Question for grafters.
Where should I buy parafilm? What size. What specifications
I have bought tape and it is saranwrap. Disappointed every time.
Thanks in advance
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I prefer 1/2 parafilm but the larger will work. You can buy it from a number of places (including Amazon) but I get mine at https://www.midwestvineyardsupply.com/. I think some people here like OESCO: https://www.oescoinc.com/.
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I used both parafilm and “buddy tape” this year and I like buddy tape more. unfortunately it’s $40 or so for a big roll (857 perforated pieces). about 5 cents a graft but I may never use the roll up
I got mine locally but this place also ships
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I buy this
I prefer the 1/2” but they also have boxes in the 1”. You really don’t need a whole box of the stuff (unless you let your dog chew up a couple of rolls!!!) but I do like getting the real 3M made parafilm. You have to buy the ones called “parafilm nursery grafting tape” to get the right one. If you buy the knock offs you’ll regret it.
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I was trying to recall amleo. Thanks for adding it.
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Good parafilm like 3M stretches well and is self adhesive.
As you know, people uses it to prevent scionwood and a graft union from desiccation.
You did not ask but I would like to mention it anyway. A couple of things that are very important in successful grafting are:
- lining up cambium of your scionwood and rootstock well
- tightening the graft union strongly
Some people twist their parafilm like a rope and use it to tighten the graft union. Others use all kinds of materials including plastic strips cut from grocery bags.
I like this vinyl electric tape called Temflex by 3M. It is stretchy, strong and self adhesive. After I line up scionwood and rootstock, I wrap and cover the graft union with parafim making sure no exposed surface. Then I tighten the graft union with Temflex.
It will disintegrate over time. I do not need to worry about it girdling the graft.
CORRECTION: the correct splice tape for grafting is # 2155.
It is $1.48 a roll at Home Depot in the electric tape section. It is one of my favorite grafting tool.
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Temflex works great. I think I probably put it on too heavily and end up having to remove it instead of just letting it rot in place, but I can overcome that.
Seems to me @Olpea cuts his lengthwise, stretches it out very thin, and overlaps his wraps, but I’m not sure. I think I asked this question before!
A very quick, convenient, straightforward, and easy graft for when the scion and stock are close in size is @alan’s splice graft: cut rootstock and scion with nippers, line up parts, wrap with tape of your choice (I use parafilm first, something like Temflex over) and label.
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That’s how I do mine. I split it in half and stretch it well and then wrap my parafilmed union with it. It sticks well, it holds firmly, and then splits from the graft with callus and growth. It will last long enough to secure the union and sometimes I end up cutting off the last part of it but I think that’s mostly because I like picking at stuff. 
Depending on the size of the stock I usually only use a 2-3 inch length, split it in half lengthwise and then stretch it. It comes with a anti-stick layer strip attached. I worked hard to peel that off at first and then I found if I stretch the Temflex with that strip still there it tears and rolls up and then peels off very easily. Love the stuff!!
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@marknmt , I put parafilm on first and tighten the graft union with Temflex like you do.
@k8tpayaso I tried split the tape in half. It did not work for me. The tape became too thin for me. When I stretched it, I broke it. I underestimated my strength 
. I cut mine in 2” pieces.
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I buy the Parafilm M in the 4 inch wide roll. Thats 125 feet long.
I cut 1/2 to 1 inch wide strips. (so the strips are 0.5 or 1 inch wide and 4 inch long)
Roughly 1500-3000 grafts a roll. So roughly 0.01-0.02$ per graft.
You can also wrap the whole scion with it. Or wrap multiples times for more strength. (single wrap is not that strong, especially compared to vynil tape)
Even the multiple wraps desintigrate in the sun.
Another thing that works wonders for me is wraping the whole scion in a single parafilm layer. (more layers at graft union) And than painting with watered down interior water based white paint. The paint stops the parafilm from sun degraiding, however when your scion grows and thickens, it cracks the paint. And the parafilm degrades and falls off.
I have not had discoloured (black) bark below parafilm/paint. Where i have had that while leaving on vynil or electrical tape on.
It seems the parafilm/paint combo still lets in enough oxygen, while stil keeping moisture in ofc.
Virtially every labratory or medical supply shop sells Parafilm M. Since it is used industry wide to seal of test tubes and petri dishes.
The picture on wiki is exactly what i have. Even the strips are cut the same as i do 
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I only tried Temflex,by wrapping it first,then applying the parafilm.For me,I like the secure feeling,that the scion will not shift around as much.
But then,the Temflex fused together so well,that it was very difficult to remove.Maybe I’ll put the parafilm on first and see how it goes.
The stuff that I’ve been using the last few years though,has been working really well.The guy that use to be an active forum member,Appleseed,sent me a box of different rolls.I think he was an electrician and the stuff was for that work.I haven’t experimented with them all yet.There’s two that stretch,almost like a rubber band.Only they adhere to themselves,so the there is no need to pull the end,under itself,like a grafting rubber.Then when the season ends,or early in the Spring,they are falling off or loose enough to be gently pulled away.
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That’s exactly how I do it too.
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Brady,
Temflex works like Appleseed’s electric tape, very stretchy and self adhesive. I wonder if you stretch it enough before using it.
Wrap the graft union with parafilm first to secure the position of the union. Then, cut 2” of Temflex and stretch it well (double the length) and wrap the union tightly. Stretched Temflex adheres to itself better than non-stretched, believe it or not.
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There may be some of his electrical tape,in the box,but I haven’t tried it yet.
These other two are probably some kind of latex.
Thanks for the tips about Temflex.
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Ordered it!
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Good information. TY
I use plumbers Teflon tape.
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Hmmmmmmm
Hadn’t thought of that.
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I’ll have to try that Temflex. Regina shared some of her Parafilm M with me, and I bought a roll of parafilm that came in 2 widths - ½" and 1" - in one order. The first parafilm I tried was horrid . . . but this time was the charm. As long as I keep it in my pocket - all nice and warm and cozy 
- it stretches and wraps great. And same thing with the Parafilm M.
But it would be nice to use something other than rubber bands to secure it all - and the Temflex works well for that? My first grafts were out in chilly weather - and maneuvering those rubber bands with frozen fingers . . . NO FUN.
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