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Vinyl

is application tape suitable for long term storage?

Posted by Richard O on 29 November 2007 at 21:08

Hi Guys,

Am cutting some vinyl popcorn signs for a friend – he wants 3 different types, 200 of each to use as required over x period of time – the last lot he got from somewhere else and it took him 3years to use them and he complained that it was hard to remove the lettering from the backing tape.

God I have trouble after a week

Question: Is it possible to to store them that long without being hard to remove – if so what backing tape should I get – also what is considered long term and what is the ideal time to apply lettering after applying the application tape.

ps:I use Rtape At42RLA Clear – Medium Tack for our vehicles and I just use our suppliers Medium Tack paper application tape for misc jobs

Regards

Rich

Richard O replied 17 years, 12 months ago 5 Members · 9 Replies
9 Replies

John Childs

Member
30 November 2007 at 01:27

It’s always gonna be a problem Rich.

Even removable promotional vinyl will take on permanent qualities if left on for that period of time and I’ve no reason to suppose that the adhesive used on application tape will behave any differently.

Sorry, I’ve not got an answer for you, but perhaps someone else will.
RobStone

Member
30 November 2007 at 09:07

Rich,
If you look at the specifications, some grades of application tape are designed for long term storage. I think that they are the thicker paper tapes with latex (not acrylic) adhesive. Your customer should store the graphics away from heat – and out of sunlight.
Regards,
Rob
Richard O

Member
30 November 2007 at 10:37

Thanks guys,

I spoke to my friend today and suggested that he just get them as he needs them, but he doesn’t seem concerned – he reckons that that he is used to getting them off.

So as long as he is happy, why should I be unhappy

Regards

Rich
Shane Drew

Member
30 November 2007 at 12:23

Rich, the higher grade clear tapes are designed for long term storage, but they are talking perhaps 6 to 9 months. After that, its unknown territory, but as has been said, away from heat should give you maximum life, but 3 years may be a tad too long 😉
Peter Dee

Member
30 November 2007 at 15:42

Unless I’m reading this wrong, he complained sufficiently about removal so as not to go back to that supplier.

So in 2-3 years time he will be complaining about your products.

What’s the big deal in just ordering 50 or so at a time ?
Richard O

Member
30 November 2007 at 19:11

Peter,
I agree but people tend to find it hard to get out of old habits anyway he already complains about my products – every time he comes over for a BBQ there’s never enough to eat or the beers to warm ect ect but he keeps coming back so enough said.

Shane – what tape do you use for your every say stuff – the Rtape At42RLA Clear – Medium Tack I use tends to be hard to separate ie; doesn’t pick up the letters cleanly even after a couple of hours – should I go up to Hi Tack – I wouldn’t have thought it necessary here in Sydney

Rich
Shane Drew

Member
1 December 2007 at 00:01

Definitely hi tac Rich. Humidity is the cause for it to lose grip, so a medium tac will let go quicker.

Only time I use medium tac is on large letters (150mm or bigger), but so as not to carry too many products, I usually buy hi tac and use it on everything.

With our high humidity here in SEQ, I’ve had medium tac app tape come off the job in the 20 minutes it took me to get onsite.

Even really high humidity days, I’ll apply the app tape on the day I need to do the job. If you’ve ever done a job that appears to go on well, but when you remove the app tape you see heaps of bubbles, it can be caused by the app tape ‘letting go’ to the vinyl before you get a chance to fit it. You’ll get this typically on hi humidity days (that includes rainy days too)

Thats also why its best to outwardly roll up your job when you transport it, and also never loosely fold the job over itself in storage.

I use Transperite Hi tac in paper form, or Rtape hi tac in clear form. I have been toying with the idea of buying the new digi app take too, especially for protecting prints on transit.

Hope that is of some help to you mate. Sorry to ramble on….
Shane Drew

Member
1 December 2007 at 00:02

quote Richard O:

– every time he comes over for a BBQ there’s never enough to eat or the beers to warm ect ect but he keeps coming back so enough said.

Rich

sounds like we have the same friends too 😛
Richard O

Member
1 December 2007 at 09:22

Thanks Shane,

That explains a lot of my problems, I’ll use the Hi Tack from now one (I always thought my suppliers assigned Rep was just a snake oil salesman – it is the beady eyes that give him away 🙂

Yep my mate is your typical Aussie friend but unfortunately like the
in-laws your stuck with them

Rich