Why use duct tape? A guide to make the most of it

Why use duct tape? A lot of people in their own home have one or more paper, or maybe PPL and PVC, rolls of adhesive tape. Though they might not have tried cloth tape, also called American tape, duck tape and duct tape.

This, is fair to say, is the most versatile of adhesive tapes, indeed, it is the ideal tape to always keep on hand for makeshift repairs. There are many types of adhesive tape, in fact, designed for different uses.

There’s paper tape for masking, used to paint without soiling and smearing. Then, there’s reinforced paper tape, as well as PVC and PPL tape designed to be able to seal even heavy packages.

There is double-sided adhesive tape, used in the industry setting, or, for example, when laying down carpeting. Then, there are so many other types of tape, meant for sealing and so on. And then, there is duct tape, which differs from the normal tape: let’s have a look at why you should use it.

What is duct tape?

The fate of cloth tape was already clear during its creation. This particular double-sided tape was, in fact, developed for the first time in the middle of World War II, after – legend has it – a working mother of two soldiers of the U.S. Navy sent a letter to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

In that letter, the woman explained that by combining the concept of duck tapes (strips of non-adhesive cloth that were used to reinforce clothing, shoes, and more) with and adhesive support it would be possible to seal ammunition crates in a simpler and faster way.

That letter was actually forwarded by the president’s office to the war committee, which commissioned the development of cloth tape, immediately used in the US army for makeshift repairs to military vehicles and weaponry.

In later years, American tape began to be used in construction, mechanics and, finally, in DIY.

But how is duct tape made today? It is, in all cases, a strong double-sided adhesive tape with an “armour” of not particularly dense cloth inside of it.

It must be said that the type of cloth varies from case to case: it can be cotton, but also nylon, polyester, fiberglass, and so on. Underneath this cloth is the adhesive layer itself, typically a very powerful one, and above it all is a waterproof coating, usually made of low-intensity polyethylene.

The typical colouring of the duct tape is grey or glossy grey, and is usually achieved with aluminium powder.

Why use duct tape?

Why use duct tape? Simple: American tape has unique features, which together make it ideal for emergency repairs and also for those intended to be stable and durable.

The cloth inside the tape gives this industrial double-sided adhesive a great amount of resistance, which, together with the high quality of the glue used to create the best duct tape, ensures a material capable of resisting great mechanical forces.

But that’s not all. Duct tape is quick and easy to use, being able to be “cut” simply with a quick movement of your hand. It is a waterproof tape, which can therefore withstand moisture without compromising its grip, and is extremely versatile, being able to be used to both close, seal, hang, and so on.

A guide on how to use duct tape

Owning a roll of duct tape can mean having the ability to face the most disparate needs in terms of repair.

Using it is pretty easy, being functionally identical to a regular tape roll, except for some benefits such as greater flexibility, a higher level of adhesion, and so on.

American cloth tape can be used to repair anything from pipes to kayak hulls, motorcycle fenders to bottle. Moreover, it can be used to patch shoes, clothing, or backpacks in case of emergency; not to mention, it can also be used should you need to make a strong rope, or to splint injured limbs.

It is moreover possible to use duct tape as a preventative measure, such as a classic “X” over the glass of a window before storms, to avoid it breaking into tiny pieces in case of shattering.

Or, you can use duct tape to collect and tidy electrical cables in your office, to hide small items in places that no one will ever check, and so on.

There are many, many different reasons to use industrial double-sided adhesive: because of this, it would always be a good idea to have one or two rolls inside your toolbox!