sign makers tape

[MarkinCO]

Hello.  Anybody have a source for the sign makers tape?

 

Thanks!

[Greg Mirken]

http://www.signsupply.com/Vinyl/Ap_Tape/Ap_Tape.asp

 

I get the ProTape Standard paper tape (it's not vinyl).

[MarkinCO]

Thanks.

 

Do you know the thickness of the tape?

[Greg Mirken]

Thickness? Micrometer says about 5 thousandths.

[MarkinCO]

I ask about thickness b/c I want to use the tape to protect the guitar when pulling sandpaper strips under the heel when fitting a neck. The tape I have is 0.030" thick. I think I want something thinner, but I'm a newbie neck resetter so just going on what I've seen on Dan Erlewine's instructional videos. His tape is about 0.0015".

 

Thanks for the info.

[Greg Mirken]

This is the stuff I use. I buy 6" wide rolls. You'll find all kinds of uses for it.

[Russell Vance]

I use 3M brand blue vinyl "pinstripe" tape available from Auto paint shops and often stocked by Hobby shops.   Comes in different widths from 1/16" upwards, handles curves very well, is not affected by lacquer and lifts cleanly. 

Note:  when using it with nitro or any other thick lacquer, do not let the nitro dry and harden with the tape still on - it is thin and the lacquer dries over the edge of the tape rather than "stepping" at the junction of lacquer and tape - it will tear up the edge if it has hardened.  I remove the tape within an hour or  less and it comes off a treat.  Reason is that modern auto paint finishes are ultra thin and don't go up and over the tape at the junction so they separate fine.  Rusty.

[Mark A. Kane]

Greg, how tacky is the tape you use? Is there a possibility of finish problems if left on too long? I've never used the stuff so I don't have a clue

[Greg Mirken]

I've never had any finish issues with it; it seems to be a very benign adhesive. The longest I've had a piece on lacquer is probably 5 or 6 days. Maybe FF wil chime in; he has used lots of the stuff.

[David Collins]

I used to use a sign makers tape years back for masking and heel fitting, but the adhesive certainly did leave mark on the nitro lacquer if left on more than a day. I'll have to give that Pro-Tape Standard a try, as perhaps their adhesive layer is different. Thanks!