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Building Tips and technical articles. => Paint and finishing => Topic started by: Paul Smith on January 12, 2013, 03:38:36 PM

Title: No more English masking tape.
Post by: Paul Smith on January 12, 2013, 03:38:36 PM: I went out shopping for some basic blue 3/4" masking tape and found that it's off the market. I tried both Home Depot and Meijer's Thrifty Acres. All they have is French tape, 24mm, 36mm, 48mm, etc. I need 3/4" and/or 1" to do the stripes on the tails. Tomorrow I will search Acco & Harbor Freight for some old stock. America has really become a third world country.
Title: Re: No more English masking tape.
Post by: Mike Keville on January 12, 2013, 05:01:07 PM: Go to Ace Hardware. They have what you need. (At least they do here in Tucson.)
Title: Re: No more English masking tape.
Post by: Avaiojet on January 12, 2013, 05:45:16 PM: Quote from: Paul Smith on January 12, 2013, 03:38:36 PM
I went out shopping for some basic blue 3/4" masking tape and found that it's off the market. I tried both Home Depot and Meijer's Thrifty Acres. All they have is French tape, 24mm, 36mm, 48mm, etc. I need 3/4" and/or 1" to do the stripes on the tails. Tomorrow I will search Acco & Harbor Freight for some old stock. America has really become a third world country.

Paul,

You use masking tape for painted edges?

Charles
Title: Re: No more English masking tape.
Post by: Mike Haverly on January 12, 2013, 06:12:58 PM: I noticed the same thing the other day. Maybe it is an effort to get in step with the rest of the world! Pretty much everyone else is metric.

I don't ever use the tape as it comes off the roll anyway so size really isn't relevant. If you look close, really not that close, you'll notice the edges are rough. You'll get a lot cleaner edge if you lay it down on glass or a cutting pad and cut the size you want with a razor blade. I have cut pieces as small as 1/16" for some applications.

I think that is why Charles asked his question.
Title: Re: No more English masking tape.
Post by: Paul Smith on January 13, 2013, 07:11:22 AM: Yeah, I used to buy 3M (a Minnessota company) tape and used it to put 3/4" or 1" stripes on my planes. Sure, I could buy 60mm tape or shelf paper and cut it to size, but it was handy to be able to buy the product ready to use.

I hate see my country treated as a fringe market, not worthy of it's own products. The packages are even labeled in some mumbo-jumbo with English in fine print. This is what I would expect if I shopped in Quebec.
Title: Re: No more English masking tape.
Post by: Paul Smith on January 13, 2013, 11:47:03 AM: Well, I struck out at Acco - all French already.

Warren Pipe & Supply still had a few rolls of American tape mixed in with the new foreign stuff. I snapped 'em up like they were the last packs of Twinkies and Ding Dongs.

I hit pay dirt at the all-American bastion and supported of Stunthanger, Harbor Freight. They still offer six-packs of 1" tape.

Do you every watch Barrett-Jackson? What am I bid for the car with a 427 (or 409 or 454) engine? 2 litter? Don't even bother.
Title: Re: No more English masking tape.
Post by: Randy Powell on January 13, 2013, 07:05:32 PM: I bought 4 rolls of the high end blue painter's tape about 3 weeks ago from Lowe's but haven't looked since.
Title: Re: No more English masking tape.
Post by: larry borden on January 18, 2013, 05:32:18 PM: Last time I used the 3M blue tape, it pulled the paint up with it. I use the green tape that you can get a Finishmasters, or any automotive paint supplier. I also get their blue plastic tape for masking curves.