Many of us use common-office variety transparent tape for mending
torn paper and wrapping gifts, and not provide the sticky stuff
much thought beyond that. But did you know that there are a whole
slew of specialty tapes available? Engineered using a variety of
innovative materials and adhesives, these tapes do everything from
color-coding cables to insulating splices and automotive parts.
Below, you will find a rundown of 10 of our favorite tapes, ranging
from tried-and-true standards to a few new-generation types that
you might 't be so acquainted with.
Electrical Tape
That old standby of electricians all over the world, electrical tape is usually made from slightly stretchy PVC vinyl, and it is backed with a pressure sensitive rubber-type adhesive. Electrical tape has good insulative properties, and it is perfect for protecting wire splices and providing extra insulation on electrical wires. While you'll most often see electrical tape in black, it is also available in a number of other colors (like red, green, yellow, green, and white) you can use for color-coding.
double sided tapeDouble-Sided Tape
When you really need front-and-back sticking power but rolled-up tape loops just won't work, double-sided tape may be the adhesive to reach for. While it's available in the common "arts-and-crafts" grade, there's also heavier-duty formulations which are strong enough to hang lightweight items on walls, or even adhere an electric cord cover towards the floor. Me is super easy - just cut a length of tape, press the exposed adhesive onto the item you're working with, remove the liner, and press the 2nd side from the surface you would like it to stay to.
duct tapeDuct Tape
This Great American Fix-All needs no introduction, but you'd still like to know the story behind it, right? The key reason why we use duct tape for everything has a lot to do with its strength, which may be related to a composite make-up of woven cotton cloth that’s been backed with tough polyethylene, after which coated with a high-tack adhesive. Duct tape conforms to almost anything, so when applied, forms a waterproof seal, that makes it perfect for from HVAC installations to impromptu repairs throughout the house. Rumor has it that duct tape is even making a splash in clothing and accessory design…
heat shrink tapeHeat Shrink Tape
Once in a while, you might find a wire splice that may apply certain protective insulation, but what do you do when that cable is connected at both ends and should not be moved? That's where heat shrink tape comes in. Typically made from the same cross-linked polyolefin as heat shrink tubing, heat shrink tape occurs a roll and is wrapped around the project, instead of being slipped regarding this. Unlike other tapes, heat shrink tape is backed with a dry adhesive that's not activated until heat is used. But once that adhesive cools, it forms a watertight bond that's able to repair cables and prevent pipe corrosion.
gaffer's tape Gaffer’s Tape
As far as adhesives for movie sets, stages, and studios go, gaffer's tape is the star of the show. Originally produced for the entertainment industry, this flexible matte-finish tape is ideal for holding down cables and marking positions, and won't create an annoying glare by reflecting stage or set lighting. Gaffer's tape includes a very strong hold, but because of its residue-free adhesive, you can take it off without leaving any stickiness behind on your flooring or cables.
Loctite Power Grab on a RollLoctite Power Grab on a Roll
Being that a 5' roll of these things is sufficiently strong to keep 100 lbs, talking about it as being mere double-sided tape will be a gross understatement - it's a lot more like super glue on the roll. Loctite's Power Grab on a Roll is a UV-resistant, waterproof adhesive that may seem like double-sided tape, but it is made to hang materials which are heavier than photos or card stock - think like door-knockers, address plaques, coat hooks and framed pictures. We even went so far as to stick metallic toolbox to some wall and then grow it with heavy metal and rock tools - and guess what? The Power Grab didn't budge.
emergency repair tape
fire tape Fire Tape
Whenever a firewall is built, among the steps is to fill in the seams between drywall panels having a firestopping joint compound. The only issue is this fact "mud" is messy to combine and employ, takes time to use and dry, and try to requires cleanup. Made for new firewall constructions, E-Z Fire Tape is a no-mess substitute for drywall mud. You just run it over vertical and horizontal wall joints, firmly press it into place with the included application knife, and you're done. E-Z Fire Tape is Intertek rated for 1 and 2 hours of fire protection, and reduces installation time by as much as 60%.
thermo-shield tapeFiberglass Tape
Designed for high-heat environments like car engine bays and industrial facilities, fiberglass tape is typically made up of a fiberglass mesh/aluminum foil composite, and backed having a strong, durable adhesive. Used like a wrap, it can keep heat-sensitive components like cables and rubber or plastic hoses from drying out, cracking, and usually being cooked beyond use. It's also great for insulating wired-in components that can not be disconnected before they're wrapped. And as an added bonus, the shiny silver surface gives a neat and professional finished appearance.
turbo tape Silicone Tape
Unlike other types of tape that combine a structural ribbon material with an adhesive coating, silicone tape is made from just one self-fusing compound that bonds to itself, no adhesives required. Having said that, silicone rubber tape isn't employed for sticking one resist another; instead, it's meant to provide waterproof seals and electrical insulation in wrap-style applications on cables, hoses, and electrical components. During application, it's simply stretched and wrapped (with slight overlapping) to create a seal, and after a curing period (usually 24 hours), the silicone forms an unbreakable bond.
silicone repair tape
cable path tapeCable Pathâ„¢ Tape
Aside from the truth that adhesive runs only along its edges, Cable Pathâ„¢ tape is very similar to gaffer's tape, and is (as you probably guessed) designed to route cables across rooms, warehouses and sets, all while keeping them safely adhered to the floor. With regards to positioning cables, Cable Pathâ„¢ is far better than the duct tape that lots of people reach for, because it doesn't glue itself to cords or leave sticky residue on the ground. Just arrange the tape so that its adhesive-free center has ended the cables, press the edges towards the floor, and you have a neat and trip-free situation. Once the event is over, just pull up the Cable Pathâ„¢ - cords will be freed immediately, and the floor won't be covered in gummy leftover adhesive.
