ATG Tips~~Anyone have any?

Good morning ladies (and gents)!

I posed this question on another post and haven't gotten much of a response and also tried searching for related topics with no success, so I created my own topic.

I have used my ATG for the first time this weekend and I have to say it is still taking some getting used to. I haven't mastered the trigger yet though. I let go of the trigger but it still seems to roll. Is there some sort of tips anyone can share? Am I doing something wrong? Do I have to hit the trigger more than once to make it stop?

Tip #1: Keep the reloading cardboard instructions!

Tip #2: Let go of the trigger just as you're getting to the end of where you want the tape to stop. Press down firmly at the end to "release" the tape.

Tip #3: Keep at it, its an awesome tool!

What she said. YOu want to release and lift at the same time. If you start to lift before you have released it doens't work well.

If you stop a split second before you lift that may work easier for you. But I release and lift up in the same motion and I have no problem at all.

You will get the hang of it and even be able to glue tight places with it.

Thanks ladies! I won't give up that easily but it will take some getting used to. I was actually able to get it right a couple times. I guess I was trying to lift before releasing the trigger. I don't know.

I will just have to keep scrapping to get the hang of it......OH THE DREAD....J/K....it's something I can't get enough of

I stop the trigger and then pull up, tilting the ATG while I release.
That seemed to help until I got the hang of it. Just hang in there and keep using it. It'll soon become your best adhesive.

Try you tube, I've had mine for two years now but every time I go to reload it I have to find a you tube video to show me how. I never seem to be able to remember.

There is a diagram in the package that is cut to fit in the casing of the ATG. Some of the ladies put it there so it alwyas reminds them how to fill it.

I didn't keep the diagram but never needed it. I can take one out and have another in the ATG in 7 seconds and be working again.

The trick for that is don't let it snap at the end, the minute its pulls hard and you know it is going to snap, change it then. Look at the way the old one is on and then put the new one one the same way.

Really super simple.

• scrappinjan Said:

Same here!

I did notice when I tilted it to the side when I was done, that is when I had the best results.

I saved the instructions so I will remember how to
reload. From the sounds of it, I will need to keep it there because I won't remember how to do it when the time comes since it lasts for so long.

I really did like the strength of the the adhesive. It seems like the bond is stronger than any other adhesive I have used.

Practice, practice, practice


I let go of the trigger, pull away from project, and twist slightly.

Welcome to the ATG fan club! I love this tool so much, I have two - one for acid free and one general purpose tape for cards.

1) As Henri said, try to reload before the tape breaks so you can just follow how the old one went in.
2) Try to avoid changing tapes at 2am when at a weekend retreat. If it works, it'll take 45 minutes at least.
3) A little definitely goes a long way. Every one has his/her own tape application techniques. When I used squares, I would put one in each corner and one in the middle and be done. When I got my ATG, I got a little trigger happy and put a line down each side plus a long line in the middle. Now I've scaled WAY back and put about the size of the one of the 3L squares in the corners and middle.
4) I release trigger, lift handle slightly and keep pulling to break the tape.
5) Practice
6) Have fun

• pugs223 Said:

I usually put a line down each side and a long line diagonally in the middle because I don't want my edges to come up or the middle.

I can't wait to get home from work so I can play!

Practice makes perfect!

• pamela.tx Said:

That's exactly what I do!

• pamela.tx Said:

Oh sister you are already an ATG addict!
The only missing advice I see is: make sure you have a back up roll and when you replace that get another right away.
Oh and get Henri to change your rolls for you. I am going to send her mine. I figure tracking her down wherever in the world she is + her 7 second to do it and then the return will still happen in less time than it seems to take me to get it loaded.

I blame that on being left-handed: bet you didn't know that all scrapping tools are right handed?

Great minds think alike!

I already have my backup roll! It came with 2 rolls of adhesive when I bought it.

I will definitely track down Henri wherever she is just so I can travel! I wonder how honey would like it if I had to tell him,"I have to go to China so Henri can change out my new roll!" Then we could all join in and have an ATG Refill party. http://www.smileyvault.com/

• pamela.tx Said:

Great Idea!

You are so funny. It has gotten that no matter which crop I'm attending, when someone needs tape changed, they pass the ATG to me. I always look at the clock first and time myself to try to beat my record.

The ladies in the frame department at Michaels can beat me though. I've watched them.

Nobody has to track me down! Just all of you come with us on the next trip!

• Henri Jean Said:

Now that's a way better idea. (Passport in hand) When and where are we going?

Me too????

I only just started using mine too. I like it but haven't completly mastered it. And I forget when there are holes for eys etc. to tape on the back not on the solid so i end up with sticky eye holes. lol but that is complete user error.
I think it is the best sticky yape I have tried so far; it hold everything even the textured papers (I was having trouble with that before).

Sure - everyone can come. Looks like after this ordeal with my son is over Bill would like to take a 2 week cruise from Boston and around Canada to see the fall leaves in mid October. Depends on surgery schedule. Then surgery will be at the end of the year or early next so we will stay home until Joe is completely recovered.

He wants to go on a 115 day cruise in January - don't think that will happen.

In spring we are definitely driving to Las vegas for a license plate meet. Then to San Diego - we should have our second granddaughter by then, due in early March. Then we will fly to Hawaii for a couple weeks.

After that Bill wants to go to Guam or the Philipines and we've been invited to Okinawa. Havne't been to Japan in 3 years so we may do that. Truth is, from Hawaii we are game to go anywhere the planes are going.

Will be gone at least 2-3 months. for our spring trip.

Bill also has his eye on a 49 day South American cruise, similar to the last one but this one goes very close to the antartic and also goes into the Amazon for several ports.

