QUACK, QUACK

After my blog post I GOT TO PEA about  Ryanair using duck tape to hold the cockpit window together on their plane, it started me thinking about that under rated but essential roll of duck tape found in most tool boxes & home workshops. 
  
There are certain legendary factoids of life that are shared or sometimes deliberately kept secret when it comes to the every day struggles we all have when some thing we use breaks and needs to be fixed. Some people swear by the magic of Krazy Glue, Gorilla Glue or Plumbers Putty. They all have their uses but NOTHING performs more miracles in life then Duct Tape.


There has always been confusion about spelling it duct tape or duck tape.The first name for Duct Tape was DUCK. During World War II the U.S. Military needed a waterproof tape to keep the moisture out of ammunition cases. So, they enlisted the Johnson and Johnson Permacel Division to manufacture the tape. Because it was waterproof, everyone referred to it as “duck” tape (like water off a duck’s back). Military personnel discovered that the tape was good for lots more than keeping out water. They used it for Jeep repair, fixing stuff on their guns, strapping equipment to their clothing, the list is endless. 

Duck Tape is the quick fix. We (especially in America) want stuff to happen quickly, we lack the patience (and often the skill) to fix stuff right. Plus, this is a throw-away society. We would rather throw something away and buy new than repair and use. If money is tight, repair is the chosen option. The quick repair is duct tape.

After the War, the housing industry was booming and someone discovered that the tape was great for joining the heating and air conditioning duct work. So, the color was changed from army green to the silvery color we are familiar with today and people started to refer to it as “duct tape*.” Therefore, either name is appropriate.

Today, Duck® brand Tape is manufactured by ShurTech. I have found Duck® brand Tape to be the best in quality.The top layer (1) is a resilient plastic (Polyethelyne). The bottom layer (3) is a rubber-based adhesive. The middle layer (2) is a fabric mesh. Duct tape was manufactured by pressing these three layers together.

Now, some manufacturers have created a process that makes the same strong, three layer tape in just one step. While there are stronger tapes (like filament tape), duct tape, when doubled over onto itself can pull a 2000 lb. car out of a ditch, and has the distinct benefit of not requiring any other tools to cut it, you just rip it with your bare hand which has always seemed so strange to do for such a strong material.

 

                   Extraordinary Uses

            Crazy Shit

Duck tape is more durable than some people believe. Why else would it be everyones go to tool when you need to stick one and two together? The strength of duck tape is ridiculous. When used correctly it will do things like hold your fucking car in the air.

fix your fucking plane after a fucking bear attack

Hold Ryanair Cockpits glass to the airplane.

You can be fucking iron man

Make your girlfriend some clothes

               THE DUCK TAPE SONG

There Are Many Everyday Uses

The question that comes to mind is "What can duck tape do?", when a more accurate question is, "What can't duck tape do?". The many uses are only limited by ones imagination. Need to fix a leaky pipe? One strip, no problem.

                 

All of the following fall into one of these categories:
Things people have used duct tape for,
Things I have imagined using duct tape for,
Things other people have imagined using duct tape for.

