Tool Tip - Indispensable Tapes

by Judy Larson

Like many jewelry makers, I use a LOT of tape and store it in one of the deep drawers of my work desk. This is the only drawer in the work desk that is regularly cleaned and not over-stuffed. Because tape is "sticky", dust and other contaminants introduced to the drawer could attach to the tapes and interfere with the adhesive qualities. The only other things stored in the drawer are my dust masks.

Instructions

It is safe to say that painter's tape is part of every jewelry maker's tool arsenal. We each may reach for it for different reasons and use it in different ways, but none of us want to be without it. It would be wonderful if painter's tape was available in different widths, but a craft knife with a retractable blade can cut deeply through the wheel of tape to obtain the most often used widths. Here, a 1" wide wheel is cut to ¾" and ¼" widths.

Judy Larson's Tool Tip - Indispensable Tapes - , General Education, , tool tip indispensable tapes

Tape dispensers are a must for me. I gift all the jewelry I make so make a lot of giftable packaging using clear double-sided tape. I recently received a broken labradorite cabochon in an order. The flash was too pretty to lose. Double-sided tape held it together on a card until the glue set. I will work on some designs to cover the seam but will not gift this one as it is not in pristine condition.

Clear tape is used as a bead stop at the end of bead stringing wire as well as on the ends of bracelet elastic while designing.

Clear packing tape adhered to both sides of a design on a piece of paper can make the paper stiff enough to turn into a template or stencil when cut out. It will not last forever, but if a design will only be used a few times, it will be fine.

With the backing still on opaque double-sided carpet tape, cut a piece to the desired size. Adhere it to the work surface before removing the backing-It is very aggravating to try to remove the backing before adhering it! This tape can provide just enough adhesion to gently hold a piece in place to work on it. Since it is opaque, it is easy to see so is easy to find the corner to pull up when removing it from the work surface.

Finger protecting tape is sticky, but not too sticky. Wrapping it around the fingers before working on small parts makes those pieces easier to hold onto. When using a flex shaft to file and polish, pieces can become very warm. The tape provides a bit of a cushion against the heat. That extra layer of tape over the fingers protects the skin when you inadvertently become too aggressive in filing or sanding. The ends of this tape disappear when formed around fingers, so the only way for me to remove them is with a pair of scissors. Finding the end on the roll is also difficult, and sometimes impossible, so I fold it over three times to make the end easier to find. Another idea from Carol, my proofreader, to easily find the tape end would be to use a large paper clip or the plastic tab from a loaf of bread stuck under the end of the tape.

Materials

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Tools

Finger Pro Tape - 1

POL-255.00

POL-255.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $2.95
Gold Club Price: $2.21

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Scotch 0.94 Inch Painters Tape for Taping Wires Together

G13-5

G13-5
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $5.97
Gold Club Price: $4.48

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Category: General Education
Technique(s): General Education

Reviews

Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!

Tool Tip - Indispensable Tapes

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