Duct or Gaffers?

[Wayne Packer]

Any comparison between Duct tape and Gaffers tape? I have heard that Gaffers may be better than Duct for our use.

[paul johnson]

Not familiar with Gaffers tape.

I use a green colored tape from Nashua. Both “Road Racers” and NASCAR drivers/pit crew sometimes call it 200 MPH tape or Helicopter tape (where i work, we really don’t use this on helicopter rotor blades as has been sometimes stated by commentators on SPEED channel). The tape can hold damaged body work on a car at 190+ MPH.

I’ve even used this tape at home for “temporary” plumbing repairs. Several overlapping layers have held up for several weeks on cold water pipes & several days on hot water pipes.

You should be able to find it at a good hardware store.

[Wayne Packer]

I’ll look into that. Gaffers tape is common in the film, theatrical and events production fields among others.

[Alex Orgren]

It depends on the application. I wouldn’t use gaffer’s tape as an all-purpose substitute for duct tape.

It is a fabric-based tape usually found in narrower widths than duct tape. Its primary application is temporarily securing electronics cables to nearby objects (like microphone stands). The adhesive is stronger than masking tape, but not as strong as good duct tape. It will fray and it will absorb moisture.

[Ron Bell / MLD]

Yes, gaffers tape is not as sticky as duct tape. It’s made to be removed and not leave residue.

Note that duct tape comes in regular, professional and industrial strengths. Each cost a bit more.

Look at the labels in Home Depot, Lowes, etc. and you will see it printed on the label.

-Ron

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