Keep in mind most masking tapes have a 6 month useful life. After that they don’t unroll properly and tend to break. The glue causes havac with the paper. Basically you don’t want to order too much at a time. You may have to pay more per foot for a shorter roll but if you waste too many feet because you couldn’t use it in time for a cheaper longer roll, your better off spending more for a shorter roll.
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That’s a good point. I’m not sure what the shelf life this stuff has, and I only have a sample size of one. Let’s see how long it took me to get through that 300 foot roll…
checking my orders…
December was the first one, June was the next, right at 6 months. I had zero problem.
This stuff is somewhat different from the standard masking tape, the glue is “gluier” in some way (yes that is now the technical term). I know what you mean about masking tape getting old and janky, this stuff feels a bit more durable, but I can’t say for sure. Caveat Emptor, Good advice from @wilsonpf!
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Also seems harder to weed if it has been on a board for a long while.
So that tacky glue eventually sets is my guess.
I have been masking on demand ever since I noticed that.
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I tried to use my preorder proofgrade leather a couple weeks ago (received in november of last year). It’s basically useless, the masking is so adhered to the leather that it’s ridiculously hard to get it off.
I only mask right before I cut for the same reasons you do.
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well, that plus whether you mask or not often depends on what you’re going to do to the material. many engraves are not masking friendly.
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I have a 12-inch roll, I don’t remember the brand, from sign warehouse and it is older than 6 months, younger than 12 and I’m not having any issues with it tearing or sticking to itself, actually the opposite. It seems to be less tacky. I squeegee it on nice and hard and it has issues staying stuck.
My pre-order proofgrade leather masking is becoming one with the leather as well.
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It might be your material. Check it:
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I use a wide variety of materials, so I am not willing to completely call out the masking material - not enough repeatable data. I threw it out in case others were suspecting it. I normally sand to 320 grit for wood products.
Yeah I also use 320 for light sanding prior to masking and get good adhesion to wood. I cater how much sanding to just how stuck I need that masking to be, more sanding → better adhesion. It’s a tricky balance with soft things like Baltic birch, if you stick it too well, it pulls stray wood fibers up from the surface when you remove it.
Anyway, I am not sure why I’m explaining this… you sound like you got yourself dialed in, I could probably learn a thing or three from you.
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Lately I’ve been focusing on learning what not to do. I may need to buy a new place as I’m running out of room to bury all of my good ideas. It is useful and all, but not exactly your butt joining work.
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i wonder which brand it is. i’m still working on my 12x300yd roll of transfer rite 582u that i’m pretty sure i got at sign warehouse and it’s still sticking well. got it last november, so i’m coming up on 10 months. 8 months on the roll we’re using at work.
the other possibility is that what you got already had a lot of shelf-life used up and what i got wasn’t hanging around the warehouse as long.
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So do I. I’ve looked at the rolls for branding and there is none.
You and me both. I ruined a 2.5 hour engrave the other day… was not pleased. At least it was on cheap materials.
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if there’s no branding, it’s probably not transferrite. my roll has their brand all over the inside of the tube.
Same for perfectear plus. Nakoosa labels it thoroughly.
I agree, the masking on PG leather is a PAIN. My technique is to find an edge that hopefully won’t show (like around the hole cut for a snap, etc.) and use the point of a craft knife to carefully slide between the leather and masking and get it started. It’s really hard not to leave a slight mark on the leather, but it’s the most reliable technique I’ve found so far.
I’ve wondered about dampening the masking with alcohol to loosen it, but I don’t know what that might do to the leather, and haven’t gotten around to trying it on a scrap, yet…
TransferRite Ultra (like the 582U and 592U that I use and recommend) has a shelf-life of 30 Months from the time of manufacture. Signage suppliers rotate their stock very frequently, and will probably have fresher rolls than others. Keeping the roll sealed in the poly bag that it comes in will help extend the life of the product, as will keeping it out of direct sunlight and extreme heat or cold.
ABITapes (TransferRite) label their rolls, and color-code them as well (yellow is med-tack, red is hi-tack).
Nakoosa (which manufactures R.Tape and PerfectTearPlus) label their premium-brand products.
Both ABI and Nakoosa manufacture “house-brands”.
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That’s some solid info. How’d you get it?
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various sources; my suppliers, trade shows, training programs (I own & operate a small sign shop/graphics studio. Designing-for, cutting, printing-to, and applying vinyl is at least 75% of my business).
Shelf life info is from this product data sheet:
TransferRite Ultra_582U_ds.pdf (140.6 KB)
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