Double-Sided Tape

[Dr.Al]

Can anyone recommend a good low-tack double-sided tape, available in wide widths?

For this sort of application, I currently use 48 mm scotch blue masking tape: one piece on each of the parts to be joined and then superglue on one side and superglue activator on the other. It's a bit of a faff and I get through a hell of a lot of masking tape. I've also read the MSDS of the superglue activator and I suspect it would be better to get through less of it than I currently do!

The double-sided tape I have at the moment has an adhesion strength similar to superglue, so I'd never get stuff apart if I used that.

Ideally, I'd like something with an adhesion strength similar to masking tape on both sides of the tape.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Roll the masking tape into a tube and use that?

 

[vmaximus]

Toolstation do a 50mm wide double sided tape.

 

[fixerupper]

Tesa tapes do a massive range of tapes ....

 

[optima21]

I use double sided tape on top of masking tape if I want to be able to remove it. only use it on small items though

 

[Dr.Al]

Roll the masking tape into a tube and use that?

I want it to be a consistent thickness and well held all the way across the width. This would also halve the width of the masking tape and I'd get through just as much as I do using two layers and the superglue.

Toolstation do a 50mm wide double sided tape.

Is it low-tack? Have you used it?

Tesa tapes do a massive range of tapes ....

Any particular suggestions?

I use double sided tape on top of masking tape if I want to be able to remove it. only use it on small items though

I guess that would work in a similar way to what I'm doing at the moment with the superglue. Not sure what benefit it offers over what I'm doing at the mo though (except for not using superglue activator I suppose).

 

[hotponyshoes]

Screwfix do a cheap carpet tape, maybe only 50mm wide?
It's not that sticky.
It says something like "easily removed for upto 6months" on the packet

 

[tflnemesis]

I though superglue activation could be done with water?

 

[Dr.Al]

Screwfix do a cheap carpet tape, maybe only 50mm wide?
It's not that sticky.
It says something like "easily removed for upto 6months" on the packet

Sounds promising - have you ever used it before? I'll have a look.

I though superglue activation could be done with water?

It can; the activator's just a bit quicker.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Yes, I have used it to hold rubber matting against the walls of horses boxes before trimming it.
It wont hold anything over 3mm thick vertically so it's not as strong as 20mm 3m or anything like that.

 

[Agroshield]

Possibly, you need to put 'film' instead of 'tape' into your search to get the wide widths.

Two examples that seem to have potential (and uniform thickness):

Lamination & Mount Films - Adhesive Mount Films

Polyester film or PVC coated both sides with adhesive, our mount films give protection against shrinkage. Choice of adhesives for all mounting applications.

www.colourbyte.co.uk

https://www.3m.co.uk/3M/en_GB/company-uk/3m-products/~/3M-Removable-Repositionable-Tape-9415PC/?N=5002385+3293242091&rt=rud

Perhaps send an email to 3M's technical people explaining your application and see what they suggest.

 

[Dr.Al]

Screwfix do a cheap carpet tape, maybe only 50mm wide?
It's not that sticky.
It says something like "easily removed for upto 6months" on the packet

Just looked at this again (assuming you mean this one) and I'm not sure I agree with the "cheap" designation - £5 for 7 metres makes it a lot more expensive than using my 41 m roll of masking tape (even when you divide that by two as you have to use two lengths for each join).

I've found this 50 metre one that looks really promising and a good price. Unfortunately the delivery cost is as much as the cost of the tape, which makes it slightly less appealing (and they're in Essex, so there's no way I'm popping in on the off-chance I can buy in person and save the delivery cost!).

At the moment, I think this 25 metre one is probably the best bet: works out as 44p per metre compared to 71p per metre for the screwfix one. Still more expensive than the masking tape (which works out at about 30p a metre assuming you use two layers and don't factor in the cost of the superglue). The NEC labelled stuff linked above is cheaper per metre if I buy two 100 metre rolls (works out as 30p a metre), but if it doesn't work I've just wasted £30 (including delivery).

Decisions decisions...