7 Mistakes to Avoid When Using Adhesive Tapes - Hotmelt.com

01 Sep.,2025

 

7 Mistakes to Avoid When Using Adhesive Tapes - Hotmelt.com

Despite developments in the packaging industry and the number of economical options available for sealing packages, adhesive tapes are still a packaging staple for many companies and businesses. Because of the many varieties readily available in stores, adhesive tape is often used improperly, which can lead to frustrating outcomes for you or your customers. Avoiding these mistakes can help you maintain your company image and keep your customers happy.

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1. Not Considering Your Other Adhesive Options

Depending on the job you are looking to complete, there may be better options for you than adhesive tape. In comparison with adhesive tapes, hot melt packaging could save you time and money. In fact, packaging with hot melt shaves seconds off packaging each item. This makes hot melt more economical, but, when you consider that packaging with hot melt also requires less product than packaging with adhesive tape, the savings are even more substantial.

For companies looking to assemble and ship thousands of packages every day, these seemingly slight differences in price and time make a huge difference for your bottom line. You may also need a stronger bond than adhesive tapes can offer. Packages sealed with hot melt hold more weight than those sealed with tape, and they simply stand up better under pressure. Because it can be run continuously and does not need to be stopped for a refill, hot melt also makes more sense for use in fast-paced assembly lines. Depending on your project, epoxy adhesives, super glue, or water-based adhesives may also be a better choice for you than adhesive tape.

2. Using the Wrong Tape

Tape is not a one-size fits all option, despite how often simple packaging tape is used for jobs it has simply not been developed for. Anyone who has ever tried to seal a box with bondage tape knows well the importance of having the right tape for the job. No other tape has the reinforcing properties that filament tape offers, for example, and there is no safe replacement for electrical wiring tape. Most adhesive tapes are readily available online, and you can easily eliminate the hassle and frustration of a poorly sealed package by planning ahead to ensure you have the right tape for your project.

3. Taping to Dirty Surfaces

Adhesive tapes are simply unable to adhere properly to surfaces that are coated with layers of dirt, dust, or oil. Additionally, adhesive typically does not cling well to hot, wet, or cold surfaces, or the surface of corrugated cardboard, which is typically too porous for adhesive tape to create a proper seal. Before utilizing adhesive tape, make sure the surface you are working with is clean and dry, so the tape can seal securely.

4. Using Old Tape

Approaching any job with old, unreliable, cheap, or shoddy materials is a bad idea. Packaging projects are no different. You certainly do not want to be sending poorly packaged products to your clients, as products can even become damaged or lost as a result. The typical shelf life for an adhesive tape that has been properly stored and kept out of the sun is one year. However, some tapes are of lower quality and will not last even this long. Check the shelf life on your tape’s packaging and replenish as needed.

5. Choosing the Wrong Tack

A tape’s level of tack refers to how quickly it is able to form a seal with a surface. In some cases, such as laying carpet, high-tack is necessary. However, in instances where the tape must be removed, high-tack adhesive tape can irreversibly damage the application surface. It can also leave frustrating, hard-to-remove residual marks on glass surfaces.

6. Not Thinking About the End Result

For companies that want to maintain a professional, clean look for their packaging, using large amounts of messily applied and wrinkly packaging tape can damage your company image. Double wrapping for added security not only looks bad, but it can also be frustrating for your customers to try to open. Packaging with hot melt not only makes for a stronger bond but a more attractive one as well.

7. Using Adhesive Tape in Extreme Environments

Extreme temperature changes can have detrimental effects on the tack and appearance of adhesive tape. Cold temperatures can cause the adhesive on the tape to stiffen, which will cause it to lose stickiness. Hot surfaces have the opposite effect, and they will make the adhesive softer. This allows the tape to slip from its original positioning and lose the strength of its bond. Whatever your adhesive needs, shifting away from relying on adhesive tapes for your sealing and packaging jobs may be the right step for you and your business.

