Topic: What's the best gaffers tape?

[Phil Zone]

What's the best gaffers tape, I don't want to spend a ton of money but a good quality with a good price.

Thanks

[sos]

Former? I'd go with the 3m. Latter, Hosa...

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Cloth-Gaffers-Tape-Black/dp/B000BQ8AN2

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Gaffer2in

[macdaddy]

Checking in

[tgakidis]

Hosa sucks

[Phil Zone]

Hosa sucks

That's right they do, everything is cheap

[ScoobieKW]

2" Shurtape Professional Grade

[bhtoque]

[urlhttp://www.findtape.com/product321/FindTape-GAFF-TEST-PACK-Gaffers-Tape-Challenge-Pack.aspx?cid=37&idx=4&tid=1&info=Standard%2bBlack%2b%2526%2bColored%2bGaffer%2bTape][/url]

Check this out. Even if you don't buy the sample pack the reviews have great info. The JVCC I use is out of stock, but they may get more. It's an 80 tack and nothing moves it.

One way or another, findtape.com has some of the best prices around.

JAson

[goodcooker]

We use this at work so I use it at gigs since we buy it by the case and I get to take the rolls with 50 ft or so left on them for free

http://www.northernsound.net/Sales/Tape/tapeframe.html

Not cheap but it's the best I've found

[vegeta_ban]

ULINE seems to have some good gaffers tape, comes in a variety of colors as well. I'm thinking of getting a fluorescent color.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Fwiw, I've always used permacel.  There is a lot of science that goes into good tape, especially in regard to shelf life and the stability of the adhesive over the years. Two tapes may seem similar when new, but a year or two later, major differences in residue after removal may be noticed.  I'm still amazed that I can re-use strips of tape show after show. Permacel supplies Boeing with a lot of certified tapes used in aircraft production. Rolls I bought 5+ years ago still perform very well.

I made a post about this wayyy back. I bought mine from tapeworks and got extra for friends to spread out the shipping cost.  I prefer the 1" wide tape, since I always seem to be tearing the 2" into smaller strips because I just don't need it that wide.

[cashandkerouac]

i've been satisfied with the Rosco gaffer tape from B & H.

[kirk97132]

Shurtape is OK, not as good as 3M, but less expensive.  Don't know how it compares with Hosa.

Shuretape has three grades.  working production work I have used them all and the high end shuretape is the absolute  best.  Holds up long term, won;t get stiff, no residue when removed, good strength yet tears easy, is fantastic in damp/wet conditions.  My person list has permacell last.  won't hold when damp, leaves residue, and gets stiff if left in place for a while.  There are others that are ok, Rosco is good, I guess it depends on your application.  IN the sound/lighting production world many companies won't pay$30 roll ofr good SHure tape because they use too much of it.  IF you only want one or two day use then there a lot of middle of the road applications.  If you want to use it for temp repairs, covering long use on the road the high end Shuretape can't be beat, but you gotta pay big bucks

[ScoobieKW]

Only thing I can't speak to is shelf life of Shurtape Pro. Our production company burns through it too fast to have it sit for any length of time.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Fwiw, Permacel is now Shurtape.  They merged.  I think it's all sold as Shurtape now.

[kirk97132]

Actually looking at the Shurtape site they have more than three products, in categories "professional", "premium", and "heavy duty".  Those have got to be about the worst labels ever, because they all should mean the same thing.

Anyway, I was talking about Shurtape P-665 vs 3M 6910.

Not sure of model numbers but the high end stuff is about $30/roll.  Not the stuff we used day in and day out especially when you load in and out on same day , just too expensive to burn through it daily.   And I was referring to just the black in three grades but realize that our company might not have stocked every single grade available either. But that stuff is good when you are going to use it on set pieces that may be used for more than a month or use it to mask things and cover things rather than paint something .  We also used it to lay marley dance floors which take a beating but yet when you are going to take the flooring up having no tape residue can save hours or cleaning the dance floor before storage.  I do believe that there are a few middle of the road products that would suit almost all the people here.  And I think most of those fall in the $12-15/roll price point.  Guess it depends on what you are going to need the tape for.  3M, Rosco,  Shurtape's middle brand..a little cheaper(quality/price) is pro-gaff.

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

What is the difference between good and not so good gaffer tape?

I usually just get a $15 roll from Guitar Center and I've been happy with it. Well worth the upgrade over duct tape...curious how much better my life would be with $30 gaffer tape? 

[kirk97132]

What is the difference between good and not so good gaffer tape?

I usually just get a $15 roll from Guitar Center and I've been happy with it. Well worth the upgrade over duct tape...curious how much better my life would be with $30 gaffer tape? 

depends on your use and what you want it to do.  I'd say for most people here and their uses there is no difference, except amybe tape residue when removed...maybe depends on brands.  IF you need it to be in use day after day for weeks/months on end then the high end stuff will do better.  If you want to gaff you mic stand down at a show and maybe tape cables down at a show for a night that $12-15 price point has good options. 

[ScoobieKW]

What is the difference between good and not so good gaffer tape?

I usually just get a $15 roll from Guitar Center and I've been happy with it. Well worth the upgrade over duct tape...curious how much better my life would be with $30 gaffer tape? 

Qualities of good gaff tape.
It tears off the roll cleanly by hand.
It's adhesive holds well without leaving residue yet releases cleanly without damaging the surface that was taped.
Unless it's florescent colored, it should  be matte finish so that it blends into a dark stage

[ScoobieKW]

Tearing cleanly is huge when you have to work fast.  If it doesn't tear easily and doesn't release from its own adhesive well, then you'll waste a lot of pieces that will fold on themselves.  That wastes either money (when you toss the bad tear) or time (unfolding the bad tear).

this, nutshell.

[bhtoque]

A very important factor in my use is Tack. For holding down stands, or holding extensions up is all about tack and sheer force. It's graded by numbers. 40 is fine for running cable, but 60 or 80 is what you want protecting your rig.

JAson

[sinethomas]

AFAIC, Nashua is the ONLY true gaffer tape.