Preferred Tape for Carpet
06-10-2013, 09:36 PM
#1
Preferred Tape for Carpet
I'm looking for some advice on which is the best tape to use on a roll-out carpet track for taping the rolls together and taping them to a polished wooden surface. This will have to be done every club meeting, so I'm looking for value for money, and so buying in bulk makes sense.
I've been told that gaffer tape is best, but which brand, and why? If you run a roll-out carpet track could you please relate your experience of different tapes, and if possible let me know where you order your preferred tape from. Thanks.
I've been told that gaffer tape is best, but which brand, and why? If you run a roll-out carpet track could you please relate your experience of different tapes, and if possible let me know where you order your preferred tape from. Thanks.
06-10-2013, 10:17 PM
#3
We set up and tear down in a basketball gym with a polished wood floor. I know exactly what you're doing.
1. The best tape we've found is 3M Tough Tape #L445. It sticks, it lays down smooth, and it's neither too thick nor too thin. We get ours in cases of 24 from Lowes: http://www.shopping.com/3m-188in-x-1...Bw==/info?sb=1
2. We do NOT tape to the floor. Our track is four 100' rolls. It doesn't move around too much, and over the course of the evening the cars stretch it out tighter and smoother. It's hard to believe until you actually see it happen, but it works. You'll want to let it float on the floor.
3. Heads-up: if your carpet is new CRC Fasttrack, for the first few meetings nothing sticks very well (including Gorilla tape.) There is some sort of light treatment, or maybe it's just left over from the manufacture of the rug, but it's like an oil or something. It only is really obvious when you try to tape to it. We've broken in two batches of rug over the years, and it was the same thing each time. About a dozen setups and teardowns and it wears off and/or evaporates. Keep taping it, as it speeds up the process at the seams, but do know that it's just a hassle at first. It gets better, but the first few times you'll be gnashing your teeth.
1. The best tape we've found is 3M Tough Tape #L445. It sticks, it lays down smooth, and it's neither too thick nor too thin. We get ours in cases of 24 from Lowes: http://www.shopping.com/3m-188in-x-1...Bw==/info?sb=1
2. We do NOT tape to the floor. Our track is four 100' rolls. It doesn't move around too much, and over the course of the evening the cars stretch it out tighter and smoother. It's hard to believe until you actually see it happen, but it works. You'll want to let it float on the floor.
3. Heads-up: if your carpet is new CRC Fasttrack, for the first few meetings nothing sticks very well (including Gorilla tape.) There is some sort of light treatment, or maybe it's just left over from the manufacture of the rug, but it's like an oil or something. It only is really obvious when you try to tape to it. We've broken in two batches of rug over the years, and it was the same thing each time. About a dozen setups and teardowns and it wears off and/or evaporates. Keep taping it, as it speeds up the process at the seams, but do know that it's just a hassle at first. It gets better, but the first few times you'll be gnashing your teeth.
06-10-2013, 11:45 PM
#5
We set up and tear down in a basketball gym with a polished wood floor. I know exactly what you're doing.
1. The best tape we've found is 3M Tough Tape #L445. It sticks, it lays down smooth, and it's neither too thick nor too thin. We get ours in cases of 24 from Lowes: http://www.shopping.com/3m-188in-x-1...Bw==/info?sb=1
2. We do NOT tape to the floor. Our track is four 100' rolls. It doesn't move around too much, and over the course of the evening the cars stretch it out tighter and smoother. It's hard to believe until you actually see it happen, but it works. You'll want to let it float on the floor.
3. Heads-up: if your carpet is new CRC Fasttrack, for the first few meetings nothing sticks very well (including Gorilla tape.) There is some sort of light treatment, or maybe it's just left over from the manufacture of the rug, but it's like an oil or something. It only is really obvious when you try to tape to it. We've broken in two batches of rug over the years, and it was the same thing each time. About a dozen setups and teardowns and it wears off and/or evaporates. Keep taping it, as it speeds up the process at the seams, but do know that it's just a hassle at first. It gets better, but the first few times you'll be gnashing your teeth.
1. The best tape we've found is 3M Tough Tape #L445. It sticks, it lays down smooth, and it's neither too thick nor too thin. We get ours in cases of 24 from Lowes: http://www.shopping.com/3m-188in-x-1...Bw==/info?sb=1
2. We do NOT tape to the floor. Our track is four 100' rolls. It doesn't move around too much, and over the course of the evening the cars stretch it out tighter and smoother. It's hard to believe until you actually see it happen, but it works. You'll want to let it float on the floor.
3. Heads-up: if your carpet is new CRC Fasttrack, for the first few meetings nothing sticks very well (including Gorilla tape.) There is some sort of light treatment, or maybe it's just left over from the manufacture of the rug, but it's like an oil or something. It only is really obvious when you try to tape to it. We've broken in two batches of rug over the years, and it was the same thing each time. About a dozen setups and teardowns and it wears off and/or evaporates. Keep taping it, as it speeds up the process at the seams, but do know that it's just a hassle at first. It gets better, but the first few times you'll be gnashing your teeth.
p.s. Do you also use CRC Clik Trak for barricades? If so how many of which packs would you recommend? And what's a typical Mod lap time on a 5-lane set-up on a track that size?
