How often should the Kapton Tape be changed ?

3D Printing
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1

How often should the Kapton Tape be changed ?

I found after some prints the Kapton Tape lost the ablity to get PLA struck on it. So I need to change it. Does this happens to everyone.

2

For PLA you usually use blue painter’s tape, but yes, it’s a consumable. kapton is most suited for ABS.

3

Try cleaning the Kapton to get more life out of it.

4

Just clean with alcohol. It should work fine until it tears, and I usually just keep moving my prints to avoid the tears

5

Will the PCB cleaning spirit/petrol/paint thinner work - Any idea.

6

Mineral spirits usually leave an oily residue, and it’s really bad on plastics. Alcohol is all you really need. You’re just cleaning the oils from your fingers and previous prints off. Sometimes if I can’t find alcohol, I just rub real hard with a paper towel

7

I use acetone to clean my kapton and have no trouble. I only print with ABS though. And now I don’t really clean my kapton so much as apply more ABS juice, in which case maybe I don’t need the kapton.