I finally get why everyone raves about FrogTape over the cheap stuff

I painted my living room trim last weekend and decided to test both sides of the tape debate. The cheap blue $2.99 roll bled through on every single line I tried. I had to go back with a tiny brush and fix like 15 spots where paint seeped under the edge. Then I switched to FrogTape for the second window and actually pressed it down hard like the box says. Not a single bleed anywhere. The green stuff costs 3 times as much at like $8 a roll but I saved at least an hour of touch up work. I think the real trick is you have to wipe the surface clean first and really burnish that edge down. Has anyone else had luck with the cheaper tape or am I just bad at applying it?

2 comments

2 Comments

james9951mo ago

Read somewhere that the secret is actually in the adhesive technology, not just the tape color. The expensive stuff uses a special polymer that reacts with the paint to form a seal. Makes sense why burnishing it down is so critical - you're basically activating that seal.

margaret991mo ago

Tbh that polymer thing makes total sense. I've noticed how the cheap tape leaves a gummy residue no matter what, while the good stuff almost seems to bond into the clearcoat when you burnish it.