06-11-2013, 05:12 PM
#6
Our local track gets rolled out on race day and taped down. It's in a community centre but the floors aren't wood. They use your basic cheap duct tape to tape carpet to carpet (not to the floor) and then around the outside edge to the floor. It holds fairly well for club racing numbers. We also use their carpet for the Canadian Onroad Nationals which is on tile in a mall. With just under 300 entries this year we had a lot of traffic to deal with on the carpet and we don't mess around there. each strip of carpet is taped to the floor with cheap duct tape and then taped carpet to carpet using Gorilla tape. We've run that race 4 years now and Gorilla tape is by far the best one we've found. It isn't the most economical though and may not be worth it for club racing.
Mike
Mike
06-11-2013, 07:44 PM
#7
When you say each strip is taped to the floor with duct tape, how exactly are you going about that? Have you found any difference in grip between taping each piece down as compared to attaching each piece? We have a new track going in nearby and were looking at options for putting the carpet down. We have the advantage of not having to pull it up each meet.
06-11-2013, 09:42 PM
#8
We do not use Clik-Trak. We use square vinyl downspout, Losi dots, and some wood and plastic hardware we fabricate ourselves. All told, it's about 1/3rd the price of Clik-Trak, and in my very humble opinion, better in just about every way. This stuff: http://www.acehardware.com/printProd...iceLabel=Price
Here is our track build.
A fast lap for Mod 1/12th is in the 9's.
A fast lap for Mod TC is in the 11's.
Here is our track build.
| + YouTube Video | |
A fast lap for Mod 1/12th is in the 9's.
A fast lap for Mod TC is in the 11's.
06-11-2013, 10:12 PM
#9
Great video by the Seattle boys!
Last edited by Still Bill; 06-11-2013 at 10:30 PM.
06-12-2013, 06:05 AM
#11
Here is another video from Northern Ireland. We tape ours together using double sided tape stuck to the floor as we have had problems in the past with tape lifting during runs.
| + YouTube Video | |
06-12-2013, 07:08 AM
#12
Tech Adept
Gorilla tape, we tape the rolls together and then tape just the outside edge of the track to a concrete floor.
06-12-2013, 03:30 PM
#13
We at Rug Racers in the UK have tried many tapes over the years, and have come to the conclusion, that using masking tape 3 inches wide is by far the best, and is made by a company called 'Indasa' @ about £2 a roll when bulk buying, the trouble with this tape is that its buff in colour, and therefor stands out and is a bit harsh on the eye, and the track can then look like swimming lanes. I have found a company that will do a 3 inch masking tape in black, so therefor does not stand out like the buff tape.
When laying 8 rolls of 100ft rug, we tape one end to the floor, then we push out any creases, with a soil pipe, a hole in each end the pipe with 2 broom handles and 2 guys pushing from one end of the roll to the other end. Then we tape the outer edge to the floor, and the other edge to the floor, so that piece cant move, then we butt the next roll upto the the first piece of rug, then tape it to the first piece of rug, we carry out this process on every other piece of rug, this way the rug can float,as well as it is stuck very well to the floor.
I hope this helps
When laying 8 rolls of 100ft rug, we tape one end to the floor, then we push out any creases, with a soil pipe, a hole in each end the pipe with 2 broom handles and 2 guys pushing from one end of the roll to the other end. Then we tape the outer edge to the floor, and the other edge to the floor, so that piece cant move, then we butt the next roll upto the the first piece of rug, then tape it to the first piece of rug, we carry out this process on every other piece of rug, this way the rug can float,as well as it is stuck very well to the floor.
I hope this helps
06-12-2013, 05:32 PM
#14
When you say each strip is taped to the floor with duct tape, how exactly are you going about that? Have you found any difference in grip between taping each piece down as compared to attaching each piece? We have a new track going in nearby and were looking at options for putting the carpet down. We have the advantage of not having to pull it up each meet.
Mike
06-13-2013, 06:07 AM
#15
We at Rug Racers in the UK have tried many tapes over the years, and have come to the conclusion, that using masking tape 3 inches wide is by far the best, and is made by a company called 'Indasa' @ about £2 a roll when bulk buying, the trouble with this tape is that its buff in colour, and therefor stands out and is a bit harsh on the eye, and the track can then look like swimming lanes. I have found a company that will do a 3 inch masking tape in black, so therefor does not stand out like the buff tape.
When laying 8 rolls of 100ft rug, we tape one end to the floor, then we push out any creases, with a soil pipe, a hole in each end the pipe with 2 broom handles and 2 guys pushing from one end of the roll to the other end. Then we tape the outer edge to the floor, and the other edge to the floor, so that piece cant move, then we butt the next roll upto the the first piece of rug, then tape it to the first piece of rug, we carry out this process on every other piece of rug, this way the rug can float,as well as it is stuck very well to the floor.
I hope this helps
When laying 8 rolls of 100ft rug, we tape one end to the floor, then we push out any creases, with a soil pipe, a hole in each end the pipe with 2 broom handles and 2 guys pushing from one end of the roll to the other end. Then we tape the outer edge to the floor, and the other edge to the floor, so that piece cant move, then we butt the next roll upto the the first piece of rug, then tape it to the first piece of rug, we carry out this process on every other piece of rug, this way the rug can float,as well as it is stuck very well to the floor.
I hope this helps
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