Magnetic tape for graphics
Before anything else, take a fridge magnet to the surface. If it does not stick firmly, magnetic tape is not your fixing, however good the idea sounds.
Why people choose it.
Magnetic tape turns a steel surface into a display you can change in seconds, with nothing left behind. A shop can swap this month's offer without a ladder or a toolbox. A school or office can move notices around a steel cabinet. No adhesive touches the wall, so there is nothing to lift, peel or clean off.
The tape itself is a thin, flexible strip with a self-adhesive side. It goes on the back of a light board or print, then holds to whatever the magnet will grip.
Run the fridge magnet test.
| Surface | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Painted mild steel, as on many cabinets and doors | Usually yes | Paint weakens the grip a little |
| Stainless steel | Varies | Some grades are barely magnetic |
| Aluminium | No | Not magnetic, including aluminium frames |
| Plasterboard, wood, glass | No | Unless a steel sheet or strip is fixed on first |
| Steel channel or plate you add | Yes | A neat way to make a changeable wall |
Weight is the limit.
Flexible magnetic tape is a modest fixing. It grips well straight on, but offers far less resistance to sliding, so a graphic on a vertical surface will creep downwards if it is too heavy. Keep things light and thin, and if a panel keeps slipping, add more tape or rest its lower edge on a ledge.
| Board | A2 | A1 | A0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1mm Foamex | £7 | £10 | £15 |
| 3mm Foamex | £7 | £12 | £20 |
Guide prices from our price list. They exclude VAT and delivery and assume print-ready artwork.
At A1 and below, 1mm Foamex is a natural partner, being light and easy to lift off. Larger or thicker panels are a question for us, not something to guess at.
Making a changeable wall.
- Fix steel strips or a thin steel sheet to the wall, with fixings suited to the wall type.
- Paint or cover it if you wish. Magnets work through thin coats.
- Apply tape to the back of each graphic, along the top and bottom at least.
- Number panels on the back, so anyone can put them up in the right order.
Where it is not the answer.
Outdoors, wind can peel a magnetic graphic away, and water trapped behind can start rust. Anything overhead, or where a falling panel could hurt someone, needs a positive mechanical fixing. On walls with no steel, compare with Velcro fixings.
You may have seen magnets used on pop-up displays. Those use panels and bars designed for one another, which is different from tape on a wall. Magnetic tape is available on request.
Print that changes with the season.
Your questions.
Can magnetic tape hold a poster with no board?
Thin paper tends to curl away between strips. A laminated poster or a light board will behave much better.
Will it work on a fridge or a lift door?
A domestic fridge door is often steel. Lift doors may be stainless, which varies, so test first and get the building manager's approval.
Can you fit tape to boards I already own?
Ask us. It depends on the board and how it will be used.