Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Exhibit Design Toolbox: More Tape!


Perhaps this posting should be called, "Son of The Sticky Subject of Tape" in honor of our prior posting concerning specialty tapes that exhibit designers should know about.

Claire Pillsbury from The Exploratorium was kind enough to offer some additional suggestions concerning cool, useful, and unusual types of tape, and here they are:

Vet Wrap
A "self-clinging" wrapping material that does not require tight compression.


Instant-bonding Glue Dots
Adhesive "dots" that require no drying time, are clean and easy to use, and work on a variety of materials. Glue Dots bond instantly to any surface.


Terrifically Tacky Tape
This is double-sided craft tape with red liner that is super strong. (The bond actually increases after the first 24 hours it is applied.)

This is the same kind of ultra-thin, very sticky tape as "3M 4910 VHB Tape" but TT tape comes in shorter-length rolls so it is less expensive.


EMPTY EMPTY and PACKED PACKED tape rolls
from Benchmark.
Use on crates for traveling exhibitions so you don't mix 'em up!
(Benchmark sells lots of other interesting exhibit and mount-making supplies as well.)


3M Dual Lock Reclosable Fastener System

Clear self-mating reclosable fastener with clear acrylic adhesive on the back. This is the "mushroom" topped style, rather than hook and loop, so it fastens to itself and doesn't collect fuzz like the "hook" half of velcro.


Colored Plastic Vinyl Floor Marking Tape
Great for outlining areas on floors or walls. These tapes are highly adhesive and resistant to water, oil, fungus and chemicals, have a semi-gloss finish, and can be written on with permanent markers.


1/4"-wide Colored Plastic Vinyl Tape
Also from Identi-Tape, these 6-mil vinyl adhesive tapes are available in a 14 colors plus clear in 36-yard long rolls. These tapes are ideal for constructing lines and tables on dry erase boards, identification of small tools, decorative striping, etc.


A tip of our taped-up topper to Claire for her sticky suggestions!

Did we miss any of your favorite sticky supplies? Let us know in the "Comments Section" below!

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3 comments:

  1. Hi Paul,

    Picture framing ATG tape is extremely versatile. It does require a dispenser, but use it once and you'll find yourself reaching for it again and again.

    http://www.cheapjoes.com/art-supplies/4664_m-atg-tape-gun.asp

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Frank,

    Thanks for another tape tip, and the Cheap Joe's website, as well!

    ReplyDelete
  3. There are few things as satisfying as finding out about useful new specialty tapes.

    I've always thought there should be a session at ASTC just about tape: when and when NOT to use tape, how to choose the best kind, tape disasters, etc.

    ReplyDelete