8 Kinds of Duct Tape: Are You Using the Right One? - LinkedIn

Stumbled upon this wonderful article that you might find useful... Enjoy!

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The term, “duct tape” is probably the single biggest misnomer in the adhesive tape industry today!

When the concept of using an adhesive tape to seal the seams of galvanized duct work first came along, this was its only intended use, and the name stuck. (Pun intended).

Its initial design was simple but effective: a strong fabric bonded to polyethylene film for sealing/waterproofing, silver-gray coloring to match metal duct work, and a thick coating of adhesive to seal the joints and make them air tight.

But people quickly determined that duct tape could be used for a variety of other purposes, and the boom was on. Many new types of duct tape were manufactured – each with different qualities of fabric, polyethylene, and adhesive – for many different end uses. As a result, duct tape manufacturers now offer a wide range of grades of polyethylene/fabric types and in a wide variety of colors.

Here are 8 different kinds of duct tape being used today:

General purpose: With a low fabric count, a thin polyethylene film, and a low weight adhesive, these general-purpose tapes work well enough for odd jobs where long service life isn’t necessary.

Industrial grade: With these tapes, the fabric and polyethylene are upgraded, so the tape becomes more of a “workhorse” with added adhesive coating weight. One popular variation is multi-colored industrial tape that is used to seam and hold carpets at exhibitions, where the adhesive must be removed cleanly.

Professional grade: Sometimes called “contractors’ grade” these tapes offer more of an upgrade to the components of the industrial grade tape for added strength, adhesion, and durability.

Gaffer’s tape: Typically gaffer’s tape is a matte black for minimal light reflection and is used in movie, television, and photo studios to temporarily tape cables to the floor or light fixtures to vertical posts. This type of tape needs to be able to be easily torn by hand and remove cleanly.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Adhesive Duct Tape. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Stucco tape: Stucco tape is used to attach protective polyethylene film over doors and windows during house construction prior to spraying the outside walls with stucco. Stucco tape is designed to be used outdoors for several days at a time, so it must be able to resist the ultraviolet of the sun’s rays during that time – and not come apart from the vinyl window frames.

True duct tape: This one lives up to its name – tape that is truly intended for sealing air ducts. Duct tape must be permanent and able to withstand the prolonged heat and air pressure for the lifetime of the duct. It may even need to be flame retardant to meet some building codes. Duct tape is the true top of the line, a high tensile, hardworking tape.

Coated cloth tape: A roll of coated cloth tape has gone with every U.S. manned space launch, and is also commonly known as “Mission Tape”. This tape played an essential role in the construction of the carbon dioxide absorbers which saved the lives of the three astronauts in the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission.

Pick the Right Duct Tape for Your Job 

With such a wide variety to choose from, start by considering exactly what you expect your tape to do. Then, evaluate the right polyethylene/fabric backing judged by tensile strength, as well as the right adhesive coating thickness, judged by adhesion level, for the best performance with the lowest cost.

Source Link: http://www.echotape.com/8-kinds-of-duct-tape-are-you-using-the-right-one/

I hope you enjoyed the article. If you need any help, please don't hesitate to call me on () 307-572.

Cheers,

Brian

For more information, please visit Self-fusing rubber tape manufacturer.

expfcwintergreen

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• Jan 8,

• #1

I need it to stick to a plastic cover.

My Dad, who was a pipe fitter, used to have some really great duct tape, but I never looked to see what brand it was. It was very strong; the backing was a dark green color. Maybe I haven't been looking in the right places, but all I can find is some thin, half sticky grey backed duct tape.

Any good brands left? To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

amolaver

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• #2

Gorilla tape - will pull the paint off a car (damhik). It's black (not sure if they sell other colors). Available at home depot, not sure where else.

ahm OP E

expfcwintergreen

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• #3

Gorilla tape - will pull the paint off a car (damhik). It's black (not sure if they sell other colors). Available at home depot, not sure where else.

ahm

Thanks, that sounds like what I am looking for. The color wasn't important; I just thought it might jog someone's memory.

CNGsaves

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• Jan 8,

• #4

Well do NOT get the "Duck" brand as it's pretty worthless once the going gets tough. Tried using it to tape down wires on trailer before I drove in rain, and tape came off nearly immediately when wet. With all their colors and crap, they've lost their way of being useful for intended purpose.

