What tape? Blue tape, Purple tape, Gorilla tape, Silicone tape, Green tape, ...

[Ross Manning]

... Double stick tape, Duct tape, Yellow tape, Masking tape, Insulation Tape, Foil tape, tape, tape, tape, ....

What tapes do you find are the minimum shop essentials for the blended woodworker?

Why so many colors for masking tape, and which ones do we really need?? Is there really much difference?

What brands are considered to be best for both performance& value?

How do you use tape in your workshop? Any novel uses, hints & tips??

(I'll exclude tape measures for now :D )

[Dave Zellers]

Blue tape, double stick tape. After that, the discussion becomes about width. 3/4 and 1 1/2 here. YMMV.

Duct tape is an entirely differently animal. Not that it doesn't belong in a shop, mind you. I have a drawer labeled "Tape". It contains Duct tape and all of the leftover tape I've bought over the last 40 years. And Gorilla Tape. Basically black Duct Tape.

Tape is good. When you need a roll of tape, BUY IT. Then put it in a drawer labeled "Tape"

[Nick Decker]

Like Dave, I have a whole drawer of the stuff. I think about the only one that's not in there is...Scotch Tape.

My most used is probably blue tape, followed by green (more aggressive) 3M tape.

[John K Jordan]

What tapes do you find are the minimum shop essentials for the blended woodworker?


I don't know what a "blended" woodworker is. Sounds painful.

*** My most-used tape in the shop (and around the farm and in the house):
Scotch Masking Tape for Hard-to-Stick Surfaces
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004Z4AY

I bought some when building the shop since the blurb said it would stick to brick, concrete, rough wood, etc. It does. It sticks exceptionally well to anything (except fried eggs, maybe), is stronger than most masking tape, and is bright green and easy to see, great for labels marked with a Sharpie. I keep it in three widths.

Some places I use it:
- at the lathe as extra support when jam chucking
- to hold things together during assembly, for example, while epoxy is curing
- as labels on containers in the shop, in the fridge, on jars
- to layout positions in construction: building walls, putting up shelves, shower hardware, etc
- to tape notes to UPS on the lock box outside my security gate - holds up in the rain
- to protect a surface from the point of a compass when drawing circles on finished pieces
- etc

*** I like this double-sided tape to hold jigs and things in place, for example on the bandsaw table. One use is to hold cloth-backed coarse sandpaper to the miter gauge to prevent slippage when processing green wood into turning blanks. This tape is very thin, clear, sticks incredibly well, and is either temporary or permanent depending on how long you leave it. I bought a 6-pack.
FastCap T20034 134; x 5039; Speed Tape
https://www.amazon.com/FastCap-T20034-5039-Speed-Tape/dp/B006SJIA0Y

*** I use the good cloth-based double-sided tape from WoodCraft to hold things to a faceplate on the lathe and to hold wood, plastic, and metals to the milling machine table. That stuff is amazing, far better than carpet tape. Not cheap.

*** I keep various widths of gaffer's tape on hand - cloth-backed, great adhesive - sticks well but is removable without leaving any residue. Widely used in the film and video industry. Most is black but I also keep a roll of white and grey for labels on tubs and such. I get the good stuff the industry uses, not the cheap, thin stuff.

*** 2" wide aluminum foil tape. One great use: I put a few inches on the lathe bed or workbench to mix small quantities of epoxy. I sometimes leave with the epoxy residue to monitor the curing of the epoxy in the thing I'm gluing. (For this purpose I pull up the tape from the surface before it cures while the "puddle" is still flexible.)

I also keep blue painter's tape, various duct tapes, clear packing tape for shipping things, and a bit of Gorilla tape. I don't use all of them often but I consider each one essential at the time I need it.

One problem is how to keep all these tapes instantly accessible without digging in a drawer or box. My method: put screws in the wall and hang the rolls.

388501

JKJ

[Nick Decker]

I like the tape storage solution, John. As usual, you post something, I slap my forehead. :)

[Grant Wilkinson]

In addition to the lists so far, I'll add:

Slippery tape for jigs - http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=32182&cat=1,110,43466,32182

Hi friction tape when I want the opposite of slippery - http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=32184&cat=1,110,43466,32184

[Jim Becker]

I keep several widths of blue painters' tape in the shop for general utility...including clamping small items...generally 3M brand. I do have "gorilla tape" and some other things, but they are used more for non-project related things, such as quick fixes. And, of course, I have foil tape for work on DC ductwork.

[John C Cox]

I actually use blue tape more foe holding stuff than for masking paint....

3M #233 green automotive masking tape - for gluing the bindings on guitars. It's actually pretty "springy" and stretches a bit... The paper and adhesive is also stronger so it holds better.... The down side is that you may have to warm it to prevent pulling wood fibers. It's also super handy for gluing small, flexible trim pieces onto wood projects. No nails, jockeying clamps, no clamp dings, no mess...

