Marking gear...again

[ClayJar]

I've used various and sundry things. Paint pens, sharpies, and other writing implements were my first round.

My fins are decorated with four different bright "neon" colors of small zip ties: orange and green on one fin, pink and blue on the other. If it's a leisurely, uncrowded boat with a bunch of students doing a checkout, it's ever so fun to suddenly realize you have your fins on the wrong feet and have to change them. :biggrin: The bright zip ties contrast well with the plain black fins, making fin-based ID underwater somewhat easier.

As far as gear/diver association on a boat goes, that part's *trivially* easy. I've always been the only one with a stainless steel plate, a DSS Torus wing, and an extra D-ring on a basic harness... oh, and the harness webbing is bright pink. I'm enough of a ham to enjoy standing out, and it helps keep my group together on large boat checkout trips (you can see the webbing practically *glowing* through the murk).

To complete the whole tagging thing, I can also attach laminated tags to anything that could use one. (I had to buy a laminator to use on the great [thread=212110]ISOSAD Monopoly Challenge[/thread] project -- anybody know much about small-scale metal casting to give me tips on the houses/hotels? ) Laminated tags are great for large objects (bags, BCs, etc), but they'd get in the way too much on the smaller stuff.

 

[muddiver]

How do you prepare fins for marking? Thanks.

Scuff the location you want to mark with some sand paper. Any grit will do because you need to add a rough texture to allow the marking to stick to.

This includes the hard rubber jet fins.

 

[Thalassamania]

How do you prepare fins for marking? Thanks.

Simple Green scrub, dry and then scuff with emery paper seems to work for me.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Cool. Thanks! Most of my gear is pretty distinct, but my jetfins could use some... decorating.

 

[Dr. Mike Hatcher]

sharpie, paint pen..just don't dont' forget to occ check em and re mark
cheers
m

 

[Lord Melch]

I just use colored wire ties.

That's a great idea for liveaboad type - "they are mine"
Just attach a zip tie or something that marks as yours..

 

[eko_eko]

What about removing marks when you sell your used gear? I recently considered buying some used gear on eBay. One of the main reasons I didn't buy it was that is was very well marked with initials that don't match my own.

I haven't marked any of my gear yet. I don't want to lose it, but I do want to be able to sell it when I upgrade.

 

[Cyclops_Diver]

I assume the same fine grit sandpaper to rough up a spot for marking would get the previous mark off?

I've also marked over initials with a white paint pen, then used a black pen to put my own mark in the white box i created.

 

[Gen San Chris]

I use paint pens but also I use yellow colored Zip Ties or Cable Ties also on all my items! I also have my shop name stickers on the plastic items that they will stick too!
If you do not mark your gear then do not cry when you loose stuff!

 

[knotical]

What about removing marks when you sell your used gear?

I haven't marked any of my gear yet. I don't want to lose it, but I do want to be able to sell it when I upgrade.

Colored plastic electrical tape and/or zipties are both removable.