1. To make a pirate eye patch
2.  Hanging posters.
3.  Decorative book cover.
4. Fix broken tail light on vehicle.
5. Twist a long piece into rope (thousands more uses).
6. Tape wires down on floor or out of the way.
7. Tape wires back together after splicing (much wider than electricians' tape).
8. Reattach rear view mirror.
9. Repair cracked windshield/window.
10. Patch ripped clothing. I use it all the time for holes in my jeans.
11. Hide unsightly wallpaper seams.
12. Repair broken hoses or broken noses, toes.
13. Repair broken fan belt.
14. Use as art medium.
15. Fix broken book binding.
16. Band-Aid for really big cuts
17. Attach leg splint to broken leg.
18. Wallpaper your house (may be slightly expensive, but well worth it for the resulting sophisticated look).
19. Reinforce pages in 3 ring binder.
20. Cover up empty computer drive bays.
21. Fold in half and use as bookmark.
22. Disk labels.
23. Rappelling harness.
24. Toilet paper.
25. Hinge on cabinet door.
26. Repairing leak in tire/inner tube.
27. Taping annoying people to walls, floor, ceiling, or bed.
28. Holding together computer cases.
29. Hold up exhaust pipe (doesn't last very long).
30. Repair upholstery.
31. Make lawn furniture.
32. Make lawn decorations.
33. Fix racquetball racquet's.
34. Roll into a ball for hockey practice.
35. Mark lines on a sporting event field.
36. Clothing  all sorts.
37. Can be use to wrap duct work, but doesn't seal or hold up ducts very well.
38. Use to pull out unsightly hair instead of using a tweezer.
39. Keeps pledges in their place (also applies to siblings).
40. Patches holes in vinyl siding.
41. An entire roll can be used in place of a bedroom door to keep someone in for hours.
42. Twisted correctly, can be used as a billy-club.
43. Wrapped around newspaper to make a dog chew toy.
44. Holding on book covers.
45. Reflective lettering.
46. Mute function for humans.
47. Contraceptive device.
48. Climbing rope.
49. Earrings.
50. Cover old pocket folders, lasts forever!
51. Graphic Designs
52. Girdle.
53. Sealing envelopes 
54. Replacement for airplane glue.
55. For store owners a great way to keep the wigs on mannequins.
56. Seat belts they'll keep the kids still.
57. Closing chip bags.
58. Make the stapler obsolete!
59. Putting up Christmas lights (easy removal).
60. Why bother with waxing
61. Add several layers to your car's bumpers for a much safer ride.
62. Fix vacuum cleaner hose.
63. Tape ski boot to your ski when the binding breaks.
64. Repair seams of ski gloves.
65. Wrap around your waist when your zipper splits in a one piece ski suit.
66. When you don't want to wear a bra or can't have straps showing.
67. Hold temple onto eye glasses.
68. Fix printer.
69. Make a wallet out of it.
70. Hold car hood shut.
71. Patch hole in canoe.
72. Fixing sets for the school play.
73. Making props look more realistic.
74. Make letter for letter jacket.
75. Hold your letter to your letter jacket.
76. Re-enforce the phone cord.
77. Hold batteries in remote control.
78. Play a CD (reflect a laser beam onto a CD to play it).
79. Stick pictures up in your locker.
80. Fix holes in your sneakers, flip flops, shoes.
81. Use instead of nail polish.
82. Hold pens together.
83. Belt.
84. Wrap your ankle for sports.
85. Can be used in place of handcuffs.
86. Rings.
87. Hold file cabinet together.
88. Hold shoe laces together.
89. Can replace shoe laces.
90. Can be used in place of Velcro.
91. Write term paper on it.
92. Graduation present.
93. Can be used to put back together a shredded term paper.
94. Stop your jeans from fraying.
95. Hair ties.
96. Hold spikes to your cleats.
97. Make a book shelf.
98. Necklace.
99. Note cards.
100. Remove lint from clothes.
101. Makes great bumper stickers with a sharpie!
102. Cook a baked potato in it.
103. Hold car door shut.
104. Tape plastic over broken rear window in car.
105. Tape down ripped carpet.
106. Tape loose sole of sneaker to body of sneaker.
107. Hold speaker wire to the back of speaker.
108. 108. Use it to unclog skin pores, remove acne
109. Practical joke toilet paper replacement.
110. Makes a good bib.
111. Put it on your lawn and paint it green.  Say good-bye to mowing.
112. Mouse trap.
113. Fly paper.
