The Best Tape for Sealing Comic Book Bags (I Tested Every Kind)

[@danfoley2442]

I've bagged thousands of comics in both poly and mylar using 3/4" Magic tape, and would happily do so again. The trick is to fold over the end of the tape to make about a 1/2" pull tab for removing the tape. I tear off about 2-3/4" of tape from the dispenser and fold over the end, leaving about 1-3/4" of adhesive exposed, then apply the tape horizontally along the middle of the flap edge to seal the bag. The tab makes it easy to later remove the tape. A piece of tabbed tape removed from a poly bag will be pretty flat and can be reused, whereas tape removed from a mylar bag will be too curled to reuse. But no biggie, tape is cheap. When packaging books for shipping, blue painters tape is definitely the way to go. I prefer the 1.4" width, and here again I fold over the ends of the tape to make it easy for the recipient to remove it. I agree with another commenter that painters tape is not suitable for long term use on comic bags. The stuff is intended to be left on walls and other surfaces for only a few hours or days per the manufacturer's instructions, otherwise clean removal becomes dicey.

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

Thanks for the tips! I am curious to see how the delicate painter's tape holds up over time. I may be doing a follow-up in a few years. I find that the magic tape I used many years ago basically now adheres firmly to poly and is very brittle. I think pretty much all tapes of tape have a shelf life

[@ventura6988]

I use magic tape, I bought comics that had been used for decades and the magic tape still worked. I'm from Spain and it's the same brand of tape and it doesn't leave residue, at least the one we have here.

[@davidallen8891]

I'm a painter's tape man. I use the wide blue kind and I add notes for the books on the tape.

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

Good man, that's what I like to hear :)

[@socom18psp]

I have been using scotch double sided tape for over 10 years its great. I usually put a glove on and press down onto the tape so it sticks to the back of the bag and is just sticky enough to hold down the flap. The tape is photo safe so it's acid free and has never caused me any issues.

[@jaieroc]

In case anyone is wondering.. hockey clear tape does not easily come off of a poly bag after 10 years. Haha. Great video. Thank you for making the sacrifice haha.

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

It actually still hurts to think about it, even though it was an already-damaged dollar bin book lol

[@TheodoreM-wp6cs]

Try the green painters Frog tape

[@LifeLongCaboose]

The issue with painters tape (what i have been using for a long time) is the adhesive gets really gluey overtime and slides off and leaves really hard to remove residue. I have noticed this in other hobbies where i use painters tape. Not ideal for long term storage. But good if you replace it every so often and for comics you plan to go back and read. But use the delicate pink stuff (like you said). But for long term storage I still prefer Scotch tape, as the adhesive goes bleed off and go gluey. Still kind of ruins the bag.

[@fletch3538]

Whatever tape I use I put at an angle with just a small piece of the tape holding it shut. That way you can get your finger under the flap of the bag then slide over to the direction of the angle of the piece holding it shut. Then I have the flap open and can peel of the rest with no damage. Thanks for the video I love learning new stuff

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

That's a great point, thanks for commenting! I do the same thing when tape is being a bit difficult or looks like it might rip.

[@Cincinnatijames]

For 30 years I have not used tape on the personal collection. I never have to worry about tape pulls. After a small time in the box the flap will stay folded forever. You could probably precrease the flap by running a straight along it edge it but I just tuck the flap when I put in a box. The main reason stores use tape is because people are constantly pulling them out and stuffing them back in but I'm the only person that only goes through mine (and it's not like I go through it that often).

[@versewonderstrikes5353]

I use those color coding label circles. They are small adhesive and they aren’t tape at all. They are perfect for comics.

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

I've tried those, but they seem to become permanent after they've been on for a while.. if you know of a specific brand that doesn't adhere to poly and mylar please let me know and I'll give them another shot

[@MrTOM845]

@@ImproveCollectingComics yeah tried those after seeing it recommended on some other channel and they are terrible,ended up destroying my bags in the end.

[@Collecto_Mania]

A really interesting video buddy . Good to see your channel growing

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

Thanks to help from great folks like you! 👍

[@carlonbass]

Thats some sweet plumber's tape! 🪠🚽

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

I agree, its plumb fabulous. Thanks :)

[@carlonbass]

@@ImproveCollectingComics 😆 Really enjoy your content. Had to revisit the earlier stuff

[@frankk1050]

I just ordered a $900 old Spiderman comic from Ebay and while removing it from the plastic bag the worst that could happen happened! While removing the comic from the bag the two pieces of exposed tape stuck to the front of the comic cover! I panicked and pulled up on the tape which removed the ink and left two white spaces. I was in shock because the comic had been in pristine condition and within minutes of receiving it I had already damaged it. Fortunately I was able to salvage the damage somewhat by putting the tape back on. My recommendation when sending comics in the mail is not to seal it at all with any type of tape because eager dumbells like me can make these type of mistakes. At the very least use a type of tape that can be easily removed from old parched paper. Maybe the delicate painter's tape mentioned in this video?

