Addressing envelopes

[HDoug]

I use Noodler's bulletproofs, but I have also received envelopes with "candled" addresses. Can't really notice unless you look for it. Also worth mentioning, is that I received a postcard written in Diamine Claret, which is a very nice ink, and not waterproof. I found out later that it was protected by Micro Glaze All Purpose Paper Protector, which is stuff you can rub onto paper to make the ink (or paint or what have you) water resistant.

 

Doug

[pmsalty]

Candle wax works well. I also use it for postcards. Why use a ball point?

PMS

[Silke]

I use hairspray to fix charcoal paintings. Works a treat.

The candle idea is new to me, I like that though.

 

As for addressing... I like to live dangerously lol.

Diamine Washable Blue is maybe *not* the ink to use for an envelope, but alas...

 

Silke

[calliej]

When I use a fountain pen to address envelopes, or packages I am mailing, I cover the address with clear package sealing tape. It is NOT paranoia if they ARE out to get you. :rolleyes:

 

Donnie

 

clear tapes a good idea thanks for that one...... will have a go at the wax thing too

 

[southpaw]

I keep a pen inked with a waterproof Noodlers ink at all times, but have also used the wax candle technique.

[Judybug]

I usually use a ballpoint pen, or water-resistant fountain pen ink. I've used the candle wax method, but I also have a jar of Micro Glaze, which is a sort of waxy paste that is easier to buff to a barely noticeable finish.

 

Yes, I like Micro Glaze, too. I address my envelope with whatever ink I've used to write the letter. When the ink is thoroughly dry, I rub it with a tiny bit of Micro Glaze. It's virtually invisible on white or ivory envelopes. It doesn't work so well on darker colored envelopes - it makes the paper look sort of - well, greasy.

 

You can order Micro Glaze here: http://www.microglaze.com/microglaze_ordering.htm#ORDERING

 

or here: http://www.stampstampstamp.com/Merchant2/m...duct_Code=GT026

 

Don't be put off by the price. I ordered a 1 oz. jar 2 years ago and still have about half of it. I've used it a lot. In fact, I not only use it on envelopes, I use it on the message and address on all the post cards I send.

 

Judybug

Edited July 27, 2008 by Judybug

[discplayer]

This cracks me up. I thought for sure I was the only one in the world who had arrived at clear tape over a handwritten address. Use to print labels but numbers written by hand with a great pen evoke a romance my printer cannot attend. (Geesh!)

 

Marvin

[Tweel]

I noticed a while back that Pendemonium sells Microglaze, too (under "Ink Accessories"). Same price as the other sites, but you might save on combined shipping.

 

-- Brian

[Zarble44]

I have a friend in Quebec who assures me that it doesn't actually snow every day. But snow is a real problem in handling mail, since the envelopes DO get wet.

 

I use either Noodler's bulletproof inks or the candle trick. You probably already have a stack of emergency candles in the drawer, anyway. I can soak an envelope protected by the candle rubbing trick in the sink for several minutes, and the protected ink looks as good as the Noodler's bulletproof.

 

I haven't tried the microglaze, but it couldn't work better than either the wax or tape.

 

BTW, if you print return address labels on your inkjet, you need to swipe the candle over them, too!

[JJBlanche]

If you really want your mail to get where it's going, do one (or more) of the following:

 

1.) Use a bulletproof ink.

2.) Use a ballpoint.

3.) Print addies from the computer.

4.) Cover addies with tape.

 

For all my outgoing packages, I use the computer, which is generally easier for the amount of packages I send. Otherwise, a decent ballpoint is the order of the day. No crime in that. Nine times out of ten, unless sending a standard letter, I also cover the addy with packing tape, regardless of what was used to print it.

 

Most people could give a hoot about what's on the outside of an envelope/package.

Edited August 12, 2008 by JJBlanche

[Robert Hughes]

I've used the tape trick ever since childhood to ensure runny inks don't. Haven't tried wax yet, but it works OK too, it seems.

 

But I always and address letters with bulletproof ink nowadays, whether iron gall, Noodlers, ball point, roller ball.

[davidwholt]

As JDlugosz and Silke mentioned here earlier,

hairspray just did a fine job in my ad-hoc trial.

 

I used 3 pieces of paper; 1st untreated, 2nd sprayed before and 3rd sprayed after

writing with Private Reserve Blue Suede,

then wiping with moist sponge after several minutes.

 

The area that got the wettest when I sprayed before writing

showed remarkably improved staying power over untreated.

 

Letters sprayed after writing remained substantially full color,

even rubbing until paper became soaked!

 

What a wonderful thing forums like this are.

