Tape! Do you use it?

[hawkeye10]

I see where some people use painters tape and others use packing tape. I have read it's to lube the blade but I don't know. I can see maybe using painters tape and sticking the pattern to that so it would be easier to remove. So what do you ladies and gentlemen think?

[Scrappile]

I use painters tape off and on.  I use it when I think it will help hold things together.  As for lubing the blade, I don't know, lots of people say that and I noticed when I use it when I did a picture in cherry, I didn't get any burn marks.  Don't know if it was the tape or the piece of wood.  I never use packing tape anymore.  I tried it and it seemed to cause me more problems, like sawdust getting under it and I couldn't see the lines.  I often don't use any tape and clean the pattern off with mineral spirits.  The pattern lifts right off easily.  Any residue seems to wipe right of with mineral spirits also. 

[Scrolling Steve]

Like Paul, I use it on some patterns and not on others.....when I started scrolling i used it a lot more.

[Rob]

Personally I always apply the pattern direct to the wood with re-positional spray adhesive.  Sometimes I will use clear tape over the top but most times not.

 

Rob

[LarryEA]

Blue tape peals off easy and leaves no residue. Apply Blue tape and attach pattern with spray adhesive.

Spray the pattern and attach direct, this works well, you just need mineral spirits to remove the pattern.

Both these can be topped with packing tape. 

The packing tape definately provides addition support to hold the pattern and touted to add lubrication.

[trackman]

I use both. Put on blue tape than put spray glue on tape & attach pattern with packing tape over that. When using packing tape make sure you get it on without any wrinkles or saw dust will get under the tape.

[Clayton717]

I do not. I apply pattern directly to the wood to spray glue. And remove with mineral spirits.

[Ron Johnson]

I apply blue tape to the wood, apply pattern with spray or roll on glue. When done cutting remove waste. This process eliminates one step of cleaning up with mineral spirits. I find packing tape useful sometimes to help hold some intricate patterns together. As for lubriating the blades I use an eraser and beeswax.

[rdatelle]

I use blue painters tape all the time. Put it on the wood and spray with adhesive and put the pattern on that. When I'm done cutting, peel off the tape and throw it away. No fuss, no mess. Can't get any easier than that. As far as lubing the blade, I think the packing tape does that, not the painters tape.

[Tommy Johnson]

I use painters tape when I want to put center lines on a piece of wood to match the center lines on the pattern I want to cut out. 

I use packing tape all the time now as it does help the cutting better. 

[hawkeye10]

I apply blue tape to the wood, apply pattern with spray or roll on glue. When done cutting remove waste. This process eliminates one step of cleaning up with mineral spirits. I find packing tape useful sometimes to help hold some intricate patterns together. As for lubriating the blades I use an eraser and beeswax.

Ron would you explain how you use an eraser and beeswax to lube the blade.

 

Thanks

[ike]

I used blue painters tape, but not much any more, it peals off easy but when you do fretwork ( as I did with my train engin it is a real Paine, more  than 400 holes in a piece of 7" X 14' wood it took about an hour to remove it,now I just apply my pattern to the wood. 

[Sycamore67]

I use the blue tape but I do not do fret work. Peeling it off of a complicated fret work would be a pain.

 

I have tried the packing tape on thicker pieces but can not tell if it helps. I will use it for compound cuts to hold pieces together.

[Denny Knappen]

I don't use painters tape as I copy patterns on contact paper.  I do use packing tape over the pattern to lubricate and hold the project together when compound cutting.

[WayneMahler]

I use blue painters tape on my work. If I am cutting something thick, I will add packing tape to the top. Just make sure you get it down smooth, it will collect dust under it making hard to see the lines. 

[hawkeye10]

I wonder if you put tape on the bottom side would it help with tear out? Just a thought I had.  

[NC Scroller]

I use clear packing tape on all my solid wood projects. It really makes a difference reducing burn marks. I do not use clear or any kinda tape on plywood only because I have found removing the tape caused wood fibers to lift off.

[amazingkevin]

Only if a customer requests it do i use tape.

[amazingkevin]

Only if a customer requests it do i use tape.

 

I see where some people use painters tape and others use packing tape. I have read it's to lube the blade but I don't know. I can see maybe using painters tape and sticking the pattern to that so it would be easier to remove. So what do you ladies and gentlemen think?

i've had only one request it an he is a wood worker.He says he can't get the look he wants when applying a finish

[edward]

I use painters tape all the time, and love it, works for me.  edward

[Ron Johnson]

Ron would you explain how you use an eraser and beeswax to lube the blade.

 

Thanks

The eraser is crepe that can be purchased from suppliers such as Lee Valley. Very effective cleaning the blades when scrolling. Save a few dollars and purchase a child's crepe sandal from a dollar store. Same material. The crepe is also very effective cleaning belt sanders, or any sandpaper extending the use. Just swipe the blade cleaning out dust build up when cutting. Do the same with belt/disc sanders, or any sandpaper. For lubriating the blades Lee Valley also carry tubes of beeswax. A tube will last years. A wax candle may do the same. Again just swipe a clean blade. You may find it'll extend the use of the blade and eliminate burning. The tube of beeswax and eraser has lasted me ten years and will probably last me another ten years. Hopefully this helps Don.

[hawkeye10]

The eraser is crepe that can be purchased from suppliers such as Lee Valley. Very effective cleaning the blades when scrolling. Save a few dollars and purchase a child's crepe sandal from a dollar store. Same material. The crepe is also very effective cleaning belt sanders, or any sandpaper extending the use. Just swipe the blade cleaning out dust build up when cutting. Do the same with belt/disc sanders, or any sandpaper. For lubriating the blades Lee Valley also carry tubes of beeswax. A tube will last years. A wax candle may do the same. Again just swipe a clean blade. You may find it'll extend the use of the blade and eliminate burning. The tube of beeswax and eraser has lasted me ten years and will probably last me another ten years. Hopefully this helps Don.

I like buying from Lee Valley. I have some belt cleaning crepe or eraser that I got at Harbor Frieght. 

 

Thanks Ron

[Sparkey]

I use the clear package tape. I stack cut and the tape has to hold the three pieces of plywood together while I saw.

[Lucky2]

I never use tape, all I do, is spray glue to the back of the pattern and apply it to the wood. Clean up has never been an issue for me, I've always wiped my wood projects down with Final Wipe. It removes all traces of oils, glues and dust and preps the wood to be finished. 

Len

[Jim McDonald]

I use blue tape, spray glue on top of that and packing tape.  Makes getting the pattern off a breeze.  On very small fret pieces, I can use a dental pick if It is too small.

 

Now, on compound stuff, I don't do any surface prep and just use tape to hold the first cut in place for the second cut.