Official Luthiers Forum!

What is a good masking tape that won't pull up wood fibers from spruce?
I wish I would have asked this question earlier before taking a few small pieces from the side of my spruce top. I have to pore fill a walnut rosette, and mask around it, but would like to avoid tear-out. Thanks for all suggestions.

I wouldn't bother with taping, just fill the rosette and then sand the filler off completely, just leaving it in the pores. But in general I have used lots of different tapes on spruce without a problem. If you put a couple of coats of shellac on the spruce wherever you are going to tape I don't think you will have a problem with blue masking tape, strapping tape or the binding tape stew-mac sells.

Peace, Paul

Any time I have masking or other tape on a top, I use a heat gun to help release the glue ... works like a charm. Hair dryer will do the same thing. I usually also have the Lee Valley fast and easy french polish on there too (its really a padding lac though, not true FP, but works just the same).

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I wouldn't trust tape to keep colored filler off the top. If your top is well sealed with a few thin shellac coats, you will be able to sand away any filler that escapes (filling over the sealer coats). Otherwise, use clear filler.

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Thanks for the help Paul, Tony, and Howard.

Ron M.