Topic: Gaffer's Tape?

[Oysterhead00]

I have a concert this Friday that I might be taping from my seat and the footprint of my stand is quite large...was thinking about keeping the stand footings closed and taping it to the seats in front of me which seems easy enough provided the tape is strong enough, but not too strong like duct tape which might damage the seats and leave sticky residue all over the place.  I've seen and heard about gaffer tape, but don't think I'd get it in time if I ordered now.

Any idea of what kind of store would carry it?  Went looking at Lowes and Home Depot on my lunch break and saw some painters tape the could possibly do the trick as it's guarenteed not to leave any residue behind, but on their 6 dot scale of strenth, they only had up to dot 2 which is minimal hold so that wouldn't work.  Would an instrument store possibly have it?  Other Hardware stores?  Any info is appreciated and I assure you I won't be abusing any small animals!

Humerous Definition I found doing a Google on Gaffer Tape
gaffer tape n. The heavy, slightly meshed sticky tape used to silence potential murder victims and to reliably and effectively attach small animals to tables. I had originally defined this as being "duct tape" but I'm told this is eroneous because duct tape melts and welds onto things, while gaffer tape doesn't. As my contributor points out: "seven years of work in the theatre industry has taught me... don't use duct tape on $2400 lights". I am told that our term derives from the film studio, where the gaffer will use the stuff extensively to hold bits and pieces down on set.

[kennedy]

home depot carrys gaffers tape but they call it "contractors" tape

[mmmatt]

I have a concert this Friday that I might be taping from my seat and the footprint of my stand is quite large...was thinking about keeping the stand footings closed and taping it to the seats in front of me which seems easy enough provided the tape is strong enough, but not too strong like duct tape which might damage the seats and leave sticky residue all over the place.  I've seen and heard about gaffer tape, but don't think I'd get it in time if I ordered now.

Any idea of what kind of store would carry it?  Went looking at Lowes and Home Depot on my lunch break and saw some painters tape the could possibly do the trick as it's guarenteed not to leave any residue behind, but on their 6 dot scale of strenth, they only had up to dot 2 which is minimal hold so that wouldn't work.  Would an instrument store possibly have it?  Other Hardware stores?  Any info is appreciated and I assure you I won't be abusing any small animals!

Humerous Definition I found doing a Google on Gaffer Tape
gaffer tape n. The heavy, slightly meshed sticky tape used to silence potential murder victims and to reliably and effectively attach small animals to tables. I had originally defined this as being "duct tape" but I'm told this is eroneous because duct tape melts and welds onto things, while gaffer tape doesn't. As my contributor points out: "seven years of work in the theatre industry has taught me... don't use duct tape on $2400 lights". I am told that our term derives from the film studio, where the gaffer will use the stuff extensively to hold bits and pieces down on set.

Any store that sells PA equiptment or lighting equiptment should be able to rake you over the coals for a roll of it.  Best is probably on-line.  I get mine at Markertek  http://www.markertek.com/SearchProduct.asp?item=BGT%2D60&off=5&sort=prod  I haven't used other brands or shopped online extensively but this works well for me and is reasonable imo.

Matt

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Permacel.

[rokpunk]

http://www.tecnec.com/SearchProduct.asp?off=0&sort=prod

Markertek prolly has the same item, and they sell to end users. If you can't find it, drop me a line and I'll mail a roll out to you.

[kennedy]

I tried some of that HD contractors tape, and its just black duct tape.

well nevermind that then, never tried it just seen it...

[rokpunk]

I tried some of that HD contractors tape, and its just black duct tape.

well nevermind that then, never tried it just seen it...

yeah, if you use it once, you'll never use it again. what a sticky mess...

[mmmatt]

http://www.tecnec.com/SearchProduct.asp?off=0&sort=prod

Markertek prolly has the same item, and they sell to end users. If you can't find it, drop me a line and I'll mail a roll out to you.

Any store that sells PA equiptment or lighting equiptment should be able to rake you over the coals for a roll of it.  Best is probably on-line.  I get mine at Markertek  http://www.markertek.com/SearchProduct.asp?item=BGT%2D60&off=5&sort=prod  I haven't used other brands or shopped online extensively but this works well for me and is reasonable imo.

Matt

This link is for tecnec and they also carry permacel at markertek.  the 2" x 60 yrd tecnec is $13 per roll

[poorlyconditioned]

I have had a hard time finding this.  I finally bought from Markertek.

Gaffers tape is cloth.  It is impossible to rip, and it leave very little residue.  I use it for taping gear together, sometimes adding hot melt glue underneath for strength.

  Richard

[anodyne33]

gaffers tape is flat black

also available in colors.

my vote is for ProGaff. we use 6" wide rolls at work. expensive? yep. heavy? yep. kick ass tape that you will never want to leave the house without again? abso-freakin-loutely.

[rokpunk]

We use mostly black and hot pink. Pink is great for labeling road cases, and also works perfectly for marking steps/rails/etc on a stage and for a load in. It's like caution tape, only pinker.

BTW....gaffers tape isn't impossible to rip, as claimed above. It's simple to rip, and it rips in a straight line every time.

[MattD]

BTW....gaffers tape isn't impossible to rip, as claimed above. It's simple to rip, and it rips in a straight line every time.

I think he meant in tension, but you're correct. I've also used gorilla tape in a lab to hold stuff down. It's not residue-free, but strong as hell - way more so than duct tape.

BTW, get the 1" thick gaffers, not the 1/2". You can always rip the 1" in half lengthwise if you need thinner pieces.

[rokpunk]

2" and 3" are the "standards". 1/2" wouldn't hold much down!

[mmmatt]

I like the 2" and if you leave it on something for a long time it will leave resedue just like duct tape.  The tecnec will anyways, and like duct tape it is a mess if you touch two adhesive sides together, so if you are taping down cords, then make sure you pull the tape before the cord otherwise you will be breaking out the scissors.  Another tip is to buy a color other than black and write your name on the inner side of the roll so house sound doesn't assume it is theirs (from experience).



Matt

[rokpunk]

well, yeah, if you touch two adhesive parts together it'll stick. if it didn't, it wouldn't be tape.


/yes, gaf tape grows legs and walks at shows, so guard it with yer life.
//that and sharpies.