Wiring Harness Tape

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Wiring Harness Tape
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian Sullivan, Powell WY on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 11:53 am:

For wrapping a wiring harness with period-correct-looking tape:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Tesa-cable-harness-industry-Insulation-special-tape-1-rol %20l-/150861918482?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2320123112&clk_rvr_id=38034339 485%201&afsrc=1#ht_6123wt_1164

Would this be a good solution? Has someone used a better product?

I checked the Restoration Supply catalog, and was surprised I could not find a product there. Building a custom harness for my Bosch magneto setup. Nothing looks worse than shinny vinyl tape w


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 12:10 pm:

Friction tape, which we used to use on electrical wiring, is still available. Ace and other hardware stores have it or can get it, and you don't have to wait for it to come from Hong Kong. You find it on T era house wiring, so it's certainly period correct. We used to wrap rubber tape around a splice, then friction tape on the outside to hold it together.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 12:30 pm:

Steve's correct. It's available and is what I used on exposed portions of my harness. This (probably) 50 year old roll was my Dad's. You can see the minimal useage it's gotten. The stuff isn't very sticky and tears easily along it's length so I wrapped the wiring tightly and at the end I tore the tail of the tape in 2 lengthwise, twirled the 2 ends between my fingers into strings, looped and knotted the ends together around the harness & cut off the excess. Looked like a very period "Grapes of Wrath" repair.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 12:34 pm:

Preferred as Steve posted.

Friction Tape, you can find it in any hardware store, or Restoration Supply if you want to pay for shipping & price.



Has always been used, 1916 Auto Parts catalog



For neat look on smaller looms of one or two wires, split it lengthwise for approx 1/4" wide for smaller wraps.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 12:43 pm:

Ace, $2.79. Home Depot, $2.97. Both have free shipping to the store if you don't find it there.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 01:47 pm:

It is correct looking and has a nice pine pitch smell to it. Check it out.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By M Philpott on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 04:25 pm:

Below is the best description of friction tape, but it's funny that a few months ago someone offered some up for free except for the price of mail. I got 6 rolls for about the price of the old ad above.

Friction tape is a type of adhesive tape made from cloth impregnated with a rubber-based adhesive and is mainly used to increase grip or friction. Because the adhesive is impregnated in the cloth, friction tape is sticky on both sides. The rubber based adhesive makes it an electrical insulator and provides a degree of protection from liquids and corrosion. In the past, friction tape was widely used by electricians,[1] but PVC electrical tape has replaced it in most applications today. The frictional properties of the tape come from the cloth material which is often made from cotton.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary H. White - Sheridan, MI on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 05:01 pm:

I limit my use of the PVC electrical tape. Seems a year later (or less) it has all come undone and is a sticky mess.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian Sullivan, Powell WY on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 05:56 pm:

Sorry, I could not have written my question in a more unclear manner had I tried. Apologies. I will obtain a roll of the above (not from Hong Kong, I can assure you) and compare it to the roll of friction tape I already have (Ace 1.99). Will report anything positive that justifies the cost.

The potential attraction is that it is gummed on one side versus two, and not as much a dust magnet. I encountered recommendations of it while reading other forums where that quality matters more than to us relative to judging; cars with horses on the front with yellow backgrounds for instance....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Darold Kohout on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 08:15 pm:

Hi
First time actually posting here. We have a 'tape' we use to wrap the newer harnesses. It is a little thinner than 'electrical tape'
(the glossy kind), without the gloss. It has a sheen, but not a gloss. It does not have an adhesive side. We found out years ago as many of you have that when the standard electrical tape get hot, it slides on itself and leaves...well...a mess.

I don't want to get in trouble here on the forum, as we are a vendor but let me know if this is what you are looking for. It comes in rolls of just over a half pound. That's how we purchase it, by the pound, but plenty for a Model T wiring job. 5" diameter roll.
6


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donald Vagasky,Tucson on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 10:17 pm:

Depending on how many wires in your harness, I have used a Boot Lace. Or you could also try your local Electronic Supply store.You might have to color or dye it, but they do work well. Snake your wires thru with the ends taped to a point.
Don


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 10:47 pm:

You can also get this asphalt-impregnated woven fabric sleeve material, which is similar to what was used on early Model T's.

sleeve

s2

Sacramento Vintage Ford has it available by the foot in several diameters.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Herb Iffrig on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 10:52 pm:

I understand now.
My Dad would use friction tape to tape up baseball bats when he was manager of the local hardroad team. A lot of times the bats would get cracked and he would put some glue on them and tape them up. I seem to think that they lasted a long time back then.

Herb


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