Classic duct tape and its uses
1 of 1Classic duct tape
Classic duct tape has a thousand uses, but taping ducts isn't one of them.
Duct tape isn't just duct tape anymore. As with
coffee, there's an expanding—and confusing—variety
of tapes available. Home centers that used to
carry one or two types now carry five or six. Online
suppliers carry even more, including all the tapes
shown below. Here are the subspecies of duct tape
that we think are the most useful.
Classic is the standard
stuff you need for
standard jobs. It's
priced at $4 or less,
so you can afford to
keep rolls in strategic
locations—toolbox,
shop, cars—and be
ready for anything.
But, despite its name,
don't use it—or any
type of “duct” tape—on ducts. Metal foil
tape is a far better
choice for ductwork.
Transparent duct tape
1 of 1Transparent duct tape
Transparent duct tape blends in with the taped object for a better appearance.
A duc-tape repair can
be effective but ugly.
Though transparent
tape isn't invisible, it
blends in for a better-looking
fix. The version
shown here, Tesa 4665,
is also UV-resistant,
so it doesn't crumble
in sunlight. Duck Tape
Clear and Scotch
Tough Transparent are
other examples. Prices
start at about $6.
Heavy-duty duct tape
1 of 1Heavy-duty duct tape
Heavy-duty duct tapes have stronger backing material and stronger adhesives.
Duct tapes are not
created equal. Some
have thicker, stronger
adhesive and tougher
backing. One way to
identify these premium
tapes is the size of the
roll: You'll get a similar
length of tape, but
the roll will be fatter
because of the thicker
material. Price is a
good guide too; heavy-duty
tapes cost about
twice as much as standard
duct tape. Gorilla
Tape (shown here),
Intertape Armour
Tough and Scotch
Tough Extreme Hold
(about $10) are a few
examples.
Removable duct tape
1 of 1Removable duct tape
Removable duct tapes have a strong bond, but they come off without leaving a sticky residue.
Super-sticky adhesive
is what makes duct
tape so handy. But it
also leaves a gooey
mess when you pull up
the tape. That's why
clever chemists have
come up with removable
formulas. For
about $9, you get the
holding power without
the residue. Duck
Removable (shown
here) and Scotch
Tough No Residue are
two brands.
Designer duct tape
1 of 1Designer duct tape
Designer duct tape has style in the form of color and patterns.
Just because duct tape
is practical doesn't
mean it has to be plain.
You'll find quite a few
patterns and colors
on store shelves, especially
at craft stores.
For an amazing selection
of colors, patterns,
logos and more, go to
duckbrand.com.
College logo tapes
cost about $10.
Coming soon:
NFL team logos.
Glow-in-the-dark duct tape
1 of 1Glow-in-the-dark duct tape
Looking for something in the dark? You'll find it more easily if it has a swatch of glow-in-the-dark duct tape stuck to it.
Can't find your flashlight
in the dark? Make
it glow with duct tape.
IPG's FireFly tape
works just like other
glow-in-the-dark
items; it gives off a
greenish glow after
being exposed to light.
It comes in plain off-white
or a zebra pattern
for about $8.
Double-sided duct tape
1 of 1Double-sided duct tape
Double-sided duct tape is heavy-duty stuff, complete with peel-off backing.
Unlike most double-sided
tapes, this is true
duct tape, complete
with the strong adhesive
and tough mesh.
Like others, it has a
peel-off backing. Don’t
remove the backing
until it's stuck in
place—it will stick to
your finger and itself
and you'll end up with
a wad of useless tape.
Duck Double Sided
and Shurtape Double
Sided are two brands
(about $7).
Outdoor duct tape
1 of 1Outdoor duct tape
Go with outdoor duct tape if you want the tape to resist weathering.
If you've used duct tape
outside, you know that
after a few months in the
sun, the backing turns flaky
and falls off, leaving a gritty
residue. No duct tape is
completely immune to UV
sunlight, but Scotch Tough
Heavy Duty All Weather
(about $9) will last about three
times as long, according to
the manufacturer.
