P3D silver tape alert

["David W. Kesner" <drdave@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I use silver mylar tape to both secure my film chips to the Spicer 
mounts and to seal the edge shut. I have been buying it from a 
local camera store who sells it under the "generic" brand name of 
ProMaster. I have not been able to find out who the actual 
manufacturer is. Anyaway the last roll I bought was on a different 
base that was almost three times as thick. It was the same stock 
number and price with no indication from the supplier of any 
change. I checked all the store's stock as well as three other of 
their stores. All were the same.

The problem is that the tape won't hold when folded over the edges 
of the mount. The base is too thick and "springs" back to its 
original flat shape. I didn't find this out until after mounting over a 
hundred slides and coming back the next day to see about 2/3 of 
them sprung open.

After some searching I have finally found another manufacturer that 
makes the thinner base. The company is Delta 1. They make a 
wide variety of photographic tapes. The silver mylar tape comes in 
1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" x 72 yard rolls. I paid $8.00 for the 1/4" and 
$9.00 for the 3/8". By comparrison the only other place I was able 
to find this tape was a drafting supply store who sold it as graphics 
tape under the brand name of chartpak and it was $7.95 for 1/4" x 
324". I like the 1/4" for securing the chips and the 3/8" for sealing 
the edge.

So, you just might want to check that next roll of tape before you 
leave the store. I do not know if this has been a problem with the 
mylar tape Reel-3D carries. I beleive all they carry is the 3/8". If 
someone knows perhaps they could post it.

Thanks for the time,

David W. Kesner
Boise, Idaho, USA
drdave@xxxxxxxxxx


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