Electrical Tape
That old standby of electricians all over the world, electrical tape is usually made from slightly stretchy PVC vinyl, and it is backed with a pressure sensitive rubber-type adhesive. Electrical tape has good insulative properties, and it is perfect for protecting wire splices and providing extra insulation on electrical wires. While you'll most often see electrical tape in black, it is also available in a number of other colors (like red, green, yellow, green, and white) you can use for color-coding.
double sided tapeDouble-Sided Tape
When you really need front-and-back sticking power but rolled-up tape loops just won't work, double-sided tape may be the adhesive to reach for. While it's available in the common "arts-and-crafts" grade, there's also heavier-duty formulations which are strong enough to hang lightweight items on walls, or even adhere an electric cord cover towards the floor. Me is super easy - just cut a length of tape, press the exposed adhesive onto the item you're working with, remove the liner, and press the 2nd side from the surface you would like it to stay to.
duct tapeDuct Tape
This Great American Fix-All needs no introduction, but you'd still like to know the story behind it, right? The key reason why we use duct tape for everything has a lot to do with its strength, which may be related to a composite make-up of woven cotton cloth that’s been backed with tough polyethylene, after which coated with a high-tack adhesive. Duct tape conforms to almost anything, so when applied, forms a waterproof seal, that makes it perfect for from HVAC installations to impromptu repairs throughout the house. Rumor has it that duct tape is even making a splash in clothing and accessory design…
heat shrink tapeHeat Shrink Tape
Once in a while, you might find a wire splice that may apply certain protective insulation, but what do you do when that cable is connected at both ends and should not be moved? That's where heat shrink tape comes in. Typically made from the same cross-linked polyolefin as heat shrink tubing, heat shrink tape occurs a roll and is wrapped around the project, instead of being slipped regarding this. Unlike other tapes, heat shrink tape is backed with a dry adhesive that's not activated until heat is used. But once that adhesive cools, it forms a watertight bond that's able to repair cables and prevent pipe corrosion.
gaffer's tape Gaffer’s Tape
As far as adhesives for movie sets, stages, and studios go, gaffer's tape is the star of the show. Originally produced for the entertainment industry, this flexible matte-finish tape is ideal for holding down cables and marking positions, and won't create an annoying glare by reflecting stage or set lighting. Gaffer's tape includes a very strong hold, but because of its residue-free adhesive, you can take it off without leaving any stickiness behind on your flooring or cables.
Loctite Power Grab on a RollLoctite Power Grab on a Roll
Being that a 5' roll of these things is sufficiently strong to keep 100 lbs, talking about it as being mere double-sided tape will be a gross understatement - it's a lot more like super glue on the roll. Loctite's Power Grab on a Roll is a UV-resistant, waterproof adhesive that may seem like double-sided tape, but it is made to hang materials which are heavier than photos or card stock - think like door-knockers, address plaques, coat hooks and framed pictures. We even went so far as to stick metallic toolbox to some wall and then grow it with heavy metal and rock tools - and guess what? The Power Grab didn't budge.
emergency repair tape
fire tape Fire Tape
Whenever a firewall is built, among the steps is to fill in the seams between drywall panels having a firestopping joint compound. The only issue is this fact "mud" is messy to combine and employ, takes time to use and dry, and try to requires cleanup. Made for new firewall constructions, E-Z Fire Tape is a no-mess substitute for drywall mud. You just run it over vertical and horizontal wall joints, firmly press it into place with the included application knife, and you're done. E-Z Fire Tape is Intertek rated for 1 and 2 hours of fire protection, and reduces installation time by as much as 60%.
thermo-shield tapeFiberglass Tape
Designed for high-heat environments like car engine bays and industrial facilities, fiberglass tape is typically made up of a fiberglass mesh/aluminum foil composite, and backed having a strong, durable adhesive. Used like a wrap, it can keep heat-sensitive components like cables and rubber or plastic hoses from drying out, cracking, and usually being cooked beyond use. It's also great for insulating wired-in components that can not be disconnected before they're wrapped. And as an added bonus, the shiny silver surface gives a neat and professional finished appearance.
turbo tape Silicone Tape
Unlike other types of tape that combine a structural ribbon material with an adhesive coating, silicone tape is made from just one self-fusing compound that bonds to itself, no adhesives required. Having said that, silicone rubber tape isn't employed for sticking one resist another; instead, it's meant to provide waterproof seals and electrical insulation in wrap-style applications on cables, hoses, and electrical components. During application, it's simply stretched and wrapped (with slight overlapping) to create a seal, and after a curing period (usually 24 hours), the silicone forms an unbreakable bond.
silicone repair tape
cable path tapeCable Pathâ„¢ Tape
Aside from the truth that adhesive runs only along its edges, Cable Pathâ„¢ tape is very similar to gaffer's tape, and is (as you probably guessed) designed to route cables across rooms, warehouses and sets, all while keeping them safely adhered to the floor. With regards to positioning cables, Cable Pathâ„¢ is far better than the duct tape that lots of people reach for, because it doesn't glue itself to cords or leave sticky residue on the ground. Just arrange the tape so that its adhesive-free center has ended the cables, press the edges towards the floor, and you have a neat and trip-free situation. Once the event is over, just pull up the Cable Pathâ„¢ - cords will be freed immediately, and the floor won't be covered in gummy leftover adhesive.
