Scotch ATG

[strokebloke]

Does anyone have any experience of/comments upon Scotch ATG guns, please?
Are they easy to use?
Are they best kept away from?
Could you manage to run your business without one?

Any advice will be much appreciated.

[easypopsgcf]

Total waste of time and money............you can(with a little practise) use a roll of double sided tape as well as if not better than one of those guns........far bigger rolls, far cheaper, far better . Peel the release from the tape roll, keeping the adhesive part on the roll, pull the release paper to drive the roll , using the other hand to steer it.
I can see a short video coming along soon

[Gesso&Bole]

I would definitely say that it was a vital piece of equipment. Can't stand the 'finger lift' tape myself, but buy one of the more expensive guns as the cheap ones will make you cross.

So will the expensive one when you try to load the tape the first time!

But you will get over that and learn to love your gun

[Roboframer]

This is the one you want - if it's not the one you meant anyway, I've got three, one for each side of the bench and a spare that's been in it's box for donkeys and I'm not even sure where it is now! Couldn't do without it - the hinges on the cover need modifying (my two in use lost their covers ages ago) but other than that no problem.

3m tape gun.jpg (39.53 KiB) Viewed 3927 times

[framemaker]

I think an ATG is a very useful bit of kit, only been using one for the last couple of years and wish I had got one when I started 18 years ago!

[Roboframer]

I consider most uses for ATG tape temporary though and back-up with PVA. An exception would be when making mount slips flush, but then the slips are sealed by taping them to the flush-making material as well and if the thing was going to be provided/displayed un-framed, I'd back that up with PVA too.

[strokebloke]

Thank you all, for your input.
At this stage I'm often usure whether my ability/inability is due to the suitability of what I'm attempting to do; or merely my ineptitude.
(I'm much more comfortable with the Fletcher 2100 now, but found it immensely cumbersome and awkward when I first started using it.)
I asked the question about the gun, because I saw one being used on a Valiani Ascot mat cutter video, during a demonstration of producing a double mount, and thought "that looks a good piece of kit."
So I went on the net, found a deal (on the Scotch ATG 700 shown) which included 4 rolls of tape for £23, and bought it.
It arrived yesterday and I've been spitting nails ever since
As you say Jim, loading the 1st roll was something of an adventure.
Then after about 1/10th of the way into the roll the backing strip snapped and I found it necessary to be quite inventive to reload it.
I put that roll to one side when the backing tape snapped for a 2nd time: on the basis that maybe it was a 'duff roll', and put a new one on.
Same thing happened.

By the evening I was beginning to get the hang of it, but.......

It appears that I have to persevere.
Perhaps Scotch ought to rename it 'The Framers Challenge'

Jack

[Jonny2morsos]

I have two of the ones Lion sell at £12.17 +VAT and they are OK. On the wall is a diagram showing the loading and I still have to look at it after years of using them. Basic priciple I find is when it looks wrong it is right! One time I had to Google Youtube and follow a video.

As others have said don't consider it permanent as the adhesive dries out in time so back up with some PVA.

Your local supplier, Tawnycraft sell the tape. Page 10 of their price list and I find the non branded one pretty good.

[strokebloke]

Thanks John.

[Nearlygotitright]

I have one and I think it's definitely worth buying. It mrans that your DS tape is immediately to hand and clean and tidy. It's also fast to use. Occasionally it can get a bit irritating if the tape catches on the topside of the aperture in the case, but that's easily fixed. I wouldn't want to apply this stuff by hand.

[strokebloke]

I have used the gun on three occasions today ~ without mishap.
So it obviously is a case of 'practice make perfect' [or at least, competent]
I will persevere.

[Not your average framer]

I have two Scotch 700 ATG guns, (one for each width of tape), but I use much more finger lift tape than ATG tape. Finger lift tape is significantly cheaper, but I also stock the finger lift tape in various different widths, which I use for different purposes.

Although I use much more of the finger lift tape, the ATG tape is much faster to apply and saves time messing about putting those little bits of release paper in the bin. If speed of work is your priority then go for the ATG!

[Ray]

I'm a relative newbie to the forum (and framing). I've used both and the guns are so much quicker once you get the hang of loading. Definitely glad I bought one. I picked mine up on eBay with 3 rolls of tape for a good price - new I think about 25-30 quid.