TAP Plastics in El Cerrito CA has done many custom jobs for me over the years. They have always turned out precisely what I've specified, including with professional clean assembly. They are also an excellent source of freely given advice on plastic materials, adhesives and methods. For me they are the go-to place for custom work as well as for selection of the best plastic materials for any job. Rob Firmin, El Cerrito read more

Cmon... what's not to like? These folks "held our hand" patiently explaining the right dimensions needed for our DIY boat sundeck window replacements. We went back and forth stopping by to ask tons of questions before taking the leap to purchase polycarbonate sheets. We only got a few at a time (in case we were in more over our head than we knew ;) But it all worked out. They even started smiling when we'd come by with a knowing "Oh, its them" look... but in a good way ha. They know what they're doing. Highly recommend. read more

these people are great. They know their plastic and can really help with the little things I need cut. They do it quickly and the prices cant be beat. read more

Recommend this location for all your plastic needs. Everyone here is super nice. Will, Harold, and Sophia have been awesome with helping me with various home improvement projects. Thank you! read more

TAP Plastics - Exterior - Arts & Crafts Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Went there with little knowledge and requested help. The man behind the counter was nice and very helpful.

They were able to make the plexiglass panels I requested in a few hours much to my satisfaction. Thanks TAP read more

Thank so another hard wear store I found this place. I have been working on a few DIY projects around my home that called for a custom-cut sheet of plastic (or acrylic). I intended on going to a well know Hard wear store that is known for finding and producing unique things that are not at other mainstream hard wear stores. But I quickly was informed that they do not do custom cuts of acrylics anymore. But the store associate pointed me in the direction of a store that did still do custom cuts of acrylic (Tap Plastics). It was such a pleasant surprise that they were in an area that I frequented so I did not have to plan for a special trip anywhere I tried calling and was put on hold for a long time. I was on hold the entire 10 min drive to the store up until the time that I walked into the store. It kinda bothered me since there were not many (or should I say any other) people inside the store but the clerk "oh there was just a packed house in here". Meh, ok yah whatever. I was there in person so I just went straight into figuring out how to go about getting what I was looking for to complete my project. I guess the person in the back that does the actual cutting was so kind and patient. He double-checked with me about my measurements before he made the cuts. I explained to him that I totally understand that they do not make sense but a lot of things in my apartment do not make good sense so he kindly cuts the plastic and even gave me an extra piece of plastic in case the one that was strange did not fit correctly. It was a small cutting job so it only took minutes for them to complete and they fit into my project perfectly. Strange measurements and all. So glad that I discovered this place. I will be back If you need any type of plexiglass/acrylic type if items this is definitely the place to come to read more

I asked for a few cuts to a piece of plexiglass that I came in with. Staff person took my directions for the cuts and away went. When he came back to the piece cut, I noticed an irregularity and had to ask for another cut. I said it was my fault for not pointing it out prior. No problem. Another cut was made and it came out perfect. I was ready to settle the bill when the staffer said, to my complete surprise, "no charge." I was good with any reasonable charge, but to get cuts made on my supplied plexi and not have to pay!?! YES, please. TAP, I'll be back. read more

Came in to get some panels cut, dude walked me through everything and I was out the door in 5 minutes. I'm building a sunshield for my DJ booth to use outdoors and they even had a textured option to reduce sun reflection back into the crowd. Couldn't be happier with my experience. Nice peeps there read more

Extremely professional and helpful. They saved me a bunch of money, gave me sound advice and made this small non-profit's day! Thank you!

