Electronics > Beginners
Can we talk tape?
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tooki:

--- Quote from: AnyNameWillDo on July 29, 2018, 01:50:31 am ---Piggybacking off this, what is each tape used for in hobbyist electronics? i.e. what are some common uses of each? Are they often used in temporary ways during a build, or when prototyping, or are some appropriate even in a final build? What's wrong with permanent attach?

And when might one use tape vs. hot glue?

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Kapton is good for securing things temporarily and permanently — just know that it loses nearly all its strength after being removed once. It’s not for strength, really. But it’s absolutely safe on PCBs, even ones with static sensitive devices.

Kapton is what I use when soldering, when I need to secure something that will get hot in the process, since it can handle even direct contact with the iron. It’s also good for thermally masking off where you want to use hot air.

I’d love to find the non-woven fabric electronics tape that you find in lots of Sony gear for securing wires and stuff, it sticks really well even long-term. (Like Kapton, can’t really be reused.)


--- Quote from: KL27x on July 29, 2018, 02:15:37 am ---
--- Quote ---If you've never tried it, the transparent 3M VHB mounting tape is amazing. [...]
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This sounds a lot like the tacky jello snot used in retail packaging to hold things temporarily to the cardboard, or whatnot.

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Yes, that’s exactly how it feels!!!! I have no idea what the jello snot in packaging is like when it’s being applied (it looks like hot-melt, in that it has tails and threads hanging off), so I’ve assumed it’s applied like hot-melt.

I really do recommend trying it, it’s useful for all sorts of stuff. Just don’t overbuy, it doesn’t last forever in storage. Old rolls lose their tack.



--- Quote from: KL27x on July 29, 2018, 02:15:37 am ---The cheapskate solution which is even more versatile is hotmelt glue. It will do all those things. And it will release like nothing from maple veneer with a few drops of alcohol and the right leverage.

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Hot-melt is definitely not a substitute for VHB. You can’t use it on temperature-sensitive surfaces like the (expensive as hell!!) acrylic shop fixtures, nor on paint. And it’s much more rigid, meaning that it has no flexibility to resist some wiggling — it’s gonna hold until it just gives. Plus, with hot-melt, you have limited working time before it sets. And with metal, it’s gonna set even faster because of the heat sinking.

I’m not saying hot-melt is bad — it absolutely has its use cases — just that it’s definitely not a substitute for VHB.

This reminds me, I need to get a new hot glue gun. I still have the low-temp one from my childhood. (It uses those oval shaped low-temp sticks that are now sold by Uhu. But mine is white and says “Princess” on it, LMAO. I guess it knew I was gay before I did!  ;D) But that stuff doesn’t hold as well as the high-temp glue. I’ve been looking at the Steinel 5000, but I’m open for suggestions.
David Hess:
Good duct tape (or gaffers tape?) is good for general repairs.

Kapton tape with silicon adhesive is excellent for strength and temperature resistance.  Polyester tape is almost as good and much less expensive.

Vinyl electrical tape has its place as well.  I have it in every color for marking things.

Is there anyway to include a video link without embedding it?

TomS_:

--- Quote from: tooki on July 28, 2018, 11:25:42 pm ---I use Kapton to hold things when soldering, etc, since it's heatproof and doesn't generate static. I just have cheap fake Kapton from eBay.

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I bought some of this recently and it is branded Koptan. 😆
Jwillis:
Kapton is a trademark name from DuPont.3M sells similar as Polyimide tape.Koptan tape is really the same stuff (4,4'-oxydiphenylene-pyromellitimide) .DuPont no longer  holds the patent of the formula exclusively.This is common for many different products. It's all about trade mark laws and less about quality. But if your in favor of brand names over generic,buy brand name.

But I have to agree with others here .Plain old electrical tape is essential .Ducted tape for securing something quickly but temporarily like wires to your bench.If your winding coils,some insulating adhesive mylar tape because its very thin.Copper or aluminum tape for EMF shielding is also handy.   
David Hess:

--- Quote from: Jwillis on July 30, 2018, 05:37:03 am ---Ducted tape for securing something quickly but temporarily like wires to your bench.
--- End quote ---

Also to hold the arm rests of my chair together.

Despite the name, duct tape is not appropriate for duct work.
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