Use KNOX! It's the best label adhesive

[501irishred]

Awesome on two counts! First that sidepart's thread has been "recognized" (well deserved), and second that the project locator thread wasn't a snake! Thats a great collection, and I apparently skimmed past it all the times I've been over to the DIY forum.....

 

[orangehero]

Although I'm sure gelatin is a good label adhesive, I just use a few drops of white school glue dissolved in a few teaspoons of warm water. The glue is pretty resilient, but the labels come off under a stream of warm water and a $1 container of glue will last thousands of labels.

 

[Warthaug]

Although I'm sure gelatin is a good label adhesive, I just use a few drops of white school glue dissolved in a few teaspoons of warm water. The glue is pretty resilient, but the labels come off under a stream of warm water and a $1 container of glue will last thousands of labels.

Have you tried this on plastic (i.e. soft) bottles? The one limitation of gelatin is it is hard when dried, so on a soft bottle the gelatin cracks, releasing the label.

B

 

[orangehero]

Sorry I don't use plastic bottles.

There are two kinds of white glue: the washable school glue and Elmer's Glue-all (Elmer's also has a washable school glue). I've used both and they are very similar, but the glue-all is a little bit more tenacious. The labels still come off under the warm faucet, but you may need to give the bottle a quick scrub with a sponge to get all of the residue off.

 

[mmiddleton]

Tried this last night, using labels that were printed on fairly cheap paper, and using an Ink Jet printer. As of this morning, they look quite good - a couple little ink runs here and there, but not nearly as much as I would've expected. Haven't wetted them yet to test the adhesiveness.

BTW, I found that a natural bristle brush works just fine too - in fact, I think it actually helped the brush! It was always stiff when dry, but after being used for labelling, and a quick rinse in warm water, it feels like a completely different brush!

 

[mmiddleton]

Tested last night - ran under cold water, and the ink in the paper didn't run (it had already run a little when I first applied the label), and the label didn't budge. Ran under hot water, and it came off in about 30 seconds, with no residue. Success!

 

[mcangeli]

For the record, I picked up a box of the kroger brand gelatin and dissolved one packet in a cup of hot water and stirred until it was clear.

Worked rather well for applying the labels, stayed on in ice water and came right off with a hot rinse.

 

[jaydog2314]

started using this method 2 batches ago and it's AWESOME!! took some bottles on vacation where they sat in an ice bath for about 5-6 days and the labels still stayed on and came off with ridiculous ease in warm water!!! I've used 1 packet for 2 batches now, the best solution out there for labeling, glad I found it!

 

[Schnitzengiggle]

I mainly keg, because bottling is a pain in the ass for the most part, but I do like making labels and such, so I thought I'd give it a whirl!

KNOX is effing awesome as an adhesive for labels..pure genius!!!!

Thank you!!!

 

[OddNotion]

I am using this method for a batch for my wedding. I have applied about half of the labels to bottles and am running into an issue where if I place a bottle into water, the gelatin begins to become slimey and come off of the bottle/label. Would a second layer help? Would a less diluted mixture work better?

I am using labels that have been laser printed from a copy center and the paper they used feels a little thicker than regular printer paper - not sure if that could play any type of role here.

 

[sidepart]

I am using this method for a batch for my wedding. I have applied about half of the labels to bottles and am running into an issue where if I place a bottle into water, the gelatin begins to become slimey and come off of the bottle/label. Would a second layer help? Would a less diluted mixture work better?

I am using labels that have been laser printed from a copy center and the paper they used feels a little thicker than regular printer paper - not sure if that could play any type of role here.

A less diluted solution has stuck better for me. I try to stop short of applying snot to the back of the labels, but your hands will get remarkably sticky if you've done it right. Could also be that the water wasn't hot enough to start when you added the gelatin. I bring my water to a boil and then let it sit briefly. So it's super hot when I add the Knox, but not boiling. I haven't tried thicker stock paper either. My solution ends up soaking into the paper I'm using.

Last thing I'll mention, the labels don't slide off for me in cold water. If you leave them in a cooler with ice water for awhile though, the labels will get soggy. You could run your thumb through them to scratch off the label. I haven't had them fall or slide off though.

How long are you waiting for them to dry?

Sorry I don't have better advice. I hope you're able to get things working!

 

[OddNotion]

A less diluted solution has stuck better for me. I try to stop short of applying snot to the back of the labels, but your hands will get remarkably sticky if you've done it right. Could also be that the water wasn't hot enough to start when you added the gelatin. I bring my water to a boil and then let it sit briefly. So it's super hot when I add the Knox, but not boiling. I haven't tried thicker stock paper either. My solution ends up soaking into the paper I'm using.

Last thing I'll mention, the labels don't slide off for me in cold water. If you leave them in a cooler with ice water for awhile though, the labels will get soggy. You could run your thumb through them to scratch off the label. I haven't had them fall or slide off though.

How long are you waiting for them to dry?

Sorry I don't have better advice. I hope you're able to get things working!