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

Oh man.. so sorry that happened. Tape is the devil :(

[@wagsmags]

As a retired painter who specialized in spray work I used all types of tapes for decades. These days I sell publications. All tapes are prone to have inconsistencies from roll to roll. As well, their properties vary from brand to brand. Shelf life affects the adhesion and tensile strength of the film the adhesive is on. From time to time a company like 3M may change adhesive coatings on same model tapes in production due to raw material or supply shortages. The roll you bought last week may be different from the new roll. With respect to "delicate painters tape" each & every brand is completely different. They can get pricy too IE: "Frog Tape" Yellow. They can be thin making them good for spray painting color breaks but that makes them harder to snag and peel off. Many of them have a chemical under the edges designed to react with water so they seal their edges when a painter goes over them with latex paint. I used to wipe them with a wet cloth to seal the edges on color breaks. Shelf life of tape is short particularly if stored in a warm environment. You should replace all tape once a year if top performance is necessary. This is why I would NEVER buy ANY tape on Amazon. It may not be fresh or could have been stored or transported in freezing or hot temperatures. I suggest choosing the one tape you can get locally that suits you. Buy it from a brick & mortar retailer like a paint store or Home Depot. They manage a fresh stock of inventory. Some brands may even have a Best Before Date you can check before buying it. Generally, but not always, blue tape is made for exterior use. It can be thicker and have more adhesion than green painter's tape. It needs to stick on dusty stucco etc. The green interior painters tape is usually thinner and, if fresh, easier to peel. Because it is not as strong, it's shelf life is shorter than blue tape making it harder to get off later. Again, this varies from brand to brand. For the publications we sell we use 3M #2093EL Multi Surface Painter's Tape. It's the right thickness, has a long shelf life, and it is easily removeable for 2 or more years. It has an "Edge Locking" feature but it doesn't seem to be a problem. No matter what you kind you choose be sure to buy only fresh tape and test them out for yourself.

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

Very cool, thanks for all the great info!

[@danielmaturin-wt1wc]

Jim, you should try Magic Tape:wall safe. It is a blue label. It is made by scotch…for me it is hassle free. I sound like a robot, but I wanted to get to the point. Thank you (great video fyi)

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

I did look into that type, but some reviews said it can leave a residue. I was afraid that meant it might stick more. However, I am sure that it is still better than regular magic or scotch tape. Therefore, I just bought some and will test it out. Worst case, it doesn't work out and I just give it to the kids. Thanks for the suggestion, I may do a video on the results!

[@danielmaturin-wt1wc]

@@ImproveCollectingComics that is awesome, I’m really curious to know what you think of it. Please let me know. I hope 🤞you like the tape. I have been collecting for 30 years and I thought what would be the next step? I stumbled across your videos recently and they inspired me to get into cleaning and pressing. So I’m SUPER new to this area of the hobby. Ordered my press two days ago. I’m telling you this so you know your videos are helping and encouraging people. So thank you.

[@d1138vader]

I use dollar tree painter tape. Barely sticks to Mylar or poly but does the job. Also, can peel it easily off comics without even noticing it was there

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

I'll check that out. Thanks for the tip!

[@d1138vader]

@@ImproveCollectingComics also just remembered. I have found that the scotch wrapping paper tape to be the best of the scotch types. Doesn’t curl when taken off Mylar. Comes of poly and Mylar easily

[@discover6396]

Dollar store painters tape sucks after a year in my experience. It comes off in pieces and that was only after a year. I'd hate to see what happens in 5 to 10.

[@d1138vader]

@@discover6396I have come to realize this with all painters tape. Especially on poly. I’m sticking to scotch gift wrap tape. Haven’t had any issues with that

[@discover6396]

Have you had good luck in the gift wrap tape? I just ordered the delicate/removable painters tape recommended on this video but I wonder if it will end the same as the dollar store painters. What has been your experience on the recommended one from here?

[@jimstienbarger2015]

Great video. Very helpful

[@BackForwardPunch]

May I suggest artists tape?

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

Please link to what you recommend, I'll give it a try

[@Jay-qv8hq]

I've used double sided tape and it worked great but I got a different brand and it fused with the bag it ripped both sides I might as well have glued it shut

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

LOL yeah.. I know the feeling.

[@chackokhan]

So I don’t use any of those types of tape when bagging my books anymore especially after having the experience of having tape stick to a 1-2 books while getting signatures at a Comic-Con. Thankfully those books were ok but, that was nerve racking. I now use “removable tape” on all my books. The adhesive might not be as sticky but it’s a nice to have. It’s more similar to a post it note. When using it with Mylar it’s nice because the bag’s crease still maintains its shape.

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

Please give me an Amazon link the type you mean, I'd love to test it out

[@chackokhan]

Just incase the link above gets deleted by KZbin. It’s Scotch Removable Tape 1/2” Post-it Technology (811) with a dispenser. I have also purchased it in Staples (bricks-and-mortar) and probably OfficeMax stores as well.

