[ARSCLIST] CD-ROM marking pens

[Ganesh.Irelan@xxxxxxxx]

Hello all,

This kind of discussion bothers me because it is so subjective.  Unless you are analyzing discs with, for example, a Clover Systems CD analyzer, you have no basis on which to make the comments, recommendations, etc. you are making.  What does it mean you have had no "noticable problems labelling with a Sharpie."  Does that mean you have not had a disc that was labelled with a Sharpie fail at any point in its life?  Or, does it mean, a particular disc's measured error rate after being labelled with a Sharpie was unchanged over a 5 - 10 year period?  A disc can deteriorate until it is in terrible condition and still be read by many readers and unless you analyze it you don't know the deterioration has occured.

Jerry Hartke at Media Sciences makes a living testing media.  I defer to his authority on this subject.  In case you missed it he said, "Solvent-based inks, such as used in the Sharpie, can penetrate the protective layer on the label surface of CD discs. The formulation of this layer varies; some being more resistant to solvents than others. I do not recommend use of such pens on discs that are not easily replaceable."

Thank you,
Kevin Irelan