Which best double sided tape for cars?

[Chromas]

Please don't use the 3M foamy stuff. It will NEVER come off properly. If you're gonna stick stuff to your car, choose a rubber based double-sided tape. That's what the workshops use to attach stuff like my Defi Controller and my Bass control, all without drilling any holes into my car (I hate drilling holes in my car).

 

It comes off very cleanly and the marks can be cleaned off with mild detergent. Good and easy stuff to use

[Chromas]

3M stuff is expensive. For the same price, go to the workshops and you can get a LARGE roll of rubber double-sided tape. Cheap and good stuff

[Cool_jazz]

Thanks for the info. I learnt something new today.

[Kgoh2262]

3M tape is a acrylic based technology - PSA (pressure senstive adhesive), if you are refering to one sold for heavy duty use. There are also some PU foam type from 3M but I think this can be identified as white foam but some yellowing perhaps around the edges of the roll.

 

Sticking tape to vinyl (interior dash board), you will have to get a tape that is plasticer resistant. As most vinyl are injected (or compounded) with a lot of plasticizer to make it softer and comformable. However, if you stick a normal tape, you will find that initially it sticks real well but after 2/3 months under heat and sunlight, what you use will come out or delaminated with patches of oily substance underneath the tape and the vinly. This phenomena is called plasticiser migration. Some of the 3M products are plasticiser resistant and are used for this type of application.

 

The IU unit : it is a clear 3M VHB tape. Product number is 4910. But probably you will not be able to get from DIY shop. May have to look more carefully when I go to any DIY again.

 

Basic Knowledge when comes to using tape or PSA material: Wipe surface clean first. If it is metal (car body), make sure you use IPA (iso-propyl alcohol), this will remove the wax. Wax is made of polyolefin and it is classified as a LSE material (low surface energy). Difficult to stick to. So make sure you clean the area you want to bond with IPA or solvents like acetone. But becareful with ACETONE, this may even remove the protective coating for your paint. But your tape will stick better.

The same goes for your dashboard. Remove what protective coating you put on before bonding. You can rewax the surrounding surface again after.

 

Rubber based adhesive. Typically this type of product may not last as long as an acrylic one which is more UV stable. You will find that a lot of masking tape in the market or DIY hardware store use rubber based adhesive. A good point to note is that never leave your masking tape for more than 24 hours or subjected to heat (if it is not meant for heat auto paint baking process). The longer you leave it the more residues either adhesive or the backing of masking tape tear off and leave a mess that is difficult to remove. For some type of paint like Dupont 3-1 type, the dried paint form a continous rubber layer so, if you remove your masking tape after the paint dry, ha ! you have re-paint again. Best time to remove masking tape is after an hour or so after painting. That way, you find a clean mask line and no over flow of paint to the masked area.

 

 

Removing adhesive residues : either rubber based or 3M acrylic foam:

1. If you have big chunk of foam try pulling them out laterally, slowly and stretching the tape. Depending how long it has been, for product that had been bonded for couple months , this should be done slowly and you should be able to lift out the tape without much residue. For older one, this will be more difficult but remove as much as possible. Then use solvent - IPA or Acetone. Use tissue or facial cotton or clean cloth soak up enough solvent then plaster over the area that has residue. The intent here is to soften up whatever organic residues here. Then scrub off with cloth. You should be able to remove any residue this way without scratching your vinyl or painted metal surface. Re-wax as necessary.

 

By the way, there is no such thing that sticks very well and come off very easily !!!

 

Hope this helps ....

[Vtim]

very good info & advice, I'll recommend to Moderator to put your posting under resource folder