Instead bought camouflage colored tape I found at Walmart and it stuck really well in the rain. The brand is Gorilla tape. It WORKS! Even after trip in rain with trailer wires taped down, the tape was still sticky.

Old school gray duct tape is harder to find that actual has stick to it.

Scimmia

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• #5

Gorilla tape user here as well. Best I've found.

ishiboo

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• #6

Gorilla Tape is awesome. It comes in white on the full-size rolls as well. I tried it when Menards ran out of drain tile tape and it's really good stuff.

Also necessities in your tape aresenal:

1. Gaffers tape
2. Aluminum tape like UL181AP. Great for repairs/etc.
3. 3M VHB (permanent double-sided tape)

The Gorilla tapes that are similar to duct tape are also Made in the USA.

arrowhead

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• #7

Gorilla tape is awesome! Just be careful what your taping to!

jakemac

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Another vote for Gorilla Tape.
If possible, warm the tape and the tarp above 50° before applying for a quicker bond. OP E

expfcwintergreen

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• #9

It isn't very often that there is such a consensus of thought here or anywhere else. I'm sold. Gorilla tape must be great. Thanks to everyone.

wild cowboy

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The best duct tapes have a name, and that name is gaffer's tape. (it's what the pros use) Last edited: Jan 9, OP E

expfcwintergreen

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• #11

Gorilla Tape is awesome. It comes in white on the full-size rolls as well. I tried it when Menards ran out of drain tile tape and it's really good stuff.

Also necessities in your tape aresenal:

1. Gaffers tape
2. Aluminum tape like UL181AP. Great for repairs/etc.
3. 3M VHB (permanent double-sided tape)

The Gorilla tapes that are similar to duct tape are also Made in the USA.

I think I may have used aluminum tape on a muffler. I will look in to the others. Thanks.

General Geoff

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• Jan 8,

• #12

Yeah, someone shattered the rear side glass on my '96 S10 Blazer, and I taped over it with Gorilla tape (used almost 2 rolls, that window is pretty big). The truck was a $200 beater so was not worth replacing the glass. I drove that thing with the tape on it for almost a year, and it was still waterproof and holding fine.

T45

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• #13

Gorilla tape - will pull the paint off a car (damhik). It's black (not sure if they sell other colors). Available at home depot, not sure where else.

ahm

Gorilla is good

In my experience you don't want the glue to "feel super-sticky", the really good adhesive will take a little bit of tack before it sets up. But once it sets up, it doesn't slip or come-away from the backing. For some reason super-sticky ductape usually means the adhesive is crappy or old, and then its likely to stick to whatever, but won't have the structral integrity you need or want. This stuff usually leaves a mess behind when it is removed, whereas the good stuff will just peel the paint of .

eborcim

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• Jan 8,

• #14

another vote for GT.

A little off topic, if you decide to use GT's kin, Gorilla Glue, wear nitrile or similar gloves as it will not wipe off once on your skin. Also it expands like sealant foam from any crevice.

Thumper68

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• Jan 8,

• #15

another vote for the Gorilla tape, and their line of glues as well. Awesome stuff when you need it to stay stuck.

ncfh

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• Jan 8,

• #16

Gaffer's tape being suggested as "stickiest, most heavy duty duct tape"??? lol wut?

The whole point of gaffers tape is that it is temporary and won't ruin whatever you stick it to.

That tends to mean its NOT the stickiest, most heavy duty duct tape replacement. And as with actual duct tape, there at many brands of gaffer's tape, and many of them are about as sticky as scotch tape.


So no, gaffers tape isn't "what the pros use" in the OPs situation at all. They use the right tool for the job, not just what sounds cool or elite.

Signed grouchy old gaffer

Jure

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Fugio

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Gaffers tape is NOT supposed to be very sticky. It's purpose is to leave no residue. In my line of work we call it "Rock-N-Roll tape." Same thing.

Gorilla tape is what you want!

Stuey

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Yup, +1 for Gorilla Tape. It's good stuff, but smells awful.

jakemac

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The best duct tapes have a name, and that name is gaffer's tape. (it's what the pros use)

I was one of those pro's for 15yrs. Gaffer's tape is wonderful for many jobs. Much better than duct tape. BUT, it doesn't adhere as well as Gorilla tape in cold, or moist conditions. And can have issues adhering to some plastics. As another poster stated, the adhesive that is used was intended for temporary installations. Over time, in weather, the cloth backing will break down and the adhesive dries out and becomes chalky. It will last longer than Duct tape, but not longer than Gorilla tape.

