4 ms·

I learned about this recently. I was also told that it can be removed very easily with isopropyl. I wanted to buy some but I could only find it in large quantit

I learned about this recently. I was also told that it can be removed very easily with isopropyl. I wanted to buy some but I could only find it in large quantities from industrial suppliers. Also on Amazon with lots of reviews warning that it's a counterfeit product. I wonder why 3M wouldn't want to sell it to consumers.

daniel_reetz 5y ago
If you're in the US, Home Depot sells 1" wide VHB in small rolls for about $20. It's branded as Scotch Mount Extreme (or similar). The tape industry has an interesting structure. Companies like Bron and 3M create giant webs of tape and put them on very wide rolls. These rolls are sold wholesale to "converters" which are companies that slice up the rolls into smaller rolls and different shapes for different applications. Most converters will work with you to make a custom roll of tape - some will even package it for retail - but a company like 3M has no interest in selling you 20 feet of VHB when they can sell 20,000sf to a company that will package and distribute. I love tape and I'm glad to see this post here.
sound1 5y ago
Depends on geography. It is available in India (and from local manufacturers with same quality but different brand)
radicality 5y ago
I've once went on an Amazon-buying tape rabbit hole, and have had good luck with this store on Amazon (TapeCase) - https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/CE5D8D53-88AA-466E-BF16-52686EFBBC32 https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/CE5D8D53-88AA-466E-BF16-5.... You can buy few different kinds of tapes from 3M cut down into normal sizes. I bought some VHB 4910 clear mounting tape, and some VHB RP25 foam mounting tape. Here's a doc where you can read more about the different kinds, I never knew there's so many! You can then pick&chose whatever works best (say adhesion to metals or plastics, or say low resistance to solvents so that you can easily remove it etc) https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1015904O/3m-industrial-adhesives-and-tapes.pdf https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1015904O/3m-industrial-a...
starky 5y ago
As someone that has tried to remove VHB with just about every trick in the book. I call bullshit on iso-propyl helping that much. It is pretty expensive, but Uline sells it by the roll.
- exmadscientist 5y ago
  I have had some decent success hitting it with flux remover (specifically one with active ingredients of Vertrel XF plus trans-1,2-dichloroethylene). But that might have just gone after the substrate.
zrobotics 5y ago
Check auto parts stores, specifically ones that also sell refinishing supplies and paint. A very similar product is also available from hobby shops, and is sold as 'servo tape'. This is very commonly used to adhere trim and accessories to vehicles; in a former life I was a mechanic at a 4WD shop that also sold truck accessories. We used this to attach those plastic bug deflectors you see on truck hoods, and never had any issues. The main thing is, the surfaces need to be EXTREMELY clean. Wipe down with IPA, let dry, then wipe down again with a fresh cloth and more IPA. I'm also calling BS on alcohol removing this stuff, I have tried that unsuccessfully. I did have luck with goo-gone and a scotchbrite pad, but that was very difficult and time consuming. This is a permanent adhesive.

daniel_reetz 5y ago

If you're in the US, Home Depot sells 1" wide VHB in small rolls for about $20. It's branded as Scotch Mount Extreme (or similar). The tape industry has an interesting structure. Companies like Bron and 3M create giant webs of tape and put them on very wide rolls. These rolls are sold wholesale to "converters" which are companies that slice up the rolls into smaller rolls and different shapes for different applications. Most converters will work with you to make a custom roll of tape - some will even package it for retail - but a company like 3M has no interest in selling you 20 feet of VHB when they can sell 20,000sf to a company that will package and distribute. I love tape and I'm glad to see this post here.

sound1 5y ago

Depends on geography. It is available in India (and from local manufacturers with same quality but different brand)

radicality 5y ago

I've once went on an Amazon-buying tape rabbit hole, and have had good luck with this store on Amazon (TapeCase) - https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/CE5D8D53-88AA-466E-BF16-52686EFBBC32 https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/CE5D8D53-88AA-466E-BF16-5.... You can buy few different kinds of tapes from 3M cut down into normal sizes. I bought some VHB 4910 clear mounting tape, and some VHB RP25 foam mounting tape. Here's a doc where you can read more about the different kinds, I never knew there's so many! You can then pick&chose whatever works best (say adhesion to metals or plastics, or say low resistance to solvents so that you can easily remove it etc) https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1015904O/3m-industrial-adhesives-and-tapes.pdf https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1015904O/3m-industrial-a...

starky 5y ago

As someone that has tried to remove VHB with just about every trick in the book. I call bullshit on iso-propyl helping that much. It is pretty expensive, but Uline sells it by the roll.

exmadscientist 5y ago
I have had some decent success hitting it with flux remover (specifically one with active ingredients of Vertrel XF plus trans-1,2-dichloroethylene). But that might have just gone after the substrate.

zrobotics 5y ago

Check auto parts stores, specifically ones that also sell refinishing supplies and paint. A very similar product is also available from hobby shops, and is sold as 'servo tape'. This is very commonly used to adhere trim and accessories to vehicles; in a former life I was a mechanic at a 4WD shop that also sold truck accessories. We used this to attach those plastic bug deflectors you see on truck hoods, and never had any issues. The main thing is, the surfaces need to be EXTREMELY clean. Wipe down with IPA, let dry, then wipe down again with a fresh cloth and more IPA. I'm also calling BS on alcohol removing this stuff, I have tried that unsuccessfully. I did have luck with goo-gone and a scotchbrite pad, but that was very difficult and time consuming. This is a permanent adhesive.