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Permalink Reply by Caroleeena of Circles of Joy on March 24, 2010 at 9:25pm

I haven't had that experience. Hmmmm.... I do know you can't peel back metal tape. It stretches it. You're better off cutting it and placing a new piece on top to keep the trajectory right.

I'm not sure how a tape could be made that could change the angle of a hoop wrap. Maybe it could be. I just can't grok that. My hoop wrap issues could always be traced back to "operator error". I have experienced trying to pull a piece of tape back up and having one side stretch but not the other, which messes up the whole trajectory. I've had that a lot. And I've had bubbles from having too much tape exposed with the backing off. That's asking for trouble. As I've gotten better at taping, I've learned how to peel away the back, leaving the barest amount of exposed tape, then use the other thumb or index finger (depending on if I'm handing the tape over or under) to "windshield wiper" the tape onto the tubing, push down and moving back and forth to make sure there are no bubbles. Once I got this technique and the technique of handing off the tape from one hand to the other without stretching it or changing the trajectory or exposing too much backless tape, my hoop wraps started coming out perfect every time.

I did get a roll of bad metal tape one time though. The adhesive wanted to stick to the backing instead of the tape. It was almost impossible to use but I managed. (I treated it like it was ribbon thought I did have to occasionally remove adhesive from my fingers from messing with it.) That's the only bad experience I've ever had with a product from Identitape.

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Permalink Reply by Renae of (R)evolved Hoops* on March 24, 2010 at 10:48pm

I was thinking that if the tape was cut to width (which I don't even know if it is) and there was a bad blade it could cause stretching and wrinkling on that side of the tape. That "stretch" or "wrinkle" would change the angle of the tape as I was smoothing it around the hoop. I more or less tape in the same manner you explained, and I can usually find operator error too, but not so much tonight. I very well could just be having an off day, which is why I put the hoop down a long time ago and decided to come back to it tomorrow instead of getting frustrated. Nobody wants a hoop dripping in frustration! ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Caroleeena of Circles of Joy on March 24, 2010 at 11:56pm

How about this? If you cut the tape and pick up on the opposite end going the opposite direction, does it still happen? Seems like that should make a difference. (And I laughed hard at your "hoop dripping in frustration" ... like it's not going to experience that at some point in its hoop journey. Hehehehe. I say get used to it now baby! - Just joshing, of course. )

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Permalink Reply by Jane "Electric Blue" on March 25, 2010 at 2:20am

Have you taped with glitter or holo tape much before?

It behaves very differently to vinal tape because it does not stretch. I have used a bunch of different kinds of that tape and have found that igenerally have the same problem that you are having. So i think it is fairly normal

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Permalink Reply by BHoops* WhirlyGigz on March 25, 2010 at 5:14am

Recently I have received sparkle and prismatic tapes from identi-tape that peel at the edges and do not smooth down on the sides perfectly. Looks like it was cut wrong in the warehouse. I have also received a roll of tape before after unrolling was missing it's patterns in the middle. Identi-tape is usually pretty easy to work with if you contact them with the issues your having they will more than likely replace it and may even send you some free sample rolls.

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Permalink Reply by Renae of (R)evolved Hoops* on March 25, 2010 at 10:38am

Thanks BHoops! I will call them and see what they say... It's one edge of the tape that just won't smooth down right!

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Permalink Reply by serena on March 25, 2010 at 6:21pm

this is the story of my life. Well, my hoop taping life at least. I don't have too much of a potty mouth, but when I am taping hoops with anything besides wonderful stretchy go-where-you-want-it-to-go electrical tape, all of a sudden I have the worst sailor's mouth you've ever heard!

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Permalink Reply by PattyW on March 26, 2010 at 7:26pm

Serena, This sounds like what I go through sometimes when using decorative tapes. I've said some things that made me think..."I can't believe I just said that!"

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Permalink Reply by Megan of *From the Hip on March 26, 2010 at 2:21pm

I just got a roll of 1" glitter tape from them on Tuesday and it worked beautifully for me...it's so frustrating when it gets wonky! Hope you figure it out :)

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Permalink Reply by Renae of (R)evolved Hoops* on March 26, 2010 at 4:04pm

Just an update... I have contacted them and explained my situation. Being very honest that I can't say for sure that the tape is bad, but that it was really weird and there seemed to be an inconsitent edge.

They have been very appreciative of my input and asked me to send back the rolls so they can take a look at them. They will replace them if they have good rolls in stock, otherwise refund me.

The guy I was in contact with said that they really don't have any trouble with the holo tape, but they did have a problem with an entire log (before the tape is cut to width) previously and that they had heard about it from more than a dozen people.

After I re-examined the hoop I did notice that the first 6-8 inches of the first color I put down had a very noticible crease up on une edge... probably les than 1/8". That may have been what sent the spiral into major wokiness, but there weren't really any bubbles/wrinkles in that spiral and the spacing seemed really consistent. I should've probably just cut that length off.

Who knows... bad tap or bad day? Either way I am very appreciative of Identi-tape's quick response and willingness to help me out even though I can't be sure it's the tapes fault.

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Permalink Reply by PattyW on March 26, 2010 at 7:58pm

I had/have a problem with a HUGE roll of their red prismatic tape. (Why I ordered 330-foot rolls of several decorative tapes is beyond reasoning.) I don't expose a lot of tape at a time, as Caroleeena mentioned. But even with just a small amount exposed, when I pass it from one hand to the other and bring it back up to lay on top of the hoop, it snaps. I never pull or tug on it and it still breaks. The odd thing about it is...when it breaks...it doesn't break straight across. It looks like two puzzle pieces that you fit together...and, it's always in that same irregular pattern. I made the mistake of putting a comment about it at the bottom of my last order. If you've never done that...don't. They held my order for three days. When I didn't receive an email from UPS telling me when to expect my order, I called Identi-tape to ask what the problem was because none of the tapes were Out Of Stock when I placed the order. I got their voice mail and left a message. The guy emailed me about an hour later to tell me this:
Patricia,

We held your order while we studied the problem you mentioned and did find
that the red prismatic broke under tension somewhat easier than what is
normal. It is possible that other rolls were affected, perhaps some more than others.
We are actually closing out the large 330-foot rolls and only have a few left. The
only other prismatic we had trouble with was emerald green, where the
adhesive on a dozen or so rolls was faulty. We shipped your tape today and gave you
a sample roll of bronze mirror tape.

Oh how wonderful! I have a 330- foot roll of the emerald green prismatic as well.
Anybody want some tape?

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Permalink Reply by The CircularPhile on April 4, 2010 at 7:18pm

I get all my glitter tape from paperstreetplastics on ebay. Fast shipping, reasonable shipping charges, cheap tape. It is good quality, I've never had a problem taping with it. They have boxes of 6 in rainbow colors, or you can buy individual rolls.

http://myworld.ebay.com/paperstreetplastics/

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