Adhesive Tapes: The Basics and Their Applications - SP Group

Builders, contractors, electricians, painters, and DIYers are no stranger to the power of adhesive tapes. These protection tapes have many applications, which is why they always come in handy for construction, renovations, and for everyday repairs and maintenance. They’re great to have in your toolbox, but which type should you get and where can you use it? Keep reading for answers! 

Adhesive Tape and the Science Behind It 

Adhesive tape is a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) laminated to a backing material, such as paper, film, or foil. It is used in many applications to bond or join objects together in place of fasteners, screws, or welding. 

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PSA works through physical reactions. It’s made from materials like silicones, acrylics, and rubbers, mixed with tacky resin to make it stick better. The backing is the side of the tape that faces out and won't stick to your fingers. An adhesive primer is added to help the glue stick better. To prevent the adhesive from sticking to itself when rolled up, it’s covered with an anti-cohesion material, usually polyvinyl carbamate. 

The layers are applied in large sheets, rolled up, and cut into the 1-, 2-, and 3-inch-wide tape rolls you buy at stores. 

Different Types of Adhesive Tapes 

Adhesive tapes come in different adhesion strengths. The common types available include: 

1. Single-coated adhesive tapes 

Single-coated adhesive tapes feature a backing with adhesive on one side. Packing tape is a great example of this, which is often used for sealing boxes, bundling items, and bundling materials. This type of tape is suitable for general-purpose applications, is easy to use, and comes in many varieties. 

It adheres to different surfaces like cardboard, wood, glass, metal, plastic, and paper. Here’s where you can apply it: 

  • In construction: Surface protection, such as window frames, door frames, furniture edges, and other edges from paint or dust during construction or renovations. A great example is this low tact frame tape. Single-coated adhesive tapes are also suitable for insulation and repairing frayed wires and cables using PVC silage tape
  • In home repairs/maintenance: Holding loose parts for appliances until they can be repaired, holding cracked or damaged wall panels, and adhering to torn pieces of wallpaper. Sealing small gaps around windows and doors using low tack tape. Fixing small leaks in automotive hoses or securing loose parts with duct tape

2. Double-coated adhesive tapes 

Double-coated adhesive tapes, or double-sided tapes, have adhesive on both sides. This allows two surfaces to be bonded together with the tape in between. For instance, you can use this tape to mount lightweight signs or fixtures on walls without the need for drilling or hardware. It’s also good for protecting surfaces as it causes less damage than traditional mounting methods. 

Here are its other uses: 

  • In construction: Mounting wall panels temporarily during installation, securing mouldings or trim without visible nails, and mounting safety or directional signs on construction sites. 
  • In home repairs/maintenance: Attaching hooks, repairing upholstery by securing loose fabric without sewing, and for displaying lightweight frames on walls so they won’t leave holes or cracks, among other things. 

3. Transfer adhesive tapes 

There’s a bit going on with transfer adhesive tapes in terms of how they look and work, but to put it simply: they have a thin adhesive film and a release liner. The liner peels off when applying the adhesive tape to the second surface. 

Unlike double-sided tape, transfer tape has just one layer of adhesive and no material separating the adhesives. Here’s where you can use it: 

  • In construction: Bonding materials (e.g., metal, plastic, or glass), mounting fixture, and attaching trim or moulding. A vinyl transfer tape may be better if you want more control or something that will last longer than regular ones, such as for temporary floor protection installation. 
  • In home repairs/maintenance: Labelling for organisation. Sticking laminate planks back down until you can apply a more permanent fix. For mounting lightweight light fixtures, ceiling decorations, and wall hooks. 

You never know what repairs you’ll need, so it’s always best to have all three types of adhesive tape on hand. If not, at least have one type from each category. 

For more options, give this guide a read next: The Builder’s Guide to Different Tapes. You can count on some of these tapes for quick fixes for your FR Floorgard Corry Board, correx sheets, and other projects! 

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