Application Tape – Whats best to use & any tips?

[Silvio Alves]

Hi everyone,
anyone have any ideas on the best application tape/paper to use for a 1150 x 2500mm decal.

I generally use the clear film type rather than the paper type applcation tape, can anyone advise me the best material to use for such a large decal?

Appreciate any help/advise

kind regards

Silvio

[valegraphics]

Hi silvo,
I try to use conform app-tape. Reason being I sell a lot of diy kits to a local company, also it lays flat on the liner very well and you get less problems with vinyl trying to adhere to the substrate and de-laminate when you’re trying to re-position more than once. I have been using metamark standard tack recently no probs yet. Hope this makes sense to you mate??

[Martin Cole]

Hi Silvio
In my opinion std med tack paper tape will be fine, as suggested conform is good. I don’t like the clear stuff personally, I was given a sample at sign uk years ago by Dorrotape I think and never touched it since, it was so long ago I can’t even remember why I didn’t like it.
As regards fitting app tape I can’t see a problem 2500 x 110 ‘big’ but
shouldn’t cause any probs. I don’t have a tape dispenser so I get my tape cut to 400mm max so I would lay graphic on the bench and apply tape as smoothly as you can trying to avoid creases, don’t normally like overlaps on the lettering but in this case unless you apply in one big sheet of tape it’s unavoidable, still shouldn’t cause problems to the fitter.

Regards

[Silvio Alves]

Hi Martin,

Thank you for the advise, I have never tried the paper type application tape, and will give it a go.

Thanks mate

Regards

Silvio

[Hugh Potter]

i use a paper tape for the most part, occasionally when layering i’ll use the clear tape, but, the reason i stopped using it as my main tape, it that i found i was stretching it as i applied it to the graphic, then within a day or two of storage, the whole thing had wrinkled up in waves, not neccessarily a prob, but it doesnt look good, and is often too strong for small text.

the last paper i had was perfect tear medium tac, perfect !!!

the paper i use now was reccomended as ‘the most popular one’, which i now know to mean probably the cheapest ! i dont like it much as the glue seems to release from the paper when it gets wet, it doesnt wreck the job or owt, but it is odd ! i’ll be going back to perfect tear when i order new.

[Silvio Alves]

Hi Hugh,

Thank you for the info. I use a good quality application tape 1clear film 50 ym which costs us a bit more, but works OK, the draw back with this is that I can not get wider than 600mm of the application film.

I thought that by using paper application film, that it would make if easier to fit such a large decal, seeing that it is easy to tear

Can you tell me where you get the “perfect tear medium tac” from?, as I am after approx 1200 wide application tape.

Thanks

Regards

Silvio

[Robert Lambie]

i use paper tape all the time… hate the clear stuff, but thats self prefference i guess. the paper tape will do the job just dandy, no worries.
i use only oracal app tape but there are many great tapes on the go…
go for a reputable tape name, the others maybe chaper but terrible to work with.

[Silvio Alves]

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the advise.

Sorry to sound dumb, where do you get the oracle applicaition tape from?

I am after 1200 wd Application tape, for this large decal (We have 4 Luton Vans and Iveco van to do), I assume that oracle will be able to supply this.

I agree, as when I first started in signage, we use to use a cheap application film, which was a nightmare to use, bubbles all the time!, since changing to a btter quality application film, it has worked well for us.

As the old saying “you get what you pay for”

Regards

Silvio

[Hugh Potter]

i buy most of my vinyl products thru vinyl corporatoin, in leicester i think, good service and nice friendly staff on the phone !! i didnt buy my recent paper from them, i just ordered it from a board supplier i use locally to bulk up an order,

i’m sure the tape is available wider than 600, i actually bought my first supplies (red/white/black and clear tape) from a local roadsign makers, they only used clear so thats what i bought, they sliced a 1200 roll i half, so unless its no onger made then it should be available ! i have a part roll left so will have a look to see who makes it.

[Robert Lambie]

oracal app is from europoint display mate, click on the advert on home page to get contact details.

[Lynn Normington]

we use paper app tape, perfect tear(at the moment) you can get it in 1220 usually buy a log and have it cut in half as we mostly use 610 vinyl.
Don’t like clear app tape because it is so static when it’s way off your graphic your grafic flys towards it, well thats what I have found 😮

Lynn

[Silvio Alves]

Thank you Hugh, Rob and Lynn for the advise!

it seems that the best route to go will be paper application tape. I will be intrested in comapring it with the clear application tape.

Thanks for the contacts, will give them a go.

All the best!

Silvio

[joe weeks]

Hi Silvio,

You may want to consider using a premium grade application tape for your larger applications and here’s why:

1. It is more expensive than the regular stuff but the paper tends to be about 30% thicker.

2. The extra weight of the paper gives the decal more “body” which allows easier application when transferring large graphics. (This is really helpful if you are doing the work by yourself or outside in windy conditions!)