Awesome and amazing- support you in every way possible. Keep in mind they are busy! Practice kindness, Kham read more

TAP Plastics - All star donuts 3070 El Cerrito plaza - Arts & Crafts Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Thank You once again Tap Plastics for helping me to materialize a concept and design for Venus & Victory. Their attention to detail surpasses even my critical eye. This Perfume Portal is magical in it's artistic and creative appeal. I am very pleased with the result so Thank You read more

TAP Plastics - This table display is going to be very impactful - Arts & Crafts Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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We recently purchased an acrylic panel for our living room skylight. The staff at TAP Plastics provided excellent service on the selection of a cost effective material, In addition, the staff helped us size and adjust the large sheet dimensions to obtain a perfect fit. Awesome! read more

This store is amazing! They can build anything you want out of a variety of plastics, custom-made. All the staff were friendly, efficient and very knowledgeable. Prices are also very reasonable. I wouldn't hesitate to use their services again and I highly recommend them to others! read more

Every time I come into a tap plastic I have no idea what i'm doing. Usually it is work related as I need something carved out and all I have are dimensions. Working at the counter everyone is super useful and guides me in the right direction. Everything is super quick and i'm usually in and out in a span of no more than 10 minutes. Prices are a bit high but the product is solid. read more

The staff at tap Plastics El Cerrito went above and beyond to make my project a reality. Thanks Scott and staff for making things so easy. I have more things to do, I'll be back. read more

TAP Plastics - Arts & Crafts Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Thank you Sophia! This Gal knows her products and what works best for your project. Fast, friendly and very knowledgeable! Thank you!

I have replaced the glass in all my transportable picture frames with plastic. These frames take quite a beating. I take out the photos and replace them with different ones for different shows. I usually have to replace several plastic pieces a year. Tap is quick. The prices are reasonable. And the people are pleasant. No doubt about it, this is the best place for my plastic needs. read more

I'm not all that handy, but I'm good at taking advice when I need something done around the house. One recent (and simple) project involved adding a little more insulation value to 2 small closet windows and and glass-enclosed bay above the kitchen sink. So it was off to Tap Plastics for some Lexan (polycarbonate). The folks here were good on advice and spot on regarding sizing and and application tips. The pricing was also reasonable and I was very happy with the results of my work. Gayle would say that there's "fix things" hope for me yet! read more

I have been going to TAP Plastics for my projects in various cities in the Bay Area for decades. They have always been helpful, but Ms. Sophia Jones at El Cerrito store was so incredible that I decided to write a review. After ordering 3 large pieces of 1/4" Plexiglass about a few months ago, I needed some type of plastic sheets to protect newly refinished hardwood floors in the kitchen and bathroom. The first person who helped me gave me an estimate, but I wanted to confirm the measurements. When I came back to order it, Sofia had recommended a better material for the purpose, and it also happened to be less expensive than the original estimate. I was so glad that I took her advice. The material did exactly what it was supposed to do, and it is beautiful! I thought Sofia was a genuinely good person with a lot of knowledge in plastic. She went above and beyond her job to help customers, which is hard to come by in any profession nowadays. I hope she will be working for TAP Plastics for a long time and be rewarded for her great service. read more

Ask for "Sophia Jones", she is very knowledgeable and helpfull, def deserves a raise.

Fantastic crew at TAP Plastics El Cerrito! I came here for a project that needed some plastic cut at a good price. They do a great professional job that required some cutting of 1/8" acrylic and it was done instantaneously! I was surprised how quick and well it was done each time that I went. Highly recommend TAP Plastics for any hardware/home improvement/projects that need to be done. read more

Truly excellent and friendly service from a very intelligent staff member who gave me very good recommendations and provided intelligent explanations about the plastic sheet I needed. She even convinced me to buy a product that was cheaper than the one I initially chose. Tremendously pleasant and helpful staff person. I offer the highest praise and recommendations. read more

I am very happy this store is open for business (with every Covid-19 safety precaution being taken). Thank you to Liam and the whole crew for fulfilling my face mask template order. What beautiful work and very fast. I didn't catch the name of the lovely female employee that helped me yesterday, but she was stellar. 5 stars! read more

TAP Plastics - Arts & Crafts Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Nicest people and super helpful. They cut a piece that was perfectly measured and fit like a charm. The shop is clean and well organized, the young woman on the counter was helpful and all the staff knew their products and choices. A very good experience. read more

