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I use that stew Mac paper tape. I guess it's ok. Is there any other useful options out there?

Mike

I have found nothing better myself

Same here. I've tried fibreglass tape, but prefer the brown binding tape.

Steve

Plain old masking tape here...

Hmmm. Well, ok then. Ordering more.

Filaments tapes; glass, polyester or nylon (probably in descending order of tensile strength, if that's what you're looking for). If you round over the outside corner of the bindings a little (as well as the inside one) before you bend them, the edge won't sever the tape until higher tension.

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I like the filament packing tape because I use CA glue for the bindings, and the paper tapes soak up more glue and are harder to remove,
Mike

I use the filament packing tape too. Nothing works better IMO


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It's the filament tape I'm interested in. Anybody got a brand/model number etc?

I did learn the trick of round over (both in and out)

I just finished using this binding tape that I picked up from Lee Valley.
http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.a ... ,110,43466

I found it to be quite good, it's got a bit of stretch, unlike the paper tape so it doesn't seem to break as easy, and clean up works well as I didn't have to heat the tape to remove it.

Like masking tape but stronger.

Cal

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I use the 3M 2060 green tape for hard to stick surfaces. The stuff is great. It stretches and really puts some pull on the bindings. I have never had any lifting of fibers with it either. It sticks quite well, and peels up leaving little residue. Any left can easily be cleaned off with NAPHTHA.

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Looks like 3M 233+. I got some but haven't tried it yet. Feels like it has pretty good action. I think I paid $5 or 6 for it.

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Pat

I use masking tape from the local Auto shop. The stuff I use has some stretch to it, some types do not (which I find pretty useless).

Tape should be a function of what glue one uses for bindings. Paper Stew-Mac tape works great for me with Titebond. If I was a CA guy, and I'm not.... I would be using strapping tape.

The Performance Green 3M from the paint supply works good. I have to agree that the SM binding tape works the best. We use it for other applications as well -- it's pricey, hope to some day discover the manufacturer.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

I got the recommendation to use filament packing tape from Staples as it is a cheaper tape with inferior adhesive. Plenty strong for binding work, but less likely to peel up fibers from the top. It has worked great for me,
Mike

I use the plain blue painters tape and double it.

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Years ago, mario proulx suggested clear tape that we use for hockey. Keeps the shin pads in place. We buy in bulk every season. Cheap, strethches, good adhesion. Have used nothing else since.
landrover

If probably love the paper tape more if it had fibers. I think the non-stretch aspect is important. Plus it works great with tite bond. Then again, fibers would mean tearing off pieces would be a bigger pain.

It's good to ask these questions time and again. Thank you

Why is non stretch important? I prefer tape that has stretch to it. I'm not saying that other types won't work but I don't really see what stretch has to do with it.

You want the tape to clamp securely in the position you put it -- if it can stretch the bindings may move, exactly what you don't want to happen when persuading wood bindings to match along the back contour.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

Can't say I've ever had that problem. You can stretch it two ways, down/across the side and across over the Back or Soundboard. It pulls in both directions.
You press the strip of tape onto the (rounded) edge of the binding with the thumb. With your thumb remaining on the tape you pull (stretch) the tape down the side, then pull (stretch) the tape across the soundboard. It shouldn't need a huge amount of stretch, just enough to keep it in place. A good 80% of my bindings are in Ebony and it's pretty inflexible wood.