haumana

Is it the app tape or is it the vinyl?

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Hey guys! Long time no lurk.

I'm back because I have something going on and need some advice - I wanted your thoughts on whether I need to get new app tape or new vinyl (or both).

I'm having an issue that the vinyl isn't releasing from the app tape to the surface. The surfaces vary between, a side of a car, mirrors (glass), painted aluminum substrate, clear plastic poly jars, etc. I've tried using clear tape (Oracal and R-Tape), and paper tape (Oracal). Issue seems to be the same - the vinyl will stick to the app tape, but won't release from the app tape to whatever it needs to be stuck to. It doesn't seem to matter what size the decal is, or what color I'm using (various ages of the vinyl, etc.).

What are your thoughts and recommendations. I just want it to work, and work the with minimal effort.

Thanks guys!!

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Hey, I would try a medium tack app tape to see if that helps.  I always use paper

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5 minutes ago, Dakotagrafx said:

Hey, I would try a medium tack app tape to see if that helps.  I always use paper

Shoot - I should've mentioned that the app tapes I have are medium tack.

What is the shelf life of the app tape and vinyl, kept in a even climate of about 75-85 degrees? I'm just a hobbyist so I don't get a chance to turnover inventory on the app tape or vinyl too often.

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back when I was buying a few plotter and supplies I know I had some that was 2 years old that was fine - my basement is like the perfect humidity and temp for storing it.  now days it never gets near that old before I run out.

just made another trip to the rocks in September - didn't have a Leonards where we was though.  We was a few waves to the East this time :)

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19 minutes ago, haumana said:

Shoot - I should've mentioned that the app tapes I have are medium tack.

What is the shelf life of the app tape and vinyl, kept in a even climate of about 75-85 degrees? I'm just a hobbyist so I don't get a chance to turnover inventory on the app tape or vinyl too often.

Usually the vinyl has a 2 year shelf life from what ive read before, But it depends on hows it stored and area conditions in the room .........But i have vinyl thats just over 2 yrs and works flawless. Same with my App tape,I use the greenstar app paper tape.  My temp is the same as you, But i keep mine  in a enclosed cabinet.

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6 minutes ago, Dakotagrafx said:

back when I was buying a few plotter and supplies I know I had some that was 2 years old that was fine - my basement is like the perfect humidity and temp for storing it.  now days it never gets near that old before I run out.

just made another trip to the rocks in September - didn't have a Leonards where we was though.  We was a few waves to the East this time :)

Hey Scott - too bad you missed out on Leonard's this time around. Shoot - I could've sent you to where they had their malasada trucks at different strip malls (much, much shorter lines). The waves were up for the last year or so, so hopefully you got to have some fun in the sun!

Most of my vinyl is 2+ years, almost all Oracal 651. Some colors still cut and adhere totally fine, some not. I guess when I start to see some shrinkage on the roll, it's probably time to dump it. It's just so painful to buy vinyl here since options are either expensive, or very limited.

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1 hour ago, haumana said:

Hey Scott - too bad you missed out on Leonard's this time around. Shoot - I could've sent you to where they had their malasada trucks at different strip malls (much, much shorter lines). The waves were up for the last year or so, so hopefully you got to have some fun in the sun!

Most of my vinyl is 2+ years, almost all Oracal 651. Some colors still cut and adhere totally fine, some not. I guess when I start to see some shrinkage on the roll, it's probably time to dump it. It's just so painful to buy vinyl here since options are either expensive, or very limited.

I totally understand hating to throw out the vinyl - if it is adhering fine maybe find a lower tack app tape  = I know when I had all the extra app tape the older it got the more aggressive the adhesive was so maybe just a fresh roll of 4075 rla might help

We was on Maui - did the road to Hana (holy crap) and drove one other day visiting beaches etc,  but was a short stay this time so hung around the resort also was labor day weekend so everyone was camping on the beeches .  was having bronchitis issues and didn't get to snorkel but did a test of scuba in the pool to "test the waters" so to speak.   Did find an amazing food truck few miles north of Kaanapali.    

