WP 34S: Estimated shelf life of Eric's overlays?

[Gerald H]

Can anyone realistically assess the shelf life of the glue in unused overlays?

[Paul Dale]

I've got one I use several times a week that is several years old now. Showing signs of wear but still good.

- Pauli

[walter b]

(02-27-2015 09:28 AM)Paul Dale Wrote:  I've got one I use several times a week that is several years old now. Showing signs of wear but still good.

ditto

d:-)

[Steve Simpkin]

Here'a a picture of my WP 34S. It's several years old and is used about 1-2 times a month. It looks about the same as it did when I applied the labels.

[Gerald H]

Thank you Paul, walter & Steve.

What about unused, fresh overlays? How long can they sit without the adhesive drying out?

[Don Shepherd]

please move to "not quite ..." thread

[Gerald H]

(02-27-2015 10:48 AM)Don Shepherd Wrote:  please move to "not quite ..." thread

Correct.

How?

[Thomas Klemm]

(02-27-2015 11:09 AM)Gerald H Wrote:  How?

Little Used part of Forum Software

TL;DR:
Use the button.

[Sanjeev Visvanatha]

I had one overlay sit for about a year before using it. Some of the key tops had inadequate adhesive and required a spot of adhesive under them when placed on the calculator.

[Don Shepherd]

(02-27-2015 12:17 PM)Thomas Klemm Wrote:  

(02-27-2015 11:09 AM)Gerald H Wrote:  How?

Little Used part of Forum Software

TL;DR:
Use the button.

thanks Thomas, I had thought that that button was used only to complain about a thread, but I see you can specify why you are "report"ing it.
Don

[MarkHaysHarris777]

(02-27-2015 08:27 AM)Gerald H Wrote:  Can anyone realistically assess the shelf life of the glue in unused overlays?

If they were hermetically sealed (or at least stored in a good plastic air-tight baggie with moisture and oxygen reducers, probably years. I think we may have had the same thought; purchase a few extra sheets from Eric now (in case they are rare later) knowing full well that the calculator is going to out-live the labels. I'm going one step further than that... I'm making 'several' units which I plan to store in a cool dry sealed environment hopeful that at least one of them will survive into old age with me (assuming of course that I survive into old age with me)


i am also working on moving forward with a design that will not require HP, nor Eric's labels.

Having said all of that... the enemy of the vinyl label is oil. The oil from your finger tips (hair) &c will weaken the gum. If you keep your hands clean and dry when using any fine instrument it will last longer. (don't smoke around your calculator; smoking destroys calculators and smoking destroys humans) Keep the calculator out of the sunlight, or any bright lighting frankly, and when possible keep it in a cool dry place (avoid dust, moisture and oils). I make sure my calcs have a zippered case where they are reliably and religiously stored when not in use. Hey, before I play my guitar, piano, flute or clarinet I was my hands and thoroughly dry them. I consider my calculator a fine instrument too (clean dry hands are essential, especially if you want your Eric stickers to last a long time).

And after all that... these vinyl labels are similar to the vinyl labels on a Rubic's cube (if you've played with one of those before, you know what I mean). I have a couple of those that are more than twenty-five years old... you guessed it, clean dry hands.

Cheers,
marcus

[Gerald H]

(02-28-2015 07:09 AM)MarkHaysHarris777 Wrote:  

(02-27-2015 08:27 AM)Gerald H Wrote:  Can anyone realistically assess the shelf life of the glue in unused overlays?

If they were hermetically sealed (or at least stored in a good plastic air-tight baggie with moisture and oxygen reducers, probably years. I think we may have had the same thought; purchase a few extra sheets from Eric now (in case they are rare later) knowing full well that the calculator is going to out-live the labels. I'm going one step further than that... I'm making 'several' units which I plan to store in a cool dry sealed environment hopeful that at least one of them will survive into old age with me (assuming of course that I survive into old age with me)


i am also working on moving forward with a design that will not require HP, nor Eric's labels.

Having said all of that... the enemy of the vinyl label is oil. The oil from your finger tips (hair) &c will weaken the gum. If you keep your hands clean and dry when using any fine instrument it will last longer. (don't smoke around your calculator; smoking destroys calculators and smoking destroys humans) Keep the calculator out of the sunlight, or any bright lighting frankly, and when possible keep it in a cool dry place (avoid dust, moisture and oils). I make sure my calcs have a zippered case where they are reliably and religiously stored when not in use. Hey, before I play my guitar, piano, flute or clarinet I was my hands and thoroughly dry them. I consider my calculator a fine instrument too (clean dry hands are essential, especially if you want your Eric stickers to last a long time).

And after all that... these vinyl labels are similar to the vinyl labels on a Rubic's cube (if you've played with one of those before, you know what I mean). I have a couple of those that are more than twenty-five years old... you guessed it, clean dry hands.

Cheers,
marcus

Very similar thinking in the first paragraph.

2nd para is beyond my capabilities.

Thanks for the tips.

I'm 62 this year & hope my stock of calculators will last till doomsday.