Do you know a good masking tape for laser cutting

[kazukitsushima3221]

I’m using this masking tape.

Amazon.com: Paper Application - Transfer Tape - Medium tack - 12" x 300 ft...

but it’s out of stock now… Do you know any good masking tape instead of that?

[evansd2]

A quick search for masking will find a ton of threads on this, but this one is my favorite:

Cheapest 12" wide masking tape

Like @jbmanning5, I get perfectear plus from signwarehouse.com for $40 for a 300 foot roll, shipped. I’ve used both perfectear and transferrite, I prefer perfectear, but they aren’t that different. I was also tipped off to this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085635HFN

[sixboysdad]

I get mine from here:

Glassguard Paper Mask for Laser Engraving

I use the 6" exclusively now. I tried the 12", but most of my stuff is small enough that the 6" works better, and the one roll of 12" I got was defective, and wouldn’t stick. It actually started a fire in my laser, from curling up while it was cutting, and the loose corner got hit with the laser beam. Scary. I don’t know if it was a fluke or not, but I have since stuck with the smaller roll, and had no issues.

[evansd2]

@sixboysdad

I don’t know if it was a fluke or not

So you might be right, but there are a couple of things that might be at play here – lower-tack tapes like this need to be pressed down with a tool, and even then how well they adhere is based on the material. How smooth your wood is will affect this a great deal.

Masking not adhering to wood well? Try sanding your piece first

Kind of says it all in the subject. I bought some more BB last week or so, and my masking which worked well (transferrite) on the previous batch was just peeling up like crazy. I looked really closely and there were tool marks on the surface, shallow grooves running the whole length of the wood. I gave it a quick sanding with ~400 grit sandpaper, wiped all the dust off, and I was back in business. Don’t forget to use a squeegee or something to press the masking down.

So yeah if you still have it you might want to try it again. Make sure your material is smooth and clean, and use a tool to press it down (a straight edge scrap is fine as a test, I like a 3M plastic squeegee myself).

Accessories that are needed that do not come with Glowforge Pro?

My go to masking application tool is this guy: 3M Hand Applicator Squeegee PA1-B Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00657SFPE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jbyrDbT1AP4J3 Simple, cheap, bright-colored (harder to lose). It has just the right flex to give you good pressure on potentially uneven surfaces.

[gewubs]

For a quick second I thought that was toilet paper!

[danielsalce84]

I got my tape from here. https://www.mclogan.com/shop/tape-4075-rla-application-tape-p-66.html i got trhe 12" x 100 yds

[sixboysdad]

@evansd2

lower-tack tapes like this need to be pressed down with a tool, and even then how well they adhere is based on the material. How smooth your wood is will affect this a great deal.

I used a Pampered Chef plastic scraper that I stole from my wife for this purpose, and all my wood is sanded and finished prior to engraving. It’s pretty smooth. I tried the 12" roll on a number of different surfaces, too. It simply did not stick as well. If I recall, the 12" is medium tack, while the 6" is low tack–yet the 6" works better for me. I also still use that plastic scraper.

[evansd2]

So one other thing I’ve heard is that adhesives have a shelf life. In theory a really old roll of masking could lose its tackiness, maybe you were sold a roll that sat in a warehouse for years? I dunno, sounds like you got a bum deal.

I’ve had nothing but good luck with Perfectear Plus. I have both a 6" and 12" roll, like you said, sometimes 6" is easier or more efficient to work with.

[eflyguy]

Different brands behave differently, but even low tack can work just fine. It often depends on surface preparation - which is one reason it’s worth paying for proofgrade materials, if you don’t have the ability or time to prepare materials for masking when necessary.

[sixboysdad]

That was the issue, I think. When I talked with their customer support, first off, they were very helpful, and eventually I got a refund, but they also said that it is possible that the roll I got was simply old when they shipped it.