Extend the tape end to the cutting edge - typically by threading it firmly through a dispensing slot below the cutting mechanism. Make sure the tape is smooth and has not twisted or formed air bubbles Your box is dusty or has oil or grease on its surface. These substances also interfere with adhesion Your box is made from a significant quantity of recycled cardboard. This often has a rougher surface which resists adhesion by tape If the gun features a pressure-adjusting handle, use that to ensure the tape is taut and ready for use

Hand-held tape dispensers are often called tape guns. These work on the same principle - larger rolls of tape are fixed onto a revolving wheel, with the tape end extended to the cutting edge. Users grip the device using the large, tactile pistol-grip handle and apply the tape directly to the target surface.