What is your go to Rocketry Project Tape

Onebadhawk
eggtimer rocketry
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prfesser said:
If you're using Frog Tape for masking, check it first with the paint you're spraying. I found that Krylon paint+primer partially dissolved the adhesive, leaving some of it behind when the tape was removed.
Click to expand...

Good to know! Seems to work fine with Rustoleum 2X types
 
CAA77A2C-8C1C-495E-9628-81024D0F945E.jpeg
neil_w said:
In general, any clean hard surface can be used as a surface for cutting tape. A clean sheet of glass works well (not so good for the knife blades, though...) Problem becomes cutting the shape of the tape correctly. Probably easiest way to do it would be two half-pieces, like this:
View attachment 390620

Then only one overlap is needed. Hand-cutting a whole pile of pieces like this still doesn't thrill me, though. Gotta be a better way, but I can't think of what it might be at the moment.
Click to expand...
Another trick for cutting tape to fit, place the tape on wax paper. The place the tape/wax paper on your cutting mat. Cut the shape as needed (for example, you need a long thin strip, so use a metal straight edge and cut the strip.). You can then peel the wax paper off the tape, pretty much all the adhesive will stay with the tape.
I use this to cut thin colored strip with a taper for my CorkScrew rocket
 
39840062-C27E-47DE-B04D-1FDDD4F869E4.jpeg AE587C34-DFB3-419A-971B-11E42EEDAFC6.jpeg DDD92D5C-60D0-4BE1-8D37-858C751EAE3F.jpeg Military equipment and some high power rockets have assembly or preparations that need to be done right up to loading, but need to be removed before launching. They use “remove before flight” tags, which are hopefully bright and big and wavy and obvious so people remember to take them off.

Not really practical for low and mid power. When weather is a factor (really hot or cold) I like to prep my rockets at home rather than at the launch site. To keep my nose cones from falling out, or to keep my Viagra break away recovery rocket from separating, I would put a strip of masking tape on to keep parts together. At least twice I have forgotten to remove the tape before launch, as you can imagine flights were less than optimal. I found some pink masking tape that isn’t too expensive, does the job, and I think I am more likely to see it and remember to remove it (is except if the rocket is painted pink, then I need to use something else;))
 
Two stripes on opposite sides might improve the probability of remembering, since a single strip might be on the away side. For pink or red rockets, how about blue or green painter's tape?
 
Funkworks said:
For masking, I've had good results with:
- Yellow Frog tape ("Delicate Surfaces")
- Tamiya tape
- Testor's masking tape
(https://www.amazon.com/TESTORS-8869-Masking-Assortment-TESR8869/dp/B007KMW5NQ)

I've also used the Frog tape to protect the body tube area between the fins from excess glue when applying fillets.

To cover a large area, I might use the Frog tape for the edge, and then tape newspaper pages onto it with:
- regular masking tape.
It's also good for friction fitting a nose cone or a motor.

To protect the inner body tube from recessed motor exhaust, I've used:
- Aluminum foil tape
(disclaimer: not yet launched or tested)

To tape a 9V battery onto a dual-deployment E-Bay, I've used:
- Electrical tape

That's about it.
Click to expand...

Wow you are officially a rocketry tape expert! A like the variety!




BABAR said:
Electrical tape comes in colors, I have seen white, blue, red, green, and yellow. It is the only tape I know of that can make a good candy cane spiral, because it will form/adapt to the curved surface. So you can use it for decorating the rocket, as well as for masking, holding cameras on, etc.

Mylar tape has at least two uses.
First you can put it over areas that might get nozzle jet flamed (boost glider wings or tails, booster stages, etc)
Second, it is shiny and also comes in a lot of colors, can use it very much like trim Monokote. I have used it to cover entire rockets.
Click to expand...

Hmmm Mylar tape sounds really awesome!
 
BABAR said:
View attachment 391128 View attachment 391130 View attachment 391131 Military equipment and some high power rockets have assembly or preparations that need to be done right up to loading, but need to be removed before launching. They use “remove before flight” tags, which are hopefully bright and big and wavy and obvious so people remember to take them off.

Not really practical for low and mid power. When weather is a factor (really hot or cold) I like to prep my rockets at home rather than at the launch site. To keep my nose cones from falling out, or to keep my Viagra break away recovery rocket from separating, I would put a strip of masking tape on to keep parts together. At least twice I have forgotten to remove the tape before launch, as you can imagine flights were less than optimal. I found some pink masking tape that isn’t too expensive, does the job, and I think I am more likely to see it and remember to remove it (is except if the rocket is painted pink, then I need to use something else;))
Click to expand...

AH GREAT POINT! I have had that issue of forgetting to remove temporary tape! Bright colors would surely help!
 
Tamiya masking tape in multiple widths (I still want to get the one for doing curves)
3M blue painters tape (I don't mess with anything but 3M)
 
Electrical tape makes a near perfect paint seam. Use masking tape and paper to cover the other areas.
 
The tape I use the most of is blue painters tape. I also frequently use Tamiya masking tape in 6mm and 18 most often. I also use some kind of narrow vinyl tape for complex curves. I use scotch tape for taping slotted motor grains together and regular beige tape for nosecone fit issues. I also use pinstripe tape and colored electrical tape as decals. There’s probably at least one other tape I use on occasion.
 
Nytrunner said:
This video is a convenient overview of tape durability and is definitely relevant for this thread

Click to expand...


All I can say is... Rest in peace panda, yet another poacher. What a cruel death he hath suffered from, getting crushed till it's body smooshed out the sides like clay.
 
LostMosquito said:
Tamiya masking tape in multiple widths (I still want to get the one for doing curves)
3M blue painters tape (I don't mess with anything but 3M)
Click to expand...
beeblebrox said:
Yea, I threw out the HDX crap from deep homo...
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neil_w said:
Comes off clean?
Click to expand...

Ok yes, I love cheap blue tape, but I do agree that HDX products are bad. Not a fan, prefer from 3M, cost a bit more, but it works better. In fact 3M Scotch is where Mr.Scotch invented tape (yes no joke). As for Electrical tape, beeblebrox mean's clena lines when you paint them, but no they don't come off clean and leaves the nasty sticky residue behine, unless you buy high quality electrical tape from 3M. And no, not sponsored, I just think 3M tape is good.
 
Yukon@K-9 Rocket Tech said:
Ok yes, I love cheap blue tape, but I do agree that HDX products are bad. Not a fan, prefer from 3M, cost a bit more, but it works better. In fact 3M Scotch is where Mr.Scotch invented tape (yes no joke). As for Electrical tape, beeblebrox mean's clena lines when you paint them, but no they don't come off clean and leaves the nasty sticky residue behine, unless you buy high quality electrical tape from 3M. And no, not sponsored, I just think 3M tape is good.
Click to expand...
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company...asking-Tape-388N/?N=5002385+3293193901&rt=rud

Their automotive refinishing tape is pretty awesome, it seems to be a bit better at sticking across weird contours and angles than 3M painter's tape.
 

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