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19 hours ago, Dakotagrafx said:

I totally understand hating to throw out the vinyl - if it is adhering fine maybe find a lower tack app tape  = I know when I had all the extra app tape the older it got the more aggressive the adhesive was so maybe just a fresh roll of 4075 rla might help

We was on Maui - did the road to Hana (holy crap) and drove one other day visiting beaches etc,  but was a short stay this time so hung around the resort also was labor day weekend so everyone was camping on the beeches .  was having bronchitis issues and didn't get to snorkel but did a test of scuba in the pool to "test the waters" so to speak.   Did find an amazing food truck few miles north of Kaanapali.    

I will bit the bullet and buy a new roll of paper app tape. I like clear tape, but it doesn't seem to have as long as shelf life at the paper. I was just trying to figure out if it was the adhesive on the vinyl or the adhesive on the tape that was the culprit - although, now I'm thinking it might be both, since I don't get the chance to turnover my inventory that often.

Road to Hana ... you are far braver than I. I have been on the road in decades, and don't feel the need to - unless I have to. Hahaha. Boo to the bronchitis! How was the vog when you were there? I hope that it wasn't too bad. I love Kaanapali! Any chance you made it to see the sunrise at Haleakala? It's a once in a lifetime thing.

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think the app tape will help 

wasn't any vog the entire week that we were aware of - should have done the sunrise but found out about it too late - a friend said it was spectacular.  I was trying to be conservative with Stacey's leave time and had I known she took the extra Thursday off I would have insisted on her taking Friday so we could have stayed 3 more days - the airfare is the rough part so once there it makes sense to stay - just in this case she is 28 months from retiring and we did a transatlantic cruise in 2017 too and have one planned for 2018 - kind of pushing her leave time to the limits.     I just had some good sales that month and really really needed my island fix - while taking Stacey to her 3rd island

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I drove the road to Hana back in '11. Man was that fun, only down side was the wife being with me I couldn't drive like I really wanted to.  :) I was doing the speed limit or below the entire drive and she still complained I was driving too fast.

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Maybe the next fun drive should be to Waimea Canyon on Kauai. It's not as beautiful a Hana Highway, but Waimea Canyon is absolutely beautiful, and pictures cannot do it justice.

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thanks for the tip - maybe a while before we save up again but i keep the tips in the back of my head as one never knows when or where they will travel to - and Kauai is the last of the islands I was to that stacey hadn't been to yet.  wishing we was going somewhere warm as the October 2018 transatlantic looks to be in the mid 50's for a good part of the trip, but it is new territory.   you can do the rome to san juan 12 day in 2018 (one we did in 2017 for $470 pp and they give you a $100 onboard credit.
Had a a couple of sets of people from Hawaii on the last trip one elderly lady (pretty sure her and her daughter were from the big island) was Soooooo sweet - loved the casino and seemed to have a great time even though she had to have the wheelchair - was happy to see her doing something she liked and getting around with her daughter.

Glad to see you back - wish I had made contact before Maui :)
for the newbies - Haumana is OG from the earlier days of the site and was a great active member.   I LOVE keeping in touch with some old timers from those days.
 

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bit the bullet - grabbed another roll of paper and clear, medium tack.

HALLELUJAH! :D

Releases like a champ! I didn't realize how aggressive the adhesive got on my (not so) old rolls until I laid out the new rolls. HUGE difference. It's such a crying shame to waste all that app tape, but I have absolutely no use for tape that just gives me a migraine. :lol: The paper tape is more forgiving than the clear, but sometimes I do have clients, and they do request clear.

Thanks for the input guys!

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use the old stuff for paint mask when you repaint the house :)   I had a roll that was too aggressive and liked to tear while I was unrolling it - threw it in the trash and after the feeling of wasting left I was much happier :)

inner peace and happiness is the ultimate goal

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