Tesa Tape

[TAZ]

Hey guys,
Anyone ever use "Tesa" tape (I believe that is the name). I got a roll of 1/4" for demo purposes and really liked it (I since then have requested their 1/8").
For the past month, I am having an absolute terrible time with 3M's 1/8" blue plastic tape. The tape "pulls" on all the flames "ovals". I *never* had this problem before. It seems almost like 3M has changed the adhesive, or the tape may even be bad. The glue just comes right off the tape and stays on the surface of the paint, and I don't mean letting it sit overnight, I mean within a minute or two.
You talk about frustration.

It's not from stretching or pulling the tape or the base from not being dry. I have went through enough rolls to know this.
It's been so bad, I am doing all work in 1/16" fineline tape.
In a way, this is great because I can do very tight corners, the downfall is that I can't use automask to mask up the graphics. The 1/16" is to narrow to work with. You also can't see the beige color through the semi transparent auto mask.

The store I buy my tape from said a local restoration place was complaining about the same thing. So possibly it could be bad tape (or old)

Any ideas?! Anyone else noticing this?

Thanks for the help!!!!!!!!
Scott

 

[rex]

The last few times I used 3M 1/4" it sucked.I only lost a little glue on the base (and I was pushing it hard playing with colors on a test panel for my scooter).Today I grabbed a new roll to outline a door handle rubber and it would want to come loose constantly from the time I started tacking to the second coat of basing.I redid it and it was fine till the end,so it could have been me.There's a very good chance this area got a bad run though.I haven't heard of Tesa,but the other painter tried some Norton blue and liked it.Haven't myself yet

 

[ezrider]

I think i have a bad batch of 1 1/2 inch 3m tape at work. i just cant get it to stick like it normally dose and its not "tearing" right

. i always use the 1/8 green crape fine line by 3M for out lining all of my flames and graphics, i find that it bends a lot nicer than the blue tape, never had any problems (knock on wood )out of the ordinary. as for Tesa i have never heard of it up here in Connecticut i will let you guys know if i hear anything further on the subject

 

[Painter]

Hey Scott, I quit using the 3-M blue for that very reason and went to the Norton blue instead and had no problems yet, have used about 80 rolls of the Norton so far. The Tesa tape i don't like seems to leave adheisive behind if it is left overnight and is a bugger to get off. If your looking for cheap tape Intertape seems to work pretty darn good for the money, sticks good and no residue left behind. Did you get a chance to try that new 3-M Trizact 3000 yet? or the new compound glaze in the green labled bottle. Does seem like 3-M goes through some spells of letting bad batches get out of their plants, if your getting bad tape get ahold of your 3-M rep and have him replace the bad stuff heck i do it it all the time and don't have any problems with my rep taking care of the bad products, providing there is a rep taking care of you!!! and don't forget to ask what he's got in his van for samples ( they always have a bunch of stuff ) . My rep knows he can't even walk in the door and i'm on him like flys on you know what

But remember Scott chepest is not always bestest

 

[kevsLX]

I am having the same problem with the 3M 1/8th inch blue tape, it's leaving alot of glue on the surface and pulling away on inside radiuses. Seems like the first roll I went through was great, but every time I buy a new roll it gets a little worse, and was awful on the last roll I bought.

The Intertape stuff (just the palin white crepe stuff) does seem to work good. My uncle works at the plant here in town and gave me a case of it. It leaves zero residue.

 

[TAZ]

Thanks for your replies. Looks like 3M better retest their tape adhesive.

I also have a rep I can talk to that I knew from the dealership, I will get with him, and find out what is going on.

At least I have a few alternatives I can check out. I still like the 1/16" for very tight curves (for flames). Would be nice to find some 1/16" non beige tape (preferrably bright blue, bright green...). Think I will check out the Norton first.

If anyone else having problems with the 3M blue plastic tape (mainly the 1/8"), feel free to post your comments.

Thanks again!
Scott

 

[Jim]

I'm on my 5th roll of 1/8in. and have the same problems,pulling in the ovals,you can forget leaving it overnight.the first two rolls worked great though.I'm working in air condition so I don't think it's heat or humidity related.It seems to stick better if I don't stretch it so much.Scott,let us know what the rep says!

 

[JAMMINJ]

I WAS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE 3M TAPE. THE GLUE IS LIKE GREASE. IT WONT STICK IN THE OVALS AND WHEN IT DOES IT LEAVES A TRAIL OF GLUE . I USUALLY BUY MY TAPE LOOSE, BUT RECENTLY I HAD TO GO TO NAPA FOR IT. NAPA SELLS IT IN A PLASTIC PACKAGE. I FOUND THAT EVEN THOUGH IT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME TAPE (3M 1/8" FINELINE BLUE PLASTIC) IT SEEMED TO WORK 100% BETTER. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS JUST A COINCIDENCE OR IF THE PLASTIC PACKAGE PROTECTS THE TAPE FROM THE ELEMENTS. I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE MY FINDINGS WITH ALL OF YOU.

 

[rex]

There is something to leaving tape exposed to air and humidity.Throw a roll on the bench for 2 weeks and then compare it with a fresh roll.What a difference.If it's masking tape,don't get much water or solvent on the older stuff.Holy cow all the glue wants to stay,just like it sat in the sun for a few days.

 

[JAMMINJ]

MAKES SENSE TO ME. I THINK I'LL STICK (NO PUN INTENDED) TO THE PACKAGED 1/8".

 

[Art]

WOW! I thought I was the only one with this problem. I'm going to try the norton brand. Thanks...

 

[rex]

Nope,you're not the Lone Stranger.The Norton works great.I have a pile of the 3M I need to use up but only if I can lay and pull it within an hour or so.What a shame from the leader in tape.

 

[trucolor]

Scott , i went through alot of that blue "crap" tape. I stopped using it because of the same problems of the glue pulling off. i went back to good 'ol 1/8 and 1/4 masking. True the lines arent as clean as the blue but atleast it dosent pull back after 30 seconds........

 

[TAZ]

Thanks for all the replies on the 3M tape. Hard to believe how 3M could let a think like this happen. Haven't used 3M blue tape for a few months now. Only their 1/16" or Tesa 1/8". Would like to try the Norton tape. Seems to be a favorite.

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[sw engineering]

Anybody have a part# for the 1/16 Norton tape? I'd like to give it a shot, I've also had the same problems with the 3m blue as posted. I've been using 3m #218 1/16 but it likes to pull too and does not radius cleanly like the blue.
Also,what color is the Norton?