3M Scotch Heavy Duty Mounting Tape, Clear (4010)On today's docket we have the "3M Scotch Heavy Duty Mounting Tape, Clear (4010)". Let's go see just what's what with that.Manufacturer's Claims:---------------------------------* Industrial-strength, clear mounting tape.* Ideal for glass, tile.Well I certainly have NO argument with these claims. I used it on varnished wood and it performed admirably, so I expect it would be STELLAR on glass or tile.Pros:-------* Strong, strong, strong. Did I mention it was strong?* Quality / Craftsmanship are actually quite good with a minor exception leading to a "major aggravation" (as noted below).Cons:--------* Price / Value: I really need to see MORE tape for LESS money.* Easy of use: NOT! This stuff is as frustrating to use as is trying to nail the proverbial "Jell-O to the wall".Initial Summary:-----------------------I like to put the synopsis near the top, as my reviews typically tend to run on the long side. WAR AND PEACE was a short book in comparison :) Can this person REALLY say this much about tape? Yeppir!These are my conclusions:---------------------------------------1) This mounting tape PERFORMS COMPLETELY AS EXPECTED. It holds things fast and securely (provided adequate surface preparation is performed - see below). You got 'sump'n needs holdin' - this 3M tape'll do the job "right up beautiful". Oooo, giving away my roots here.2) This tape made for a singularly frustrating USER-EXPERIENCE! It was just that HARD TO USE. To be fair, with a bit of improvement and/or a budge in price I could rate it higher, but as it stands, my experience forces me to give 3 STARS.I could have easily titled this review, “The Great Tape You Love to Hate”.O is that "Hate to Love"?My Rating Rational:----------------------------I typically judge products on these five main criteria: a) Craftsmanship: How well made the product is as regards its materials, construction, appearance, etc.? b) Effectiveness: Does it do the job for which it was intended? This is for both me personally and for the everyday Shopper. c) Pricing: I need to see value (not necessarily cheap, but priced in line with its quality and effectiveness). d) Ease of Use: Is the user experience such that it enhances the above or does it negatively affect and thereby drown them out? e) Company responsiveness and responsibility (Company Support): When necessary, does the seller/manufacturer stand behind their product and/or are they willing and able to provide usage and problem-solving advice when needed?Craftsmanship:----------------------QUITE GOOD - It's well made except for the problem with the second (2nd) layer of backing. 4 STARS.Effectiveness:--------------------NO PROBLEMS here: this stuff would keep the top from falling off Mt. Everest, keep the faces from sliding off Mt. Rushmore, "put the ape back in apricot" - well not actually, but you get my gist. This product performed in a stellar fashion. AN UNEQUIVOCAL 5 STARS.*** --->It’s “interesting” to note the number of negative reviews, which state that this doesn’t stick well or stay stuck. I don’t wish to cast aspersions on anyone, as each is entitled to their own experiences and viewpoints. Therefore, I will simply say that MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY THE OPPOSITE. STICKS ERARLY, STICKS OFTEN! I’ve been doing this sort of thing a great many years now and have remolded my former home and my apartment using this and sundry other members of the “sticky-tapey-thingy-family”. I know therefore of which of I speak. This stuff along, with another product I’ll review next, will hold even moderately heavy wires up in the air all day long.A POSSIBLE explanation MIGHT be surface prep., so I’ll address that now.*** --->One caveat here (and it applies to ALL surfaces and ALL items you wish to stick thereupon), is that ADEQUATE SURFACE PREPARATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS. MY method is to wipe clean with mild soap and water, rinse with clear water, and then clean both the item (if possible) and the destination with Isopropyl alcohol. Some folks say to rinse this off, but since I use 99% strength which evaporates so quickly, wiping any off is not necessary (or even possible). What IS NECESSARY are ADEQUATE VENTILLATION and NO IGNITION SOURCES. SERIOUSLY, 99% or even 91% Isopropyl alcohol is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS in confined spaces and explosions HAVE occurred!!! REMEMBER, this is the method that works FOR ME. I am NOT ENDORSING NOR AM I RECOMMENDING IT TO ANYONE ELSE. Do your OWN research and then proceed in a manner that seems wise and prudent to you. IF YOU DO DECIDE TO USE ALCOHOL, common household 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol is safer and nearly as effective; it simply takes longer to dry.Ever tried rolling latex paint onto a greasy, dirty wall? How’d that work out for ya? In short, just thoroughly clean the dang surfaces.Price / Value:----------------Reasonable: I would have liked to see more product for a lower price but it is NOT exorbitant. Considering this stuff likely rolls off a whirling assembly line at lightning speed, and factoring in a reasonable return on design and production cost for the company; I personally feel that a couple more feet of tape or a $1.00 - $1.50 lower in price would