Im thinking the problem should be solved, I will know 100% for sure tonight when I test it but it is looking like user error on my part (well I guess technically SWMBO but I think I'm conditioned to take the blame by now )! Application of the solution was taking place on the front of the label and not the back of it. The corners would stick down but once water got behind the label the solution would get slimey and it would start the removal process.

 

[phug]

Thanks for this thread, I usually do one gallon. I mixed up 1.5 g of Knox to 25 ml of wAter. Seems to have worked great. And I could probably have done another 3-4 gallons with the leftovers. I used a sponge brush from my son's craft drawerView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1428758228.301863.jpg

 

[Owly055]

I've tried various concentrations, I've let the mixture boil, or just heated the water with gelatin sprinkled on the surface, etc. Unfortunately while the labels look good and seem stuck, by the time the bottles are through the conditioning phase, the labels often just fall off. There will be a shiny "varnish" on the back of the label but nothing on the glass....... it's frustrating to say the least, and I'm considering going back to the little Avery labels.

The gelatin just doesn't want to stick to the glass once it's dried out.


H.W.

 

[Dustbowl]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=224476&referrerid=195470

I use this recipe, no problem with the labels falling off. The glycerin and vinegar helps keep the glue pliable. Comes of easily with hot water just like the regular gelatin.

 

[Psylocide]

Two words.

 

[Owly055]

Two words.

What's it take to get the glue off?

 

[Psylocide]

What's it take to get the glue off?

A little hot water... and when I take off labels, I've always scrubbed with steel wool, so it all comes off in one/two swipes.

I just put the label on a piece of scrap paper, hit the whole back with the glue stick (up to the edges), then smooth it onto the bottle.

Just don't get too much on your fingers, because it'll mess up the printing a little bit if it touches the front of the label.

 

[WI_Wino]

A little hot water... and when I take off labels, I've always scrubbed with steel wool, so it all comes off in one/two swipes.

I just put the label on a piece of scrap paper, hit the whole back with the glue stick (up to the edges), then smooth it onto the bottle.

Just don't get too much on your fingers, because it'll mess up the printing a little bit if it touches the front of the label.

I have used glue stick in the past and it's been a bear to get off. A quick soak in hot water doesn't do jack for me.

 

[Psylocide]

I have used glue stick in the past and it's been a bear to get off. A quick soak in hot water doesn't do jack for me.

How did the steel wool do?

 

[WI_Wino]

How did the steel wool do?

I haven't used steel wool but a green 3M pad requires some elbow grease. After a 15 minute soak in hot water though they peel off decently.

 

[phug]

For commercials labels I've been using a stainless steel scrubby. The kind made out of tiny ribbons of stainless that'll cut up your fingers. Add a touch of dish soap for the last bit of adhesive

 

[Hoppity]

subscribed, will try this my next labeling batch.

 

[grrickar]

Awesome. I've been using milk. Works great except for any water situation, like in a cooler and the ice melts. Will be trying this next time. Does it leave a nasty residue in the tub after you soak the labels off?

Well, I suspect some larger craft breweries use milk too. Why you ask? A bunch of guys came over and we dumped their beers in my cooler, and 4 days later I open the cooler to dump the water and it smelled like soured baby formula.

I suspect gelatin would be better in this regard. I had to scrub that cooler and air it out for days.

 

[Owly055]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=224476&referrerid=195470

I use this recipe, no problem with the labels falling off. The glycerin and vinegar helps keep the glue pliable. Comes of easily with hot water just like the regular gelatin.

Thanks for the link....... It uses about double the gelatin called for in most recipes..... 2 packets for about half a cup of actual liquid. I'm wondering what the vinegar and glycerine actually do..... the glycerine isn't going to evaporate, so I assume it keeps things a bit flexible...... The glue getting hard and dry seems to cause the release. My guess is that the vinegar has an emulsifying effect, helping the glycerine go into solution with everything else.

Howard

 

[501irishred]

Wonder if the glycerine/vinegar additions would help it hold to PET bottles.... That seems to be the only shortcoming I've found using gelatin alone.

 

[Owly055]

I was inspired to experiment by the Aussie recipe using glycerine.......... but lacking glycerine, I resorted to just a dab of 50/50 auto antifreeze, a splash of vinegar, and a dab of sugar to promote stickyness.

Needless to say, I will be widely panned for resorting to a "toxic substance", but the quantity used is very small. Ethylene Glycol makes up about 15% of the total in this case, and "per bottle" that's almost nothing........... thus far it looks very good. You can slip a fingernail under the label, but it's tenacious..... Real results are a few weeks off.


H.W.

 

[TinyHands]

Sticks on easy, comes off easier. I don't think I'll ever use anything else.

 

[Owly055]

Sticks on easy, comes off easier. I don't think I'll ever use anything else.

Like ladies underwear........with labels "come's off easy" is the most important consideration.


H.W.

 

[TinyHands]

Like ladies underwear........with labels "come's off easy" is the most important consideration.

Too true. Dark Horse must use some kind of dark magic to apply their labels-- 24 hours of soaking in OxiClean and I still have to get after it with steel wool for a good ten minutes each.

Short's, on the other hand... is a little looser with her affections.