I've had Gorilla tape sealing a rip in the cover of my storage tent for almost a year now. I applied it during a rain storm in the winter. It's still holding. As much as I love Gaff tape, it wouldn't have stayed on more than 10 minutes, if that. Last edited: Jan 8, To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

KnurledNut

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+1 gorilla tape. heavy duty thickness.

Bigblue&Goldie

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• #22

I once used Gorilla Tape to keep a friend's boat from sinking in Lake Havasu. The rearend was under water, so we needed to seal off all of the vents to pump it out. GT worked like a champ! Nobody else there knew it would still adhere under water, but they all ended up buying a roll to keep in their own boats after that. A $5 roll of tape saved a $1,500 vessel assist bill.

Wamsutta

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• #23

Nashua USA if you want super sticky.

markbugno

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• Jan 8,

• #24

Shurtape PC 622 (black) is a great duct tape. Not sure how it compares to gorilla tape which I've never tried.

Another great tape is a fiberglass reinforced tape made by tesa tape. When I work for Siemens Westinghouse, it's actually their policy to wrap all impact sockets in this tape when being used with a hytorc (hydraulic torque wrench), in case they shatter. Good stuff.

DennisH

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• #25

Definitely Gorilla Tape I would say! I'm not huge on duct tape these days, since I've discovered so many other options, but it works when it needs to!

BFHtime

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• #26

I have good experience with 3M duct tape. I have tried many recently that just do not stick and tear easily. Duct tape used to be great, just about any brand.

I have not tried gorilla tape but I have tried a variety of their glues.

Monte

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mrjaw14

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Nashua is a brand of duct tape. They have several different types. I've used it and it's high quality stuff, but I don't know where to get it locally. I had to order mine. Locally, gorilla tape is the best if you need a thick, durable, high-adhesion tape where you want "duct tape" but need something better. It's 10-12mils thick so it doesn't tear quickly like duct tape, which means it doesn't puncture as easy.

FWIW, I do keep several feet of gorilla tape on an old credit card type of plastic in my bag when kayaking and camping for gear repairs. I wouldn't trust regular duct tape for that...

Strouty

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I use the clear duct tape that I think is made by 3M, it is awesome. I was remaking an upholstered door panel for an excavator and I could not hold the material tight because of the odd shape, I ended up using the clear duct tape on three sides to hold it tight while the adhesive dried. it worked very well and I have used it ever since.

I actually have not used gorilla tape, but I will be getting some.

Dust Devil

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polyken makes great tape, buy the proper one for your application.

Professur

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Anyone know the source of the 300 mph tape Nascar teams use for body panel repairs?

stage20

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• #32

Ivve never used the gorilla stuff, but napa brand duct tape is pretty sticky. Is next to my work so its more convenient than going to lowes or hd

Monte

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Anyone know the source of the 300 mph tape Nascar teams use for body panel repairs?

rockinacummins

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jakemac

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Anyone know the source of the 300 mph tape Nascar teams use for body panel repairs?

It's produced by a company called ISC. Here's an online retailer :
http://pitstopusa.com/c--pit-equipment-tape-racers-duct-tape.html



Sorry Monte, that's just regular HVAC duct tape that 3M paid Nascar an endorsement for. Last edited: Jan 8,

smiffy

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• #36

If you have a proper farm supply store near you try silage tape its very stretchy almost like rubber and annoyingly sticky its used to seal tears in silage bales so is made to last we use it for everything even got it holding together a truck exhaust pipe and its been there for several months and because its stretchy it màkes it easier to get a good seal with

bwringer

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• Jan 8,

• #37

Hey, has anyone mentioned Gorilla Tape yet?

I'm sure there are specialty tapes that are stickier and stronger, but they're not sitting on the shelf of every Wally World, home store, or hardware store.

bobemmerich

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• #38

I will go with the Gorilla. I put it on my convertible top a couple years ago, and it hasn't pulled out yet. It also still hasn't leaked.

garfunkle24

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Gorilla tape is great, so is Hurricane tape.