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Double sided tape....

D

Doug Rasmussen

Joined
Dec 5, 2015
Messages
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Location
Seattle, WA
Where do you buy double sided tape? Amazon has a variety of tapes labeled for woodworking. Prices seem reasonable.

My local Woodcraft store has double sided tape displayed in the area where their turning tools are. The rolls are 2" wide priced at over 50 bucks per roll. It's been a long time since I bought any woodworking tape but I know it was nowhere near those prices.

For machining delicate metal and plastic parts we used a 3/4" wide 3M tape. The inside of the rolls doesn't have any identification info on it and our local supplier has since closed. That tape had a precision thickness of .007" and held very well, if parts were stuck down for any length of time alcohol had to be used to unstick them. What I'd like to have now doesn't need to be the quality of the 3M stuff which was fairly expensive.
 
I have a couple of double-sided tapes kicking around, which I mostly use for “router template-like” applications. The first is essentially a “double stick masking tape” – with greater hold than many actual masking tapes, but a very similar paper substrate. The second is Spectape ST501. This has a somewhat tougher and thicker base material, and seems to have a slightly stronger hold as well. Both have worked well for me, and release without (much) fuss. I tend to choose one or the other based experience and the specific situation. If I were to recommend just one for general woodworking and woodturning use, it would be the Spectape.

The first tape is from Peachtree Woodworking Supply, and is what they list as “Intertape Double Stick Tape”. Both PTree and Amazon sell the Spectape ST501.

Last but not least, for more technical applications, I tend to dig through 3M’s documentation to select an appropriate tape. (Ask me about the time I completely tore down and rebuilt my sliding table saw’s slider to fix a delaminated linear raceway… 😅)
 
John Whitley said:
Last but not least, for more technical applications, I tend to dig through 3M’s documentation to select an appropriate tape. (Ask me about the time I completely tore down and rebuilt my sliding table saw’s slider to fix a delaminated linear raceway… 😅)
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OK, I am asking. Did you actually use double stick tape to make the fix?

Here is a lengthy thread from Sawmill Creek on a Martin T75 restoration. The guy used Loctite 330 and 7387 for the same purpose. T 75 resto
 
Kevin Jenness said:
OK, I am asking. Did you actually use double stick tape to make the fix?
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Yes, as an industrial tape is what had been used originally on this saw to fix the steel linear races to the slider's aluminum extrusion. This was also a rehab of a saw which had been (cough) lightly abused in a sign shop, relegated to cutting MDF day-in, day-out.
 
I didn't know the woodturners double-sided tape price went up so much at woodcraft. I'm glad I still have some. (BTW, for longer life I keep some types of tape in a sealed bag or plastic container.)

Sometimes use it to hold parts on the milling machine. A friend would hold large bowl blanks on a faceplate for turning and his only problem was getting it apart when done. He would inject acetone into the side of the tape with a hypodermic syringe. (He didn't know about the thin wedge trick)
 
The best I ever found was when I was building golf clubs. It is grip tape but I have been away from that endeavor for years and I don't know what is available.
 
Don't have any idea of the relative holding ability to commercial double sided tape but when in a jam it has always worked well enough for me - put blue masking tape on both surfaces and then hot melt glue on one and stick together - easy peasy
 
Erik Christensen said:
Don't have any idea of the relative holding ability to commercial double sided tape but when in a jam it has always worked well enough for me - put blue masking tape on both surfaces and then hot melt glue on one and stick together - easy peasy
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I do the same just with CA glue. Been using that for CNC work holding for a long time.
 
Erik Christensen said:
Don't have any idea of the relative holding ability to commercial double sided tape but when in a jam it has always worked well enough for me - put blue masking tape on both surfaces and then hot melt glue on one and stick together - easy peasy
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Blue masking tape is made for an easy release, much easier than plain masking tape. Plain masking tape is the stickiest, then blue, then green. Frog tape came up with the idea of adding a super absorbent material on the edges so it would swell on contact with latex paint and make a very crisp line with no wicking under the tape. I would never use it for keeping a part on anything during a machining operation. Glad nothing has flown away on you!
 
Richard Coers said:
Blue masking tape is made for an easy release, much easier than plain masking tape. Plain masking tape is the stickiest, then blue, then green. Frog tape came up with the idea of adding a super absorbent material on the edges so it would swell on contact with latex paint and make a very crisp line with no wicking under the tape. I would never use it for keeping a part on anything during a machining operation. Glad nothing has flown away on you!
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Lots of people, even professionals use it. The strength in the shearing direction is plenty strong for machining aluminum.
 