Did I tell you we are rennovating a bathroom? Did I tell you that we have had this bathroom down to the studs for a year and now has a floor, walls and a drop-in shower? As a result of some strangeness in the shower we needed an opaque plastic piece built to order. We coordinated our day so that we could visit TAP plastics, which is open on Saturdays in a little strip mall (near the DMV) in El Cerrito. The staff was friendly and accomomdating. Because of some issues beyond our control, we had to go back several times to get the piece just a little different each time (doesn't that always happen?). The staff at TAP stuck with us, helping us until the piece was perfect. We were very pleased with their professionalism. A bonus? After years of just planning it, I finally got the clear plastic shelf in my kitchen window as well. Yeah for TAP!!! read more

I totally agree with Christopher: This is the type of store you have no need for until you walk through the front door. _______________ I've driven by this place a million times and never set foot in it till recently. I was doing a display project at work and I wanted to display an assortment of flyers. Someone had bought these expensive clunky flat backs that were hella ugly, I decided to try putting some plastic rods to put into the cracks instead, I bought some long rods which they cut into smaller pieces. BINGO! Those cheapy rods are perfect! There are all sorts of plastic boxes, rods , cubes, plexiglass sheets, for every plastic project you are working on. The staff is very nice and knowledgeable. And they didn't give me the old "roll your eyes" look when I lamely tried to explain my project. read more

So, you need to cast some resin? TAP Plastics! So, you need to buy some assorted plastic cubes? TAP Plastics! So, you need to make your own latex anything? TAP Plastics! So, you need to buy scraps of plexiglass? TAP Plastics! There's nowhere else to go, so just admit it--you need it, you want it, you got it: TAP. read more

With only a week left to finish my Mechanical Engineering senior design project at UC Berkeley, I decided to make a clear enclosure for all of our electronics. Our machine shop guided me to TAP Plastics, which they called probably the most knowledgeable guys around. I walked in expecting shelves full of football cases and such, but noticed there's a relatively large workspace in the back. They're able to take any mechanical drawing and quote you a pretty good price. At first, the bill came out to almost $40, which was way too high for the job. The guy then quickly suggested that they could make the pieces for $10, and I could buy some glue for another $10. That pretty much cut the half in price and made it easier for me to machine the parts later on. Also, I get to play around with the glue. I was back in 10 min, with all of the parts cut to specific dimensions. Also, I was given some extra parts to practice gluing on, which was pretty nice of them as well. Excellent customer service, fast production time, and a fairly close location! read more

TAP is always a fun place to go. Colored or clear plastics of all shapes and sizes awaken the acrylic child in me. Must have been the Lite-Brite I had way back when that now makes me want to stick an LED on the end of each piece of scrap I pick out of TAP's bin. The people there are nearly uniformly knowledgeable about all sorts of plastic, the expertise of which is no doubt why one pays a bit more for their merchandise. But it's definitely worth it. The manager, whose name escapes me at the moment, is one of those punch you in the shoulder with a poker face sorta guys, in a verbal sense. Be prepared with a dose of sarcasm and a dry sense of humor in your back pocket. Is there any other more readily available source of so much fun? That's legal, I mean? That's for those who have nearly no social life? Settle down, this is only hypothetical in nature. Sometimes being hypothetically shot doesn't sound bad, though. Sigh. read more

SHOUT OUT to El Cerritos' Tap Plastics. Been going there for decades. I'm a professional artist with shows in museums, universities and everywhere you can think of, probably, just not art fares (fun to go to, tho). I can walk in there with an order for many same size plexi sheets to fit into frames and they've got enough in stock... while I wait a few minutes... They have a fascinating selection of plastic goods and related items that make ideas just spring to mind. Recently I went there, acquiring a rigid, clear tube to fix a fountain that nobody, even Ace Hardware in Albany, stocked. If you're unsure, call them, they're accurate. But also go there to mosey around. I "frosted" a window with thin plastic sheeting. I have used their mylar for a number of projects, one being covering a doorway with a "cut thru/walk thru" sheeting that appears to be a mirror otherwise. There are tiny clear boxes, big project stuff for fixing boats, a bin of leftover pieces great for various projects... and easy parking outside the door too. Why the shout out? Because Liam Reardon, the manager, made sure that a former difficulty was solved. My problem had come to his attention via a phone call from me quite some time ago. It was only when I needed to return with a new order that I asked for resolution. Quietly, politely and with great care Liam made the change. His manner, method, and fix are absolutely stellar. I hope that he keeps this job forever. Thanks, Liam, thanks ever so much. Benny Alba read more