Blue tape wise - there *many* different flavors of blue tape. Use what you need for the correct combo of:
Price
Grip - generally the inverse of ability to pull out wood/paint chips and wood fibers out of the wood below
Type of paint compatibility - most proper blue tape isn't compatible with Nitro lacquer.
Design for leaving clean edges vs a little seepage around the edges
ability of the adhesive to release clean without leaving stray adhesive behind.
Etc.

so for example - you may need to use a very light grip tape on a painted surface to avoid pulling paint chips..

I also really like using the blue tape for marking removable reference/layout/markup lines and notes.. Just pull it of when done and viola! No erasing and leaving shadows of pencil behind under finishes....

I also use a couple layers of cheap miscellaneous blue tape under a layer of thick clear box tape when I mask off a guitar fretboard to crown the frets... The clear tape prevents the files from digging into the wood....

[Warren Lake]

different tapes for different purposes in masking 3M green 233 for all stuff. its used in most body shops and is better than most tapes and 3M has better but its rarely needed.

[Simon MacGowen]

No double stick tape I have used is as strong as the one Lee Valley sells. Much stronger than your carpet double stick tape for attaching patterns.

Derek Cohen came up with the use of blue tape for dovetails, a method also seen used in Fine Woodworking (forget the author's name).

I use duct tape for attaching hoses to odd size outlets.

Simon

[Bill Dufour]

I had never heard of silicone tape before. very interesting animal.
Bill

[John C Cox]

I would be very wary of "Silicone tape" unless it's specifically sold as a "Painters tape"... Silicone is the devil when it comes to finishing... It has this interesting property that nothing much sticks to it... So it leaves fish eyes and weird peeling spots all over a paint job..... The oily paint-repellant sticky residue is also nearly impossible to get off wood... So you are stuck with it once it's there...

[Carlos Alvarez]

If tape doesn't say "3M" on it (or related brands like Scotch), it doesn't go in my shop. Too many issues with crap that doesn't stick AND still manages to leave a residue also. I keep three widths of 3M blue tape on the wall for easy reach, and some green Frog tape in the other garage for painting. For me, blue tape is for holding things, not masking. I find the Frog tape better for paint, but I don't paint wood, so it's not in the shop.

I keep two kinds of duct tape on the wall for certain jobs. My favorite is the Hello Kitty tape.

388520

[Peter Christensen]

Guess I'm the only one that keeps good electrical tape in the shop. I also prefer to keep tape in ziplock bags or containers so they stay clean and don't dry out, especially masking tape.

[Carlos Alvarez]

Guess I'm the only one that keeps good electrical tape in the shop. I also prefer to keep tape in ziplock bags or containers so they stay clean and don't dry out, especially masking tape.

You know, I just realized that I do keep some in the wood shop, and never use it. Guess I'll move it back to the welding/electrical shop (my other garage). Oh, I recently added black fabric tape to the wood shop. That has been useful.

[Dave Cav]

I have TWO drawers for tape. One for the stuff I use most of the time and one for overflow. I have a roll of self-fusing silicone tape which is amazing stuff, mostly use it for electrical cord repairs. Another tape I keep handy is nylon ripstop tape. It's a staple of the backpacking crowd, kind of like very thin duct tape but it sticks amazingly well. I have used it to patch a hole in my jeans pocket and it survived a couple of wash cycles. A roll of cheap duct tape to loan to people, and a roll of GOOD 100 MPH tape for my own use. And a roll of UHMW "tape" when I need to put a slippery surface on something like the underside of the far end of my Biesmeyer fence.

[Jim Becker]

Guess I'm the only one that keeps good electrical tape in the shop. I also prefer to keep tape in ziplock bags or containers so they stay clean and don't dry out, especially masking tape.
Actually, I do too...in multiple colors. I just forgot to mention that. I use it for the obvious and also for color coding things like my CNC cutters.

[Tom M King]

Just an addition to what anyone else might have said: I end up using a lot of this stuff. It's clean release inside for upwards of two years, and more than they say outside.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/Scotch-Tough-Duct-Tape-Outdoor-Painter-s-Clean-Removal-Tough-Duct-Tape/?N=5002385+3293369434&rt=rud

[Ross Manning]

Thanks for the responses so far - keep them coming!!

Blended woodworker - (will it blend?!?!) my term for someone wo is neither a pure "Neanderthal" or a pure "Normite" (i.e. uses both hand tools & power tools in the workshop)

Silicone Tape - a.ka. self-amalgamating/self-fusing/self-sealing tape - many brands e.g. https://www.permatex.com/products/adhesives-sealants/specialty-adhesives/permatex-self-fusing-silicone-tape/ Many uses. I don't think it will be an issue for finishing, as it's likely used for different jobs than masking/blue tape & so won't touch surfaces being prepared for finishing.
'

[Jim Morgan]

I'll put in a plug for packing tape - glue won't stick to it, so it is useful for wrapping clamping cauls.

