uksignboards.com | Maintape application tape

Vinyl

Maintape application tape

Posted by Ewan Chrystal on 15 January 2013 at 23:16

Is this stuff any good for general use? Its the GXP550 stuff i’m thinking about

Justin Atkins replied 12 years, 8 months ago 4 Members · 10 Replies
10 Replies

Martin Pearson

Member
16 January 2013 at 02:04

Ewan, application tape is a bit like vinyl in that everyone has their own favored type & brand, sure there is nothing wrong with the tape you mentioned or it wouldn’t sell.
If you can try & get hold of a few different samples of tape same as with vinyl, try them & see what works best for you.
Robert Lambie

Member
16 January 2013 at 08:34

Martin is correct Ewan, its really a self preference thing.
Like vinyl, there’s many brands… so try some.

you will get both translucent paper and clear tapes.

personally, i hate the clear tape to work with. but it is great for alignment of multi-layer graphics and the like. just general feel, tack, tear ability, stretchy etc does my head in! 😀

i use a high or medium tack paper tape from Oracal and just works for me.
I have tried lots, stay flat, easy tear, blah blah blah… and i keep reverting back to oracal.

Do NOT just go on price… yes we scrunch it up and bin it. but a good application tape will also speed you up no end.
some, even high tack, lift/adhere to the vinyl badly.
some shear/tear in small strips very easily and take for ever to remove.
some leave stringy adhesive that needs picked off after removal… the list goes on.

as martin says, maybe ask for a sample roll around 6 inches high. you maybe lucky and get a few in to try.
Ewan Chrystal

Member
16 January 2013 at 08:49

Cheers guys. I’ll try and get some samples. As you say there is a huge amount of choice which doesn’t make it easy. All these things will take time to suss out I suppose
Justin Atkins

Member
16 January 2013 at 17:58

We use GXP550 and haven’t found anything better. Holds it’s shape well outside in damp conditions, doesn’t wrinkle on the release liner like lots of app tape does, tears well, no stringy adhesive and grips small detail graphics well. Struggle a little with low energy surfaces as it is quite a high tack.
Ewan Chrystal

Member
16 January 2013 at 19:35

Thanks justin
Robert Lambie

Member
16 January 2013 at 19:41

quote Justin Atkins:

We use GXP550 and haven’t found anything better.

What brand/make is GXP550?
Ewan Chrystal

Member
16 January 2013 at 19:46

Maintape
Robert Lambie

Member
16 January 2013 at 20:40

Had never heard of them mate, Googled it there and it appears to be "Perfect Tear" which i have heard of and tried in the past.
Ewan Chrystal

Member
16 January 2013 at 20:52

Yeah on the site i bought it from its down as Maintape PerfecTear
Justin Atkins

Member
16 January 2013 at 22:41

The Maintape GXP550 is also really good with matt and etch films. We subcontract fit for a few local firms and have convinced them to change over to this too, speeds our job up no end.