Focus wheel tape - adhesive choice?

[Smok3y]

I have a question about your focus wheel range tapes and how you stick them to your wheel…

When I set up my first FT rifle, I just used scotch tape to tape a piece of paper to my wheel, marked it up, removed it, got my wife to mimic it in Photoshop and clean it up and taped the new one on again, it works great. That being said, the tape folding over the edges doesn’t look great. I like the idea of having the digital copy in case something happens to the original. I figure it is paper and we are outside, chances are it will need to be replaced eventually.

I am about to setup my second rifle and will probably start out the same way or use painters tape or something for the initial setup, but I am going to want to clean it up and print a new version.

What do you all use to stick the paper to your wheel? I see many people use a sticker or tape initially and handwriting and don’t take this extra step, and that is fine. I just like the idea of having a digital backup that can quickly replace it if needed, and would love a cleaner look.

Thanks!

 

[Franklink]

Pin stripers tape, at a place like Auto Zone, Napa, Oreilly, etc.

Comes in many colors and thicknesses. I put that on first, make my marks with pencil, finalize my marks through as many sessions as possible, and then copy and paste printed numbers (think ransom letter) onto the wheel. Cover it all in thick packing tape and razor it to clean edges. Doesn't fully waterproof it, but helps.
'
There are computer programs to make a very professional looking tape for wheel too. I think Eric Sanders at scopewerks.com has one. I've personally never used the programs, as it looks like lots of fiddling with print ratios and settings to get it to print accurately.

 

[lbc_PSI]

You can try this...

SFAX Docs - Pinwheel Software

Archery Balistic Software, pinwheel software, ontarget, on target, on target software, software for archers, SFAX, OT2, OT2Go, archery software, arrow selection, sight tapes, arrow spine, archery ballistics

www.pinwheelsoftware.com

The round scope wheel tapes are really not much different from archery sight tapes.

 

[DeadEyeNC]

I just use white electrical tape and a sharpie. Nothing fancy. If I need to tweak it I either tape a piece over the part that needs it or replace the entire thing.
I use a strip of paper to get my rough markings. Peal away one end that was taped, apply my electrical tape and transpose my markings from paper to tape. Low tech on a high tech Red Wolf!

 

[Smok3y]

You can try this...

SFAX Docs - Pinwheel Software

Archery Balistic Software, pinwheel software, ontarget, on target, on target software, software for archers, SFAX, OT2, OT2Go, archery software, arrow selection, sight tapes, arrow spine, archery ballistics

www.pinwheelsoftware.com

The round scope wheel tapes are really not much different from archery sight tapes.

That could work! Sort of what I was thinking of. Don’t care about the software portion, but I like the details at the bottom for the homemade tape. I saw it mentioned Avery labels of some size as well. I’ll probably stick with the homemade version, but I am going to look up those labels anyway.

 

[Smok3y]

I just use white electrical tape and a sharpie. Nothing fancy. If I need to tweak it I either tape a piece over the part that needs it or replace the entire thing.
I use a strip of paper to get my rough markings. Peal away one end that was taped, apply my electrical tape and transpose my markings from paper to tape. Low tech on a high tech Red Wolf!

Yeah. I have seen yours in person, and noticed you just handwrite it on there. It also looked like you mark the distances with the holdover instead of the distance. I wondered how you knew what the range is, but I don’t guess that matters!!!! It made me rethink how I want to do my wheel on this rifle and my Thomas.

 

[BC]

I have a question about your focus wheel range tapes and how you stick them to your wheel…

When I set up my first FT rifle, I just used scotch tape to tape a piece of paper to my wheel, marked it up, removed it, got my wife to mimic it in Photoshop and clean it up and taped the new one on again, it works great. That being said, the tape folding over the edges doesn’t look great. I like the idea of having the digital copy in case something happens to the original. I figure it is paper and we are outside, chances are it will need to be replaced eventually.

I am about to setup my second rifle and will probably start out the same way or use painters tape or something for the initial setup, but I am going to want to clean it up and print a new version.

What do you all use to stick the paper to your wheel? I see many people use a sticker or tape initially and handwriting and don’t take this extra step, and that is fine. I just like the idea of having a digital backup that can quickly replace it if needed, and would love a cleaner look.

Thanks!

Green frog tape, or good masking tape around the wheel, cut off at the edges with a razxor blade. Overlap the ends an inch pr so, and after marking on the tape with a colored sharpie, spray the tape with clear varathane. Use some clear fingernail polish to cover the edges of the tape. Works great and lasts forever, even in the rain.

 

[gonzav71]

Double sided tape from any office supply store.

 

[bvan]

Electrical tape and a sharpie. I prefer yellow tape and the sharpie let’s me write my numbers big so I can see them without my cheater glasses and the contrast is good.

 

[scotton]

I like using a strip of paper. Let's me use finer lines. I cover it with clear tape when it's set. I used to use white bandage tape but the numbers would smear pretty badly. Another nice thing about using paper is when you are setting it up, you can use pencil. Then put a couple of reference marks on the side of the wheel and transfer the numbers to a new piece of paper. I can write much more legibly at my desk than sitting on the ground with a gun in one hand and a Sharpie in the other.

 

[Feinwerk]

As an alternative, Look in the electrical section of the home store for a book of self adhesive wire markers. These are pre-printed letters and numbers, usually high contrast black numbers on a tough white fabric adhesive tape, that you can peel off in strips that are normally used to wrap around the circumference of a wire to identify it. You should be able to score and separate individual numbers using a razor blade or exacto knife on the card backing right in the book and lift the numbers with tweezers for placement.

They have a good long-lasting adhesive. For best results sticking tapes to a surface, first clean it with rubbing alcohol and let it dry.

This gives you a clean look with neat numbers.

You can also make tiny index marks with a silver sharpie on your scope wheel and then place your yardage numbers next to the index mark. To transfer for future reference, wrap a flexible tape around it and make a table with the linear distances that you can record or just make matching marks on your tape from the original index marks on the wheel.

I think this would work for scope turrets also. In that case you can also count the clicks from your zero reference point and record the clicks in a table to remark the turret anytime; dial the clicks and apply the new numbers.

I've never done this just brainstorming some ideas, sounds neat.

Feinwerk

 

[scotton]

I'm not great at arts and crafts. Rather than spend money on stickers or tape, I would just buy ScopeKnob for $25. My printing skills are much higher than my collage skills.

 

[Smok3y]

I am going to just try the simple double-sided tape method for the final install. That should work perfectly well.

It requires a lot more work to create the initial clean tape, like I have done on my first rifle, but I like the look.

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

Sharpies work for me