Re self-fusing tape: some one (Derek Cohen?) had a tip a while back about wrapping wooden clamp handles for extra grip - worked wonders on my 1st generation Bessey bar clamps.

[Ross Manning]

It seems that many people are using blue tape for general woodworking tasks such as marking, light clamping, masking etc.


A few seem to mention using green tape (is it stickier??).


I have seen the following in the big box stores, with prices significantly different within the one brand:

Masking (White/Beige)
Blue
Green
Yellow
Purple
and even Blue-Platinum



Is this just a marketing ploy to "sell up" or are there real differences?

Are tapes other than blue & green useful for us in woodworking?

[Dave Zellers]

I'll put in a plug for packing tape - glue won't stick to it, so it is useful for wrapping clamping cauls.

Precisely! Good one. About a month ago I finally went upstairs (basement shop) and brought down a full roll of packing tape and put it in my tape drawer specifically to use on my cauls. It will stand up to multiple glue-ups. You couldn't get Titebond to stick to it no matter how hard you try.

[al heitz]

BLUE tape - masking surfaces from finishes, glues; banding and clamping; any place I don't want sticky residue; marking/cutting dovetails; on cut lines on plywood, melamine, etc. to prevent ragged edges when sawing;
MASKING tape - ID and label parts and jars of anything;
TWO-SIDED tape - holding parts together while routing or scroll sawing multiple layers of stock, etc.; keeping parts in place (aligning tiny hinges and other parts while starting screws, tacks, etc.)
CLEAR PACKAGING tape - over patterns when scroll sawing; over and under cut lines when cutting plastics with scroll saw (acts like a lubricant and prevents kerf from fusing back together).

[Tom Bender]

My favorite tape comes packed in small strips with a patch of fabric in the center.

It is infused with magic.

[John K Jordan]

A few seem to mention using green tape (is it stickier??).


Don't make the mistake of judging tape by the color. There are vast differences between different brands of tape with the same color. For example, the green tape I mentioned earlier is nothing like the green tape I bought at the big box store.

Perhaps do what I did. Buy one roll each of a variety of tapes. Try them. Decide what you like best for various tasks.

Some of the colored masking tapes I got were not much use in the shop but are great for making lines on the carpet for activities in my kindergarten class. :)

JKJ

[Nick Decker]

The green tape I like is this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LNYE4E/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[John K Jordan]

The green tape I like is this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LNYE4E/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That's exactly the tape I mentioned earlier. I keep several widths in the shop, a couple of rolls in the house, one with my "carry around" tools for farm and house projects, and a few spare rolls since I'd hate to run out. My most-used tape.

JKJ

[glenn bradley]

Decent quality painter's tape in several widths. I find having a width to choose from more economical than one width both money and consumption-wise. Thin double stick tape; I avoid that rubbery carpet tape as it allows items to move and that is not my intention. Scotch tape; cheap and used for many very temporary quick stick jobs. In addition I have foil tape for shims, thread tape, slick tape and all that. I have a drawer at the assembly table that stores mine (mostly) out of the dust.

P.s. These are handy (https://www.tadpoletapecutter.com/)little buggers if you are looking to round out an order to meet a free shipping requirement or catch them on sale.

[Ole Anderson]

Just to confuse matters, 3M has several different versions of it's blue painters tape, although some swear by Frog Tape for painting. Oh, then there is filament tape.

[Jim Becker]

Just to confuse matters, 3M has several different versions of it's blue painters tape, although some swear by Frog Tape for painting. Oh, then there is filament tape.
Good point, Ole. I much prefer the "original", thicker version for most "shop use" things outside of actual masking for finish things. It sticks better and is stronger for small clamping operations. The other versions with the various colors coded on the blue surface are not as satisfying, nor do they stick as well as the "original", in my experience.

[Ted Phillips]

Don't judge a tape by its color. The original "blue painter's tape" is still around, but you can find similar low-tack tapes in yellow, green, orange, red, purple, and other colors. Most of these are cheap import tapes. We use a lot of the cheap stuff (we buy by the case) for marking gym floors for sports events.

I will mention that the green 3M 233 tape is fantastic stuff - even if it is a bit spendy. Like posters mentioned, it has a bit of spring to it, so you can use it to clamp joints together (like mitre corners on a box) while the glue dries. Great stuff.

One other tape I'll mention is the Gorilla Tape. It is a variation on masking or gaffer's tape - but it really, really holds well. In fact, you'll have trouble getting it to let go sometimes. For the right purposes, it is very useful.

TedP

[Andy Hokom]

I'm pretty sure I've seen people using a blue masking tape that was smooth as opposed to the textured surface on normal 3M blue masking tape. Does anyone know if such a tape exists or am I imagining it? I've looked for it but I have been unable to find it.

[Jim Becker]

The 3M tapes I have that are "color coded" blue tape are smoother than the more traditional blue tape. I prefer the latter by about ten miles for most things. I find it sticks better, honestly.