...Duck tape. It's the only brand sold at the local big dubya. I've found that their duct tape and their masking tape don't stick worth a water-retaining structure. So yesterday I went to the paint store and got Scotch masking tape. Much better.
I second that. The most recent Duck brand duct tape I purchased was also extremely thin and flimsy compared to what I am used to seeing. I felt like I had to wrap the last item about 3 times more than normal if I had been able to use some good duct tape.
Remember when real duct tape was so sticky you had to let it warm up in the sun for a little bit just to get it off the roll, and you practically had to cut it because it was too thick to tear? When you put it on something it stayed. It didn't come loose just because it got wet.
Buy industrial all-weather duct tape. Nashua is the brand I believe. The local hardware carry the thin cheap stuff these days. Ebay has plenty of it for sale.
I've used Gorilla brand, it seems thicker and stickier (new word?) than other brands.
I have been using Gorilla tape. Its like duct tape use to be.
The first time I saw "Duck" tape, I had to laugh. Marketing genius. I HATE marketing. The perfect product naming for a society that chooses to not be smart. Most people in this country today do not know the difference between a duck, and a duct. Let alone how to spell it. Duck tape is NOT duct tape, of any quality.
Buy carefully, and enjoy, W2
Fifty years ago we used the Navy 3" wide version to cover up the unused gun ports in the Skyraider wings.
It was pretty permanent in all sorts of weather and up to 300 Mph airflow.
Too bad. Especially since the stuff was developed to work in wet conditions.
In Vietnam we has O.D. "100 MPH" and "300 MPH" two inch wide duct tape. Great for quick bullet hole repair.
Be_Zero_Be
I believe the stuff was actually created to waterproof ammunition boxes, but I'm not sure.
Original Duct tape was based on a loosely woven fabric with glue imbedded in it and coated with a water-proof film on the outside. The cheap copy is a roll of glue coated plastic film on a roll.
I bought a case of 3M brand duct tape once thinking 'surely with a name like that, it's gotta be good quality.' Well.....it wouldn't stick worth a dang. My gut says 3M probably makes several different quality levels of the stuff and this one was at the bottom. It's a shame that a company would whore out it's good name just to make a price point, but they certainly are not the first.
HEALTH
1. Remove Warts
Apparently it’s not just an old wives’ tale. Studies of duct tape’s effectiveness have yielded mixed results, but some research does suggest regular gray duct tape can assist in wart treatment [1] [2]. To give it a whirl, cover up warts with duct tape every day for six days, then soak the warts in warm water on the seventh day and exfoliate them with an emery board or pumice stone. Repeat this process for as long as two months, and there’s a good chance your warts will be gone.
2. Prevent Blisters from Ruining a Workout
Avid runners, walkers, and hikers are likely familiar with this trick: When you first feel the symptoms of an impending blister (i.e., burning, friction, or irritation), apply duct tape over the irritated spot as smoothly as possible. If a blister has already developed, protect it from the duct tape’s glue by placing a circle of paper or gauze directly over the blister, and then apply the duct tape on top. Voila: Pain be gone!
3. Make an Emergency Bandage
If you’re nowhere near a first aid kit when someone develops a cut, apply some sterile, absorbent fabric to the wound (a bandana or strip of t-shirt will do in a pinch) and then wrap duct tape around the cut (applying firm, but not constrictive, pressure) to hold the fabric in place.
4. Make a DIY Mask for CPR
Needs to administer mouth-to-mouth don’t have a CPR mask handy? A strip of duct tape could help save a life. Fold big piece of duct tape over on itself (so that the sticky side isn’t exposed) and cut a quick slit to breathe through (important note: do this quickly).
5. Trap Bugs
No one wants flying insects buzzing around inside. Keep bugs at bay by hanging long strips of duct tape from the ceiling (like flypaper). If you’re looking to get a cardio workout out of your bug trapping, wrap a tennis racket in duct tape (sticky side out) and wave it around to trap the little critters.
RELATED: Hack Your BBQ
6. Keep Socks from Slipping
Sliding around in your socks on tile floors is all fun and games until someone crashes and cracks a few bones. Skip the skid by attaching a strip of duct tape to the bottom of each sock in order to make a non-slip sole. (This one’s especially handy if you have kids.)
7. Make an Apron
Need to protect your clothes from getting messy while whipping up some healthy recipes? No problem — just make an apron from duct tape! Or, heck, just make a whole water-resistant outfit out of duct tape.
8. Make Garden Labels
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, keep your herb and produce beds organized with adorable garden labels made from aluminum duct tape.
RELATED: Hack Your Beer: Pedicures, Food and Beer Shampoo
FITNESS
9. Work Out — Intensely
A thirty-minute, high intensity interval training workout using nothing but duct tape (and an optional jump rope)? Count us in!
10. Get Stronger Arms
This move is super simple, but if the Marine Corps Times recommends it, we’re going to assume it’s pretty legit. Just hold a large roll of duct tape out to your side, and keep holding it there until you no longer can. Then repeat with the other arm.
