I know this has been covered to an extent, but I’m not seeing exactly the information I’m looking for.
First, who still uses wax and rubbers for grafting and why? Being perfectly honest, I learned to graft this way in the 90’s and have never bothered to try another method since I do so few grafts. I use my old mini-crockpot full of that sticky old Treekote wax and just carry it to the field when it’s hot. It’s fiddly and messy, but it does work.
Second, are Parafilm and Buddy Tape the same product? My mind says that parafilm would be parafin-based just like the Buddy Tape, but most of what I am seeing seems to be plastic. Am I correct in assuming that the plastic versions are just cheap knock-offs and are not to be used in the same manner?
And third, aside from convenience and cleanup, does any product have an advantage over the others?
I have acquired a roll of the plastic film, but at this time I’m only using it to cover over the sticky grafting wax and grafting rubbers. It seems to help with making an airtight seal. I definitely have concerns about using it for budding, though. Does anyone have any insight as to how to best utilize the plastic films?
Im not as versed as others here but i have used both the plastic and parafim tape. Without any scientific testing, i feel like the parafilm creates a better seal than the plastic. I will go back over the para with plastic to provide a bit more structure and durability. Without a one to one comparison im not sure that the second step is necessary. For the scale that im working at i have the option. My first year i did straight plastic tape then watered down exterior latex over the entire graft. Worked great.
The el cheapo green thin plastic tape works fine here. I top it with black electric tape and peel that off after a month. And just leave the green stuff that flakes away by summer.
Parafilm and Buddy tape seem expensive for what they do.
I like parafilm because it degrades in the sun and I don’t need to remove it. If I’m bench grafting I use the parafilm on the graft and then dip the whole tip into a pot of hot wax (50/50 mix of paraffin and bees wax). I use an old crock pot and just leave the wax in it when I’m done (wax doesn’t go bad). Beeswax was too soft for me and paraffin to brittle. In the field its just parafilm. I don’t like to use any plastic (if I can avoid it) because it at best turns to litter and at worst girdles my plants. I use the cheap parafilm (about an inch width, $6.75 at Fedco) not the lab stuff and not the PVC stuff.
I learned initially and used to use rubber bands and ParafilmM only (but its kinda annoying to cut in in half each time and it also is tough to stretch in the colder early months).
I do like that Japanese? Aglis buddy-tape or this Parafilm® Grafting & Budding Tape 1" - Fedco Seeds (latter is not as stretchy in colder March/April grafting weather as well but nice that its 1” vs 2” ParafilmM, so i kinda prefer the Aglis tape as its very loose/stretchy).
I do still like grafting rubber bands ( 8" Rubber Grafting Strips - Fedco Seeds ), but also the black stretchy tape alot and maybe use it even more unless i have a usually thicker scion that doesn’t have the perfect exact angle and needs a very tight rubber band to make contact on all areas easier. I’ve tried alot of those tapes, i forget which is cheapest (but i know i liked most of them i got from hardware store… Scotch 130C, the Scotch 2242, and some Temflex [different styles/types of Temflex i think] ). Regular electric tape is not stretchy enough and not fun to use. I just wrap some grafting tape 1st under it so the tape doesn’t stick to the grafting union (i think I heard some people reverse the tape as well so sticky part is facing out).
It sounds like I’m still living in the 1900’s over here! I may just leave the wax in the garage this spring and get some paraffin tape. I appreciate all the input on this.
As a good friend used to say, “I don’t want to learn new things!” Once I learn a way that works, I tend not to experiment much with other methods. I’m not looking forward to being sticky this year, though, so the paraffin tape sounds interesting.
