Does anyone use double sided tape?
I keep seeing references to the technique but I still doubt it will hold well enough.
If you do do you manage to get tape to stick to a sealed blank? How do you clean the wax off so the tape will stick?
Oh it will stick well enough alright. I have had to turn waste blocks off because I used too much tape and there was no way it was coming off by prying.
I have always used a faceplate for the initial turning since there is no need to worry about screw holes and it is among the safest ways of holding an unbalanced new blank. I shape the outside and the bottom which removes any wax and provides a smooth true surface for the tape and waste-block.
Hot melt glue also works well for waste-blocks and I now tend to use it in places I might have used tape. Note that hot-melt glue and tape like the wood to be more dry than wet although you can temporarily dry the surface with a heat gun. Be careful if you do this. CA glue (cyanoacrylate or "Crazy Glue") works better with damp wood.
Billh
See Bonnie Klein's tape #2 on bowls, cups, etc. for a demo on the use of tape.
I use d/s tape from Craft Supply and have never been disappointed (or surprised).
Jack Grube
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William, Double sided tape for turners will work well for small to medium sized, balanced, pieces. Just be aware that there are several types of double sided tape, and they are NOT created equal! Some looks like "Scotch " tape and I've had trouble with it. I think the problem with it is the very thin cross section that prevents full contact between the waste block and the work piece. There is another type that they use to hang light weight items on a wall. It is a thicker foam material that has adhesive of both sides. Some people use it and like it, but I think it allows the work piece to move too much in response to tool pressure. The tape you want is the type that is sold by Craft Supplies and Packard. It is a cloth based material with a strong adhesive, and it works very well. Try that and I think you'll be satisfied.
Ken Moon Webberville, TX
I was getting ready to order some ds tape from Lee Valley. Any comments regarding:
-Kevin
Yes, all the time...at least when I can find my roll of it.
"Well enough" for what? It holds well enough for turning, obviously, if lots of people (myself included) are using it. There are limits to any kind of holding technique, however. Heck, you can rip screws out of a blank, if you try hard enough.
You don't...well, actually, a blank should only be sealed on the ends, so the face shouldn't be a problem. I've never tried it, personally, so I'm not sure of the best way of taking the wax off. I'd guess that scraping, then maybe some ...(what the heck dissolves wax??) acetone(?) might do the trick. I'd probably try sanding it off, or running my electric hand plane over it. I normally just use regular lumber for this technique, so don't have to worry about wax.
Usually, when I've got a waxed blank of any size, I'll use my woodworm screw to hold the inside, while I turn a recess for my SuperNova jaws to grip into. You could do this to turn away the waxed area that you want to stick tape or glue to, though, and it should work well. If you don't have a woodworm screw you can make a simple screw chuck that works the same way.
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September 11, 2001 - Never Forget
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