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I got my ATG gun (the pink one), and after a week and a half of procrastination over figuring out how to load it, I finally sat down and watched one instructional YouTube and it was actually rather easy to load, I'd figured it out before the video was even over. It's also bigger than I expected, but also lighter, and so I am happy I got it and hopefully this will break my reliance on Snail.
But I am using the non acid-free tape, because I bought both and the acid free has an odor I don't care for. I guess I should use the acid-free, though. What do you use? Maybe I can air out the acid free so it won't smell.
Thanks
__________________ I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies. RachelRose Designs by Robin... GALLERY
I have two ATG guns--my original was the red one and I used it for everything, using acid free tape. When the pink one came out, I purchased it for card making and use general purpose tape in that one. (BTW, when I first purchased my red ATG, I had so much trouble with it--user's fault--that I put it away for a long, long time--lol!)
I don't scrapbook and don't figure my cards have to last for generations to come, lol. I just use the non-acid free tape. I usually buy 12 rolls at a time on Ebay from Tape Depot for a pretty good price with free shipping.
I usually buy the acid-free, because I scrapbook too. When I do buy the general purpose refills, I put a little "GP" removable sticker on the ATG that has it. (I have 2 ATGs.) I buy most of my( off-brand) refills online, so I pay less than $2 per refill for the acid-free. I find that all of the Scotch brand refills smell moldy, so I air them out a for a few days before I use them.
I agree about GP (non acid free) for card making, but I do know that it's not recommended for archiving like scrapbooks. Even with a coupon at Michaels, $3 vs $6 per 2 pack decided this for me. Now I also buy in bulk from eBay. My ATG was probably my best purchase ever.
I accidentally bought the acid-free refills once. I didn't like them at all. They did smell bad and I had more trouble with the tape actually rolling off the gun correctly! I had been using the ATG for over year with no difficulties but the acid free tape would just pull away from the backing piece before I could get it down on the paper!! And, even when it was on correctly my layers did not hold as well! And they weren't heavy, embossed or overly embellished. Never again!!! General purpose all the way for me!
I don't scrapbook and don't figure my cards have to last for generations to come, lol. I just use the non-acid free tape. I usually buy 12 rolls at a time on Ebay from Tape Depot for a pretty good price with free shipping.
I also use this Tape Depot tape although I buy it in gross and split with friends. It does state acid free but I am not sure of the "quality of this acid free" if that makes any sense. I only use this tape for my cards so I am not concerned with how long it lasts without discoloration. However, I have cards dating back about 6 years and I haven't seen any discoloration.
I accidentally bought the acid-free refills once. I didn't like them at all. They did smell bad and I had more trouble with the tape actually rolling off the gun correctly! I had been using the ATG for over year with no difficulties but the acid free tape would just pull away from the backing piece before I could get it down on the paper!! And, even when it was on correctly my layers did not hold as well! And they weren't heavy, embossed or overly embellished. Never again!!! General purpose all the way for me!
My experience exactly! I use the general-purpose for everything (except scrapbooks, which I don't do at all).
Well, I have loaded it with the non-acid free and it is definitely a lot stickier than Snail! I've got 2 rolls of acid free that I'm airing out on the porch, so we'll see if it helps with the kind of chemical smell they have. But all the comments about the non acid free being fine for cards is point well taken. That's all I make.
And I'm not finding the size of the gun much of an issue, to my surprise. But you really don't get a chance to move something once it touches down! Once it's got tape on it, you have to get it right the first time, because it's stuck! I guess that a good thing!
__________________ I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies. RachelRose Designs by Robin... GALLERY