I feel a bit like the Jackal at the moment with pieces of my computer new build arriving each day knowing I can't build it until all the bits are here!
I ordered some labels so I could mark the SATA cables for when I cable up the backplane:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DWN2S134
They stick nicely bit neither Biro not Roller Ball pens will mark them, it gets smudged.
I looked for self adhesive paper tape and got a lot of hits on Amazon, including masking tape, all of which said the tape was easy to remove, the opposite of what I want!
The specialist systems seem to be designed for round cable about the size
of telephone cable.
Anybody got any suggestions please?
I feel a bit like the Jackal at the moment with pieces of my computer
new build arriving each day knowing I can't build it until all the bits
are here!
I ordered some labels so I could mark the SATA cables for when I cable
up the backplane:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DWN2S134
They stick nicely bit neither Biro not Roller Ball pens will mark them,
it gets smudged.
I looked for self adhesive paper tape and got a lot of hits on Amazon, including masking tape, all of which said the tape was easy to remove,
the opposite of what I want!
The specialist systems seem to be designed for round cable about the
size of telephone cable.
Anybody got any suggestions please?
Jeff Gaines <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:
I feel a bit like the Jackal at the moment with pieces of my computer new build arriving each day knowing I can't build it until all the bits are here!
I ordered some labels so I could mark the SATA cables for when I cable up the backplane:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DWN2S134
They stick nicely bit neither Biro not Roller Ball pens will mark them, it gets smudged.
I looked for self adhesive paper tape and got a lot of hits on Amazon, including masking tape, all of which said the tape was easy to remove, the opposite of what I want!
The specialist systems seem to be designed for round cable about the size of telephone cable.
Anybody got any suggestions please?
Get a proper label machine? You know you want to. The Brother ones are good, mine was a tenner from ebay. Knockoff versions of the tapes are everywhere for cheap.
Jeff Gaines <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:
I feel a bit like the Jackal at the moment with pieces of my computer new >>build arriving each day knowing I can't build it until all the bits are >>here!
I ordered some labels so I could mark the SATA cables for when I cable up >>the backplane:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DWN2S134
They stick nicely bit neither Biro not Roller Ball pens will mark them, it >>gets smudged.
I looked for self adhesive paper tape and got a lot of hits on Amazon, >>including masking tape, all of which said the tape was easy to remove, the >>opposite of what I want!
The specialist systems seem to be designed for round cable about the size >>of telephone cable.
Anybody got any suggestions please?
Get a proper label machine? You know you want to. The Brother ones are >good, mine was a tenner from ebay. Knockoff versions of the tapes are >everywhere for cheap.
For labelling cables, you can get special heatshrink type labelling tape,
but I just wrap a regular label around the cable and stick it to itself >forming a tab. The tab is easy to read in the way that something around
the
circumference of the cable isn't.
Then you can label all the things...
Theo
I feel a bit like the Jackal at the moment with pieces of my computer
new build arriving each day knowing I can't build it until all the bits
are here!
I ordered some labels so I could mark the SATA cables for when I cable
up the backplane:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DWN2S134
They stick nicely bit neither Biro not Roller Ball pens will mark them,
it gets smudged.
I looked for self adhesive paper tape and got a lot of hits on Amazon, including masking tape, all of which said the tape was easy to remove,
the opposite of what I want!
The specialist systems seem to be designed for round cable about the
size of telephone cable.
Anybody got any suggestions please?
On 04/01/2026 in message <4Rh*fERvA@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk> Theo
wrote:
Jeff Gaines <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:
I feel a bit like the Jackal at the moment with pieces of my computer
new
build arriving each day knowing I can't build it until all the bits are
here!
I ordered some labels so I could mark the SATA cables for when I
cable up
the backplane:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DWN2S134
They stick nicely bit neither Biro not Roller Ball pens will mark
them, it
gets smudged.
I looked for self adhesive paper tape and got a lot of hits on Amazon,
including masking tape, all of which said the tape was easy to
remove, the
opposite of what I want!
The specialist systems seem to be designed for round cable about the
size
of telephone cable.
Anybody got any suggestions please?
Get a proper label machine?-a You know you want to.-a The Brother ones are >> good, mine was a tenner from ebay.-a Knockoff versions of the tapes are
everywhere for cheap.
For labelling cables, you can get special heatshrink type labelling tape,
but I just wrap a regular label around the cable and stick it to itself
forming a tab.-a The tab is easy to read in the way that something
around the
circumference of the cable isn't.
Then you can label all the things...
Theo
I have one, a Dymo version. On my last build I religiously marked every cable by wrapping it round and all of them are peeling off :-(
On 04/01/2026 in message <4Rh*fERvA@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk> Theo
wrote:
Jeff Gaines <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:
I feel a bit like the Jackal at the moment with pieces of my computer
new
build arriving each day knowing I can't build it until all the bits are
here!
