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[Kernowcam]

I needed some making tape yesterday so raided my supply which has been sitting new for a year.
The blooming stuff had dried out and would not peel ok.

Tried heating in the microwave for 30 secs which revived the glue so it was peeling off both sides however leaving it to cool and the tape went back to normal / expected sticky ness.

[Gres]

It lasts much better if it's kept in a plastic bag. Will give the microwave trick a try though!

[kev]

Buy some new stuff!😁👌

[Wittsend]

Buy some new stuff!😁👌

 

.... and not several rolls of the stuff because it's cheaper 

[Kernowcam]

I had 3 rolls from Screwfix and it’s been sat I. The workshop.
It’s also a 25 mile trip to Screwfix and back and I needed 6” immediately.

[Sunny Jim]

Gentle warming on a radiator helps, it will stay warm and usable for some time. Yes, sealing rolls in bags helps preserve them, probably right up until about a week before you need them.

It is worse trying to remove some that had been in place for nearly 40 years!

Sunny Jim

[Wittsend]

Worth keeping the roll(s) in the house (warm) in a bag.

 

[w3526602]

Hi Alan,

Are you suggesting that car-boot sales are not a good place to buy masking tape?

I think there are difference between masking tape and parcel tape .... like the latter is intended to stick, so pulls the masked paint off.

602

[Wittsend]

No, I wouldn't buy cheap unbranded tape.

Masking tape is masking tape.

Not to be confused with that inferior tape used for decorating 

However I wouldn't expect a roll to last/remain sticky for years, whether in a bag or not.

 

[Porkscratching]

I had to bin a couple of rolls of decent tape that'd been hanging around too long, they'd kind of solidified and would just tear off in useless bits, I threw em, literally !
Quality does vary a, lot, I got a roll from a little DIY type shop as a replacement and it was rubbish, would hardly stick to anything... so much as I hate to pass up on a bargain, it appears masking tape is something worth getting in a decent brand

[kev]

And don’t leave it on whatever you’ve masked out, you will have trouble removing it after time.


Agreed with the above poster, get a decent brand.
Luckily I can nick liberate mine from work.

[oilstain]

I bought some blue masking tape (not cheap) about 3 years ago, kept in the garage, used some yesterday and still works well, as said don't buy cheap
Many masking tapes have a limited life