October 20, 2024
Labels for micromounts
Much of this will apply to labels for any mineral collection.
Some of it is opinion, but these opinions are my own, developed over
much time and with much thought, and thus of high quality.
First and foremost, every specimen must be labeled.
Without a label, it is just "yard rock" or something to
throw at a coyote. A collection without labels is not
a collection.
This is true not just of final mounted pieces in your collection,
but also of material that will accumulate in your garage.
You may know today, but you will be surprised in a few years
how confused you will be when you open a box you neglected to
label. Things should be labeled immediately, before the box
goes on the shelf or on the stack of boxes.
The most important thing on the label is the location!
The mineral can always be identified, but without a label
you will never be sure of the location.
How to label a micromount
We are making permanent mounts, or that is the goal at any rate.
Avoid any kind of stick on label! Stick with me here.
I have seen a fair number of old and valuable collections
where the labels have aged and are falling off.
I even know a fellow who just finished relabeling his collection
of 18,000 mounts and after less than a year many of his labels
are starting to peel off. That is tragic.
I am working through my own collection in 2024 and finding a bunch
of labels from 2011 (13 years old) that are curling off the boxes.
I must have bought a bad batch of Avery labels in 2011.
It is true that nothing is forever, but I have decided to invest the
extra time and work to do the following:
- I rub the bottom of the box on 220 sandpaper to get a matte surface.
- I print my labels on acid free paper using a black and white laser printer.
- I spray the labels with a fixative (Krylon matte finish).
- I cut up those sheets of labels with scissors.
- I apply a thin layer of white glue to the frosted box bottom.
- I place the label on the glue.
- I press the label onto a sheet of clean paper to "lay it down"
- I run a smooth tool around the edge where the paper wants to curl up.
If needed, these labels can be removed by soaking in water.
I use "Weld-Bond" glue that I buy at Ace Hardware, but any good white
glue could be used. I spread the glue using a bicycle spoke.
Another fellow who uses this method just squirts a dose of glue
onto some scrap paper and dabs the box onto the glue blob.
Yes this is more work than stick on labels, but if you aim for quality
and care about not having all your labels peel off (more likely sooner
than later) it is absolutely worth it.
Feedback? Questions?
Drop me a line!
Tom's Mineralogy Info / [email protected]