Glass, Wood and Plastic
Make sure to use the correct adhesive tape when you need to apply masking tape to glass, wood and plastic.
Don’t Be Careless
You should be especially careful when applying adhesive tape to untreated or coated wood surfaces. In these cases, the condition of the base coat plays a big part in deciding which adhesive tape and method of application to use.
What to keep in mind when applying adhesive tape to glass, wood and plastic:
Glass
tesa professional masking tape for glass
If the adhesive surface will be exposed to direct sunlight, for instance if taped to the interior side of a pane of glass, tape with UV-resistant acrylic adhesive should be used. Our tesa 4440 Precision Mask Outdoor masking tape is perfect for this application as it is UV resistant for up to 28 weeks and is a very thin flat masking tape to reduce paint build up on smooth surfaces
Wood
tesa professional masking tape for wood
With unfinished or finished wood, adhesive tapes with as little adhesion as possible should be used. Adhesive tapes should be removed in a slow, diagonal pulling motion to prevent tearing of wood grain or finish. In the case of mechanical strain, it may be a good idea to use an additional kind of tape, such as applying PVC tape on top of the lower-adhesion tape (double masking). Use tesa 4333 Precision Mask Sensitive here to prevent any damage to the surface below.
Plastic
tesa professional masking tape for plastic
In the case of plastic, you need to distinguish between new and old or weathered surfaces.
Experience has shown that due to chemicals expelled by plastic as it decomposes, weathered plastics are unforgiving as surfaces for adhesives.
In the case of plastic surfaces, softening agents contained in the adhesive tape occasionally bond to the plastic and cause discolouration.
In principle, therefore, it is recommended that adhesive tape be applied to plastics for a short time only. Even then, there are still some risks involved. Users should take note of the information contained in the technical data sheets published by the adhesive tape manufacturers with regard to plastic surfaces.
After the tape is removed, there may be superficial changes to weathered plastics. The weathered layer may come off when the tape is removed. As a result, the surface may have changed colour.
You can achieve a more uniform appearance with the remaining areas by cleaning the surface afterward with appropriate cleaning agents. Cleaning of plastic surfaces should therefore be included in the RFP and in the bid. Contractors can then work with principals to determine whether cleaning is needed based on the desired impression.