Today I was thinking that my pens not doing well with Noodler's Aircorps

can't be written with often; water based ink too limited to be used much.

 

Disappointing when I'm looking for more reasons

to pull out a pen and lay some ink on paper!

 

What an easy fix this seems to be!

I got recyclable plastic pump (not disposable metal aerosol) of hairspray

from the dollar store that will make square yards of words water resistant!

 

Thanks to you two and many other members

for bringing up suggestions for solutions.

[gigipurple]

I'm wondering if lip balm will work as well as candle wax. I will test it and report back.

Gigi

Edited August 16, 2008 by gigipurple

[bishop]

I'm wondering if lip balm will work as well as candle wax. I will test it and report back.

Gigi

 

I'm always buying Burts Bees balm, so this would be a natural fit for me. Eagerly awaiting results...

[Pippin60]

Be careful with printing from a computer unless its a laser jet. Ink jet ink is not much better than fountain pen ink. I use either a noodlers bullet proof or my Montblanc blue-black an iron-gall ink, and pretty bullet proof.

[gigipurple]

This is the test I carried out by using candle wax and lip balm on various inks to see what would work better under wet conditions.

 

I found out that candle wax works better than lip balm. It also shows much less when the envelope is dry. Also, I noticed that there is a huge difference between inks that are not bullet proof, even from the same manufacturer. As you can see in the pictures below (I hope I'm able to figure out how to post them), Levenger's Gemstone green and J. Herbin Bleu Myosotis run horribly and became completely illegible while the other inks behaved very well.

 

I used six inks for this test, including Noodler's bullet proof Manhattan Black. But I DID NOT apply wax or lip balm to this ink, only to the other five.

 

This test also showed me how good Noodler's bullet proof black is. It didn't run at all even when it was not protected like the other inks.

 

Just in case you are not able to read my handwriting, from top to bottom these are the inks used:

 

Diamine Presidential Blue

 

J. Herbin Violette Pensee

 

Noodler's Old Manhattan black (bullet proof)

 

Levenger's Gemstone green

 

J. Herbin Bleu Myosotis

 

Private Reserve Black Cherry

 

 

Picture 1 - Lip balm tests on the left and candle wax to the right. This is how the sample looked just before getting it wet:

 

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8773/inktest1lipbalmvscandlems1.jpg

By vitralgigi, shot with Canon PowerShot SD200 at 2008-08-18

 

Picture 2 - I put the envelope under running water and got it soaked from the outside. This is how it looked after this:

 

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1129/inktest2lipbalmvscandlepg6.jpg

By vitralgigi, shot with Canon PowerShot SD200 at 2008-08-18

 

Picture 3 - Well, at this time I just opened the envelope an poured water in it, directly from the faucet, and let it get completely soaked in and out! This is how it looked:

 

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/5258/inktest3lipbalmvscandlebo0.jpg

By vitralgigi, shot with Canon PowerShot SD200 at 2008-08-18

 

Picture 4 - By now I realized that in real life the envelope will not only get wet but that it will also stay wet for a long time. So I left the envelope alone for 1 hour and then took this picture:

 

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/2971/inktest4lipbalmvscandlehy9.jpg

By vitralgigi, shot with Canon PowerShot SD200 at 2008-08-18

 

 

Hoping this info is helpful to some of you, Gigi

[hellkitty]

From my days of adding random and often insulting pencil sketches to envelopes and postcards, I've gotten in the habit of just hitting *everything* I send through the mail with either Matte Finish or Workable Fixatif which you can get at any craft/art supply store. The Matte works a bit better, and has waterproofed *watercolors* so, can't ask for much better than that.

 

Though, I *am* eyeing my candles now...I *gotta* try that!

 

HK

[Tricia]

Wouldn't hairspray make the envelope sticky? I'd worry that the letter would end up stuck to another one and get lost.

 

Thanks for the balm/wax experiments. Definitely leaning toward the wax for when I don't use a Noodler's BP.

 

 

 

[Stani]

I've been using all sorts of inks in my life to address envelopes and I have send them all over the world. Never have I had one not find it's destination because the letter had gotten so wet that the address washed away. Most postal services keep their customers letters dry. PARANOYA WILL DISTROY YA

 

 

.......................Stani

Edited August 20, 2008 by Stani

[davidwholt]

Wouldn't hairspray make the envelope sticky? I'd worry that the letter would end up stuck to another one and get lost.

The paper was not sticky with hairspray. It wasn't necessary to drench the paper in hairspray for it to work, just a light spray was enough coating.

 

Too much wax, lip balm or hairspray could make it sticky as you asked.