Paul Paukstelis said:
Don't knock it till you try it.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6DCvtcU8_M&t
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You tube influencers don't sway my option either. If you show me some engineering testing and actual grip numbers, then I'll believe it. Anecdotal evidence means nothing to me when it comes to safety. People have been killed from a blank coming loose. I don't want my wife to find me dead in the basement with the lathe still running.
Larry Sefton

Thread 'Let us not forget Joan Kelly's death and the lathe guarding lessons that sad event taught us.'

For those who do not know about Joan's death, here is a summary by her husband Ernest Kelly.

"Many of you are already aware of Joan's dreadful accident on May 4, 2011, but I will give a brief account: Joan was turning a heavy bowl blank on her lathe. It flew to pieces and one large piece struck her in the face and forehead causing profuse bleeding and underlying injuries to the face and skull. I found her within what must have been a very few minutes, called an ambulance, and applied a compress. She got to the hospital having lost a great deal of blood and requiring transfusions. She...
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Please remember to play nice. Treat others like you would a family member.
Richard Coers said:
You tube influencers don't sway my option either. If you show me some engineering testing and actual grip numbers, then I'll believe it. Anecdotal evidence means nothing to me when it comes to safety. People have been killed from a blank coming loose. I don't want my wife to find me dead in the basement with the lathe still running.
Larry Sefton

Thread 'Let us not forget Joan Kelly's death and the lathe guarding lessons that sad event taught us.'

For those who do not know about Joan's death, here is a summary by her husband Ernest Kelly.

"Many of you are already aware of Joan's dreadful accident on May 4, 2011, but I will give a brief account: Joan was turning a heavy bowl blank on her lathe. It flew to pieces and one large piece struck her in the face and forehead causing profuse bleeding and underlying injuries to the face and skull. I found her within what must have been a very few minutes, called an ambulance, and applied a compress. She got to the hospital having lost a great deal of blood and requiring transfusions. She...
  • Like
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Don't worry, I wasn't trying to change your opinion. As the (self-elected?) forum contrarian I knew that wasn't possible. That was just to illustrate to others that it can be a very effective method and an alternative to double-sided tape.
 
Blue tape and CA glue are like horseshoes - they work whether you believe in them or not.

I wouldn't use that method for turning anything much bigger than a thimble, but I do use it for cnc and other routing, and I do use CA on glueblocks for turning occasionally.

Carpet tape is quite effective and available locally. Keep in mind that pressure sensitive adhesives respond to pressure- clamping is a good thing.
 
Paul Paukstelis said:
As the (self-elected?) forum contrarian I knew that wasn't possible.
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That's totally unnecessary Paul. Why did you have to make it personal? This is called a discussion and that is what we were having. BUT, you had to insult me to make your point? I was an engineer for 30 years, I think like an engineer. Time for me to stop sharing my experiences here again!
 
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Gregory Hickman said:
I'm with you. The average person doesn't understand how engineers and to a lesser extent scientist think. We are definetly a strange lot and see things completely different than the average person.

Gregory
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*the following is a tongue in cheek reply...not intended in any way to be disparaging..*

As a former professional auto technician (at Ford dealership) it was common practice in the shop to see which of us techs could come up with the most creative insults for the engineers that designed some of those cars....

Such as to do a cylinder head recall on certain ford truck bodies, you'd have to basically separate the body from the frame and raise body on the lift to gain access to fix the engine.. (which was faster than the engine removal process that was originally factory engineered...)

Many's the time I could look at something designed by an engineer, and wondering "what were they thinking??" but then realizing they were not designing things to make life easier for technicians, but to line the CEO's pockets....

HOWEVER, I tend to lean towards the engineer's take on CA glue and blue tape (as well as aforementioned hot melt glue on tape - I'd never even thought twice about trying that) , insofar as expecting it to hold something on the lathe- Not something I'd ever envision doing, though the tape & Ca works well on flatwork for temporary things (like sticking a template to a board for routing) - While it (tape & glue) might hold great for shear strength, it is pretty rare that an object held in lathe jaws are going to be resisting *ONLY* shearing forces ....

