Thread: Blue masking tape

One reason might be is that the adhesive on a proper blue painter's tape doesn't fully cure for around 2 weeks.
You can leave it on longer without leaving residue, and it comes off easier.
It seems to be the go to tape for all woodworking.

John I don't use the blue tape at all now .I tried it once on a fairly intricate pattern & it took ages to remove it all after I had finished cutting. My method now is to put the pattern directly onto the wood with spray adhesive .When finished the cutting I just brush on some turps & after a few minutes the pattern will just slide off,then just a matter of a wipe down with a turps soaked cloth to remove the adhesive left on the wood. Cheers Peter

I have used the green masking tape for many years with no residue problems however you have to remove it as soon as possible [two weeks] or the other alternative is to copy your pattern onto adhesive backed paper this works well but a bit pricy if used a lot.

Thanks for your replys. I have found your comments interesting. I have always used the masking tape method but I am getting sick of the tape tearing before I get the required length hence the Question about blue tape. I have always used the less expensive tapes. Not the $2 shop type. I bought a roll of narrow blue tape this morning just to see how it goes but now I'm concerned about removing it. Mind you I have always cut my work within a day or so of attaching them.

I think I will give the spray glue a go just for the sake of it. I might find it's the way to go. A friend of mine uses the spray method and a while ago he changed brands of glue. He found after a lot of trouble that the new glue was causing the paper to stretch just a couple of ml and it caused him all sorts of problems in a very fine pattern. It was when he went to join the pieces.

How heavy is the coat of spray that you use Peter and what brand of glue do you use?

Thanks again

John

Hi John The spray adhesive I use is Crafters Choice From the Spotlight store I think it is around the $15 mark. I give the wood a good covering spray & then a light spray to the back of the pattern. Cheers Peter

Well I have used blue masking tape once. I wont't be using it again. It was on the job for three or four days and this morning I removed the pattern. The blue tape had stuck far to tightly and was unnecessary for scrolling. It was just to hard to get off. Considering it's price over other tape it can stay on the shelf at my Bunnings.

John

Blue painters tape is not meant to stay on a job for more than 24hrs, it is made to go on and seal well at the edge while cutting in then remove prior to the paint drying to reveal a crisp clean edge. It is some what moisture proof compared to regular masking tape, which will not come away from a painted edge without tearing. That’s why it is know as painters tape.

Thanks Cal for this information. It is just what I have been looking for and now you have put what I found this week into words. Obviously blue has a place but I don't think it's with attaching patterns for scrolling.

John

No problems John, it’s hard to work out a solution to a problem without all the information. I am not a scroller so I don’t know of a fix other than what others have mentioned here. Good luck in your quest [emoji16]

John, I have just had another thought about what to use, a glue stick! It is fairly dry and will not penetrate the timber, it will allow you to sand the paper template off once finished too without any issues. Fast drying, should not wrinkle the paper too much. Cheap too [emoji1]
Cheers Cal

Thanks Cal for your thoughts on stick glue. I have used it in the passed but found it was lumpy and didn't work so well when attaching the pattern because of the lumps. I have just finished a job where I used Sika spray glue from Bunnings that I had on the shelf. I just put a single spray on the pattern and it seemed to stick well. I have now removed the pattern by brushing on mineral turps. The pattern almost fell off and didn't seem to leave any glue residue. but I did wipe it with a turps cloth to make sure. I think this might be the way for me to go even though the spray is a bit pricey.

Are you a wood worker Cal? If so what do you do? If you are looking at the scroll forum this might open up something for you.

John

No problems! Yes I am a woodworker, I have been building instruments of late. I have a few threads on the musical instrument section of the forum. I use a scroll saw infrequently, I am just glueing up a soundboard at the moment that I will be cutting an “f” hole for. I have traced the shape onto the timber ready for cutting out. Here’s one I prepared earlier [emoji16]

Sorry Cal. I misunderstood you thinking you were not a scroll saw person. The violin is magnificent and a credit to you. I have always had a desire to make a violin or a guitar but that's as far as it has ever gone. To late now. I was speaking to the owner of the local music store once and told him what I wanted to do. His reply was I don't have an ounce of wood work in me and I also replyed saying I don't have an ounce of music in me. I wonder what would have happened if we had got together.

Do you make these commercially or are they a hobby? Do you play them or are you like me?

John

Well I’m not really a scroll saw person (I think I did mention that [emoji16]), I just use one from time to time. It is just another tool to help get the job done. For what it’s worth, the picture is of a baritone ukulele (not a violin) I made it for one of my daughters, I have three more on the workbench as I type this. It is a hobby at this stage. If I get some interest from ukulele players I will be making more. At the early stage right now so will go where the wind blows with it. I can play a little, not very well. My musical heart is with the harmonica, I have been playing it all my life.