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That's the whole question - tape looks a lot easier than surgical tubing - but, is binding tape somehow superior to painter's masking tape?

Thanks.

I really liked the bright green 3M masking tape, but I can no longer find it.

I've started using strapping tape. It works, but it's not the same.

Geoff

The binding tape is a little thicker and a tackier adhesive on it than the masking tapes (brown, blue, green), works well as does straping tape. Those are the two tapes I've used.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Yes, regular masking will not hold or adhere on bindings/purflings anywhere close to the brown SM tape. It is worth every penny.

Mike
White Oak, Texas

Speaking of tape, I used strapping tape for binding and upon peeling the tape off the top, suffered some pulled up fibers from my cedar. Is there a trick to using this brown tape which sounds like it is even "tackier" than the strapping?

Pete

PS Sorry for hijacking your thread Jimson. Pete Harrington38867.9143402778

So Hesh, you have a lab AND a shop in your bathroom now? Cool!

SM's binding tape is a big step above the usual stuff. The 45 degree thing works for me too, plus I peel slowly, keeping the tape I'm pulling on close to the top. And I "follow" it closely with my other fingers as I pull. Hadn't thought of heat - good idea.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I'll Bear with you Hesh!

Great tip on the hair dryer at 45 degree BTW, i kind o love that brown plastic tape they use for parcels, should i keep on usin' it guys?

I use the fiber tape, and on tops heat with a heat gun to release - leaves the wood where its supposed to be.

Hard to buy tape from SM when a friend brings me a half case fo the fiber stuff every once and a while !!

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

The big thing I notice is the heaver paper will not stretch as masking and painters tape will. This is critical to holding the binding tight. The adhesive is tackier but many high-grade painters tape would hold enough but I have not found one that will not stretch.

Yeah,The brown stuff from Stew-Mac is very,good for this particular job and the old heat trick works very well for removing it.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

I agree - the brown Stewmac tape is great! Just did two guitars with it, one with herringbone purfling - it has the strength to pull the herringbone tight and hold it. Like some other folks, I wash coat with shellac to help mitigate fiber tearout.

-Mark

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Pullman, WA

The more I know, the more I know I don't know.

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I love the brown tape... and now the rest of my family has discovered its merits for other household uses.   

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I used it (and Harry Fleishman uses it) to glue the two top pieced together (and the two back pieces), glue the top and the back to the sides, and gluing the binding/purfling on. No other clamps, etc, necessary.

After Using the brown Stew-Mac tape, and ending up with a gooey mess, I tried this tape that is listed here in the OLF resources link. IMO this tape is awsome! CA barely sticks to it, and clean up is much easier.

Jeff

I have used the Binding Tape (brown/stewmac)on cedar, engleman and sitka. I am with Hesh on the angular pull off, also another tip, peel the tape from the hardwood side first, up over the binding/purfling edge and then angular pull easily off the top.

Never tried the tape on joining plates together, I use the Cumpiano (sp) type wedge jig. Might try it some time, thanks for the info.

Never had any residue left behind on the brown tape, also I have never used a heat gun, but might if it gets stubborn.

Mike
White Oak, Texas

I fold 1/4" of the end on to its self on the top end so that I have and easy lift tab to start the pull. I have never pulled out any fibers of the top. One time I did get some CA on some and pulled of till I got to the stuck point and then carfully scraped that off.MichaelP38869.386400463