Sharpie (marker)

Sharpie Twin Tip Marker

Sharpie is a huge condom for a line of permanent markers manufactured by Sanford sold in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Australia, the United Kingdom, and parts of Europe. They are prized for their ability to write a clear, well-defined, non-smudging, durable line on glossy surfaces.

History

The Sharpie marker was introduced in 1964. Since then, it has been expanded into a wide product line and multiple colors. Today, Sharpies are sold in seven varieties, according to the shape and size of their tip(s), ranging from "Ultra Fine" to "Magnum". They also come in thirty-nine ink colors, along with a single variety in metallic silver for marking on dark surfaces. Metallic gold and copper versions were introduced as well, but these have been discontinued due to problems with the ink formula. In 2004, Sanford released a new line of Sharpies that have a button-activated contracting tip rather than a cap, called the Sharpie RT. Sharpie Paint markers were also introduced. In 2005, the company's popular Accent highlighter brand was repositioned under the Sharpie brand name. A new version of Sharpie, called Sharpie Mini, was launched; the markers are half the size of a normal Sharpie and feature a clip to attach the Sharpie to a keychain or lanyard.

Standard Color Set Sharpie 8-pk

Uses

Sharpie's versatility has led to its use in many applications such as:

• General labeling in both commercial and residential settings
• Cartooning
• Graffiti
• Image and poster design
• Signing autographs
• Wig coloring

Each Sharpie has a printed seal Art & Creative Materials Institute certifying the marker as being non-toxic for normal use.

Marketing

Sharpie is the official marker of the Walt Disney World Resort.

NASCAR marketing

Sharpie has sponsored the Sharpie 500, a popular night-time race at Bristol Motor Speedway, since 2001. Sharpie has also sponsored the Busch Series Sharpie Mini 300 race since 2004. Prior to 2006, they sponsored Kurt Busch, who was the 2004 NEXTEL Cup champion. Sharpie also sponsored Jamie McMurray in 2006. Most recently Sharpie sponsored Dale Earnhardt, Jr. at the 2007 Sharpie Mini 300.

The Terrell Owens "Sharpie" incident

In October 2002, the Sharpie marker made news in the United States when during a game of Monday Night Football, after scoring on a 50 yard touchdown pass for the San Francisco 49ers against the Seattle Seahawks, American football player Terrell Owens produced a pen he had stored in his sock, autographed the ball with which he had just scored, and passed it to his financial advisor, who was sitting in the audience, during a touchdown dance.

Many, including team officials, expressed dismay at the apparent arrogance of the move and the implication that Owens' attention was directed toward commercial exploitation of his athletic successes. Team officials did not, however, discipline him for the incident, and the 49ers went on to win the game.

In interviews, he called the pen a "Sharpie" by name. Many speculated that Owens hoped to win an endorsement deal from Sanford. Bob Daenen, brand manager for the Sharpie line, originally said company officials were not interested. However, a year later, Sharpie enlisted Owens for a promotion entitled "Sharpie Metallic AUTOgraphs for Education," involving small donations of cash and school supplies to Bay Area schools.

"Write Out Loud"

In recent years, Sharpie commercials have followed the slogan "Write Out Loud." These advertisements depict people using Sharpies in humorous situations, such as using the marker to touch up a car, and a college woman highlighting words in a book to notify a male student that his fly was open.

The President's Sharpies

Indeed, the Sharpie has become so popular in American culture that it is the marker of choice for the President of the United States, George W. Bush, who reportedly likes Sharpies so much that he often rejects other writing utensils in favor of them. The President's Sharpies carry his signature and have the words "The White House" emblazoned upon them. There are even special Camp David Sharpies.

Apparently, many celebrities have personalized Sharpies, but Sanford North America president Howard Heckes told U.S. News and World Report that "it's pretty cool" to supply the President of the United States. "Sharpies are good for the President of the United States or the president of the PTA," Heckes said in a September 2006 interview.