- Thinking out the "what if" scenarios is generally why I still have all 10 fingers... (and toes and other body parts)
 
Richard Coers said:
That's totally unnecessary Paul. Why did you have to make it personal? This is called a discussion and that is what we were having. BUT, you had to insult me to make your point? I was an engineer for 30 years, I think like an engineer. Time for me to stop sharing my experiences here again!
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It was an observation more than an insult.

I would also point out that NO ONE has suggested that the goal of finding double-sided tape (or providing alternatives) was for holding pieces on the lathe while turning.
 
Speaking of empirical results... Mathias wadel did some awesome testing with glue and found industrial hot glue was much stronger than expected. Sooo even though I trust my double sided tape for little work on a faceplate at high rpm, I don't sweat turning a platter hot glued to a plywood plack screwed to a faceplate.
 
Charles Cadenhead said:
My dad was an engineer, I know first hand what wonder special people they are.
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My dad was a minister. He couldn't solve all the physical problems but he sure understood people problems!

Some my best friends are engineers, scientists, architects, mathematicians, doctors, (and, of course, artists). Some are multi-educated,a few with multiple PHDs. (Most retired now, as things usually go at our ages.) If I run into something I don't understand I can get on the phone with a chemist, geologist, physicist, electronics, metals, mechanical or structural engineer, veternarian, optics expert, biologist. This doesn't in the least discount my opinion of the many brilliant technical and creative people that can do almost anything.

(Sorry, I I didn't read but a fraction of the posts in this thread. If my statement offends someone for some obscure reason, get over it. It's a discussion forum!)
 
It amazes me that this discussion has lasted this long. Engineers are people that have studied engineering. There are different types of engineers structural electrical electronic etc. there are good engineers and engineers that can’t find their rear end using both hands. So stating that you are an engineer means nothing to me show me what you can do instead of telling me what not to do.
Two bicycle mechanics from Ohio built the first working air plane. It took many years and lots of qualified engineers to make the airplane what it is today.
Engineers think differently than the masses. If they didn’t nothing would get better nothing would change.
 
John K Jordan said:
Reminds me of one of my favorite sayings: "Remember, 50% of the doctors graduated in the lower half of their class." [substitute any profession]

(not exactly true, but still...)
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(Not me) I would be happy to be in the lower 50% of the smartest 2 people in 8+ billion.

Graduation means over 50% which means only 25% of students graduated in the lower 50%.

A sr. fellow on a project I was working once joked that if a jr. engineer believes they are the smartest in the room, they should walk away... If they actually are the smartest, they should run.
 
At the risk of diving into the swamp here I’ll add that having an engineering degree doesn’t mean someone has above average intelligence but odds are probably better than if you pick a random person out of a public group. I’ve been in some public meetings where phrases like “intelligent as a box of rocks” come to mind 🤣.

I’ve known some ‘not-so-bright’ engineers but the bar to earn that degree isn’t real low. On the other hand, I also know some brilliant people who got their education from the school of hard knocks…but quite a few more that didn’t take advantage of that education 😉

The way I heard JKJ’s line was “What do you call someone who graduated *last* in their medical school class?” “Dr.”

But…we’ve wandered FAR away from where this thread started…
 
So i hadn't heard of that brand abs wanted to see the cost. I told JKJ's advice and looked on the zon. They make a 100mm wide version, that's some serious glue surface for sure. I personally never saw a reason for anything larger than 25mm, need more surface, just add another strip. To each their own though.

Gregory
 
DOUBLE-SIDED TAPE is comprised of 3 components:
A CARRIER, onto which an ADHESIVE is applied to each side, and a RELEASE LINER usually a siliconized paper to protect the adhesive in a roll.
The CARRIER is key, and can be made from paper, plastic, film, foam or cloth.
I have found that two properties that are most important when double-sided tape is used in woodturning: HIGH SHEAR RESISTANCE and lack of CARRIER SOFTENING/DISTORTION, especially under heat created by friction when turning.
An outstanding tape is made by a company called BRON TAPES, BT-480. It is designed for regripping golf club shafts, and as such has excellent high shear resistance. Also, because the carrier is paper, it does not distort or soften under friction heat. In contrast, a high-quality carpet tape will not perform well since the carrier is a soft plastic, and will eventually distort under heat.
In teaching a class, my students get a chance to use this tape, and find it much better than most DS tapes available because of the two properties mentioned above.
For availability, try Ebay, or DM me for more information (jpaulfennell@bursforcarving.com).
 
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