11. Repair Ripped Camping Gear
Duct tape is one of the best tools to have around when it comes to preventing a camp trip from going downhill. Use it as a temporary fix for a hole in an air mattress or a rip in a tent or sleeping bag.
12. Improve Punching Accuracy
If you train with a punching bag, challenge your accuracy by placing little squares of duct tape on the bag to use as targets during a workout.
13. Correct Ski Issues
While out on the slopes, use duct tape to (temporarily) fix a broken ski pole or to reduce snow build up on skis — if snow keeps sticking to the bottom of your skis, simply apply a layer of duct tape. The slick side of the tape will prevent snow from collecting.
14. Make a DIY Sandbag
All you need to create your own sandbag (a great full-body workout tool) is a canvas laundry bag, a few heavy-duty garbage bags, some zip ties, some pea gravel, and (of course) duct tape.
15. Make a DIY Foam Roller
Foam rolling is a great way to relieve muscle tension, increase your range of motion, prevent injuries, and help with recovery. It’s pretty easy (and cheap) to make your own foam roller — all thanks to the power of duct tape.
HEALTH
1. Remove Warts
Apparently it’s not just an old wives’ tale. Studies of duct tape’s effectiveness have yielded mixed results, but some research does suggest regular gray duct tape can assist in wart treatment [1] [2]. To give it a whirl, cover up warts with duct tape every day for six days, then soak the warts in warm water on the seventh day and exfoliate them with an emery board or pumice stone. Repeat this process for as long as two months, and there’s a good chance your warts will be gone.
2. Prevent Blisters from Ruining a Workout
Avid runners, walkers, and hikers are likely familiar with this trick: When you first feel the symptoms of an impending blister (i.e., burning, friction, or irritation), apply duct tape over the irritated spot as smoothly as possible. If a blister has already developed, protect it from the duct tape’s glue by placing a circle of paper or gauze directly over the blister, and then apply the duct tape on top. Voila: Pain be gone!
3. Make an Emergency Bandage
If you’re nowhere near a first aid kit when someone develops a cut, apply some sterile, absorbent fabric to the wound (a bandana or strip of t-shirt will do in a pinch) and then wrap duct tape around the cut (applying firm, but not constrictive, pressure) to hold the fabric in place.
4. Make a DIY Mask for CPR
Needs to administer mouth-to-mouth don’t have a CPR mask handy? A strip of duct tape could help save a life. Fold big piece of duct tape over on itself (so that the sticky side isn’t exposed) and cut a quick slit to breathe through (important note: do this quickly).
5. Trap Bugs
No one wants flying insects buzzing around inside. Keep bugs at bay by hanging long strips of duct tape from the ceiling (like flypaper). If you’re looking to get a cardio workout out of your bug trapping, wrap a tennis racket in duct tape (sticky side out) and wave it around to trap the little critters.
RELATED: Hack Your BBQ
6. Keep Socks from Slipping
Sliding around in your socks on tile floors is all fun and games until someone crashes and cracks a few bones. Skip the skid by attaching a strip of duct tape to the bottom of each sock in order to make a non-slip sole. (This one’s especially handy if you have kids.)
7. Make an Apron
Need to protect your clothes from getting messy while whipping up some healthy recipes? No problem — just make an apron from duct tape! Or, heck, just make a whole water-resistant outfit out of duct tape.
8. Make Garden Labels
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, keep your herb and produce beds organized with adorable garden labels made from aluminum duct tape.
RELATED: Hack Your Beer: Pedicures, Food and Beer Shampoo
FITNESS
9. Work Out — Intensely
A thirty-minute, high intensity interval training workout using nothing but duct tape (and an optional jump rope)? Count us in!
10. Get Stronger Arms
This move is super simple, but if the Marine Corps Times recommends it, we’re going to assume it’s pretty legit. Just hold a large roll of duct tape out to your side, and keep holding it there until you no longer can. Then repeat with the other arm.
11. Repair Ripped Camping Gear
Duct tape is one of the best tools to have around when it comes to preventing a camp trip from going downhill. Use it as a temporary fix for a hole in an air mattress or a rip in a tent or sleeping bag.
12. Improve Punching Accuracy
If you train with a punching bag, challenge your accuracy by placing little squares of duct tape on the bag to use as targets during a workout.
13. Correct Ski Issues
While out on the slopes, use duct tape to (temporarily) fix a broken ski pole or to reduce snow build up on skis — if snow keeps sticking to the bottom of your skis, simply apply a layer of duct tape. The slick side of the tape will prevent snow from collecting.
14. Make a DIY Sandbag
All you need to create your own sandbag (a great full-body workout tool) is a canvas laundry bag, a few heavy-duty garbage bags, some zip ties, some pea gravel, and (of course) duct tape.
15. Make a DIY Foam Roller
Foam rolling is a great way to relieve muscle tension, increase your range of motion, prevent injuries, and help with recovery. It’s pretty easy (and cheap) to make your own foam roller — all thanks to the power of duct tape.