Are they terrible or am I using it wrong?

  • blattrules@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    The only way I’ve been able to get these things to work is to put my thumb on the tape roll so it stops rolling out and I can cut it with the blade part. I have historically had the same issue as you though.

      • scutiger@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        You shouldn’t need to do that, but a lot of people do.

        Instead, when you apply the tape, roll it away a little bit to get the end to stick, and then pull on it to unroll. When you’re done, press the flat end down and twist the tape gun into the tape to cut it cleanly.

        Once you’ve the the technique down, it’s very efficient.

      • blattrules@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        I felt the same way for the longest time and then I decided to try that. It’s probably like training wheels, but it at least works for me now.

        • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
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          4 days ago

          It’s supposed to be taped ‘to’ something by the time the blade is supposed to get involved. The object should be doing the holding of the tape unless it’s just super light.

          Still a bit annoying if you only need a length of tape not stuck to something, but then that’s precisely not what it’s designed for.

          • blattrules@lemmy.world
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            4 days ago

            My issue is that it was always the wrong angle no matter what I tried and would never rip on the teeth. Holding my thumb on the tape stops me from looking like an idiot and accidentally pulling way more tape out when I try to cut it.

            • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
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              4 days ago

              Ahh yeah, I’ve had plenty of issues with that too. I’ve no idea when it started to just work for me. I just started to give ‘er an angled yank and it started working. It kinda’ reminds me of the stories of how F1 cars perform. They have so much down force that you pretty much have to rocket through the corners to keep grip up. If you try to tip-toe up to the edge like with a normal car, you’ll just slide out before you reach peak performance, bacause faster means more grip.

              Like with the tape guns, I think some require you to be a bit rough with it and the little flappy plastic thing, or else it doesn’t bite enough to cut the tape.