A few questions regarding pallet tape

[Rockers]

Seems like removing pallet tape of our pallets is one of the most time consuming tasks in our shop.
At the moment we are using RTape Pallet Protek. To be honest it`s not an improvement over the tape we got from Newman. Both are terrible.
But then maybe we are doing things wrong, keeping it on for too long? We only change it once it becomes really an urgent matter which could be anything from every 2-4 month. The problem is worse on our auto then on the manual press.

I won`t be ordering the RTape pallet Protek anylonger but what is I have to look out for in pallet tape. Will a low tack appli tape do or should it at least be medium tack?
How about the frequency of changing it. Every couple of weeks, once a month or maybe even weekly?

And I`m very welcome to suggestions towards a product that has worked for you guys.

[ebscreen]

We buy the house brand of a local sign supply co. I would call it a low/medium tack. You don't need much
adhesive to keep it adhered. I've yet to see any other brand with enough of an advantage to make a difference,
and we've tried a bunch.

We change pallet paper probably once a week or at most every other. I would wager even if you aren't printing too
much that just aging that long is going to make removal difficult.

We'll heat up the pallets before pulling the paper if it gives us any trouble cold.

[Frog]

Almost every time someone has come on the boards with a tape removal problem, it's been on too long.
If I only go , a month or so, it comes off pretty cleanly for me.
That said, I'm gonna have a problem eventually with some specialty boards that I've just forgotten about.

eb, I guess you're using Denco stuff, eh? Those SOB's just went and moved to Benicia, just like Screen printing Products did years ago!
Us little local guys who like coming in for a $35 purchase now and then don't get no respect!

[mooseman]

here is what we do...
start with a clean rubber pallet.
coat it with a dilute mix of water based adhesive
add your pallet tape....this is intended to be a semi permanent base for ANOTHER layer of pallet tape, so add another layer or even two layers on that base layer of tape

pallet tape adhesive will kind of bond with the rubber sheet, that is the basis for the problem.
It however will not bond that strongly with another layer of tape and when it comes time to change it is a bunch easier to remove the top layer
All in all it is still a PITA all this actually does is reduce the size of the pain so to speak   WARNING.....if you need to remover that first layer you will need some lacquer thinner, a blow torch a jack hammer and possibly some TNT


mooseman

[alan802]

If you're using a reputable pallet tape and having issues with it not peeling off easily then there is a 98% chance you're leaving it on too long.  The only time we've ever had issues is when we leave it on for 2 months or longer.  We never have the issue with our adult pallets because we're changing those once a week but youth and sleeve pallets might go 4-5 months since we don't use them as often.  I try to stay on top of it and not let the tape sit on pallets too long but I'm sure all of you are in the same boat as I am, there is simply too much going on trying to run a shop by yourself.

[inkman996]

ONe thing not mentioned and is probably the biggest cause of hard to remove tape is the pallets them selves. The palettes that came with our brand press were terrible, you could not remove the tape ever, it ate into the actual surface of the rubber. These palettes used a different rubber than Action, M&R, etc. From what I found out depending on the composition of the rubber used determines how well it handles the tape, ours was a softer rubber so the adhesive penetrated to easily, we replaced all those garbage palettes with ones from M&R and Action which are a lot harder and white/cream colored. We never had a tape issue since then. If yours are more on the orange gold yellow side and feel softer than other palettes that could be your problem.

[Stinkhorn Press]

ONe thing not mentioned and is probably the biggest cause of hard to remove tape is the pallets them selves. The palettes that came with our brand press were terrible, you could not remove the tape ever, it ate into the actual surface of the rubber. These palettes used a different rubber than Action, M&R, etc. From what I found out depending on the composition of the rubber used determines how well it handles the tape, ours was a softer rubber so the adhesive penetrated to easily, we replaced all those garbage palettes with ones from M&R and Action which are a lot harder and white/cream colored. We never had a tape issue since then. If yours are more on the orange gold yellow side and feel softer than other palettes that could be your problem.

ding ding ding!
from our experience it is the RUBBER not the TAPE at the issue here.
you can use the cheapest, shittiest tape out there, leave it on too long and overcook it and it will still come right off the RIGHT rubber.

action sells it.
it comes on M&R platens. Probably some other brands too, but not all.
there is a direct source of the stuff if you're looking to not pay action level prices, but it's a secret club that gets that far in.

what's the secret formula? i dunno, i just pay action what they ask and get on with my life.

