Melamine - do i have the right finish?

[charlieart66]

basicly i am making these small plant labels, about 100X25mm out of birch plywood and i need desperate help choosing the right finish for them. idealy i would like a nice, clear finish that gives a plastic finish, ie. you can write on with felt tip and rub off like a whiteboard but i would settle for a pencil rub on/ off ,as little work as possible , ie. only 1/2 coats spraying would be great, it has to dry evenly so that i dont get any drip marks ( arguably my fault.) and finally i need it as cheap as possible.


At first i used chesnut melamine spray, which gave a great finish (pencil) but was too exspensvie.
http://www.toolpost.co.uk/pages/Finishes/Chestnut/chestnut.html#MelamineLacquer

i then brought some gloss B&Q yatch (gloss) varnish which i applied by brush but gave an uneven and frankly too shiny finish which i couldnt get rid of by sanding. i also found the finish very 'gritty'

i then tried the liquid form of the melamine spray ( see link above) and this gave a blotchy finish as i applied it by paper towel, no where near as thick as the spray and again very expensive.

cost is obviously and issue so i thought about buying en masse but i am unsure how it can be applied by a spray gun and what tools i would need, plus if it covers the points above. i am also reluctant to buy due to the cost of it and the size.
http://www.agwoodcare.co.uk/show_product.php?id=266
or if i need just a regular satin finish, i think satin would be best but i ma again, unsure.

once i have applied the chosen finish i then cut out them out and dip in a clear preserver.

thanks for all your help, i really dont know where to start


p.s. i live in england if that makes any difference

[Harry72]

Buy a sheet of laminex and cut that up instead, probably not much dearer than the ply anyway.

[charlieart66]

Buy a sheet of laminex and cut that up instead, probably not much dearer than the ply anyway.
i take it thats a pre laminated alternative, but where would i find it in england and what exactly is it?

[Wizened of Oz]

As a nurseryman, I think what you are trying to make will be quite useless as a plant label. Life expectancy of a few weeks.
Find a supplier in your Yellow Pages and buy real plant labels. They cost cents each and last a number of years outdoors. Write on with a Chinagraph pencil if you want to reuse, but at the price it's more economical to use a permanent marker and discard after use.

[charlieart66]

As a nurseryman, I think what you are trying to make will be quite useless as a plant label. Life expectancy of a few weeks.
Find a supplier in your Yellow Pages and buy real plant labels. They cost cents each and last a number of years outdoors. Write on with a Chinagraph pencil if you want to reuse, but at the price it's more economical to use a permanent marker and discard after use.
firstly he labels are to not for personal use, but to sell. the samples that i made with melamine spray attracted some interest with garden centers ( about 4) and i am to make a introductionary batch for them.
secondly what is a Chinagraph pencil?

[Harry72]

Laminex is the laminate its about 1.5mm thick.
Chinagraph pencil is made for writing on hard or shiny surfaces.