'The Tackifier' Blog by FindTape

Platypus Designer Duct Tape is now being stocked in 12 patterns which include Argyle, Candy Cane, Denim, Diamond Plate, Grass, Houndstooth, Jolly Roger, Leopard, Paisley, Polka Dot, Wicker and Wood Grain. Also two new patterns for the holidays should be arriving soon which are Snow and Stocking. Its the perfect tape to use for your next duct tape project. The polyethylene coated cloth is 10.5 mils thick and offers 32 ounces per inch of peel adhesion.

Inc. Magazine today ranked FindTape.com #1848 with three-year sales growth of 141% on its fifth annual Inc. 500|5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy - America’s independent entrepreneurs. Online retailer ideeli tops this year's list. FindTape.com joins Spirit Airlines, television maker Vizio, Honest Tea, Dunkin Donuts and Metrokane, makers of the Rabbit corkscrew, among other prominent brands featured on this year's list. In other sub-groupings we were #86 overall in the retail industry and #338 overall out of Internet companies. In the geographic sub-groupings we were #132 overall for companies based out of the NYC metro area and #57 overall in NJ.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/5000.

The tape converters we work with have continued to get letters from all the major adhesive tape manufacturers on a pretty regular basis now announcing new upcoming price increases. Below we've included links to copies of each letter which includes details about the percentage increase and which of that manufacturer's product line it will affect. The prices on our web site will typically be changed the business day before the manufacturer's increase goes into effect so please use this information to plan accordingly.

• 3M - 2/5/2011 Effective Date Increase Letter, 4/30/2011 Effective Date Increase Letter, 8/13/2011 Effective Date Increase Letter
• Berry Plastics (Polyken/Nashua/Ludlow/Patco)- 2/14/2011 Effective Date Increase Letter, 4/2/2011 Effective Date Increase Letter
• Intertape - 2/15/2011 Effective Date Increase Letter, 5/14/2011 Effective Date Increase Letter
• Jaybird- 1/28/2011 Effective Date Increase Letter
• Nitto Denko (Permacel)- 6/13/2011 Effective Date Increase Letter
• Scapa - 4/18/2011 Effective Date Increase Letter
• Shurtape - 1/3/2011 Effective Date Increase Letter, 2/21/2011 Effective Date Increase Letter, 3/9/2011 Effective Date Increase Letter, 5/16/2011 Effective Date Increase Letter
• JVCC and Pro Tapes - since they source most of their material from the manufacturers listed above they have also had corresponding price increases

* last updated 8/15/2011

Instructions for Regularly-Wound Tape:

We sometimes get calls from customers saying they may have a defective roll of double-sided tape since the release liner on their roll of tape is reversed and now the tape is on the top of the liner. The answer is that that effect will happen when the liner on a double-sided tape roll is removed from a roll without the tape coming off at the same time (if the tape was on the outside of the roll then it would have stuck to the lathe when it was originally cut or to the box it was shipped in for that matter). When the liner goes one revolution around the roll without tape coming off at the same time it will then seem like the roll is reverse wound. To correct the problem you just need to unwind the tape alone (make sure the liner stays in place while you are unwinding the tape) from the roll and go one full revolution around. Then just cut off the tape after that one revolution and the tape will now seem like it is wound the correct way again.

Instructions for ATG (Reverse Wound) Tape:

We sometimes get calls from customers saying their roll of ATG tape is wound backwards (either at the beginning of the roll or somewhere in the middle of the roll). That effect will happen when the initial leader on an ATG roll (the piece at the beginning of the roll which prevents the adhesive from sticking to the packaging the rolls are sent in) is aggressive so you have to be careful it doesn't take off the first layer of adhesive when it is removed from the roll. Also if the adhesive on an ATG roll sticks to a surface without the liner being wound up at the same you can see that effect. Basically when all the adhesive comes off one full revolution of a roll without the liner being wound up at the same time it will then seem like the roll is wound like a regular roll of double-sided tape instead of a reverse-wound ATG roll. Before you start the procedure below it sometimes helps if you use your finger to press firmly down on the width of the tape as you go one revolution around the roll which will help transfer the adhesive to the correct side. Then to correct the problem you just need to unwind the liner alone (make sure the adhesive stays in place while you are unwinding the liner) from the roll and go one revolution around. Then just cut off the liner after that one revolution and the tape will then seem like it is wound the correct way again.