[@chackokhan]

@@ImproveCollectingComics I definitely would love to know your thoughts on it. Will probably take you a couple of months to get a good sense of how well it works. I will say it's best too make sure the surface of the mylar bag is clean I know they can generate some static electricity to attract dust.

[@chackokhan]

This is probably not the best idea, would using a hairdryer or heat gun on the tape before removing it help cause less damage?

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

Yes, there are methods involving heat to remove tape. This video is more about when you accidentally touch a book with tape and it pulls off.. which tape is most likely to not cause damage.

[@ChrisCoupland-cy3vv]

This is a great review, but one also has to consider long term storage. I think we all know what masking tape is like after 10+ years.

[@MisterLuu]

I guess you are new to painters tape. Try the same but let's say on your poly bags on the time of replacing them. Or Mylar. Let's say even two years. Good look taking a painters tape off :) You would be kissing scotch back. Painters is great. For short term and shipping. Nothing else

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

Thanks for the tip! I'll do a follow-up in a couple of years if I have an issue. So far, the stuff has been great. I guess going tapeless might be the way to go, since there are no good tape options if painter's tape is a fail.

[@D00M3R-SK8]

the thing is people are using that green magic tape, and it's the wrong one. you want the removable magic tape in the blue box. that green stuff is incredibly adhesive. The blue stuff is perfect for the needs of sealing comic bags. It's a little bit more expensive, but will save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

Thanks for bringing this up, you are right. The wall tape is okay. I just wish they made it 1.5" to 2" wide.

[@D00M3R-SK8]

@@ImproveCollectingComics yeah the wall safe stuff is supposed to be similar. The one I got is called "removable tape" but it's a kind of Magic tape I think (it's made by the same company anyway)

[@D00M3R-SK8]

@@ImproveCollectingComics BTW you can get the removable tape in a bigger size in the UK, so I imagine you can get it in states as well. I'm not sure on the exact size, but they definitely do a bigger roll with wider tape as well.

[@Wiser1FOREVER]

Any tape put on the body of the bag will almost always be a problem when trying to remove it. A better test would be how easy to remove it from the flap as you would use it! I still would completely avoid packing tape for this test. It's blatant common sense that you never want to use it for comic book bags.

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

Thanks!

[@Wiser1FOREVER]

I'll stay with what I've been using! Incidental tape pulls can happen even with your painter's tape. Usually tape pulls happen when you're not paying attention to what you're doing & you usually will be surprised & likely react in a jerking motion that would be far different than your careful demonstration here. I always use cellophane tape & on occasion slipped & got a slight tape pull on a comic. Most of the time I only got a small piece stuck & was able to carefully remove it without damage. Your demonstration here is far too exaggerated. Removing the tape isn't always easy with the tape itself tearing, which at times may be a good thing. I just put another piece of tape on it after returning the book to the bag! The quality of the bag, not just the type of bag, can prove to be a factor too. A couple of days sitting sealed is also not a true test of how the tape with react over time. You need a few years for that. Sorry, but your video here mis-informs as much as it may inform on the do's & don'ts of tape use.

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

I've never once accidentally gotten tape stuck to a cover without realizing it and I don't think any collector is jerky around his or her comics, unless keeping them in good shape isn't a concern.. then they likely don't care too much about a tape pull. I can definitely do a test where I rip it off quickly, though.. and see which tape fairs best. But I don't think anyone would ever rip tape off their comic like a bandaid. The great thing about painter's tape is that it doesn't tend to come off in little bits and isn't designed to be permanently affixed to anything.. but yeah, of course always stick to what makes you feel comfortable. My demonstration was tape that had been stuck to books for several days BTW.. if it was unrealistic, it was because I didn't immediately take it off. If it can stick on a cover for days and still come off without damage, or minimal damage, I take that as a good sign. But yeah, feel free to do your own test and link the video here, I don't mind.. this is more of a conversation than some scientific test and I'm always open to new ideas.. I never said it's my way or the highway :p

[@Wiser1FOREVER]

@@ImproveCollectingComics Who said anything about ripping it off like a band-aid? You're misinterpreting my words. Of course, I'm not surprised that you're a bit defensive about my comments. Maybe my phrasing is off. What I was trying to describe is when I open a bag to pull out a comic & it slips out of my hold on it & the bag drops & part of the tape on the flap catches a piece of the comic. This has happened to me maybe 3 or 4 times in my 30+ years of collecting, with only 1 time where I wasn't able to remove it without a little tear on the book. When I used the words jerking motion, it was to describe how you might be holding something that slips out of your hand & your reflex is to grab it before it hits the floor/ground. I have on occasion removed the tape before removing the book out of the bag, when it was easy to do, but I'm normally very careful when handling my books.

[@21Million]

NO NO NO NO!!!! Don't use "generic blue painters tape" ! The best tape is the DELUXE "Scotch BLUE #2093" tape!!! Redo this video!!!

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

I'll try that out, thanks for the info!