As the subject line shows, why does this painter's tape work? I've tried others but only this one worked. Why? Does anybody know? As far as I could feel when touching the tapes was that Scotch was a bit more "dry". p.s. I'm printing with PLA https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,70396,70396#msg-70396 Fri, 04 Sep 2026 13:55:07 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,70396,70426#msg-70426 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,70396,70426#msg-70426 MichaelT Plastic Extruder Working Group Thu, 13 Jan 2011 09:18:31 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,70396,70407#msg-70407 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,70396,70407#msg-70407
It would be an interesting experiment to put PET tape on top of a good insulator and see if PLA with then stick to it without heat.

If you have a heated bed then glass is by far the best material to build PLA on. 100% reusable and perfectly flat.]]> nophead Plastic Extruder Working Group Thu, 13 Jan 2011 04:59:30 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,70396,70402#msg-70402 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,70396,70402#msg-70402
My best guess is the surface is porous enough the let some of the molten plastic seep into the fibres and gain mechanical grip. Perhaps other types have a closer weave of fibres.

Before blue tape was discovered we used to use Balsa wood. Again the plastic seeps into the wood and then sets, locking it down. The low thermal conduction of the wood allows the plastic to stay molten longer giving it time to seep. The downside is that it does not peel cleanly and leaves a woody bottom surface.]]> nophead Plastic Extruder Working Group Thu, 13 Jan 2011 04:41:14 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,70396,70396#msg-70396 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,70396,70396#msg-70396
p.s. I'm printing with PLA]]> MichaelT Plastic Extruder Working Group Thu, 13 Jan 2011 03:35:10 -0500