Painter's Tape As Concertina Baffles

[ladyhealer]

Hi All,

 

As an artist, painter's tape often comes in handy for my various projects. It occurred to me that I might be able to reduce the sound of my 18 button Englishconcertina by using a strip of painter's tape on the two "lower" baffles which are normally obscured by my hands.

 

I simply cut two strips to fit the area into more or less band-aid shapes and gently adhered them to cover the two "lower" baffles which are normally obscured by my hands.

 

Valentina's sound was beautifully reduced by half without warping the sound or by sounding muffled.

 

It seems to work perfectly WITHOUT marring the finish (which is ostensibly what painter's tape is designed to avoid). When I remove the tape, I will adhere it to a piece of wax paper, fold the paper over the top of the strips, and put it into my kit bag for use at a later time.

 

Hope this Blue Tape Trick is useful for others as it has so marvelously worked for me.

 

I got a dog and his name is Blue. (Photo below Valentina).

 

[alex_holden]

If this is the same stuff we call 'masking tape' in the UK, watch out for it becoming difficult to remove after it has been in place for more than a few days.

[ladyhealer]

No. It is definitely NOT masking tape! It is PAINTER's tape. It is designed to have a MUCH MUCH looser hold than masking tape.

Here is why:

"[unlike masking tape] Blue painters tape is designed for extended use on a surface. It will release easier even if exposed to sunlight. Blue tape is available with different ranges of contact time; normal blue tape - up to 7 days and extended contact blue tape - 2 weeks or more."

 

I believe most concertina practices, gigs, and jams, last LESS than 24 hours!

 

I have been peeling and checking the Blue painters tape I used on my concertina and it has not seized up yet (6 hours still unmarred by tape: See photo attached). In my last note I suggested removing the tape for reapplication when needed and storing the used tape on wax paper.

 

Thanks Holden for caring to comment!

 

6 hours still unmarred by tape. See photo below.

Edited March 9, 2014 by ladyhealer

[alex_holden]

I stand corrected. Not encountered blue painter's tape before.

[chris]

I used it for masking some ceiling lights prior to painting - real pain to get it to stick!!

[ladyhealer]

It is very popular here, Holden. I use it in my mural work, to protect areas that I have already painted and of course areas that I don't want to paint. It comes off easily. It's great for trying to paint a clean, crisp line.

 

Holden, just want to let you know that the original baffle tape is working fine without marring. I won't be leaving it on!

 

Edited March 11, 2014 by ladyhealer