have allowed me to give this tape a 4. UPDATE: Originally, I rated this category at 3, but upon a few days' reflection and checking other prices, that may be too harsh; so I'm changing it to 4 STARS.Ease of Use:------------------Here is where my misery began. If I wanted to raise my blood pressure and anger level, I can think of ways to do it without spending a single dime. This stuff MADE ME APOPLECTIC. The first layer of backing paper is no problem at all to remove. It's after that when I encountered the "immovable object syndrome".First, the tape stuck to my scissors and rather than a clean cut: it bogged down, eventually and reluctantly parting and leaving a RAGGED EDGE behind. I really think this should be easier.HOWEVER, the true pièce de résistance arrived AFTER the tape was firmly attached to my object and I attempted to remove the remaining layer of backing paper. NOT HAPPENING! I could NOT get (my non-existent) fingernails under it. I could NOT get a sharp steak knife under it. I could not get a bulldozer under it. I knew I needed my hobby razor knives, but by this time I was SO FRUSTRATED, I gave up the project for the evening and played chess with my wife.The next day I dug the hobby knives out of my toolbox and thought, OK you toad, now I have you! NOT quite that easy: sometimes I could get the knife under the lip of the tape, but most times, I couldn't. I usually had to resort to using the tip of the knife to dig into the center of the tape and then "made it an offer it couldn't refuse". It worked but finesse is usually more my style.I've worked with double-sided foam tape in the past and it was never this hard. This is more like a jelly tape, which holds on for dear life to surfaces (good) but also to its backing (not so good). I was actually looking for the aforementioned foam tape but couldn't find any at my price point that offered free 2-day shipping; so I chose this one. Anyway, 2 STARS.Company Support:---------------------------I didn’t need to contact the manufacturer, but IF I had, with the level of frustration I was feeling, it might NOT have been pretty! It would definitely have been a count-to-10 moment. N/A STARS.Summary and Conclusion:--------------------------------------+-------------------------+------------+| Craftsmanship: | 4 Stars || Effectiveness: | 5 Stars || Price / Value: | 4 Stars || Ease of Use: | 2 Stars || Company Support: | N/A |+-------------------------+------------+| Total: | 3.5 Stars | (15 / 20) x 5 = 3.75+-------------------------+------------+I try my best to rate a product OBJECTIVELY according to how well it performs within each of my stated criteria categories. When I reach the end, however, if dealing with a fractional score, the choice to round up or down is MINE. I typically make that rounding choice (ONLY) SUBJECTIVELY based upon how much I like (or in this case) dislike the product. IN GENERAL, less than .5 truncated, .5-.9 rounded up – “in general”.So, we sat on the metaphorical fence together for a while, that enigmatic little .75 and me, staring each other down. Tape says, "I'd do it to you again ol' chap.” and I retort, "Yep, I believe you would!". Reflecting upon my horrid PERSONAL USER EXPERIENCE, I decided to take my 3 Stars and go home, leaving that .75 still sitting on the fence.UPDATE: As I stated above, upon a few days reflection, I've since come to realize that just because I HATE how a product messes with my inner peace; as long as it's effective at its job and doesn't actually try to do me in (it WAS close here :) ), then I should be somewhat lenient.So I've updated my original rating from 3 to 4 STARS - fair is fair.. It works well in fact VERY WELL, but its price/performance could be higher and the "frustration factor" still drives me nuts. I can find other foam tape that won’t raise my blood pressure to the Troposphere.It's worth pointing out here though, that making the backing even just a LITTLE EASIER to remove (while still keeping the stickiness) would have made all the difference in the "Ease of Use" rating for me. Standing at 2 presently: a 3 would have yielded a SOLID 4-Stars and a 4 would push that to 4.25. Not enough for a round up yet, but then add a bit more price/value and we can dream about the “Land of 5’s”.I have a love/hate relationship with this mounting tape. It’s a lot like spring-cleaning. I dread the thought of doing it, it’s hard work, but once done, I get comfort from a job well done that I can be proud of.I PAID THE FULL PRICE FOR THIS PRODUCT. I shop on Amazon multiple times a week and depend HEAVILY upon honest product reviews to help me decide which brands to buy. I NEED TO TRUST the ACCURACY of those reviews, and YOU DO as well. Therefore, I try my utmost to be as transparent, helpful, and accurate as I can. One of the reasons you'll see the majority of my reviews giving 4-5 Stars is that I'm very good at knowing specifically WHAT I WANT. That and all the research I do on a product, means I rarely take home junk. I may get the occasional "lemon" now and again, but I am generally favorable to the products I buy because I MOST OFTEN BUY GOOD PRODUCTS. It’s just that simple. On the rare occasion I do get burned, it's usually because of an impulse buy or NOT taking the time to research an item beforehand. This last point is what bit me this time.