(i think - it's been a while, there is even a CORRECT side of the good stuff, but even using the wrong side is light-years beyond every other rubber)

[Frog]

ONe thing not mentioned and is probably the biggest cause of hard to remove tape is the pallets them selves. The palettes that came with our brand press were terrible, you could not remove the tape ever, it ate into the actual surface of the rubber. These palettes used a different rubber than Action, M&R, etc. From what I found out depending on the composition of the rubber used determines how well it handles the tape, ours was a softer rubber so the adhesive penetrated to easily, we replaced all those garbage palettes with ones from M&R and Action which are a lot harder and white/cream colored. We never had a tape issue since then. If yours are more on the orange gold yellow side and feel softer than other palettes that could be your problem.

ding ding ding!
from our experience it is the RUBBER not the TAPE at the issue here.
you can use the cheapest, shittiest tape out there, leave it on too long and overcook it and it will still come right off the RIGHT rubber.

action sells it.
it comes on M&R platens. Probably some other brands too, but not all.
there is a direct source of the stuff if you're looking to not pay action level prices, but it's a secret club that gets that far in.

what's the secret formula? i dunno, i just pay action what they ask and get on with my life.

(i think - it's been a while, there is even a CORRECT side of the good stuff, but even using the wrong side is light-years beyond every other rubber)

I have to say that from my own experience, although rubber tops can exacerbate the situation, even on naked boards, time is not a friend.
Although at least I can use a scraper with a little more enthusiasm than those with rubber tops, the tape still comes off in lots of small pieces, which is certainly not as easy as all in one complete.

[RICK STEFANICK]

We heat up the pallets and pull it when they are warm. Pulling it from corner to corner. Even with older rubber top pallets it pulls off firmly but clean. The heat really helps

[mt_signex]

I use R-Tape's 4075RLA, the RLA might be the difference? But, I can leave it on for 4-6 months without changing but change it more frequently if I print a lot of hoodies or other garments that leave a lot of lint.  I use a water based adhesive and flash on most jobs, the only time I've had an issue is when it was on toddler platens for 2 years, then it was pretty fun to remove 

[Maxie]

We have MHM's that have aluminum plattens.
We heat them before removing the tape and it peals off easily.
If you are having trouble pealing of the rubber maybe try putting on two layers of tape and pealing off the top one when you need to replace it.
How often you do this really depends on how much you print and maybe the glue you use to hold the shirt down.

[AAMike]

Our pallet tape comes from Fellers. I think they call it main tape. I buy 18 inch and 24 inch. They have a better price than some of the big supply companies. One rule we have is to pull off the tape before taking them off the press.

[bimmridder]

Another vote for Fellers

[Prōdigium]

Worked in several shops where we did exactly as mooseman did. Except we drew center lines and other pallet assisting lines like left crest guides on the base layer. When the pallet paper was being changed it was much easier as it tends not to stick to itself so much vs the pallet rubber.

But as some have already mentioned, if your leaving it on for a month and its a black fuzzy layer....your waiting too long, and that may even be effecting your print quality as well. Change it often, its still less costly (in time) than using solvents to clean the pallets and for sure its extending the life of the pallet, especially on manual wood pallets.

[mooseman]

Another thought comes to mind reading all the great replies.
General consus agrees that heat helps.
Thinking back what screws up our pallet tape moisture comes to mind.  Sometimes when we clean our pallets with the soap and brush or add water based tac that is too diluted our tape bubbles and puckers.
So the thought comes to mind to combine both heat and moisture. How would I try this......With the commercial steamer we use to condition garments ,it gets pretty hot and produces strong continuous steam might just kick ass and take names on the tape.
mooseman