PoleVaultPower.com

The protective tape over my pole is beginning to come off. I found some decorative packing tape (thin enough to use, but cool.) How can I retape the protective coat (after taking the old one off; it's basically in shreds) so that it won't be called against with the "2 layers of tape" rule for the hand grip area...this area sometimes changes, so I was going to retape the protective coat then do the hand grip like I usually do (diagonally, covering itself.)

I don't want it to be DQed if I make it to states. How can I do this?

birdi_gurlie wrote:The protective tape over my pole is beginning to come off. I found some decorative packing tape (thin enough to use, but cool.) How can I retape the protective coat (after taking the old one off; it's basically in shreds) so that it won't be called against with the "2 layers of tape" rule for the hand grip area...this area sometimes changes, so I was going to retape the protective coat then do the hand grip like I usually do (diagonally, covering itself.)

I don't want it to be DQed if I make it to states. How can I do this?

The easiest way would be to use the decorative stuff on the lower part of the pole and leave the handgrip bare, then use athletic tape for your handgrip.

If you tape the decorative stuff on like the manufacturers do (like make it look professional) I doubt they would count it against the rule, that's just intended for anything acting as grip tape.

Also, you definitely want to completely remove the old wrap before putting on a new one. Except the big sticker in the middle that says what brand your pole is. I use a paint scraper to scrape them off.

Also, you definitely want to completely remove the old wrap before putting on a new one. Except the big sticker in the middle that says what brand your pole is. I use a paint scraper to scrape them off.

How can you use a paint scraper? Wouldn't it scratch the pole?

birdi_gurlie wrote:

Also, you definitely want to completely remove the old wrap before putting on a new one. Except the big sticker in the middle that says what brand your pole is. I use a paint scraper to scrape them off.

How can you use a paint scraper? Wouldn't it scratch the pole?

No, it doesn't scrape the pole unless there are scratches in the pole, sometimes it can catch in those.

How hard is it to get it all off? (I mean I will, I just would like to know.)
Is there a solvent or something to help or would that hurt the pole?
Does it matter which direction you scrape?
Anything else I need to know?

birdi_gurlie wrote:How hard is it to get it all off? (I mean I will, I just would like to know.)
Is there a solvent or something to help or would that hurt the pole?
Does it matter which direction you scrape?
Anything else I need to know?

If the wrap is dry and peeling off, scraping is easiest. Up and down, doesn't matter which way.

If the wrap is sticky in places, it'll probably help to use acetone. That won't hurt the pole either. Sticky is a much bigger pain to get off.

Thanks.
Would nail polish remover with acetone work? Or does it need to be acetone?
If there are some small scratches, just be careful or anything special?

birdi_gurlie wrote:Thanks.
Would nail polish remover with acetone work? Or does it need to be acetone?
If there are some small scratches, just be careful or anything special?

Yeah nail polish remover works. Just remember that it evaporates really fast, so keep it closed as much as possible and make sure you're in a reasonably well ventilated area.

Yeah just be careful around scratches on the pole. Usually if you catch one unexpectedly, you're not actually going to damage it, the blade will just catch on it. You'd have to be pretty rough to really damage the pole further. Once you know where the scratches are, you can work around them.

Getting the old wrap off the pole can actually help identify the severity of any existing scratches. If they are just superficial and are scratching the resin, it's not a problem. If they are deep and go into the fibers, you might want to consider not using the pole anymore.

Sometimes a scratch that looks pretty deep isn't that deep once you peel away all of the tape and stickiness that it has scratched through.

I have always used paint remover (mineral spirits). It works well, AND it is much safer than acetone.

Many sticky substance are removed very easily with a heat gun. Sometimes a hair dryer is warm enough. Any time I purchase something with a "sticker" on it, I put the heat to it and the sticker peels right off. Any "sticky stuff" left is usually easy to remove with a little WD40. Good luck!

Dan

okay, maybe i'm missing something, but why do you want to re-tape the pole at all? Unless they've changed the rules, you don't need the taping anywhere below your handhold, so it's totally fine for the pole to be "naked". In addition, you re-taping the pole will probably do nothing except make the poles really heavy. Perhaps you're afraid that the pole will scratch easier without the tape but in reality, I believe that any scratch that would potentially harm the pole would go through the tape anyway so it's kinda moot point. Just my thoughts. -6P

joebro391 wrote:okay, maybe i'm missing something, but why do you want to re-tape the pole at all? Unless they've changed the rules, you don't need the taping anywhere below your handhold, so it's totally fine for the pole to be "naked". In addition, you re-taping the pole will probably do nothing except make the poles really heavy. Perhaps you're afraid that the pole will scratch easier without the tape but in reality, I believe that any scratch that would potentially harm the pole would go through the tape anyway so it's kinda moot point. Just my thoughts. -6P

It doesn't increase the weight if you take off the old tape first. And if you're using thin packing-type tape (like what Spirit uses) as opposed to thick vinyl tape (like what Altius uses) it's very light. And I disagree that the tape can't help with scratches... I think it provides a small benefit.

More importantly though, it looks cool and makes your poles less likely to be "accidentally" stolen.