Waterproofing Letter Addresses

[Paddler]

I found out how to make a kind of lacquer that can be used to waterproof the address areas on envelopes. Dissolve polystyrene foam in lacquer thinner and paint the liquid onto a dried ink address. A cotton swab works well.

 

I used a white foam egg carton and cut away all of the colored painted areas on it. The rest of the carton fit into an ounce size ink bottle after it melted into the thinner. Styrene shipping peanuts will work too. Don't rub with the swab; it can smear the dried ink sitting on the paper. The mixture is invisible when it dries.

 

Don't try this on ballpoint pen ink. It badly smeared the sample I tried.

Edited November 27, 2013 by Paddler

[irrigger]

Or you can just put a strip of clear packing tape over the area....

[penmanila]

Aside from scotch tape, it seems to me that fixative (which artists spray their drawings with) should be a simple solution.

[carlos.q]

Or just use the "rub a candle over the address" trick...

[cedargirl]

Waterproof ink??

[Bookman]

I used to use Noodler's Old Manhattan Black to address envelopes. But after a while it was same old same-old. So I switched to Noodler's Bulletproof Black.

[GardenWeasel]

My container of Microglaze arrived this week...specifically for inks on envelopes.

 

If I'd known about polystyrene foam in lacquer thinner, I would certainly have tried it before ordering the Microglaze,

Edited November 28, 2013 by GardenWeasel

[85AKbN]

Or you can just put a strip of clear packing tape over the area....

 

this.

[cakibler]

Or you can just put a strip of clear packing tape over the area....

Which is what I do for letters I mail to overseas pen pals. Works great!

[DrCodfish]

I'm the 'swipe with a plumbers candle' guy; low tech and cheap.

[BillZ]

I have a Levenger Stub Nib loaded with Noodler's Bulletproof Black to address all correspondence. It may look strange, especially if the letter is written with Irish Green, Bordeaux of Beaver, but it seems to work. This is especially important if one puts letters out for the postal carrier to pick up. It's not just the rain that can spoil the

address. In the heat of summer, those poor people perspire quite a bit,too.

[Vendome]

I write my correspondence with a fountain pen, but use a ballpoint to address envelopes and a rollerball on jiffy bags.

[Blade Runner]

Iron gall

[dunhamsa]

I have found the candle to be efficient and foolproof.

[sharonspens]

My container of Microglaze arrived this week...specifically for inks on envelopes.

 

If I'd known about polystyrene foam in lacquer thinner, I would certainly have tried it before ordering the Microglaze,

I love Microglaze, actually. Do a thin coating, though; it gets sticky when too much is used on the envelope. I'll be using it in the next couple of weeks to handle holiday cards, as all are addressed with FPs and I never use bulletproof ink.

 

Sharon in Indiana

[Gloucesterman]

+1 - Fixative if you have it ( I use it on calligraphy projects sometimes).

If not, then the candle sounds good to me.

[GardenWeasel]

I love Microglaze, actually. Do a thin coating, though; it gets sticky when too much is used on the envelope. I'll be using it in the next couple of weeks to handle holiday cards, as all are addressed with FPs and I never use bulletproof ink.

 

Sharon in Indiana

Thanks! I will keep that in mind!

[Aquinata]

Someone just sent me a postcard and used the candle method. I like the simplicity of that and am trying that next...

[panna]

I've used candles so far, they do the job. I'm curious: what is this fixative?

[domnortheast]

Iron gall ink or candlewax here too. I like the relative simplicity of both and the fact I have them about the house anyway.