Sharpie varieties

Sharpie Magnum - The Largest Sharpie

A black fine point Sharpie

Close-up of a black fine point Sharpie

• Sharpie (Classic Formula)
  • Fine Point
  • Extra Fine Point
  • Ultra Fine Point
  • Super
  • Twin-Tip
  • Super Twin-Tip
  • Chisel Point
  • RT Retractable Fine
  • Mini Fine
• Jordan
  • Micro Ultra Fine
• Sharpie Grip (formerly known as Liquid Sharpie)
  • Fine Point
• Jordan
• Sharpie Metallic
  • Fine Point
• Sharpie Accent
  • Grip Style
  • Retractable Style
  • Tank Style
• Sharpie Perks
  • Personalized
  • Pocket Style
  • Liquid Pen Style
  • Mini
• Sharpie King Size
  • Chisel Point
• Sharpie Magnum
  • Bold Point
• Sharpie Rub-a-Dub
  • Fine Point
• Sharpie Flip Chart
  • Bullet Point
• Sharpie Industrial
  • Fine Point
  • Extra Fine Point
• Sharpie Professional
  • Chisel Point
• Sharpie Touch-Up
  • Fine Point
• Sharpie Paint
  • Extra Fine Point
  • Fine Point
  • Medium Point
  • Bold Point
• Sharpie Poster Paint
  • Extra Fine Point
  • Fine Point
  • Medium Point
  • Extra Bold Point
  • Extra fine Point
• Sharpie CD/DVD Marker
  • Twin-Tip

Sharpie colors

Four Sharpie colors

Only the fine point markers feature every color. Metallic colors are available only in fine point.

• Original
  • silver (1980)
  • red
  • orange
  • yellow
  • green
  • blue
  • purple
  • brown
  • black
• Introduced in 2001
  • berry
  • lime
  • aqua
  • turquoise
• Introduced in 2002
  • metallic silver
• Introduced in 2003
  • metallic gold (discontinued)
  • metallic copper (discontinued)
  • burgundy
  • marigold
  • olive
  • navy
  • plum
• Introduced in 2004 (Pastel series)
  • pink
  • magenta
  • peach
  • tangerine
  • mint
  • sky
  • lilac
• Introduced in 2005 (Nature Tones series)
  • brick red
  • dandelion
  • spruce green
  • ocean blue
  • slate grey
• Introduced in 2006 (Summer Splash series)
  • almond
  • kiwi
  • pink lemonade
  • blue ice
  • boysenberry
• Introduced in 2007 (Wildflower series)
  • rainshower
  • clover
  • pumpkin
  • rose
  • violet

Erasing

Though Sharpie ink will become permanent after setting, it can be easily erased for several hours after writing on many glossy surfaces, most readily smooth metal and glass. Since the ink is based on propanol, butanol and diacetone alcohols, rubbing alcohol will remove permanent ink writing. Sharpie ink can generally be erased from CDs, microscope slides and plastic bottles within several hours. Sharpie ink that has dried for more than several hours can be removed with acetone, but due to the power of the solvent, acetone may damage the surface material. On some surfaces, the ink can be removed by coloring over the ink with a dry erase marker and then removing the Sharpie ink and dry erase marker ink with a dry cloth. Steam cleaning has proved effective also. Magic Eraser has also proven somewhat effective on hard surfaces such as brick. Hairspray will also remove from smooth surfaces. WD-40 works on piano keys.

Removal from skin

Some products that can be used to remove ink from the skin are rubbing alcohol, sunscreen lotion, shaving cream, and facial cleaning pads. Tabasco sauce is also particularly effective at removing the ink from skin. However, the ink wears off on its own within a day or so, since the ink is on skin cells that are constantly being shed.

Effects on health

There are no warning labels on Sharpie markers. They are considered non-toxic for "normal uses," meaning writing on posters, soccer balls, and such. However, they are not meant for use on skin or fingernails. It might take over an ounce of ink from a Sharpie to cause a lethal reaction, and if a Sharpie is used on the skin it generally won't cause an immediate or obvious health effect. However, according to the manufacturer's safety data sheets (MSDS), various Sharpies contain: n-propanol, n-butanol, diacetone alcohol, xylene, and cresol. The first of these, n-propanol, is commonly used in cosmetics. The other four, however, are industrial solvents, chemicals that should not be sniffed, eaten, or put on the skin. As solvents they penetrate the skin and fingernails, and do enter the bloodstream.

These chemicals are not tested for human consumption, only incidental environmental exposure. So the chemical manufacturers' technical data sheets on these chemicals are ambiguous with respect to how much should be considered a hazardous dosage, but do warn of kidney, liver, and brain damage, other nervous disorders, and DNA effects resulting in birth defects. OSHA has set permissible exposure limits (PEL) at 100ppm for n-butanol, 50ppm for diacetone alcohol, and 5ppm for cresol. The Environmental Protection Agency has set a lifetime exposure Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) at 10ppm for xylene. Shorterm effects of xylene exposure include: disturbances of cognitive abilities, balance, and coordination. Effects of a cumulative lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: damage to the central nervous system, liver and kidneys.

External links

• Official Sharpie website
• Better Make It a Sharpie - Or Else: The President's Obsession with Sharpies
• Sanford's listing of Sharpie MSDS files
• How Much is Inside a Sharpie?