Waterproof marker pens that actually work in the garden

twopenny

I've got a garden pencil but thats not so good on plastic sacks I'd guess.
Ditto Chinagraph pencils that are wax based.

My permanent marker is a chubby marker pen from Poundland. £1 for 4 and I'm still using them years on.
Pen2paper https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oUCz8OwjcHs
Not sure if you can still find them.

LessImpecunious

twopenny said:

I've got a garden pencil but thats not so good on plastic sacks I'd guess.
Ditto Chinagraph pencils that are wax based.

My permanent marker is a chubby marker pen from Poundland. £1 for 4 and I'm still using them years on.
Pen2paper https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oUCz8OwjcHs
Not sure if you can still find them.

Thanks 2P - found a seller in the Phillipines but nothing closer to home! If I pass a Poundland will have a look (but living in middle of nowhere that rarely happens... )

ArbitraryRandom

Google suggests these are designed to work outdoors in less than ideal conditions... 

https://www.sharpie.com/markers/professional-markers/sharpie-pro-permanent-markers-fine-point/SP_1247876.html

With permanent ink designed to mark on wet and oily surfaces, Sharpie PRO Permanent Markers are built jobsite-tough. The newly redesigned permanent markers better fit the needs of tradesmen with features like an anti-roll barrel shape, cap clip, lanyard loop, and more. The pack of 4 professional markers in black, blue, and red with a fine point will get the job done.

No idea if the live up to the puffery  

LessImpecunious

ArbitraryRandom said:

Google suggests these are designed to work outdoors in less than ideal conditions... 

https://www.sharpie.com/markers/professional-markers/sharpie-pro-permanent-markers-fine-point/SP_1247876.html

With permanent ink designed to mark on wet and oily surfaces, Sharpie PRO Permanent Markers are built jobsite-tough. The newly redesigned permanent markers better fit the needs of tradesmen with features like an anti-roll barrel shape, cap clip, lanyard loop, and more. The pack of 4 professional markers in black, blue, and red with a fine point will get the job done.

No idea if the live up to the puffery  

Thanks Arb - they look promising, though difficult to acquire in other than rather expensive packs of 12 - however, I'll add them to my Xmas list and maybe the elves will be able to source them somewhere!

ArbitraryRandom

Still not cheap and no idea re the quality, but the description sounds like it should fit the bill and you can buy just one... 

https://waltersandwalters.co.uk/markal-pro-line-wp-wet-surface-markers-paint-marker-pens 

Eldi_Dos

Staedtler Lumocolor 318 black.

Standard issue to many telecom engineer's and instrument technicians, wipe plastic label dry before using and store with nib end down to stop nib drying out. They say they are refillable but I have never worked out how.

If anyone still makes CD's ideal for marking them.

LessImpecunious

Thanks all for suggestions - I also came across the Pentel N50 range when searching for some of these - will have to wait and see what Santa brings...

dND

I generally use a sharpie on plastic as I keep breaking the pencils. 🤣 However, having just moved back from SW France, one thing I discovered there was to only use a black marker and to bury the label in the soil.  Red and green pens would disappear in a matter of weeks in the high UV;  black would last 6 months unless buried when they lasted at least a year.

Mrs_Z

This is the best that has worked for me, fine tip and it’s oil based (water resistant, almost water proof) and only a couple of quid.

ArbitraryRandom

This is going to sound a bit grim - and I promise it's not - but does anyone know how long those tree 'memorial' signs last for? Things like this: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/859327379/personalised-slate-plaque-and-hook-slate

I've just had a load of trees planted in my garden and I was thinking it might be a nice idea to get a little sign that has the variety, rootstock, and when it was planted... You see them in posh open gardens sometimes. 

But not if they cost £20 each only to be completely unreadable in three years (before most of the trees are likely to even produce fruit!).