3. There is less tendency for the application paper to wrinkle when applying it to the vinyl and it works better through laminating machines.

4. If you are doing wet applications, the paper can absorb more fluid so when you come to remove the tape, it will come off in one piece rather than distintegrating into little pieces.

5. If your customers are applying the graphics, it should help them to apply with less difficulty!

OK that’s my 2p worth on premium grade tapes.

The only other thing I would mention is to try and use the lowest tack application tape to complete the job. The general rule of thumb is the larger the graphic the lower the tack that is required.

Observing this “rule” helps to prevent the vinyl coming back off with the application tape and also means you should be able pull the tape off without feeling as though you are working out in the gym.

Hope this helps 😉

Cheers

Joe.

[Silvio Alves]

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the advise, I was thinking of using medium tack for this large decal.

Once again thanks for the help and advsie. 😀

Regards

Silvio

[Martin Pearson]

I think it has pretty much all been said so nothing to add really, a good quality tape like conform does seem to be better when you are posting graphics out to a customer, it lays flat a lot better and you dont get a lot of edge curl like you do with some cheaper papers, as for Tack as Joe has said the bigger the graphics the less tack is needed for the paper. I tend to use a medium tack paper as I do graphics at all sizes and can’t afford to have a range of different tack papers.

[Silvio Alves]

Hi Martin,

Thanks for the advise, I too have limted budget and would go down the medium tack route.

All the best

Silvio

[Bryan Cabrera]

quote tech-designz:

Hi everyone,

… I would appreciate advise on the best way to apply Application tape to such a large decal.

decals easy as possible to fit, any advise would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards

Silvio

I think Rob is working on a demo for applying tape . . . aren’t you Rob 😀

[Silvio Alves]

I am sure everyone has their own method. It’s annoying when you get air bubbles when applying the application tape, use to get this problem with application tape that came with our cutter, however since changing to a thicker application tape, we don’t get this problem (Only get this problem if you are rushing – has happend a couple of times!).

I apply application by laying the cut decal on a sturdy table and then applying the tape on top of the decal. I am sure there must be easier ways to apply application tape.

It would be interesting to see how people apply their application tape. Make me wonder if there is a correct way to apply application tape.

Rob as Bryan mentioned, a demo would be great, if you have time.

All the best

Silvio

[Brian Little]

hi Slivio…..its clear for me mate …all the time i find it so much easier to use and to see your line up marks….never use paper but as always thats a personal opinion

regards brian

[Chris Hooper]

We tend to use medium tack Conform Tape from Metamark – however we are switching over to Europoint at the end of the month. No real preference or reasons when it comes to application tape – but prefer paper any time.

For bigger stuff and lots of job at a similar width we tend to use the laminating machine for applying. (since we put the guides on the machine-see Robs Tip on the boards we do not tend to run off so much) This way we do all the masking up for the day kinda production line process.

[Martin Pearson]

Its very easy and cheap to make yourself a dispencer for applying application tape, makes the job really easy if you are working on your own. Do a search on the boards as this has been talked about before and a couple of people who like me made their own posted pictures.
Mine is just a plywood frame (sort of box shaped with an open front) with a broom handle running through it and a jubilee clip either end to hold the broom handle. My work bench is just over 4′ wide so I made it this width so I could use it from either side of the bench without having to move it. Turned out to be a better idea than I first thought because it will take a roll of application tape at 1220mm wide, something I haden’t thought about to much as I usually use 610mm. The bench is about 4mtr in length but I am able to tape up graphics much longer than this with ease on my own because I have worked out a way to do it.
Simple to use, just lay the graphic on the bench, pull the application tape off the roll, check its all square and lower the end I am holding on to the graphics. I use my hands to smooth it out working from the centre of the graphic outwards towards the dispenser. Cut the tape with a knife then use a squegee to finish off.

[Silvio Alves]

I will have a look at the dispenser design on the site, as this would be of great help.

Have to admit, we have used clear application tape as it is a good way for the client to view his graphic, as a number of our clients tend to want to fit the decals on themselves.

It suits us to a point for the client to fit the decal, the only worry we have, is if the client is not certain how to fit the graphic and makes a mess attempting to fit the decal. IF other people view the graphic they will probably think that we supplied and fitted the graphic. We have been lucky to date, but it does concern me.

It takes a long time to get established, but it is very quick to loose your reputation.

We tend to do allot of decals for motor-sport clients, as my business partner is involved with motorbike sprints, motocross.

I find applying the application tape the worst part as it is so easy to mess it up.

Thanks for your opinion’s.

Kind Regards

Silvio

[John Simpson]

Silvio,
if you don’t have time to make your own you will find that Victory Designs sell a ready made one for 610 mm.
I bought mine from them a few years ago before i realised how easy they would be to make your own, i think somewhere around the £70 mark.
Must admit we would be lost without it.

L J

[Silvio Alves]

Thanks John,

Will check it out