I am making a 1:32 model, and it is almost entirely out of plexi... and almost all of that plexi is "scrap" [read: left over] pieces from Tap Plastics. The old man at the counter was so nice - I got all of it for $1/3lb. I think I have a little over 15lb of plexiglass in quite an impressive range of colors! Also, Tap carries an amazing glue that attaches plexi like there is no tomorrow. One warning - IT WILL MELT YOUR SKIN. [it sounds scary, but it's not that bad, just don't be an idiot when using the glue!] read more

Does Advertising work? An age-old question with mixed results. What I can tell you is that one of the few radio ads that come through sports talk radio I finally gave a listen. The company: TAP Plastics. Was it their jingle... not likely. I just needed some materials for my photography business, and thought I would give this a whirl. I wasn't disappointed. I was a bit frustrated with their business hours, but I just need a bit more advance planning. The staff was very friendly, especially in light of the fact that I'm a moron when it comes to this stuff. So, I told them what I needed to do (product photography) and they gave me options. It took 2 minutes to cut the materials, and I went merrily on my way. So, if you are trying to do some product photography, you might want to check this place out before you go to some photography online store that will charge you a decent markup for something of the same (or lesser) quality. read more

The best in plastics and customer communication and satisfaction! Turn around time was superior!

Tap Plastics is great! I went by today with an unusual but very small, last minute cut plexiglass need. The staff listened to my needs, asked good questions to clarify my project, and communicated clearly. They shared the different properties of plexiglass, how the cuts would affect the look, and paid attention to details I did not consider. Even though my project was very small (not much income for them) they worked hard to make sure it was cut right. Then to top it all off, even though they were fully booked for the day, they completed my last minute, deadline driven job early. Tap Plastics went above and beyond for my little cut job. I always refer people to Tap Plastics, so thought I would share my positive experience with them from today. read more

We needed to pick up some items last minute and in a time crunch. Mandy answered our call and got everything together for us first thing in the morning. She was not only extremely helpful and friendly but she went above and beyond to make it happen. Super smooth and meaningful transaction. Tap comes through in the clutch once again. Thanks so much to Mandy. She's the real MVP! read more

I went to Tap looking for a protective cover for my large and fragile charcoal drawings. I had some idea of what I wanted, but was unsure of the exact material and assembly. Harold helped me find the right solution in a snap, cut the material to the right size and gave me everything needed for an easy assembly. So helpful, quick and easy. My drawings are already up on the wall and they look perfect. Very happy with the customer service and very happy with the result! read more

Thank you Tap Plastics for your superior quality work and customer service. I've posted pics of my Algae Scrubber you guys made for me. Thank you Robert, Dave & Andrew over in Sacramento Florin for your outstanding customer service, and Thank you Ben from the El Cerrito location for fabricating it and getting the job done for me in 1/2 the time you quoted me for. You guys are awesome and I will be sending more business your way! read more

Nobody likes a wall of glass coming down on them while taking a shower. I vowed no more glass. For some reason nobody really makes plastic shower doors. Then I thought of tap plastics. Harold was great from start to finish. Finished it way earlier than I needed and even put an extra knob hole I didn't want to risk putting in myself without charging. Also put the rail wheels and handle bar on the new piece. I tried to give him a well deserved tip but he refused. I even got a free piece of scrap plastic from the nice lady at the front counter to cover my outdoor camera. Considering leaving the film on for awhile, like the color. Thanks people. read more

TAP Plastics - Before and after - Arts & Crafts Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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TAP plastics is an amazing place. So many resources for all things plastic. Worth visiting just to know what they have. It may open your mind to new projects. They also provide wonderful service, e.g. cutting and finishing. They also go above and beyond. This morning SB cut me twelve pieces in just a few minutes and since it was the end of a sheet, he threw in some extra pieces. Thank you! read more