Trad Gang

I see that Binghams has high temp masking tape and a tape for taping your bow down in the form. Can you use regular masking tape. I see some look like they are using the blue painters tape for the front and back glass. Is there other options for taping the bow down and protecting the glass. Thanks, Don

Masking tape from wally -world or home depot is what I use. If you are using 1.5" glass make sure you get the 1.5" tape they make a 1.44" wide tape and it will just make you mad if you try to use it. Also make sure you clean the glass before you put your tape on, the little shards of fiberglass that stick to the glass are very abrasive and will cause scratches or blemishes in your final project. My final helpful hint for you is do not remove the tape from you newly glued up limb until you have a 90% finished product, it is so easy to scratch the glass when sanding or filing the edges and the tape will keep your final project looking sharp.

I use blue painters tape.

When I got started I bought a couple of rolls from binghams...I use it on the back glass and blue painters tape on belly glass. I like the white on back because I draw center lines, limb template and grid lines on the back glass

For taping the bow down I use strapping tape also called filliment tape. Buy more than you need you will use it.. I use vinyl gloves from harbor freight for glue ups I get the strapping tape there too

I use the blue painters tape- the green works also- to draw my lines I use a sharpie- remove towards the tips to aviod lifting a splinter.

Thanks guys, I'm getting closer to trying a bow. I found a stripped belt on my table saw, so 7.50 will fix it, instead of buying a new one. I've got my form 90% finished, my heat box 95% finished, a new hose coming from Binghams ( still not to happy about ordering the wrong one, as I have no one to blame, but me    ). Kenny has shipped enough to do two bows. I think it's time to finish something 100%  :D  . Don

Good luck Don!  :thumbsup:  

Keep us posted too!

I use Blue painters tape too.  Instead of strapping tape, I use rubber bands made from old inner tubes.  I got the idea from a picture in one of the build along last year.  I installed seven 3/8" x 3" dowels through the form to hook the rubber bands on.  It is much faster and my pressure strip does not cut them as it did my strapping tape.

Blue painters tape again for the glass.  For the layup, I use black electrician's tape.  I find it easier to handle than the fiber tape and I get a tighter result.

I'm gonna try the rubber bands..I also have had my metal strip cut the tape. I was thinking about zip ties, but the rubber bands sound like the way..

I have been using the rubber innergtube bands for a long time. They are the ticket. , Fast, Leave no marks on the glass and hold the bow right in place. You still need the washers though.
God bless, Steve

Actually if you are careful and don't slop epoxy all over your lams you don't really even need tape at all. I quit using the stuff completely two years ago because i got tired of trying to peel the stuff off after cooking it on the limbs....

all you need to do is wipe your pressure strips down with paste wax, and wipe any epoxy off the glass with a thinner rag before loading your forms up..... you wont hurt your glass at all if you have nice smooth pressure strips.

I prefer zip ties  and washers to hold my lams in position before air up, or even if you are using rubber bands or C-clamps it would work good too.


Here's one i just laid up and is ready for the air hose.


(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Bow%20building/TD%20Sas%202010/Pauls%20TD%20RC%20Build/SANY0012.jpg)

(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Bow%20building/TD%20Sas%202010/Pauls%20TD%20RC%20Build/SANY0010.jpg)


If you so inclined to use the stuff, i think the the green masking tape you find at Home Depot or Lowes peels off easier than the blue stuff, or Bingham's masking tape too for that matter.

Like others, I use the washers.  Kirk, the zip ties look good but I think the inner tube bands might be a little easier.  I will have to try them sometime.  At this stage in my glass bow building (glued up #22 last night), I still make too much of a mess with the glue to try it without protecting the glass with tape.  I have found that the tape comes off easily, in one long piece, after removing the excess glue and using the thickness sander to square up the bow.  Dick thanks again for the input regarding the thickness sander.

I have read about a number of people on these forums, that say it is good policy to put on 2 or 3 layers of tape on the fiberglass, which makes it a lot easier to remove after taking it out from the hot box.  On my next build, I plan on doing this.
 Good luck.     John

I always use two layers of tape... on the form and on the glass.  Never had much trouble peeling it off after the excess glass is ground off. That's the point at which I inspect for any problems... at fade points, edges, whatever.  At that point you still have a few choices you can make to accommodate any problem you see, such as favoring one side or the other as you grind the blank to width.  I put new tape on to draft the bow onto.   The rubber bands and the zip ties are interesting, but I think I'll stick with my black tape...  it's very thin, pressures down nicely and comes off easily.

Just a question but what would be the down side to the tape breaking after the hose is inflated. This may be a dumb question as at least 50% of mine are   :)  . Don

Don, I was referring to the packing tape breaking as you wrap it around the form and over the pressure strip.  It seemed that on most glue-ups the pressure strip would cut the packing tape numerous times, especially in the fade area, as I pulled the lams tight to the form.  If the tape breaks after everything is pressured up then I don't see it any creating problems either.

QuoteOriginally posted by Walt Francis:
Like others, I use the washers.  Kirk, the zip ties look good but I think the inner tube bands might be a little easier.  I will have to try them sometime.  At this stage in my glass bow building (glued up #22 last night), I still make too much of a mess with the glue to try it without protecting the glass with tape.  I have found that the tape comes off easily, in one long piece, after removing the excess glue and using the thickness sander to square up the bow.  Dick thanks again for the input regarding the thickness sander.

Brutha Sixby told me i have GOT to try the inner tube straps. He says it's so much easier than messing with zip ties and you can air up the hose right over them.... i can't do that with the zip ties... i cut them and pull em out at about 15 pounds of pressure....... i'm going to give it a go tomorrow if i can find that inner tube in the shop i saw the other day....

Walt, now I understand  :thumbsup:  . Don

I have used regular, blue, but the green comes off the best after glue up.  Good hunting Knifemaker

Lowes sells a light blue and dark blue "Easy Off" masking tape.  Use the Dark Blue.  There is no need to try pulling it out of the glue buggers on the edge.  The next time you lay out a bow, lay it out on a piece of .050 glass and cut it out for a pattern.  You can lay it right over the tape, clamp it & razor the blue tape on the bow.  Peel it off and you're done without bothering the glue buggers on the edge.  Bandsaw out the pattern and you are ready to go.    

Re reading this I see it's clear as mudd, sorry Mudd.  I'm cutting out a bow tomorrow and will take some pictures.

This pattern was made from two pieces of .050 black glass glued up straight.  The blue tape is just so I can mark it.  

Here is the pattern laid out beside the blank.
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r243/7Lakes/102_3403.jpg)

Clamped down to the blank
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r243/7Lakes/102_3404.jpg)

Cut through the tape along the edge of the pattern.
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r243/7Lakes/102_3405.jpg)

Peel up the tape.  Dark Blue tape from Lowes.
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r243/7Lakes/102_3406.jpg)

Saw off the glue buggered edge.  Leave just a tad of tape to mark the edge of your bow.
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r243/7Lakes/102_3409.jpg)