Darryl Keil Last Activity 2025-09-09 11:09 AM
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Tom Hirsz

 
Subject : Clear plastic tape for seams
Posted : 2006-04-22 4:23 PM
Post #33002
Is there any reason to not use "Scotch" tape for taping of veneer joints? I have had excellent results with the 3M brand but it seems too easy.


 
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Euan

 
Subject : RE: Clear plastic tape for seams
Posted : 2006-04-23 1:40 AM
Post #33003 - In reply to #33002
About five years ago I was introduced to using 2" clear packing tape for veneering by a vastly superior woodworker. It works superbly, applies quickly, stretches to pull seams tight and removes without a trace. I use Intertape brand. No name brands from Office depot etc. don't have the stretch or tack and they leave glue behind.


 
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Don Stephan

Posts: 825

Joined: 2003-07-18
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

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Subject : RE: Clear plastic tape for seams
Posted : 2006-04-24 1:10 PM
Post #33005 - In reply to #33003
I use 2" clear packing tape only to hold veneer in place on the substrate while positioning in the vacuum bag. I am using the Staples brand, and find that if I don't remove the clear tape immediately it is very hard to remove from the veneer and tends to lift grain. I stopped using masking tape for this when I thought I was seeing some ghosting after sanding, as if the thickness of the masking tape had compressed the veneer slightly. Based on Euan's input, I will look for the Intertape brand.

I am quite satisfied with paper tape for veneer seams and wouldn't try clear plastic tape for this.


 
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warrensnow

 
Subject : RE: Clear plastic tape for seams
Posted : 2006-04-29 9:27 AM
Post #33015 - In reply to #33005
I use the least expensive brand of 2" clear packaing tape from Staples. I haven't used the Intertape brand, but will try it to see if it leaves less/no residue behind.

My process is to use 1" blue painters tape (3M is best) to pull seams snugly together on the back (glue) side of the veneer sheet. Then I turn it over and run 2" clear packing tape along the seams and press it down with a wood roller. It also helps to brush away any dust from the veneer just before taping. Then I remove the blue tape from the back side, and the sheet is ready for glue up. Be sure to remember to remove the blue tape as you don't want to glue up with it in place.

After the piece has been in the press long enough for the glue to sufficiently set, I go in and remove the tape by carefully pulling it off from side to side. Do not grab and rip as you may easily remove veneer remnants with the tape. I then reseal and vacuum the bag for the remainder of the normal time.

The least expensive packing tape is best because it is the thinnest, and least likely to imprint on your piece. If the tape is left under pressure too long, it may leave an adhesive residue behind, but I've never had a problem getting it removed in sanding.


 
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Don Stephan

Posts: 825

Joined: 2003-07-18
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

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Subject : RE: Clear plastic tape for seams
Posted : 2006-04-29 6:35 PM
Post #33016 - In reply to #33015
Guess I'm getting even slower in my approaching old age, but what is the advantage of clear packing tape instead of paper veneer tape for seams? Regardless of the tape used, sanding is necessary. The sanding is going to remove the veneer tape and adhesive residue anyway, whether the tape is first wetted and removed or not. Blue tape on the back and plastic tape on the front is more expensive materials usage and more time consuming. Plastic tape more likely to lift veneer grain. Opening the vacuum bag and removing plastic tape before glue fully cured has to stress the glue joint behind the seam. When I put down cross-seam straps, I'm losing sight of only 3/4" of the seam, so there wouldn't seam to be a need to better visualize the seam during taping. And if the seam is that bad it should be corrected anyway, regardless of the tape used. So what's plastic tape offering in advantages?


 
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gary

 
Subject : RE: Clear plastic tape for seams
Posted : 2006-04-30 6:20 AM
Post #33018 - In reply to #33016
I was shown the clear packing tape method for veneering. Again as in all the posts use the cheap stuff, you want something that stretches, this helps "pull and hold" your seams. I "stitch" accross the seams every 4 - 5 inches then run a solid piece of tape down the seam. As to removal I like to let the pieces "set up" overnight before removing the tape. As in the other posts when removing the tape an som veneers particularly The Mahoganies and like species you can get pulls on the grain. I now use a good quality heat gun to remove the tape... no grain pulling and almost no adhesive residue. Also you don't need to "tab" the clear tape( the vacuum bag makes it very difficult to "catch" an edge of the tape. As opposed to the gummed paper veneer tape, you don't have to moisten the tape for application, you don't have to moisten the tape after pressing for removal,you dont have to scrape and you never have "ghosting" of the perfs in the paper tape.


 
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Tom Hirsz

 
Subject : RE: Clear plastic tape for seams
Posted : 2006-04-30 8:52 AM
Post #33019 - In reply to #33018
The reason I have stopped using paper tape is ghosting. Sure it sands out, but not easily! Some of my pieces have needed lots of sanding which is ridiculous. Scotch tape works fine for me but I must say that I do low volume one-of-a-kind work. A roll of scotch tape per job is not going to hurt the budget. Also want to say that this plastic tape is very thin but it still leaves a slight impression. My last project was showing very faint tape marks until the 3rd or 4rth coat of finish. I will sand more next time. It was 1/42" walnut so I try not to sand much. I use Fuhr 255 w.b., 5 to 7 coats with lots of sanding between coats. It disappears by then. So do any pores.


 
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Tom Hirsz

 
Subject : RE: Clear plastic tape for seams
Posted : 2006-04-30 8:58 AM
Post #33020 - In reply to #33019
Maybe somebody could develop a simple plastic tape for veneering. One that shrinks a bit after application and leaves no residue. The British use cellophane tape.


 
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Darryl Keil

Posts: 1455

Joined: 2003-05-22
Location: Maine

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Subject : RE: Clear plastic tape for seams
Posted : 2006-04-30 10:09 PM
Post #33023 - In reply to #33020
Well, this is an interesting post for me as I have stayed away from clear packaging tape and generally recommend others to do the same.

I may have to go and do some experimentation, see if the current clear tapes are different from the ones I tried years ago.

My complaints in the past are that they pull up the grain, sometimes right down to the substrate, when trying to remove them off fibrous veneers, and getting at the corner of the tape so you can pull it off was a royal pain. I always made sure each piece overlapped the next one so once I got it started I could pull up all the tape down a seam. The heat gun sounds like a solution for tape removal although I'll have to try it to see if there are any inherent problems.

I would still question this tapes holding ability on somewhat wavy veneers as these seams require a much firmer hold because the veneer on one side of the seam is going up while the other is going down.

I do understand the hassle of getting the gum residue off with regular veneer tape but scrubbing with a sponge and water has always worked well for me. The other thing I like about veneer tape is that it shrinks when drying which pulls the seam together that much harder. No other tape does this.

When I get a chance I will do some testing and get back to everyone.

Sincerely
Darryl Keil
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