Please Help which double sided tape?

Im new to CNC routers and while I'd like to eventually get a vacuum table right now I need a way to hold down the small pieces. Tabs just aren't always the answer & I went to the local hardware store and purchased some carpet tape but I have a couple issues with it.

If I'm doing detailed cuts I'd need to cover the entire area with tape and that can get expensive, and it has a tendency to gum up the bit. Sometimes it is really hard to get the tape off.

Does anyone have any tape they have purchased in bulk that is a little cheaper even if it's from Amazon or eBay?
Has anyone used transfer tape / pre-masking tape from the sign industry on the bottom of the job then doubleside tape to that?

Thanks in advance
Gary

A trick that a lot of people use is to put blue tape on both the part, and the table, and super glue them together. It works much better than double sided tape.

I use golf club grip tape, which is a two sided masking tape.

What is the price difference between carpet tape & golf club tape?

What glue are they using?

Thanks

The best two sided tape for holding parts in a CNC is "SCOTCH 3M 401M"
It's as thin as masking tape, but has adhesive on both sides!
Sells for $29.99 /36-yards x 1" wide, on Amazon

I have tried 2 brands of carpet tape, which hold well, but if you don't remove it quickly, it tends to come off in small pieces. Some of the tape I've tried from HD was grippy but was really stretchy and broke apart when I tried to peel it off.
I'm sorry, I just have a tough time buying $30. rolls of tape but using that stuff is sweet.. 3M's stuff is reliably high quality product, but they also know it. I'm going to try ger's super glue tape combo. Forgot about that one.

What I don't like about Carpet tape is its spongy and too thick! In order to hold a 12" square piece of wood, it must be perfectly flat and requires long pieces of tape to get a stable piece to machine at higher feed rates!
With the 3M tape, I use a 1"x1" piece in each corner, and put a 2nd or 3rd piece on top of one to make it flat! Then I hammer it down to the machine top, and carve away! Note, none of the tapes will work on MDF, so I usually put an aluminum or plastic spoil plate on the table first!

So $30 = 432 1"squares, or 100+ parts @ $.39/part :)

I often use Scotch Adhesive Transfer Tape. It is really thin, most grades are around 1.5 mil, It is usually applied with a gun but can be applied from the roll if you are careful. It is used a lot by paper crafters, picture framers and artists so can be easily be found in stores that cater to them. It retails for about $10 a roll but you can get easily find it online for around $6. I would suggest trying a roll and if you like it, getting the gun (Scotch ATG 700).

bob

Shure-Tape DF 65 is smooth

Shure-Tape GG 200 is crepe paper

Only problem is they sell it by the box at about 13 bucks a roll. Best stuff I've ever used. And it doesn't leave any gummy residue.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by warrenb

Shure-Tape DF 65 is smooth

Shure-Tape GG 200 is crepe paper

Only problem is they sell it by the box at about 13 bucks a roll. Best stuff I've ever used. And it doesn't leave any gummy residue.

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Warren,

Where do you get the Shure-Tape? Sounds like something I could use.

Mark

Thanks, I found 3 rolls on eBay of the DF65 for $14 a roll but at least I didn't have to buy a case.

Thanks again

I buy it direct from Shurtape. I don't know if there are retail outlets for their products.

Thanks Warren. I'll check them out.

Mark

I got mine in the mail yesterday & tried it out last night & it worked great thanks

Amazon has Shurtape DF-65 for about $11/roll, and Spectape ST501 for about $15/roll, if you're Prime they're both free shipping. I still have a good supply of the double stick tape my local laser shop guys gave me so I've never used the Shurtape or Spectape but they both look like they'll work pretty good.

David

I use the mitee grip tape that requires a heat gun to get it to come off