2 inch x 30 yard rolls of Shurtape PC-626 Camouflage Duct Tape are now being stocked. It is the first duct tape that features the official digital pattern used for U.S. Army combat uniforms, making it the closest match to soldiers' camouflage. The 30 yard length rolls make it very easy to carry around although we do allow you to still special order the regular 60 yard length rolls. The cloth tape's lusterless film reduces light glare, an advantage for both the military and for hunters. Shurtape PC 626 is an ACU digital camouflage pattern duct tape with high holding power. This high performance, polyethylene coated, waterproof tape is also used for sealing, packaging, waterproofing, holding, camouflaging, sound deadening, covering reflective surfaces, and patching applications.

We've recently added the 1/8 inch wide by 40 foot long sizes of 3M's Scotchcal Reflective Striping Tape to the web site in all 25 colors it comes in. It is a reflective film coated on one side with adhesive which is intended to provide light reflective properties in darkness. The 1/8 inch wide sizes are typically used to create single stripe patterns on vehicles - in order to match existing stripes or to create original striping designs on them. Other uses include commercial vehicle, marine, motorcycle, railroad and bus graphics; and sign graphics. The tape also resists gasoline and chemicals. These tapes are also known as the Scotchlite Reflective Film Series 680 products and they can help improve safety and nighttime visibility.

We often receive emails from people who have removed tape or are trying to remove tape which has been on a surface for a long period of time. If the tape has been removed often times they are now trying to get rid of some adhesive residue which was left behind on the surface. The first point to make is that removing adhesive from a surface should be done very carefully. Here are some steps can try:

1. One quick test, if only adhesive residue remains behind, would be to try using the adhesive side from another piece of tape like duct tape to pull it off.
2. If that doesn't work you can try using solvents; however they should always be tested on an inconspicuous part of the surface first to see if they damage it.
   1. Goo Gone or WD-40 would be of the weaker variety.
   2. Try acetone or alcohol or you can try looking for an adhesive remover / citrus cleaner such as Polyken 41 or 3M 08987 which we sell on the site.
   3. MEK and Toluene are the strongest two and can be found at hardware stores (since they are the strongest greater care needs to be taken when using them).

I hope this helps. Thank you.

We've seen over the last several years incredibly creative work done with tape purchased from our web site. From hula hoops to art installations to window displays customers have used our tape in a myriad of ways. We just saw a new window display one recently posted online so we thought we'd showcase a few of these now.

Monika Grzymala's Distortions 2008 art installation in Vancouver, BC

POST 27 window display in Chicago, IL

Martha Stewart gift wrapping in Blueprint November/December 2007

Martha Stewart halloween decoration in Martha Stewart Living October 2008

We've been selling the clear low profile dual lock in several widths and lengths for a while now (see the 3M SJ5470 dual lock product). This is the tape often times used to hold riders' E-Z Pass tags to their car windshields. Recently our converter has started to stock the low profile dual lock in 1-inch wide black also - see 3M SJ4575 dual lock. You can purchase the full 50-yard rolls or you can also purchase the tape in 10-foot pieces instead. For those not familiar with low profile dual lock it is thinner and stronger than other reclosable fasteners like Velcro. There isn't a seperate hook and loop side either; it has just one side that is mated or connected together (both surfaces have plastic mushroom-shaped stems which are joined by pressing them together which firmly locks them into place). They work great for attaching items to car dashboards and windows as well as anywhere else you need a reclosable fastener around the house or garage.

We've had inquiries in the past from customers looking to purchase replacement blades for their Powerseal dispensers. Our distributor has finally started stocking bag trimmer blades for both the Powerseal 7605K and Powerseal 808K as well as the inside roof/cutting blade for the Powerseal 7605K. Both replacement blades are now available for immediate shipment from orders placed on the web site.