“With this vinyl, what application tape should I use?”?” is one of the most frequently asked questions we get. Like peanut butter and jelly, vinyl and tape go together. It can feel more like peanut butter and yogurt if you’ve got the wrong tape for your vinyl. That sandwich isn’t going to be popular.

We worked with manufacturers and prepared easy-to-follow users to guide for tape and vinyl to help you get the recipe just right. It isn’t exhaustive, and it isn’t fixed in stone. If you’ve found a different combination that works for you, go ahead and use it. Perhaps some folks enjoy pb&y sandwiches.

However, if you’re having trouble transferring or applying vinyl designs, these pointers and the updated matching guide on Tape Guys should help you achieve the perfect blend.

Our new EnduraMASK MHC 160G and 165 imprinted hobby tapes, as well as ORATAPE MT80P and other tapes popular with craft and hobby decal aficionados, have been added to the guide.

Transfer Tape Vinyl General Guidelines

The guide listed below provides a reasonably comprehensive list of vinyl and application tape recommendations. Here’s a fast overview for those who like the Readers Digest edition.

For successful release from the liner, most ORACAL vinyl requires high-tack tape. This is the sole disadvantage of a face film that has a lot of advantages. Please visit here for further information on these attributes and a few other ORACAL transfer hints. 631 Exhibition Cal is an exemption to the ORACAL high tack restriction. The adhesive on this matte vinyl is low tack. A high tack tape will transfer the film from the liner to the substrate, but it may overwhelm the vinyl’s adhesive and make application difficult.

With medium tack tape, EnduraGLOSS vinyl works excellent. However, if you’re applying tiny letters, a high-tack application tape may be preferable.

EnduraMATTE vinyl contains a low-tack, removable adhesive that was designed exclusively for indoor wall dcor. For this vinyl, a medium or medium-high tack tape is recommended to balance the adherence of the tape to the vinyl and the adhesion of the vinyl to the wall surfaces.

Because metallic films are less flexible than regular PVC vinyl, they require more force to peel away from the liner. Tape with a high tack is recommended. Schein and Endura Holographics, R-Tape VinylEfx films, Avery Chrome, and Schein Print Polyester Chrome vinyl are just a few of the options.

For each type or brand of vinyl indicated, the SignWarehouse Transfer Tape and Vinyl Matching Application Guide lists all appropriate application tapes in our product line. Paper tape and clear tape have their own columns. In most circumstances, more than one transparent or paper tape alternative is available. There are five or more in some cases. These are usually organized by the maker and sorted by price. The purchase should not be construed as a recommendation for one brand or product over another.

So much for context and summary. Would you please click here to view and download the updated guide, which includes instructions for using our new EnduraMASK MHC 160G and MHC165 grid transparent tape? Both are ideal for use in the sign business and crafts. If you’re not sure why one tape works better than another or need some assistance deciding between five possibilities, our Beginner’s Guide to Transfer Tape on the Sign College Blog is an excellent place to start.

Transfer Tape for Crafts and Hobbies

SignWarehouse is pleased to offer a wide range of craft and hobby transfer tapes, all of which feature a pre-printed grid pattern for easy measuring and application, making them perfect for a wide range of craft and hobby projects. The pre-printed grid pattern on this type of tape aids in the application of vinyl. Even if the grid isn’t completely aligned on the graphic, it can still help you lay it out straighter than if you didn’t have one and had to guess. Here are some options for craft and hobby transfer tape that will work well for your projects.

  • EnduraMASK 160, 160G, and 165 
  • MT80P ORATAPE
  • Liner tapes 2668 and 2670

EnduraMASK MHC 160 is a transparent tape with a grey grid imprinted on the face film, whereas EnduraMASK MHC 160G has a grey grid embossed on the face film. EnduraMASK 165 is the same great tape with a yellow siliconized release liner layered on top. A red grid is printed on the liner, which facilitates registration and has a few additional advantages.

Other Vinyl Transfer Tape Ingredients

Substrates are important. It would help if you examined the substrate when determining the transfer tape to use for a given work, in addition to the recommendations in the book. Keep in mind that “cut vinyl” is intended for use on smooth flat surfaces such as glass and aluminium. The adhesives used by vinyl producers work well with these substrates. Rough or porous surfaces lower the effective contact area between the vinyl’s adhesive and the substrate, making applying the tape more difficult.

The bond between the tape and the vinyl’s face film is stronger than the link between the vinyl’s adhesive and the rough substrate, hence using a high tack tape with a low tack vinyl on a rough surface usually fails.

Is it better to be wet or dry? The guide’s suggestions are all based on dry application. Adding application fluid can significantly weaken the binding between the vinyl adhesive and the substrate, making the application more difficult to finish. This is especially true of acrylic-adhesive vinyl.

Follow these simple instructions if you need to use application fluid:

  • It’s best to use it sparingly. You risk weakening the vinyl’s adhesive and causing the transfer tape’s adhesive to detach from the face film if you use too much fluid.
  • Once the image is in the desired location, use your squeegee to remove any extra fluid beneath the masked graphic. 
  • Before attempting to remove the transfer tape, give the vinyl adhesive a few minutes to set up.
  • Clear tapes don’t function as well with app fluid (see why), but they can be appropriately utilized. As little fluid as possible should be used. Then use a squeegee to absorb any extra liquid quickly.
Beyond Cut Vinyl

Even though many sign makers purchase digital printers to eliminate the need to cut and weed vinyl, transfer tape still has a place in the printed graphics sector. When putting cut vinyl lettering to a car, the vinyl is not handled directly or by itself. The app tape protects and strengthens it. Now that you’ve made the switch to digital printing, the world is your oyster. The overlaminate film replaces application tape for adding vehicle wraps or floor graphics. However, if you sell a sign printed on 2 or 3 mil vinyl without lamination, you may find it challenging to manage the installation without straining the print.

Transfer tape gives the vinyl other body and rigidity and removes some of the stress from the process. Use medium tack adhesive to avoid removing any uncured ink. Read everything there is to know about it.

You’ve probably heard about how simple it is to add clothing decorating to a sign business if you’ve kept your ears to the earth. The majority of the procedures are identical to what you’re already familiar with when it comes to vinyl signs and graphics. Several thermal transfer applications require transfer tape, most of which are digitally generated transfers. You can’t use your EnduraMASK or R-Tape products for heat transfer appliqués, unfortunately. In a heat press, these tapes aren’t happy. Either they’ll leave a residue on the garment… or they’ll dissolve. Neither position is ideal. Heat transfer tape is required for print-and-cut T-shirt transfers. Let me tell you something. 

There’s one less ‘FAQ’ now that you have the SignWarehouse Transfer Tape and Vinyl Matching Application Guide. Your vinyl and tape selections will complement each other like peanut butter and jelly, rather than a ham and peanut butter salad. The guide will be updated regularly.