Helicopter Tape

musto_skiff
musto_skiff Posts: 394
edited December 2008 in Workshop
I have brought a sheet of clear plastic film from my LBS to use as a chainstay protector.

It says 3M on the back.

Is this stuff safe to put on your carbon frame?

Given my recent experience with paint flaking I want to be careful about what I stick on next ....

Comments

  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    Most probably, the surface is lacquered just like any other type of frame (if it's painted). I got Bike Tape from www.biketart.com which is helicopter tape, looks almost invisible and it has stayed put really well. Probably similar to what you have. I won't be taking it off soon, but I don't anticipate any problems. I have put it on the chainstay on my Planet-X carbon, but also anywhere there could be cable rub.
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    It's safe to stick on but you will find it hard to remove.
  • Kléber wrote:
    It's safe to stick on but you will find it hard to remove.

    It's not the sticking on I am worried about; it's what happens if I have to remove it :shock:
  • Slow Downcp
    Slow Downcp Posts: 3,041
    If you do have to remove it, heat it up first with a hairdryer - it should come of a lot easier.
    Carlsberg don't make cycle clothing, but if they did it would probably still not be as good as Assos
  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    edited December 2008
    Isn't it called 'helicopter tape' because it was designed to stick onto carbon-fibre helicopter rotor blades, protecting then from damage caused by small stones, bits of foliage, etc thrown-up by the rotor downwash ?

    If it's good enough for a CF rotorblade,which at the tip is travelling at close to the speed of sound, it'll be OK on a bike
  • Actually real 'Helicopter Tape' is very dense indeed and costs over £100 a roll... Used to use it (very sparingly) on racing car bodywork, on sidepod and wing leading edges etc. I think ity would be over kill on a bike and unneccessary. A roll of clear fablon is a fraction of the price and more than adequate for something that isn't moving through the air more than 30mph most of the time.
  • Clear Duck tape from B&Q is what I've used before, tends tolift at the edges, peels off easily though so very easy to replace when needed.
  • 3m stuff is usually a safe bet as they are the market leaders in adhesives, maybe look on thier website to see if they explain any applications that won't work eg. carbon or try ringing them after new year to ask?

    3m is usally on the back of most good bar tapes and ive had 3m backed tape on carbon bars no problems before??

    hope this helps
    Carbon fibre, it's all nonsense. Drink beer. Ride a steel bike. Don't be a ponce.