dlstewart's Full Review: Sanford Peel Off China Markers Crimson Red 12 Box
I can remember my mother and father using China Markers when I was a little girl. What fascinated me about these unique writing tools was the paper that magically unwrapped from the point. I loved pulling on those curly papers ... and my parents weren’t too happy to find all the wrappings scattered around the floor and a marker point five inches long! Now that I’m a responsible adult (no laughing!!), I own my own box of Sanford China Markers in Black.
Description
The Sanford China Marker is about 6 1/2" long with a diameter of a bit more than a 1/4". The barrel of the marker is the same color as the lead -- in this case the color is black. These are not your typical markers. They resemble a pencil without an eraser, only the point is thicker at an 1/8" wide (which is the medium size lead).
When first purchased, the black tip is about 1/4" long. Beneath this is an 1 1/8" of wrapped paper in a pale tan color. The portion of the barrel that is colored black is 5 1/8" long.
These writing utensils do not need sharpening. The wrapped paper beneath the writing tip has a small white cord embedded in it. I think of this cord as a rip cord. Pull this white cord a bit toward the barrel to slice through a section of the paper wrapping. Using a fingernail, lift the paper and uncurl it from the top of the marker to reveal more of the tip. The paper uncurls in strips 1/4" wide. No sharpener necessary!
The manufacturer states that these markers can write on glass, china, film and plastic. They are also “excellent for freezer marking”. They are non-toxic and made from natural materials (paper, cotton, wax). These china markers will not scratch where they write, nor do you have to wait for the writing to dry. It’s like writing with a thick pencil.
Sanford China Markers come in a variety of colors too: white, blue, red, yellow, green, crimson – and black! The black markers come in two different lead sizes (thin and medium).
My Experiences
China markers have several different names such as grease pencils and wax pencils.
These Sanford China Markers are wonderful. I mostly use the black colored lead, since I find it writes dark and is the easiest color to read. However, do not expect this utensil to write in a uniform darkness like a magic marker. While the color is black, it is not an even color due to the wax material it is constructed from.
China marker writing can smudge under the right circumstances. For example, if something written with a china marker rubs consistently against another object, then the markings may smudge. A great property of china markers is that the writing is moisture resistant and will not bleed.
When writing a date on a food package, it is easy (with a bit of persistence), to rub the markings off with either the fingers or an eraser. However, not every eraser works well at eliminating text written with a Sanford China Marker. One of the best erasers I have used is made by Scripto and comes in a plastic tube that is held like a pencil – This eraser does a great job removing china marker writing. Depending upon the material written upon, I have also been able to take my thumb and rub the markings out. The only downside to this method is that my thumb becomes coal black.
I admit that I have not lost my childhood playfulness. I love to peel the paper wrapper that reveals more of the writing tip. Just be careful not to peel too much of the wrapper at one time or else you’ll uncover more tip than you need. It’s simple to grasp the white cord and pull it down a 1/4" to start the paper wrapper peeling.
This marker writes on a variety of surfaces. I have used it on paper, cardboard, metal, hard and soft plastic, foil, glassware, ceramic, china and wood. And these markers last a long time!
What I Use This Marker On
Dating Food Items
Our family dates foods as they are purchased so that we can rotate our food stock, using older foods first. I have used the Sanford China Marker on paper wrappers, cans, cardboard, plastic bags, plastic containers, foil packages and glass.
Frozen Foods
The only food labels I have trouble marking are waxed packaging such as used on some frozen food products. Also, once a food is in the freezer, china markers don’t like to write on the cold packaging -- so mark the items before freezing them.
Garden Tags
For outside labeling of plants (such as writing on wooden and metal plant tags), china markers work very well. They are resistant to rain and don’t fade in the sun as quickly as other markers.
Template Marking
I don’t use china markers too often to mark plastic templates for my sewing projects ... but it is interesting to note that these markers write well on mylar and other plastic surfaces. These china markers are also good for making marks on wood. However, due to the uneven nature of wood, the markings may not easily be removed.
Yard Sales
Mark items for sale using china markers. The markers write on just about every surface, and the buyer will appreciate that the markings can later be removed. A china marker also costs less than buying self-stick labels or string tags.
Purchasing
I have no trouble locating Sanford China Markers. Many of my local department stores and pharmacies carry them. OfficeMax sells these markers in an assortment of colors for 89-cents each. Office Depot offers a box of 12 china markers for $6.38.
Summary
Sanford China Markers in Black are terrific marking tools. They write on a wide variety of materials, are moisture resistant, and the writing doesn’t bleed. I also like that I can erase the markings if I need to. I always have a box of these in the house.
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
Sanford
Bellwood, IL 60104
Toll-free Phone: 800-323-0749 (United States)
Monday - Friday (7:30 am - 5:00 pm Central Standard Time)
Toll-free Phone: 800-668-4575 x242
Monday - Friday (8:30 am - 4:30 pm Eastern Standard Time)
Guarantee
“Sanford guarantees complete customer satisfaction and replacement.”
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