Great alternative to kapton tape for holding hot end electronics together.

Something I have found to be a pain is the kapton taping up the heater and thermistor to the nozzle of the extruder, Even though the kapton can take the temperature, it is annoying to undo when I need to clean the head and it is difficult to make tight enough that the thermistor leads don't abrade and eventually short, plus it just takes a few tries to get everything taped up.

Happily, I have found F4 tape (called rescue tape some places) which is just amazing stuff. It is very stretchy silocone that sticks to nothing, except itself, and it does so strongly and permanently (pretty much bonding into one piece.) plus it can handle 260 degrees so is fine for direct contact with the hot end. I have been just taking a small strip of it and stretching it around the hot end and it holds everything in place deforming around whatever strange shape your hot end takes. and to take it off, just a swipe with an exacto knife and it pops off without leaving any residue. I have been printing ABS with it at 215 degrees and it seems good as new.

This is my new favorite material. so handy all over. It's holding my z-motors down too. Just thought I'd share for anyone else who is getting annoyed with kapton and is looking for other high temperature tapes.

Thanks for the tip - I'll have to try and find some!

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garyhodgson.com/reprap | reprap.development-tracker.info | thingtracker.net

Interesting. Do you know any on-line shop that would deliver it internationally ?

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Most of my technical comments should be correct, but is THIS one ?
Anyway, as a rule of thumb, always double check what people write.

@DeuxVis - I don't know where you're based, but I'm planning to order this from amazon.de, which I believe is the same kind of product: [www.amazon.de]

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garyhodgson.com/reprap | reprap.development-tracker.info | thingtracker.net

Ah, thanks. amazon.de should deliver to me (France here), gonna try.

I found some on ebay too : [www.ebay.com] but it's based in USA.

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Most of my technical comments should be correct, but is THIS one ?
Anyway, as a rule of thumb, always double check what people write.

Bah, won't deliver from germany

I found this one that I can order : [www.amazon.fr]
No mention of working temperature but this is a product designed for firemen, I'm going to give it a try.

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Most of my technical comments should be correct, but is THIS one ?
Anyway, as a rule of thumb, always double check what people write.

I received the one from amazon.fr cited above,, the package details says it stands 260°C and 8000V, looks like the same stuff.

And it's translucent, great to see if what happens.

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Most of my technical comments should be correct, but is THIS one ?
Anyway, as a rule of thumb, always double check what people write.

Hi all.. Just to add to this if your having trouble finding this tape. The actual name for it is "self vulcanising tape". We used to use one on aircraft in the military and we called it greenline tape due to the green line running along the middle of the tape that denoted the minimun 50% overlap requied for good vulcanisation.

Hi. Very interesting - have been looking for alternatives too.
Ordered a roll on eBay UK today.

good info, hate dealing with kapton tape.