Filament cutting tapes, Who’s using what??

[josh morris]

ive used it, it beats cutting on vehicles thats for sure!

cant compare it to knifeless tape as ive never used it, but it does the job if used properly, but will never give a perfectly straight line and can sometimes leave a jagged edge

[Ghais Din]

quote Anthony Coats:

Hello peeps

Justb after opinions please, i us alot of Knifeless Tape “Green Fine Line” and have been told about “Wrapcut”, researched the price and found it for between £10-12 for a 3mmx 60meter role.

obviously Knifeless tape is approx 50meters and averages £30 a role, anybody used wrap cut and is it good?

cheers in advance

used knifeless then moved to wrapcut, I had to go back to knifeless,

with wrapcut, it was difficult getting it started, they recommend slitting it with a knife to start it off,but I see that as a extra step, which isnt need on the knifeless tape

[Alan Drury]

I’ve used Wrapcut, not overly impressed to be honest, not used knifeless tape but begrudge spending that sort of money. It would have to be particularly good.
Alan D

[Neil Davey]

Cost wise Wrapcut is much cheaper than Knifeless but is more difficult to use. I agree with Ghais. I don’t like the fact that it does leave jagged cut on occasion, usually when you really don’t need it!! What I don’t understand is why the tapes differ so much in price as the only difference I can see is the placement of the cutting fibre on the tape itself.

[Simon Worrall]

That jagged edge is usually just distorted vinyl. A quick blast with a heat gun after you have pulled out the green tape will make it straight again before pressing it down.
Simon

[Anthony Coats]

Cheers for the feedback guys, I use Knifeless Tape day in day out, just never used Wrap cut, sure it has its place in applications, was just interested as noticed it was about £20 a role cheaper.

Many thanks

[Robert Lambie]

I have used…

* Knifeless Tape – (Green Tape)
* Wrap-Cut Tape – (Red or White Tape)
* Fineline Tape – (Blue Tape)
* "Home made" type fine-line tapes

All work well and get the job done. Every one of them has pro’s and con’s and at the end of the day it will be down to your own personal preference.
Of all the above, as a sign, vehicle graphics and wrapping company. I personally prefer “Wrap-cut” tape. It does exactly what I need it to do and at a fraction of the price. Till now, this has been good when staff use the tape as if there is an endless supply! i.e. i paid nearly half the price of my knifeless tape and got more than double the amount on my roll of wrap-cut.

Approximate Price Guide
* Wrap-cut Tape (red) = 120 metre per roll – £18-£22 each
* Wrap-cut Pro Tape (white) = 46 metre per roll – £9-£12 each
* Knifeless Tape (green) = 50 metre per roll – £30-£38 each
* Fineline Trim Tape = (blue) 32 metre per roll – £4.50 [Not a filament tape)

Knifeless Tape is heavily promoted in the wrapping industry and most versatile cutting tape of them all. It comes in various versions which are all good and serve a purpose, but in my opinion, they are aimed more at the American wrap market for freelancers "without" a vinyl cutter. This tape will never replace a cutter, it’s simply not good enough.

Wrap-cut will only bend in one direction, but will cut at right-angles.
Knifeless tape bends easily in both directions, but will not cut right angles.
I have watched many people using both tapes, some that actually use the stuff daily. Yet do not do it right leaving stringing vinyl whisp cuts when it should be clean.

Knifeless has a thinner softer tape because the filament string has to cut through the tape AND the vinyl. Once cut, you need to remove the remaining half of the tape from beneath the vinyl media.

Wrap cut filament string separates from the tape and cuts through the vinyl only which I find gives me more a consistent sharp cut. Once cut, you’re done… because it does not leave any tape below the media, like knifeless does.

Both tapes can and occasional do snap.
Both tapes have a knack to using them properly to maintain a clean cut.

Fineline-tape or similar tape, is simply a thin tape with low tack adhesion. You apply it to areas you want to cut. Then apply the wrapping film over the tape. Then using a sharp scalpel, trace-cut the wrap film on top of the fineline tape which you will see is embossed beneath the film. Once done, peal out the fineline tape from below the media edge and re-apply. I think old school wrappers and the like prefer this method as it pretty much guarantees a clean cut and in some ways easier to use than either filament tape.

Personally, I have found instances with both fine-line tape and knifeless tape where I think could lead to a warranty fail should there be a media fail. (more on that in a blog video to follow)
What do I use? I have all three in my toolkit, but primarily I prefer wrap-cut tape, but as I said at the start, just my opinion and will be down to the individuals self-preference like any other tool.

If I am brutally honest, I will also cut directly onto the paint work with a new blade with almost zero pressure. :yikes:

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