• GMFTS Said:

Mary, Im left handed too and have no trouble with it! Isnt that funny?

But yes, most of the world is not designed for us, we have to adapt!

I actually only eat and write with my left hand. Everything else, scissor use, batting a ball, shooting a gun and swinging a golf club Ive learned to do righty.

Well, looks like everyone is invited to travel with Henri! So when do we leave and who is paying? LOL

http://www.smileyvault.com/

Uncle Sam pays most of our expenses - we are on a fixed income. Bill is retired military - 20 years special forces/green berets. That is our biggest benefit besides great medical.

For cruises Bill finds the cheapest rates possible and they are dirt cheap but sometimes that means leaving from overseas. Easy with military hop benefits, but for without, that is where the cost comes in.

When we went from Rome (Civitevecchia), we went to 2 places in Egypt, 3 in India, through the Suez canal, Thailand, Malaysia, don't remember where else and ended in Singapore - it was $28.00 a day for the cruise for each of us.

However, the airfare from home to Italy and the airfare from Singapore was ridiculous but we had military benefits so we didn't have to pay for airfare and turned it into a world trip adding 4 days in Tokyo, 9 in Okinawa and then 3 weeks in Hawaii before going home.

Maybe we will win the lottery and can pay everyone's expenses. I don't need a bigger house or more of anything - so that is what I would do with it.

I love how you share all your stories of travel. I hope to be able to do that too one of these days!

I love my ATG as well. I think I have finally gotten the hang of it but I still have not managed to use it for small projects yet.

• Henri Jean Said:

Wow I hope to be like you when I grow up!!! One day I will travel for now I am home raising babies!

I was home raising babies for a long time. Never went on a real vacation until I was 58 years old and never out of the country until I was almost 60.

Enjoy the baby raising days - retirement comes soon enough!

We are just so fortunate to have Bills military past which allows us to fly free wherever there is an American military base. Plus Bill knew he wanted to travel when he retired and saved up for his retirement his entire life.

Now, we are enjoying every minute of it!

ATG - I got mine from the advice of everyone here and have been loving it. Haven't had to change the roll yet but I use very little. I'm just going to bring it with me on my vacation and get Henri to meet me there

Rob and I are planning our 2013 trip. Neither of us has enough vacation time to do more than a 2 week trip each year. We started talking about where to go and my top choices are Seychelles Islands in South Africa, Russia, or Iceland. I also desperately want to go to Antarctica but we really need about 3 weeks for a trip like that. I can't WAIT until retirement!

I know what you mean. I bought my ATG because of everyone here too.

I can't wait until retirement.....only 16 more years!! WOO HOO!!

http://www.smileyvault.com/

Just my .02 - it's all in the wrist-jerk at the end

Russia is worth the trip - I've been to Egypt which is not exactly South Africa, but at least the right country. Bill wants to go into the Amazon.

Neither of us have ever been to the antartic - we have a friend who goes a good bit on research ships and is there for months at a time. She even has one complete room in her house that is completely covered with her pictures of the antartic.

Trips to actually walk on the antartic are really expensive and require a research ship or a zodiac to get there. We've talked about it but don't think it will ever happen. National Geographic has a fantastic antartic exhibition tour - one of the reasons for travelling when you are younger. That one would be difficult with my bad knees getting in and out of the zodiac. Just the whole trip would be over my abilities.

The only problem I've had with the ATG is that the edge of the tape sometimes hangs off the applicator rollers. Hmm...don't know if I'm explaining properly, but does anyone else have that problem?

Btw, I'm so jealous of your retirement travels, Henri! I just started working two weeks ago, and I'm looking forward to retirement already

My husband planned for this his whole life and made sure there would be no house payments or bills to pay when we reached this stage. Just utilities and insurances.

But there is another side to the coin. I was broken hearted when I missed a crop I wanted to go to last month. Sometimes I feel like we travel so much that I don't really have roots. When I moved to Florida 5 years ago it was very difficult to make friends because I was never home.

As much as I love to travel, I like to be at home too. I often wish I could be in two places at the same time!

When I got mine, my friend told me easy tips. Put your gun on the paper, Press trigger..roll. before you are at the end, release trigger. Keep your gun low not high. Then it works perfect.

The ATG does take a little getting used to, but once you have it down, you will never look back. The biggest trick is to let go of the trigger, then pull up.

When reloading, you may need to watch youtube videos a couple of times. It becomes 2nd nature, but it was confusing at first.

I've wore one atg out it was 10 years old now have a pretty pink on....like the others said takes a little work to get used to but once you do you will be in love!

I love my pink ATG gun, I've never had issues with loading it, and i do a wrist wiggle at the end to get the tape to stick. my problem is i don't roll it slow enough and it repeatedly does not stick, but that's me and my impatience.

one trick if you mess up and want to move something that you've stuck down is to run dental floss under the thing you want to remove... it will get the adhesive to let up and it will still be sticky... otherwise the paper tends to rip if you change your mind and want to move something.

Great tips ladies!

Jakki- that is a good tip to know because I did notice the adhesive is so good that I have to be sure where to place it.

I think I did pretty good at loading it but I still kept the instructions in there for future reference later because I am pretty dingy and tend to forget things often.

http://www.smileyvault.com/

I will definitely enjoy raising my babies they are such a joy. I always say I will travel when I am done with them. I don't know how you find time to scrap with all that traveling you do. You are so blessed. I enjoy reading your posts because you are so knowledgeable about stuff!

Thanks Beth. I don't feel too knowledgeable most of the time. My kids both turned out okay, but boy, would I like to have some do-overs!