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I've tired a number of ways to moisten veneer tape and this setup works the best. The image is just a starting point, the tape holder was originally built around a ceramic wheel stamp moistener. I thought the wheel moistener was a great idea but the wiping action of the sponge moistener works much better (no blotching). The water reservoir and capillary action in the sponge keeps the top of the sponge wet.
Using the envelope moistener (Premier PRELM3) with the top off allows more contact area/pressure against the sponge and moistens the tape enough to get a good consistent bond (not so with the top on). Having a tape guide below the top of the sponge provides consistent pressure and allows for long seams. Straight wood dowels (closer together) would probably be fine, I needed the stepped guides for the custom aluminum wheel I tried.
... I used 3/8" drill rod (...front two are now stainless) for my second dispenser (2nd image). There's also a front view... This one works pretty well, but the stop collar sandwich (collar-disk-tape roll-disk-collar) lossens up in use (too little tape tension) and needs to be snugged up every now and then. Adding a cone spring (between a collar and disk)... solved that.
Veneer Tape Dispenser
I've tired a number of ways to moisten veneer tape and this setup works the best. The image is just a starting point, the tape holder was originally built around a ceramic wheel stamp moistener. I thought the wheel moistener was a great idea but the wiping action of the sponge moistener works much better (no blotching). The water reservoir and capillary action in the sponge keeps the top of the sponge wet.
Using the envelope moistener (Premier PRELM3) with the top off allows more contact area/pressure against the sponge and moistens the tape enough to get a good consistent bond (not so with the top on). Having a tape guide below the top of the sponge provides consistent pressure and allows for long seams. Straight wood dowels (closer together) would probably be fine, I needed the stepped guides for the custom aluminum wheel I tried.... I used 3/8" drill rod (...front two are now stainless) for my second dispenser (2nd image). There's also a front view... This one works pretty well, but the stop collar sandwich (collar-disk-tape roll-disk-collar) lossens up in use (too little tape tension) and needs to be snugged up every now and then. Adding a cone spring (between a collar and disk)... solved that.
