Question about tape

[Renee Labordus]

Have been using blue painters tape to tape top and bottom to sides, resulting in some unsightly "tear out" (for lack of a better word) to the top surface.
Would that be prevented if I apply vinyl sealer aerosol (from Behlen) prior to taping?

Or what other tape would you recommend?

Thanks,
Renee

[peter havriluk]

3M also sells a low-tack variation on blue tape. It's been useful for me doing house interior painting, same reason you mentioned, regular tape can lift the surface it's stuck to.

[John Parchem]

The sealer would work also you can seal the wood with a very blond shellac, even bulls eye wax free shellac. Even though the shellac will be sanded off in the prep process it can impart a very slight amber tone to a top. I use shellac as a sealer before I spray the guitar so I have no issues using shellac.

Also you can use a heat gun (it only takes seconds) to warm the tape before pulling it off. One other tip that you may be doing is to fold over a corner on any tape you are applying to a top to avoid denting the top with a finger nail when trying to pull it off.

[Tim Benware]

even bulls eye wax free shellac.

I use this and it works great for me. I go about 1.5 to 2" onto top, back and sides. I sand it all off after binding is complete. I have never had any discoloration and very seldom any tear out.

[ken cierp]

I would suggest that there much better ways to clamp the plates to rim for gluing than tape. #64 rubber bands tied together is my favorite. Run a series of screws around the mold clamp or screw a piece of plywood to the back or top of the mold, shim the rim to keep it level when gluing on the sound board.