I ordered some labels so I could mark the SATA cables for when I
cable up
the backplane:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DWN2S134
They stick nicely bit neither Biro not Roller Ball pens will mark
them, it
gets smudged.
I looked for self adhesive paper tape and got a lot of hits on Amazon,
including masking tape, all of which said the tape was easy to
remove, the
opposite of what I want!
The specialist systems seem to be designed for round cable about the
size
of telephone cable.
Anybody got any suggestions please?
Get a proper label machine?-a You know you want to.-a The Brother ones are >> good, mine was a tenner from ebay.-a Knockoff versions of the tapes are
everywhere for cheap.
For labelling cables, you can get special heatshrink type labelling tape,
but I just wrap a regular label around the cable and stick it to itself
forming a tab.-a The tab is easy to read in the way that something
around the
circumference of the cable isn't.
Then you can label all the things...
Theo
I have one, a Dymo version. On my last build I religiously marked every cable by wrapping it round and all of them are peeling off :-(
Jeff Gaines wrote:
I ordered some labels so I could mark the SATA cables for when I cable
up the backplane:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DWN2S134
They stick nicely bit neither Biro not Roller Ball pens will mark them,
it gets smudged.
Amazon seems to recommend them together with Sharpie Permanent Markers,
worth a try?
<https://amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MZHZV5G>
I feel a bit like the Jackal at the moment with pieces of my computer
new build arriving each day knowing I can't build it until all the bits
are here!
I ordered some labels so I could mark the SATA cables for when I cable
up the backplane:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DWN2S134
They stick nicely bit neither Biro not Roller Ball pens will mark them,
it gets smudged.
I looked for self adhesive paper tape and got a lot of hits on Amazon, including masking tape, all of which said the tape was easy to remove,
the opposite of what I want!
The specialist systems seem to be designed for round cable about the
size of telephone cable.
I ordered some labels so I could mark the SATA cables for when I cable up >the backplane:
Flappy ends would be a nuisance in the confines of a computer case. I
wrap them round the cable then mark them
If that fails I will go back to my old process of giving them stripes
like a non commissioned officer using some very narrow insulation tape I have, it's a slow process though, especially for connector number 16
On Mon, 05 Jan 2026 09:56:52 +0000, Jeff Gaines wrote:
If that fails I will go back to my old process of giving them stripes
like a non commissioned officer using some very narrow insulation tape I >>have, it's a slow process though, especially for connector number 16
Use binary. That's what I do. Long stripes and short ones.
On 05/01/2026 in message <ms1i0lFdmetU5@mid.individual.net> Bob Eager wrote:
On Mon, 05 Jan 2026 09:56:52 +0000, Jeff Gaines wrote:
If that fails I will go back to my old process of giving them stripes >>like a non commissioned officer using some very narrow insulation tape I >>have, it's a slow process though, especially for connector number 16
Use binary. That's what I do. Long stripes and short ones.
I did wonder about the resistor colour code or even morse :-)
I feel a bit like the Jackal at the moment with pieces of my computer
new build arriving each day knowing I can't build it until all the bits
are here!
I ordered some labels so I could mark the SATA cables for when I cable
up the backplane:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DWN2S134
They stick nicely bit neither Biro not Roller Ball pens will mark them,
it gets smudged.
I looked for self adhesive paper tape and got a lot of hits on Amazon, including masking tape, all of which said the tape was easy to remove,
the opposite of what I want!
The specialist systems seem to be designed for round cable about the
size of telephone cable.
Anybody got any suggestions please?
On 04/01/2026 21:17, Jeff Gaines wrote:
felt tip pens esp. permanent marker?
I feel a bit like the Jackal at the moment with pieces of my computer new >>build arriving each day knowing I can't build it until all the bits are >>here!
I ordered some labels so I could mark the SATA cables for when I cable up >>the backplane:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DWN2S134
They stick nicely bit neither Biro not Roller Ball pens will mark them, >>it gets smudged.
I looked for self adhesive paper tape and got a lot of hits on Amazon, >>including masking tape, all of which said the tape was easy to remove, >>the opposite of what I want!
The specialist systems seem to be designed for round cable about the size >>of telephone cable.
Anybody got any suggestions please?
I will be using my magnifying head band this afternoon when I wire up the >front panel, if it doesn't work you will hear the cursing :-)
On 5 Jan 2026 at 01:25:22 GMT, Andy Burns wrote:
Jeff Gaines wrote:
I ordered some labels so I could mark the SATA cables for when I cable
up the backplane:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DWN2S134
They stick nicely bit neither Biro not Roller Ball pens will mark them,
it gets smudged.
Amazon seems to recommend them together with Sharpie Permanent Markers,
worth a try?
<https://amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MZHZV5G>
I've used these for years:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/FINE-TIP-PERMANENT-MARKER-PENS/dp/B01EMADO7E
On my second box of 10. Ideal for the OP's application, but not so good for marking fabrics etc.
