Adhesive Tape

2023 Author: Douglas Hoggarth | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-24 11:23

Self-adhesive film is a material that has almost unlimited possibilities: a wide range of applications, realization of design fantasies, health safety, and durability.

Self-adhesive tape is a waterproof material, i.e. it can be used in rooms with high humidity. It is also not afraid of high temperatures and can withstand up to 80 ° C. To date, there are more than 500 colors of self-adhesive film: marble and stone, velor and velvet, wood, stained glass and mirror. Countless patterns, structures, colors and clever combinations, including a special range of borders, open up unlimited possibilities for designers. Monochrome self-adhesive films in saturated colors, matte and glossy, with ornaments, patterns and structures, with artless elegance or with a fashionable metallic sheen, self-adhesive films for purely decorative finishes or for more practical purposes,to accentuate individual design details or to completely renew a decor - self-adhesive films are widely used everywhere. For example, renovating furniture with self-adhesive film is much more profitable than buying a new one. Also, if you need to protect windows from prying eyes without using curtains, transparent self-adhesive stained glass film is the best solution.

Woodgrain self-adhesive tapes cover about 70 different designs, from classic oak and pine, tropical woods, beech to whimsical fantasy designs. The palette of patterned films ranges from transparent embossed films and clear patterned glass for window decoration to fantastic patterns and children's motifs, while special tile, marbled and embossed patterns allow you to quickly and cheaply reproduce natural material. There is also a self-adhesive film, which, thanks to a special seal, is specially designed for surfaces exposed to heavy loads.

General recommendations for working with self-adhesive films:

1. The base to be covered with self-adhesive tape must be clean, smooth, free of grease and dust. The ideal base is lacquered boards, free of dust.

Boards without varnish are primed with polyester or primer varnish and, if necessary, with methyl wallpaper glue.

Rough, porous surfaces (wood, plywood, chipboard, fabric, cork, ceramic tiles, gypsum, plaster, etc.) must be dry and free from dust. If necessary, the surface can be primed.

Uneven or cracked substrates are leveled with a filler and sanded. Then they need to be cleaned and covered with a primer (based on acrylic) - this is necessary to ensure maximum adhesion strength of the self-adhesive film.

2. Slicing. Slicing is facilitated by the centimeter grid (scale), which is printed on the back paper side of the self-adhesive film. When cutting long, straight pieces, it is recommended to cut with a knife along a straight edge. It is recommended to cut it with a margin of 2-3 cm. If the self-adhesive film has a pattern with a rapport, then you need to cut it on the front side. Self-adhesive foil with a "tile-like" pattern is cut along the seams of the "tiles".

3. Sticker. On the reverse side of the self-adhesive film, on paper, in pictures, there is a manual for working with self-adhesive film. Separate the paper from the self-adhesive foil by about 5 cm, then attach the self-adhesive foil to the surface and glue the separated edge. After that, slowly and evenly pull the paper off the rest of the adhesive tape with one hand.

Use your other hand to smooth the self-adhesive film with a soft towel. It is necessary to smooth from the center to the edges - this can avoid the formation of air bubbles. If such bubbles still remain in some places, then they should be pierced with a needle, carefully releasing air from under the self-adhesive film.

If the self-adhesive foil is not adhered correctly, the new self-adhesive foil, which can be adjusted, is only permanently adhered after a few hours, so that the self-adhesive foil can be removed from the solid substrate and re-applied.

4. Pasting of large surfaces. They can be pasted over only if they absorb moisture well. It is necessary to cover such a surface with wallpaper glue and, while the glue is wet, stick the film, adjusting it to the desired position. Then you need to press it with a rag or sponge and smooth it out.

5. If the self-adhesive film sticks too quickly, dust the surface with powder or talcum powder. In this case, the self-adhesive tape will not adhere so quickly, which will allow it to be displaced to the desired position. If bubbles appear, pierce the self-adhesive tape with a needle or pin and release the air.

6. Adhesion to glass, plastics and metal. The surface is slightly moistened with an aqueous solution with the addition of detergent. Then completely remove the back paper side from the self-adhesive foil and place the self-adhesive foil on a moistened base. This will make it easier to adjust the adhesive tape to the desired position. When the desired position is reached, lightly press the self-adhesive tape and, using a cloth or sponge, smooth the surface towards the edges and downward, removing water.

Care of self-adhesive films

Usually, warm water and detergent are sufficient for cleaning. If the dirt cannot be washed off, you can remove it with ethyl alcohol. Do not use products with scratching components, nitro thinners, acetone or detergent gasoline. If glue comes out at the edges of the self-adhesive film, moisten a cloth with alcohol and wipe it off. We recommend using warm water for velor films.