwiched between layers of B72 and gloss medium. You have to check it on something else to get the ink rolling, but it has been working quite well. I have not been able to find a point smaller than 05, however I do personally find this method to be less visually intrusive than adding black numbers to a layer of white acrylic.

    Dawn Munger
    Curator of Collections
    Riley County Historical Museum
    Manhattan, KS
    785-565-6490





    ------------------------------
    Dawn Munger
    Curator of Collections
    Riley County Historical Museum
    Manhattan KS
    (785) 565-6490
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Fine tip water-based paint pen?

    Posted 09-22-2019 15:21
    Dear All, 

    I think someone else mentioned writing the number on a piece of archival acid-free paper and applying that on the object between layers of B-72. We do this as well but instead of writing the number we print it on archival paper. This way there are no mistakes in reading someone's handwriting. We have some objects that were numbered in the past that are difficult to decipher. Printing takes the guess work out of it. For most objects we print at 8 pt but have printed even smaller if needed. 



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    Diana Welsh
    Collections Manager
    Indian Museum of North America at Crazy Horse Memorial
    Crazy Horse SD
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  • 9.  RE: Fine tip water-based paint pen?

    Posted 09-23-2019 09:30
    When printing the object's number on archival paper, do make sure the ink is waterproof and fadeproof. Black laser printing is fine, but most inkjet printers use dye-based inks which are not waterproof or lightfast. For inkjet printers you need to use their archival quality inks - most printer manufacturers produce a pigment-based, permanent ink range for archival quality printing e.g. Canon's Pigma range, Kodak's Prosper range, HP's Pigment range. Only use black ink to print, do not allow the printer to use the colour inks to simulate black.
    Hope this helps.
    Best wishes

    ------------------------------
    Helena Jaeschke
    Conservation Development Officer
    Royal Albert Memorial Museum
    Exeter
    +44 (779) 221-3217
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Fine tip water-based paint pen?

    Posted 09-25-2019 15:05
    Helena, thanks for this information. I tried looking online for "pigment-based, permanent ink range" cartridges to use with our HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 printer and couldn't find anything that seemed to fit the description. If anyone has a link to the right product that would be a great help. And if we can't find the right kind, is simply writing the number on paper with a Pigma Pen or Sharpie (then placing it between layers of B72) also an acceptable option?

    Thanks,
    Sarah

    Sarah Clark
    Curator & Diversity Coordinator
    Historic Richmond Town
    (718) 351-1611 ext. 272
    historicrichmondtown.org
    she/her/hers

    Historic Richmond Town is a not-for-profit cultural institution of the City of New York

    Historic Richmond Town is a not-for-profit cultural institution of the City of New York.  • historicrichmondtown.org  • 718-351-1611 • @hrtown





  • 11.  RE: Fine tip water-based paint pen?

    Posted 09-25-2019 19:17
    Dear Sarah
    According to this article from March 2016, HP Officejet Pro printers can use the Pigment ink range but it is only available from HP direct. https://www.computerworld.com/article/3041643/hp-uses-proprietary-ink-in-new-printers.html
    You only need the black cartridge.

    An alternative could be to have the pages of numbers printed on a laser printer from a business. 

    Writing with a Pigma pen is fine. I haven't seen Sharpies being tested, but in theory a faderoof, waterproof ink should be fine. You can also use a technical drawing pen such as the Rotring Tikky or Rapidograph or Isograph pens which use Indian ink.

    Hope this helps

    Helena

    See our privacy notice for details on how we manage personal information.

    Disclaimer: http://www.exeter.gov.uk/disclaimer






  • 12.  RE: Fine tip water-based paint pen?

    Posted 09-27-2019 12:44
    I just wanted to point out that while Pigma pens are waterproof and lightfast in my experience Sharpie "permanent" markers are not lightfast. I believe permanent in this instance only means waterproof. In addition to Pigma pens, I have also used Faber-Castell Pitt pens which are India ink-based and thus water and lightfast.

    ------------------------------
    Samantha Alderson
    Conservator
    American Museum of Natural History
    New York NY
    (212) 769-5446
    ------------------------------



  • 13.  RE: Fine tip water-based paint pen?

    Posted 09-30-2019 09:49
    Thanks! Anecdotally, we've had good experience with Tyvek tags that were labeled with black Sharpies and placed on farm implements. They were still readable decades later even after exposure to harsh climates. (Color Sharpie markings were not.) Of course specifications can change over time and we can't be too careful, so it's good to know that Pigmas and Pitt pens are more recommended now. I suppose no matter what marking method is used, inventory spot checks are a good idea to make sure numbers remain legible.

    Thanks again,
    Sarah

    Sarah Clark
    Curator & Diversity Coordinator
    Historic Richmond Town
    (718) 351-1611 ext. 272
    historicrichmondtown.org
    she/her/hers

    Historic Richmond Town is a not-for-profit cultural institution of the City of New York

    Historic Richmond Town is a not-for-profit cultural institution of the City of New York.  • historicrichmondtown.org  • 718-351-1611 • @hrtown





  • 14.  RE: Fine tip water-based paint pen?

    Posted 09-30-2019 10:51
    Hi all,
    Just to bring this back around to the original post, which was about fine tip, white, water-based acrylic paint pens (not standard Sharpie markers), has anyone tried these Miaosun pens being sold on Amazon?:






  • 15.  RE: Fine tip water-based paint pen?

    Posted 09-30-2019 12:48
    I am finding that Pigma pens do not come in white, and the Pitt Pens are too large and chisel shaped.  
    Any other suggestions?
    --
    Rebecca DuBey, Museum Curator
    Sauk County Historical Society
    (608) 356-1001  W-F; please leave a message other times!