Scotch tape

I used to buy 1� tape to seal my wing/fuselage and the rest from Uline. Inside of the roll the only thing it says is 3M Scotch. Does anyone know the exact type? Thanks.

On 05/12/2018 09:39 PM, ASM wrote:
I used to buy 1� tape to seal my wing/fuselage and the rest from Uline. Inside of the roll the only thing it says is 3M Scotch. Does anyone know the exact type? Thanks.


Scotch 33 at 3/4" wide is commonly used. It's available in 1" and 1
1/2" widths if you want wider stuff.

I think quite a few of us at our field use Scotch Super 33 in white.
3/4" wide and available at Home Depot, Lowes and electrical supply places for "cheap". It sticks well, but does not tend to leave glue when removed, flexible when cold.
You can search online for that or wider widths, but the 3/4" tends to work well for normal assembly gaps.

On Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 8:39:52 PM UTC-7, ASM wrote:
I used to buy 1� tape to seal my wing/fuselage and the rest from Uline. Inside of the roll the only thing it says is 3M Scotch. Does anyone know the exact type? Thanks.

Was it expensive and really nice to use? If so it may well be 3M 483 Polyethylene Tape. Wings & Wheels used to sell it years ago but it got too expensive so they stopped carrying it. I still buy it from Uline despite the cost because it works so well. It comes off very cleanly for one thing. It's also easy to work with around more awkward curves though that isn't a factor with the wing gaps and control hatch on my ASW-15.

On Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 8:39:52 PM UTC-7, ASM wrote:
I used to buy 1� tape to seal my wing/fuselage and the rest from Uline. Inside of the roll the only thing it says is 3M Scotch. Does anyone know the exact type? Thanks.

See FS: Gap Seal Tape posted on May 5. May not be as good as 3M tape but it is very good for the price.

Steve

I use the Scotch tape for everything except the wing roots. I find that the Scotch tape, in that long length, shrinks too much over a couple of weeks and pulls itself into the gap.

For the wing roots, I use Bowlus 1" wing tape sold by Cumulus Soaring (and possibly other vendors).

Lou

Thank you. That is the one.

On Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 8:39:52 PM UTC-7, ASM wrote:
I used to buy 1� tape to seal my wing/fuselage and the rest from Uline. Inside of the roll the only thing it says is 3M Scotch. Does anyone know the exact type? Thanks.

I have used 3M 35 tape in the past. It was considered to best for going around a radius.

What are the most flexible/stretchy tapes? I need something to tape the gap around a small, teardrop-shaped fairing with a fairly sharp bend. Currently there are two pieces of tape that overlap at the front and back ends but I'd like to wrap one piece all the way around. It will stay on for the whole season so not concerned about leaving a residue.

Chip Bearden

On Monday, May 14, 2018 at 3:31:46 PM UTC-7, wrote:
What are the most flexible/stretchy tapes? I need something to tape the gap around a small, teardrop-shaped fairing with a fairly sharp bend. Currently there are two pieces of tape that overlap at the front and back ends but I'd like to wrap one piece all the way around. It will stay on for the whole season so not concerned about leaving a residue.

Chip Bearden

The anal-retentive way to do that is to cut custom shapes on a vinyl film cutter. Tweek the shape in Adobe illustrator or Corel draw or whatever and test by handcutting paper printout and then cut then just any sign shop can cut that film for you. Some fancy pants glider repair shops have their own film cutters and turn out lovely bellcrank fairing tapes etc.