Brady ID Pal - Review

Let’s take a step down in size and look at the 1-1/4 pound (including batteries and label tape) Brady ID Pal thermal transfer label printer. This is one of the smallest, lightest industrial label printers available.

The first thing that strikes me is that the ID Pal is promoted as “designed to be carried in a tool box”. That would be convenient, but a problem I’ve experienced with other electrical devices is that sometimes they get turned on accidentally as they are jostled in my toolbox, resulting in the batteries going dead. On the ID Pal the power button is located next to the LCD screen. A raised edge around the LCD screen protects the screen and, combined with the curved shape of the ID Pal, provides protection for the power button. While it is possible for the ID Pal get turned on accidentally, it does not appear this is likely to happen. And, if it should get turned on, the ID Pal will automatically shut off after about five minutes.

Overall Brady has come up with an excellent ergonomic design for the ID Pal. Its curved shape comfortably fits in either hand, and the ABC style keyboard is easy-to-use. For fumble fingered people such as me, it is nice to see in the specifications that it has been dropped tested in a four foot drop onto concrete.

Three types of supplies are available for the ID Pal: nylon cloth, polyester and vinyl tapes. They are available in three widths, 3/8, ½ and 3/4 inch.

The nylon cloth tape is only available in black printing on a white tape. It is intended to be used for labeling wires, cables and for use on highly textured surfaces.

The polyester tape is available with black printing on a white tape or on a clear tape. Polyester tapes are intended for use on smooth, flat surfaces.

The vinyl tape is available with black printing on six different colors of tape. Vinyl labels are for use on wires, cables, textured surfaces and for general labeling.

With a built-in library of common electrical and datacomm symbols, and preset label lengths for printing wire markers, the ID Pal has been designed with computer network, telecommunications, and other electrical installation and maintenance applications in mind. In addition, instrument technicians, laboratory workers, audio/video engineers and other users of small labels will find this machine handy to have around. The only drawback I can see is that it does not print bar codes.