Edge Tape

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Hey guys
Just wondering what your opinions are for edge tape on paddles?
There are loads of different types out there and I'm working with someone to make a new custom one so need some info.
The last thread I found about tapes was from 2013, so an updated thread of opinions would be much appreciated!
If you could also include what sort of price you're wanting to pay for them? If there is a current problem with your favourite tape then please mention this as we can work to improve this flaw with current designs.
Thanks!
 
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I am using those cheap thick foam tapes from alliexpress. I bought 20 of them for 3$. They saved my blade from small bumps so i guess they work. So I guess at this price point you might have hard time competing.

What you can improve upon is aligning print on them. Those super cheap ones have sometimes have half of the print on the bottom and half on the top. I don't mind it since i use them for protection purpose only.
 
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I like this kind of edge tape:

IMG_2517.jpg

IMG_2518.jpg

But if I was to choose something else, it might be this:

https://www.amazon.com/trueGAFF-Adh...qid=1579045462&s=office-products&sr=1-12&th=1

.5" Gaffers Tape. Enough tape to use on the edge of about 1,000 rackets, lots of colors to choose from, .5" (half an inch) is the perfect width, 30 yards (90 feet, 27.43 meters, 2743 centimeters), cheap enough so you could buy several colors, does not have branding, writing or advertisements on it so you could write your own thing if you wanted it to say something.....the list goes on.

But I just like my blades naked. No fuss. I am okay with dings on my blade. I let my blades wear the dings like badges of honor. And they remind me of the fun my blades and I had together. The dings tell a story that my blade can wear to consistently remind me of the good old times we have had. :)
 
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I first came across that .5" gaffers tape in a NYC art supply store called Pearl Paint that has since gone out of business. It was right near Robert Chen's old club in China Town back when it was at 484 Broadway near White Street. They used one roll for months building blades they sold to customers.

Then after, I heard Baal make the same basic recommendation on this forum. I believe, at Pearl Paint, back then, one roll was $2.00. And I believe the roll had considerably more than 30 yards of tape. :) Not that anyone could ever need considerably more than 30 yards of edge tape.
 
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HAHAHA! That's the same edgetape I like Carl. It's called: "Naked No-tape"



View attachment 20555

View attachment 20556

But if I was to choose something else, it might be this:

https://www.amazon.com/trueGAFF-Adh...qid=1579045462&s=office-products&sr=1-12&th=1

.5" Gaffers Tape. Enough tape to use on the edge of about 1,000 rackets, lots of colors to choose from, .5" (half an inch) is the perfect width, 30 yards (90 feet, 27.43 meters, 2743 centimeters), cheap enough so you could buy several colors, does not have branding, writing or advertisements on it so you could write your own thing if you wanted it to say something.....the list goes on.

But I just like my blades naked. No fuss. I am okay with dings on my blade. I let my blades wear the dings like badges of honor. And they remind me of the fun my blades and I had together. The dings tell a story that my blade can wear to consistently remind me of the good old times we have had. :)[/QUOTE]
 
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HAHAHA! That's the same edgetape I like Carl. It's called: "Naked No-tape"



View attachment 20555

View attachment 20556

But if I was to choose something else, it might be this:

https://www.amazon.com/trueGAFF-Adh...qid=1579045462&s=office-products&sr=1-12&th=1

.5" Gaffers Tape. Enough tape to use on the edge of about 1,000 rackets, lots of colors to choose from, .5" (half an inch) is the perfect width, 30 yards (90 feet, 27.43 meters, 2743 centimeters), cheap enough so you could buy several colors, does not have branding, writing or advertisements on it so you could write your own thing if you wanted it to say something.....the list goes on.

But I just like my blades naked. No fuss. I am okay with dings on my blade. I let my blades wear the dings like badges of honor. And they remind me of the fun my blades and I had together. The dings tell a story that my blade can wear to consistently remind me of the good old times we have had. :)
[/QUOTE]

There ist a few different gaffers tape. I‘m looking for some unprinted tape and I know Tesa in germany makes a very good product but I don’t know wich model is better:

https://www.tesa.com/en-us/industry/tesa-4661.html
https://www.tesa.com/en-us/industry/tesa-4651.html
https://www.tesa.com/en-us/industry/tesa-4671.html
https://www.tesa.com/en-us/industry/tesa-4657.html
 
says Spin and more spin.
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There ist a few different gaffers tape. I‘m looking for some unprinted tape and I know Tesa in germany makes a very good product but I don’t know wich model is better:

https://www.tesa.com/en-us/industry/tesa-4661.html
https://www.tesa.com/en-us/industry/tesa-4651.html
https://www.tesa.com/en-us/industry/tesa-4671.html
https://www.tesa.com/en-us/industry/tesa-4657.html

They are all probably fine. 4651, 4671 and 4657 look like they have fancier coatings on the cloth tape. The standard acrylic coating is all I would get. But the fancier acrylic coatings would be more resistant to things like heat. :) Maybe bangs and dings as well. :)

But I would just get 4661 with the standard acrylic coating.
 
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The bottom blade in the pic, Carl made me be cameraman when he built it.

Yep. That is the Tibhar/Nexy Kim Jong-Un, oops, I mean Kim Jung Huun, blade with Nexy Karis-M rubber. TTD's spell check just tried to change Nexy into Sexy. :) And that is a pretty sexy setup. :)
 
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i dont use edge tape mostly because i am too stingy to spend a single cent on something i am too lazy to apply on my blades :p

regarding dents and scratches, i dont mind them much. i tend to think of them as battle scars they've received after going through many battles. the scars give the blades its own character and soul.

i would be lying if i say that i wouldnt be concerned everytime i hit my blade against the table though. scars are one thing, your blade snapping in half another, especially when i use 1-ply hinoki.
 
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I use 1/2 inch gaffer tape I buy from Amazon. It is a perfect edge tape. Protects both blade and rubber. It is incredibly cheap and one roll has lasted me five years so far, at least. Splurge! Get a couple of rolls in different colors. (Mine is boring red).
 
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