On 04/01/2026 in message <xn0pke59sbyofwq02a@news.individual.net> Jeff Gaines wrote:
I ordered some labels so I could mark the SATA cables for when I cable
up the backplane:
Many thanks for all the replies :-)
I don't use labels by having a flappy end sticking out so cannot stick
them "glue to glue" so to speak. Flappy ends would be a nuisance in the confines of a computer case. I wrap them round the cable then mark them, Dymo labels have the number repeated then they are wrapped round the
cable, no flappy bit.
They are difficult to write on as it's such a small area and the surface
is like a debit card which is why I wondered if paper tape would be better.
Since Sharpies come so highly recommended I will get one and try writing directly on the cable and see how that goes.
If that fails I will go back to my old process of giving them stripes
like a non commissioned officer using some very narrow insulation tape I have, it's a slow process though, especially for connector number 16 :-)
Jeff Gaines <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:
On 05/01/2026 in message <ms1i0lFdmetU5@mid.individual.net> Bob Eager wrote: >>
On Mon, 05 Jan 2026 09:56:52 +0000, Jeff Gaines wrote:
If that fails I will go back to my old process of giving them stripes
like a non commissioned officer using some very narrow insulation tape I >>>> have, it's a slow process though, especially for connector number 16
Use binary. That's what I do. Long stripes and short ones.
I did wonder about the resistor colour code or even morse :-)
You can get insulating tapes in almost all the resistor colour code colours, and I've used that for labelling hundred-plus wiring bundles (they were actually SATA cables, to bring this full circle, although not carrying SATA traffic). Just need to decide which number green-and-yellow is...
Theo
On 05/01/2026 11:13, Theo wrote:
Jeff Gaines <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:
On 05/01/2026 in message <ms1i0lFdmetU5@mid.individual.net> Bob Eager wrote:
On Mon, 05 Jan 2026 09:56:52 +0000, Jeff Gaines wrote:
If that fails I will go back to my old process of giving them stripes >>>> like a non commissioned officer using some very narrow insulation tape I >>>> have, it's a slow process though, especially for connector number 16
Use binary. That's what I do. Long stripes and short ones.
I did wonder about the resistor colour code or even morse :-)
You can get insulating tapes in almost all the resistor colour code colours,
and I've used that for labelling hundred-plus wiring bundles (they were actually SATA cables, to bring this full circle, although not carrying SATA traffic). Just need to decide which number green-and-yellow is...
Theo
The original colour code for green-and-yellow was plain green.
Green is already a colour of insulating tapes, so that spot is filled. Depends on what set you get, but eg here green/yellow has to cover for purple:
On 05/01/2026 09:56, Jeff Gaines wrote:
On 04/01/2026 in message <xn0pke59sbyofwq02a@news.individual.net> Jeff >>Gaines wrote:In Roman numerals, 16 is XVI. 5 bits of stripe. <grin>
I ordered some labels so I could mark the SATA cables for when I cable up >>>the backplane:
Many thanks for all the replies :-)
I don't use labels by having a flappy end sticking out so cannot stick >>them "glue to glue" so to speak. Flappy ends would be a nuisance in the >>confines of a computer case. I wrap them round the cable then mark them, >>Dymo labels have the number repeated then they are wrapped round the >>cable, no flappy bit.
They are difficult to write on as it's such a small area and the surface >>is like a debit card which is why I wondered if paper tape would be >>better.
Since Sharpies come so highly recommended I will get one and try writing >>directly on the cable and see how that goes.
If that fails I will go back to my old process of giving them stripes >>like a non commissioned officer using some very narrow insulation tape I >>have, it's a slow process though, especially for connector number 16 :-)
Anybody got any suggestions please?
On 05/01/2026 04:47, RJH wrote:
On 5 Jan 2026 at 01:25:22 GMT, Andy Burns wrote:
Jeff Gaines wrote:
I ordered some labels so I could mark the SATA cables for when I cable >>>> up the backplane:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DWN2S134
They stick nicely bit neither Biro not Roller Ball pens will mark them, >>>> it gets smudged.
Amazon seems to recommend them together with Sharpie Permanent Markers,
worth a try?
<https://amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MZHZV5G>
I've used these for years:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/FINE-TIP-PERMANENT-MARKER-PENS/dp/B01EMADO7E
On my second box of 10. Ideal for the OP's application, but not so
good for
marking fabrics etc.
Avoid the twin tip version.-a I bought a couple of those and the smaller
tip dried out in a very short time.
On 04/01/2026 in message <xn0pke59sbyofwq02a@news.individual.net> Jeff >Gaines wrote:
Anybody got any suggestions please?
The Sharpies arrived today. I have marked up a SATA cable and tomorrow, >after 24 hours, I will get my Butler Ivill Likitoff to test it and see how >permanent the marking is.
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