🌱 Tie it right, grow it bright!
The Plant Tapetool is a lightweight, handheld tying machine designed for efficient and adjustable plant support. Perfect for securing vines and branches of fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, grapes, and cucumbers, it saves tape and prevents plant damage while enhancing nursery aesthetics with uniform ties.
H**N
dirty, as if used
Does not come with tape or staples. You need to order these separately. Has photos showing use, but no instructions on how to load tape or staples. Unit was smudged, dirty, as if used, seems to be working but unable to say until tape and staples arrive.After getting tape and staples I was able to use it. First, 80 foot roll of tape is to big to fit in handle, I had to remove 20+ feet to get it to fit. Unit does work, but has serious issues. The tape grabber does not always grab the tape, so you have to waste a staple to get it open again - sometimes 4 or 5 staples. The tape grabber does not hold onto the tape, letting go if'/when it touches the plant, or if a gust of wind blows on it - more wasted staples. The cutting blade keeps falling out - time saved by using machine is now used finding the blade in the grass. It will work if you follow these steps; 1 verify blade is in place. 2 position tape end so that grabber can get it. 3 pull out enough tape to go around plant. 4 Position plant and hold in place. 5 position machine - carefully, do not pull tape from grabber or you will have to start again. 6 staple tape and cut off. 7 verify that blade is in place and not stuck to the tape.Upon closer inspection, one of the 2 screws that hold tape support (metal finger that opens tape grabber) is not there, allowing this part to move, may be part of why grabber does not work well. I cannot say if it was there or not when I got the machine, but it is gone now and the other screw was loose.I have used all of one 80 foot roll of tape and part of another to tie up shoots of about 70 grape vines. I wasted a lot tape and staples to do this. Now the tape grabber has quit opening. The plastic housing has separated and a wire spring is sticking out.I took it apart. There is a post that sticks through the 3 metal parts, seems to control movement of the arms and hold the spring in place. It will not stay in the arm, so does not hold the spring in place or allow the metal parts to work correctly.Up-date. I was able to get it working fairly well. Tape had to be positioned by hand each time, and cutting blade kept falling out, (I lost 2). After tying up about 80 grapevine shoots the anvil part of the tape grabber had bent down so that the tape was not held - no grip on the tape. I was able to bend it back up with a screwdriver but after tying up 5 or 6 more shoots the plastic box in the head separated, allowing all of the metal parts to move out of alignment, it quit working completely. I may try to work on it some more, but it was made with plastic and soft metals, not designed for field work.
