Blue Masking Tape

Blue Masking Tape I tried have tried a few generic blue masking (painters tape) with no success. Kapton is touch and go with out a heated bed. Then I saw this roll down at the engineering store today which looks the 3M/scotch brand labelled as the one to get/works. See attached photo's. My question is, does this look like the stuff you get up in North America? It is labelled Scotch Blue painters tape for multi-surfaces #2090. https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,153965#msg-153965 Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:49:52 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,169107#msg-169107 Re: Blue Masking Tape https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,169107#msg-169107
1. Peel off any old blue tape from the glass platter. Try to peel it off as clean as possible.

2. Clean the glass well with cloth and acetone. There should be no streaks on glass once acetone has dried.

3. Put new blue tape on.

4. Press tape firmly down with hard roller. I bought a 50mm one from an art store for about $15USD. The reason being is I had tape peeling away from glass at one stage because I had not pressed it down firmly/evenly. Photo of it attached.

5. Lightly wipe blue tape surface with acetone.

6. Print on it.

Probably not necessary to change blue tape every time, and you can wipe over it with acetone if you are not looking for high precision parts.
However the tool maker in me forces me to measure parts when they come off and I find this process helps slightly increase the repeatably/accuracy of parts.]]> willworkforplastic Tantillus Sat, 01 Dec 2012 05:09:14 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,162218#msg-162218 Re: Blue Masking Tape https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,162218#msg-162218 j.samuels Tantillus Tue, 23 Oct 2012 01:05:13 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,162141#msg-162141 Re: Blue Masking Tape https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,162141#msg-162141 Sublime Tantillus Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:19:30 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,162114#msg-162114 Re: Blue Masking Tape https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,162114#msg-162114 searched "3M 2090 United Kingdom" and got a ton of hits. here's one of the first:
[www.3mselect.co.uk]

Not sure why/how it works, but imagine it's mostly due to material and particularly the surface finish.

@glyn
I personally tend to replace my tape after each print unless I'm making very small parts that pull off easily. I use the 3 inch wide 3M 2090 tape for about 90% of my prints and it's quick to replace since nothing needs to be lined up - just cut a piece and slap it down on the middle of the bed. See attached pic.]]> Eric Young Tantillus Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:34:58 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,162112#msg-162112 Re: Blue Masking Tape https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,162112#msg-162112

Quote

What is the best source for blue tape?

I got mine from B&Q]]> glyn Tantillus Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:23:17 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,162055#msg-162055 Re: Blue Masking Tape https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,162055#msg-162055
The part is sticking so well that sometimes it is difficult to get it off, particularly if the part is small to get a grip on. I think if we keep the first layer height bit high (>= 0.4) it is easy to pull it off.

I was using hotbed and kapton before, played with different settings for hotbed T and layer height, never managed to print large part (> 1hr print time). With above solution the result is predictable; no worries for wrapping or knocking off in the middle of the print.

Putting small width insulation tape is bit tedious so thought of trying out Masking Tape. I grabbed Unibond White tape from ASDA. Result is it doesn't stick at all. Though wiki link suggest that [www.reprap.org], colour is not important here. I have not found so called blue tape in UK stores (ASDA, Wilkinson, Maplin, Robert Dyas).

- What is the best source for blue tape?
- Anybody have any success with other make of masking tape which is easily available in UK high-street stores.
- What is it that is responsible for PLA sticking on blue tape, is it colour, tape texture, or tape material? Why all masking tape not giving the same result?]]> ngajjar Tantillus Mon, 22 Oct 2012 06:08:01 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,160756#msg-160756 Re: Blue Masking Tape https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,160756#msg-160756 I am still on my first application of tape but I presume you need to replace the tape now and then.
How long does your tape last?

Quote
willworkforplastic
I think I will also try laser etching a piece of glass

I tried using frosted glass and some of the pieces stuck so well I had to knock them off with a hammer and took chunks of glass with them. Judiciously spaced laser lines might work better.]]> glyn Tantillus Mon, 15 Oct 2012 04:37:01 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,154098#msg-154098 Re: Blue Masking Tape https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,154098#msg-154098
Just as a side note I think I will also try laser etching a piece of glass, and see how that goes. Basically forms micro scratches/cracks on the surface might be a good way of getting the material to stick, and then no more tape consumables. Somehow I think it might end in disaster though.......]]> willworkforplastic Tantillus Thu, 13 Sep 2012 03:28:26 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,154023#msg-154023 Re: Blue Masking Tape https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,154023#msg-154023 Sublime Tantillus Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:53:42 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,153999#msg-153999 Re: Blue Masking Tape https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,153999#msg-153999 -------------------------------------------------------
> That's exactly what I use. Try wiping it down
> with some isopropyl before printing. I can't get
> cheap filament to stick to fresh tape otherwise.

Isopropyl works OK, but I get much better and consistent results wiping it with acetone. It makes the tape surface matte, the PLA sticks better with less warping, and the bottom surface of the part is much smoother when the part is removed from the bed.]]> Robots-Dreams Tantillus Wed, 12 Sep 2012 11:16:34 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,153996#msg-153996 Re: Blue Masking Tape https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,153996#msg-153996 pokey9000 Tantillus Wed, 12 Sep 2012 10:07:09 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,153971#msg-153971 Re: Blue Masking Tape https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,153971#msg-153971 NewPerfection Tantillus Wed, 12 Sep 2012 05:02:32 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,153965#msg-153965 Blue Masking Tape https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?279,153965,153965#msg-153965
Then I saw this roll down at the engineering store today which looks the 3M/scotch brand labelled as the one to get/works. See attached photo's.

My question is, does this look like the stuff you get up in North America?

It is labelled Scotch Blue painters tape for multi-surfaces #2090.]]> willworkforplastic Tantillus Wed, 12 Sep 2012 04:17:02 -0400