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What is the best general Application Tape
I would like to know which tapes you all use, I have been using Conform RLA 4075 from the start and have never tried anything else. I use Oracal 751 vinyl and would like to try another brand of tape.
Is this tape a good all rounder or would I be better using something else?
I use both wet and dry application methods but only have a limited budget so dont want to have many types of tape hanging around.
can anyone suggest the best allrounder? which is easy to apply and pulls detailed graphics off the backing paper with ease.
I also struggle a little bit with the 4075 when applying layered graphics and shading because this type of tape is in some light’s a bit thick to see through.
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21 Replies
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I use Victory Designs Unitac stuff and have never had any probs with it and at the moment its on special off at £49 for a 1220 mm log and they slit to whatever sizes you want, urrggghh! I sound like a tele-sales numpty don’t I 😮 😆 well it is good stuff, I think Sparky uses it too. 😎
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hi paddy
i use oracal b-tape.. works good for me.. but everyone has their own feelings on certain tapes..it will be onsale in the shop shortly if i can jump a little hurdle i have encountered with the shop..
all will be in place shortly i hope.. 😕 -
I bought a log of Sovereign Tape from Dorotape recently.
Having previously used Conform my initial thoughts were pretty negative but now I’m used to it it’s pretty good stuff.
If the glued sides should come into contact they can be easily seperated and hence the tape can be re-used…..if your on a really tight budget..!
It lays flat, stays flat, comes off of the roll real easy and is fine for most sizes of lettering.
One thing I wasn’t too impressed with at first is the way it ‘thins out’ (?) goes a bit sloppy when used wet but the great advantage is that it becomes more transparent than other tapes I’ve used and makes lining up a doddle. (:) (:) (:)
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Like Steve, I have used Unitac from Victory for several years now and find it an excellent all-rounder.
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Yep !
unitac from Vic too 🙂
Watch them though, buy regularly & you NEVER get the special offers 🙁
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I’m sorry, but I’m pretty against the Unitac from victory as I’m a Conform user (£56+VAT a 1220 log).
The Unitac was very very sticky!! When overlaying graphics with it it instantly took grip and if it was laid slightly wrong it you had a great big crease down your graphics.
The conform RLA goes on brilliantly smooth and you can cover your graphics really well with it.
Working with it on vehicles you can lift it easily to re-position your graphic without having to pull very hard compared with the Unitac, once it’s down it’s staying there…
Conform for me…
Can’t really fault it…
Gav
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Hi Paddy,
like Martin I am now using sovereign from Dorotape comes in 1220mm log and can be cut any size, can be used many times over so should last awhile, I believe its now a big seller as they called and asked for my opinion (for what thats worth!) they will also send you a sample, give it a try.
Sorry that I,ve not been around much lately been very busy, glad to say,so I,ve got dozens of things on the boards to catch up on.
So much to learn but whenever I do come on I always learn loads
Thank you ALL
Regards
Rocket (Mike) -
We use perfectear… I was just thinking about it today…We were doing multi layup in inlaying large text and the tape seemed very ‘papery’ (if thats a word???) It kept ripping where I was holding…Wet or dry…It doesn’t normally do this..But today it did it on every size…every time
Does anyone else use perfectear…Have they changed anything…Cause it seems different…. -
I’ve used it, it came from Amari…
I agree with yourself Mark, it Tears perfectly – when you don’ want it too..
Also very thin…
This Dorotape, has anyone got a supplier for it??
Gav
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I never use papertape, although I have Conform here if a customer wants it.
We use Polytape FP Clear forb everything, I have tried many different types of clear tape but find this is the best. We buy it from Spandex here, it originates in Germany.
I got into clear tape as we did so many multi layered jobs, and generally applying is much quicker. have never used the hinge method that so may use with paper.
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Gav
Dorotape 01858 431642 – £63PER LOG 1220MM x 91.4m
ask for a sample roll!
The best thing about it is it does not curl or stick to itself and comes off the roll easily
cheers
Rocket -
We have been VERY successful with TransTec premask (a Spandex brand)…in just a few short years it has displaced a LARGE portion of what was our leading brand. Good, all-around product – very attractive pricing (in Canada, anyways….don’t know about in GB…but you might want to sample a roll and enquire about pricing).
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Conform is the only one we use…tried others. Conform rules!!!
(hot) -
Conform 4075 user here also.
Works great dry, even better when used with water.
Rod
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quote Henry:have never used the hinge method that so may use with paper.
So Henry, which method do you use???
Gav
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I never rely on vehicle outlines, although I think they are a great help in presentation etc and have 3 different versions/manufacturers.
I measure a job when it comes in if it a vehicle, or large sign, mark everything with blue or white Stabilo, other colours particularly red leave stains.
If its a long piece I normally lay up one corner/side on the line and then move out down the line, and because clear tape is abit more rigid you can easily flip it up and repostion, and of course see your markings through it.
Its not that easy to explain, but its not rocket science either 🙂 As a one man shop I find I work much faster like that, and although the clear is double the price of the paper, I think I am more efficient with it.
I have tried many clear tapes and paper, its just the way i work.
Magnus is coming in later today maybe we can take some pics.
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Henry, I’d love to see how this is done as I think there are better ways to align vinyl prior to laying it down.
Gavin
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We also use nothing other than clear tape. Hexis 662 (I haven’t got my books handy).
The marks can clearly be seen, more pressure can be applied when using the squeegee which can then be removed quicker if more graphics need to be placed. it is ideal for shadows and intricate designs, no registration marks are needed. If we are extremely busy with lots of signs we can leave it on overnight with no hard pull or difficult removal the next day.
Being stiffer it is easier to handle and even when wet it keeps its shape.
Customers also love it when being supplied with self install graphics as it makes things so much easie for them.Keith
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Keith,
Do you not find that it stretches and shrinks very easily??? I applied a job with clear app tape and let it sit for a few hours, by the time I cam back it was all rippled as it had shrunk. I had to physically tack one end of the vinyl and stretch the other when I was applying to get it to line up with the below text…
Gav
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Still haven’t had time to take any pics in action, but I can take some of the different types of Clear tape we have here and have ´tried, I think it amounts to about 6 brands with Polytape being the best (German I think). Or it could be the same as Keith has from Hexis. If I take some close pics you can compare.
It saves so much time and makes the job so much easier, so its worth paying abit more for.
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Gavin, clear tape is less likely to stretch than paper tape, I dont know why the clear tape shrunk as we have never had any problems with it, mind you we have never left it on for any length of time. Why did you not remove it straight away? Even on wet applications it is far less likely to lift the vinyl back off than paper tape.
As for stretching it to line up with the text below it if the text had paper tape on then you probably stretched the paper tape without realising it when you applied it.
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