I was trying to branch out and try some new tape for grafting. I was previously using parafilm and rubber bands, which was fine. I heard about rubber splicing tape, and I was imagining something exactly the same as vinyl electrical tape, but just rubber. The stickiness of electrical tape seemed interesting for holding things together.
I bought the 3m Temflex 2155. This is much different that I was expecting. It doesn’t seem that sticky and is a lot thicker than I was expecting. I’m pretty sure I have the right stuff, because I thought I saw some people recommending this exact tape.
Is this mostly for larger grafts?
I saw some people mention unlined tape. This seems lined.
Does anyone have any videos using this tape?
I prefer unlined tape, 2242. For grafts with thick wood (1/2" in diameter and larger) I use the full width of the tape, and for thinner wood (less than 1/2" in diameter) I cut a piece of the tape in half lengthwise.
A few samples of the stuff I use,can be included with the scions.
There was a forum member,an electrician,who sent me a box of different tapes.Two or three out of them,are my main ones.
They are wide enough,to be divided lengthwise into three strips and come in a roll with a protective film,that is easily peeled away.
The thing that is likeable to me,the material is stretchable,like a rubber band,but adheres to itself,just enough,so that if let go,it won’t unwind and no need to tie off,after wrapping.
I use it first,to secure the graft and then go over with Parafilm.
For me,Temflex,works okay when stretched but is very difficult to remove after a season,as it fuses too solidly.
I have been using the 3M Temflex 2155. As pointed out above, full width is too much for small scions. I slit it down to what ever width makes it easy for me to work with. Half width, or even quarter width for really small stuff.
I like it because it is easy to work with and very forgiving. I have not had any issues with overheating of the graft union in the summer months like Stan mentioned above, but I suspect my summers are milder than his.
This stuff only holds together for about a year. It cracks and separates after a year, which I really appreciate.
That being said, I have not tried any of the other varieties mentioned above, so I can’t compare.
Hi Jordan,
I seal my scions with parafilm down to include the bottom base bud
For the graft union I use several items:
For smaller 3/8” minus scions I use 1” wide plastic strips that I cut from bags that my newspapers come in. As the diameter increases and I feel I am not closing the gaps with enough pressure,I use wide rubber bands on top of my plastic strips to cinch up the graft union pressure. These rubbers cannot stay on beyond the 3-4 week of callousing without girdling the graft. So I go back once buds break out to carefully remove all rubbers.
For larger diameters of scions and in barkgrafts, I tend to use rubber electrical tape after sealing the graft union with my 1” wide plastic strips. I remove the electrical tape as soon as the scions are actively growing, I just cut the electrical tape without damaging the bark since it only sticks to my plastic sealing. Then I reseal with only the plastic strips and apply a splint to guard against bird landings and to support any vertical growth that could break the graft union due to increasing weight.
For very tender bark as in pawpaws I use only plastic strips after applying parafilm to the graft union and about 1 week to 10 days after the buds break out and active growth begins, remove the plastic strips.
Hope this helps
Dennis
Kent, wa
There sure are a lot of parafilms being offered these days. The arms on my plum are 2" - 4" in diameter. Which parafilm would you choose for bench grafting?
I use your 2155- cut it lengthwise in 3 parallel strips and it should stretch slowly to a very thin piece that will stick to itself as you apply it. I put it underneath my Buddy tape. Once you get the hang of it I think you’ll really like it.
I use the Temflex 2155 sometimes, sliced lengthwise and stretched thin, parafilm either under or over. I also use parafilm under grafting rubbers, probably my go-to.
as i understood it, parafilm is a trademark. So there is supposed to be only one. (from the bemis corporation)
Parafilm M (M usually not written online for convenience)
Is a laboratory film used to seal petri dishes. But is also used to seal wounds of cut banana’s. And for grafting.
If seen it on differently sized rolls. 2" and 4" wide.
I use the 4" wide and cut it in 4" long strips of differing width. Mostly 1/2-3/4" wide.
Those work fine for bench grafting. I use 1-2 strips per graft for longer W&T. And 0.5-1 strips for most chip budding.
There are also grafting tapes from aglis corporation. Called medifilm and buddytape. They differ slightly.
for grafting thicker limbs you can cut a longer piece of parafilm lengthwise. But i would follow up with electrical tape or something. Since the parafilm isn’t as strong. or you would have to apply multiple layers.
Seal- R- film is another brand that was easily available last year. I don’t remember what company produced it. It was sold as laboratory film also.
It seemed a little thicker than Parafilm to me. It was less expensive than the Parafilm and worked well for me. The employees at my friends nursery who grafted every day did not like as well though . They said that the Parafilm stayed in place better after they wrapped the scions.
I learned to wrap my scions using the Seal-R-film so I had no issues with it staying in place. I have several rolls now so I will use it again this season unless there is an issue with the paraffin film as it ages. I do not know how well.it stores.
I’ve had really good luck with the old fashioned (bituminous?) hockey grip tape for reinforcing and drawing together grafts. I apply it over the parafilm. It’s quite strong, and is sort of double sided in that it sticks to itself both ways. It tears into strips like cloth medical tape does, so I can get the width I need- often around 1/4”. It does have to be manually removed later, but really helps when top working vigorous stuff where the graft is going to shoot up 6’ with no significant knitting of the graft.
This question is very timely for me since I just received the exact same roll yesterday in the mail. I cut a small piece to examine it and felt it was way thick compare to parafilm. I tried stretching the small piece and it broke apart much quicker and didn’t stretch as much as the roll of parafilm.
Yeah, I was referring to the new roll of 3M Temflex 2155 I just received. Somehow, I was under the false impression that its characteristic would be similar to parafilm but slightly thicker.
Ahhh. Well, if you cut it with a pair of scissors in 3 strips like I said above and stretch it slowly, it will definitely expand like Buddy tape, but it doesn’t necessarily perform the same function. I use the temflex for structural support and the Buddy tape to prevent dessication.