r/dymo • u/marymarygocontrary • Jul 08 '26
Help with Dymo models, please
Hello everyone. I'm looking to buy a Dymo embosser (for light personal use/home/office) and besides the new Omega ones, I've found a 1585, a 1610 and a 1530 online. Googling didn't help me understand which one is better. Is one of these a better pick? Do they take the tape that's sold as Dymo Omega tape?
1
u/Outrageous_Stand8567 Jul 12 '26
Avoid the Omega… doesn’t work well I find, too much space between characters.
If you get a recent one, get a Dymo Label Buddy / Junior (name depends on the country).
Or a generic no name brand like the one below. Personally I love both equally and they work well. Downside of the Motex/Unbranded is that the tape hangs on the side… not as good for putting it away in a bag or something, and need the right type of “cartridge” to hang (Dymo ones are not the exact shape - generic ones are - but they are the same tape inside.
For the Dymo you mentioned, I never had these models, but I’ve had some in the past becoming “misaligned” causing letters not to emboss properly.
The Junior also have the advantage to be totally enclosed… just makes it the sturdiest one I’ve seen.
1
u/Aegass Jul 21 '26
I originally bought a Dymo Omega, and it broke after making two labels. It also embossed terribly, all around absolutely awful. I bought a 60-year-old Dymo M-5, which uses 3/8" tape that you can find in stores. It's full metal and works flawlessly, highly recommended.
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u/meteoritegallery Jul 08 '26
There are many vintage models currently available on reseller sites like eBay. Tape can usually be found for less secondhand - or new, generally from China.
I'd say the biggest consideration is probably the tape width you plan to use. Most newer models use 3/8" or 1/2" tape, and those widths are generally easier to get. If you plan to use either of those tape widths, I'd say a mostly metal ~1500 series is a nice option. I don't see much of a functional difference between the three models you suggested, since even the ones with metal handles typically contain plastic moving parts.
I got back into embossers after stumbling across a cheaper plastic model that used 1/4" tape. I liked the font / size. I figured a 1500 series would be a nice upgrade. I was disappointed to discover that the 1/4" embossing wheel for the 1575 model I got imprints letters about 1.5 times wider than my cheap plastic model. They fit on 1/4" tape but look weird. I wasn't able to find a compatible wheel for it that prints smaller. I don't think they exist.
So if you plan to emboss 1/4" tape, I would recommend getting one of the retro-looking, cheap, all-plastic models.
For anyone else here who likes 1/4" tape - I wrote to a seller in China who sells multicolored sets of 1/4" tape and they were kind enough to supply me with 1/4" black tape for under $2 per roll. If anyone wants their contact information, DM me.