"Erasing" Grease Pencil?

zabby17 · July 30, 2012

Question about markers.

After some years of experimenting, I decided my fave tomato plant markers were Lee Valley zinc markers on which I write with grease pencil. The grease pencil writes easily, reads easily, and lasts. (Whereas "permanent" marker fades by end of season.)

BUT it lasts TOO long. I would like to re-use markers from varieties I'm not growing this year, and I can't find a good way to clean the grease pencil marking off the plate to write a new label on it.

I've tried Goo Gone, nail polish remover, detergent...

Anyone use the same or similar system and know a way?

Thanks,

Z

delltraveller · July 30, 2012

When I'm trying to take grease pencil off something, I start by setting it in the sun to heat up. Then I scrape off as much of the stuff as I can with something stiff but porous. Lots of times it's a big chunk of wood mulch or a stick or a popsicle stick. Then I let it warm up in the sun again and use a paste of hot water and baking soda to clean the surface.

JamesL · July 30, 2012

Did you get most of it off already? If not you can iron off the bulk of it 1st using an old rag.
Acetone (nail remover) should have done the trick. If it is "ghosting" it has probably absorbed into the metal. Which means you need an abrasive.
Try toothpaste first, otherwise windex and 0000 steel wool should do it.

Worth1 · July 30, 2012

Try kerosene or bbq startin fluid.

You have to know what the solvent or mix is made of to cut certain products.
vinegar acidic acid will cut spray foam and un set epoxy.
it will also remove rust and take the bluing off of guns.

Off bug repellent will remove sharpie marks.

Use kerosine or bbq starting fluid to remove tar and left over decal glue from your car.
I have never tried to remove grease pencil marks before I is a guess.
Worth

habitat_gardener · July 31, 2012

Grease pencils are my favorite garden markers, too.

I haven't used zinc tags, but I have gotten grease pencil off plastic tags by using an eraser. The ones that work best are the white ones. I have one labeled Magic Eraser, but a regular white eraser works for me as well. These are the kinds of erasers sold in art supply stores. I can get the names completely off if they're a year or two old.

I found a ton of old plant tags when I moved my garden this spring, and it took the white eraser plus scrubbing with one of those green nylon scrubbers sold for kitchen use plus detergent.

zabby17 · July 31, 2012

Thanks, guys!

I always assumed acetone would do it, but it had almost no effect, at least with a soft rag. I googled around a bit and found some info suggesting it would work on a clean, smooth surface (these grease pencils are sometimes called "china markers" because they were used to write on china plates etc., and I saw pix of it coming right off those with acetone).

I think the difference is that these markers have a rougher surface---"etched zinc," I think Lee Valley says. I'll try heat (sun or iron), and a rougher, more scrubbie cloth, and an eraser!

And if it's too much of a pain (I AM the laziest gardener alive), I will sadly retire my Zinc markers and try making markers from Old Venetian Blinds as many others have suggested, since I can get an endless supply and can just throw out and replace varieties I'm not growing.

(The Lee Valley zinc markers ain't cheap, and I was so pleased with myself the year I invested in them --- spent the Xmas cheque I got from my Mother-in-law. I assumed they would last for ages and could be re-used, but I've run out of blank ones....)

Z

plainolebill · August 2, 2012

Believe it or not a regular pencil works better than anything I've tried. My wife worked in a greenhouse nursery when she was in college and straightened me out about that.

zabby17 · August 2, 2012

plainolebill,

I will try that, too!
(And then try ERASING it....)

Thanks,

Z

dustdevil · August 2, 2012

Try using "Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (Original)" These come in a bar form(not spray) and are excellent for removing scuff-type marks. I've used these Magic Erasers on all sorts of things and they work great. Their site claims no harsh chemicals:

http://www.mrclean.com/en_US/magic-eraser.do

July 30, 2012	#1
zabby17 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario Posts: 211	"Erasing" Grease Pencil? Question about markers. After some years of experimenting, I decided my fave tomato plant markers were Lee Valley zinc markers on which I write with grease pencil. The grease pencil writes easily, reads easily, and lasts. (Whereas "permanent" marker fades by end of season.) BUT it lasts TOO long. I would like to re-use markers from varieties I'm not growing this year, and I can't find a good way to clean the grease pencil marking off the plate to write a new label on it. I've tried Goo Gone, nail polish remover, detergent... Anyone use the same or similar system and know a way? Thanks, Z

July 30, 2012	#2
delltraveller Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Iowa Posts: 481	When I'm trying to take grease pencil off something, I start by setting it in the sun to heat up. Then I scrape off as much of the stuff as I can with something stiff but porous. Lots of times it's a big chunk of wood mulch or a stick or a popsicle stick. Then I let it warm up in the sun again and use a paste of hot water and baking soda to clean the surface.

July 30, 2012	#3
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Did you get most of it off already? If not you can iron off the bulk of it 1st using an old rag. Acetone (nail remover) should have done the trick. If it is "ghosting" it has probably absorbed into the metal. Which means you need an abrasive. Try toothpaste first, otherwise windex and 0000 steel wool should do it.

July 30, 2012	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Try kerosene or bbq startin fluid. You have to know what the solvent or mix is made of to cut certain products. vinegar acidic acid will cut spray foam and un set epoxy. it will also remove rust and take the bluing off of guns. Off bug repellent will remove sharpie marks. Use kerosine or bbq starting fluid to remove tar and left over decal glue from your car. I have never tried to remove grease pencil marks before I is a guess. Worth

July 31, 2012	#5
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,540	Grease pencils are my favorite garden markers, too. I haven't used zinc tags, but I have gotten grease pencil off plastic tags by using an eraser. The ones that work best are the white ones. I have one labeled Magic Eraser, but a regular white eraser works for me as well. These are the kinds of erasers sold in art supply stores. I can get the names completely off if they're a year or two old. I found a ton of old plant tags when I moved my garden this spring, and it took the white eraser plus scrubbing with one of those green nylon scrubbers sold for kitchen use plus detergent.

August 2, 2012	#7
plainolebill Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Williamette Valley, Oregon Posts: 33	Believe it or not a regular pencil works better than anything I've tried. My wife worked in a greenhouse nursery when she was in college and straightened me out about that.

August 2, 2012	#9
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	Try using "Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (Original)" These come in a bar form(not spray) and are excellent for removing scuff-type marks. I've used these Magic Erasers on all sorts of things and they work great. Their site claims no harsh chemicals: http://www.mrclean.com/en_US/magic-eraser.do