114. Tape your little brothers' mouths shut.
115. Use as vinyl flooring.
116. Cover rust holes in your car.
117. Ashtray.
118. Roofing shingles.
119. Make a clothes line.
120. Window coverings.
121. Use a roof rack on your car for carrying luggage and other items.
122. Fix a broken plate.
123. Patch a hole in your swimming pool.
124. Make a swing for your kids.
125. Make a tent for camping.
126. For the annoying mother-in-law.
127. Lock people into their house, school, office, etc.
128. Hold your car's bumper in place.
129. Seat covers in your car.
130. Fix holes in your sock.
131. Fix the hole in your favorite coffee cup.
132. Make a coffee cup.
133. Retread your tennis shoes.
134. Earmuffs.
135. Repair work gloves.
136. Make work gloves.
137. Home security system, tape up doors and windows.
138. Watch band.
139. CD case.
140. Wrap a soda can or bottle in duct tape to keep it cold.
141. Makes stylish notebook decorations.
142. Use it to fix old instruments.
143. Use it as a dog/cat/rabbit/frog/lizard/etc. leash.
144. Hold on toupees.
145. Duct tape annoying students or teachers to their seats.
146. Reupholster the roof on a vehicle for that matter.
147. Attach it to the end of a yard stick (sticky side out) as a way to get pennies out from behind the couch.
148. Surgical Bandage.
149. Fix a cigarette that is broken at the filter.
150. A clothesline when you're out in the middle of nowhere.  
151. Use it as a substitute for Auto body repair putty.
152. Makes excellent streamers for bicycle handlebars.
153. Toilet seat cover.
154. Reflectors.
155. Replace broken screen in your screen doors to create an excellent storm door for those cold winter nights.
156.  Makes great posters with the aid of magic markers.
157. Make a sheet for your bed.
158. Wrap freshmen up in it.
159. Use to make the lines in the middle of the road.
160. Make a space suit out of it so you can walk on the moon.
161. Use as a musical instrument.
162. Make a hat.
163. Make a wallet chain out of it.
164. Stare at it and try to find new uses for it.
165. Make a boat out of it.
166. Throw it at people.
167. Write on it and stick to someone's back.
168. Put a few rolls on their side and roll them to have a duct tape race!
169. Tape a hedge trimmer or chain saw to a long pole in order to trim or cut tall trees.
170.  Use it as hockey tape.
171.  Tape Tupperware containers together in a way that you can stack them on top of each other for more storage space.
172. Use to keep the cover of any container securely attached.
173. Cut a hole in a piece of cardboard, wrap duct tape around it and get a really inexpensive original looking picture frame.
174. Tape Nerf basketball hoop to the back of a door because they just don't stay on their own.
175. Make a pouch and attach it to a door so you can hold stuff.
176. Repair smashed pumpkin.
177. Waterproof sun screen for bald men.
178. Snowmobile/motorcycle seat cover.
179. Hold broken U-joints together on truck so you can make it home.
180. Makes a good replacement for chrome.
181. Patch holes in convertibles or soft top jeeps.
182. Resurface your trampoline.
183. 183. Artificial lighting.
184. 184. Use it to make a bracelet.
185. Can be made to any type of fashion weapons in a pinch.
186. Emergency limb replacements.
187. Prosthetics.
188. Make fantastic puppets and other toys.
189. Can be used to clean the floor when no vacuum is available.
190. Stick back of  postage stamp on envelope to mail.
191. Make a ball.
192. Repair trim on cars.
193. Patch up fish tank.
194. Halloween costume.
195. Waterproof footwear.
196. Make a makeup case.
197. Repair leak in pilot gas line.
198. Vise Device.
199. Pin striping.
200. Wrapping Christmas presents.
201. Patch seams in carpeting.
202. Patch a hole in a tent.
203. No need for lunch box, just tape all your food together!
204. Use to keep Politicians zipper fly's and pants up.
205. Cute plant holder.
206. Keep hair in place.
207. Make a tie out of it.
208. Chastity belt.
209. Blister repair.
210. Censor words on a Shirt.
211. Repair Pantyhose.
212. Roll it over a pool and make a trampoline.
213. Keeping guitar strap on your guitar.
214. Taping mic to mic stand (or a hockey stick).
215. Taping mic stand to amp.
216. Hold a float together.
217. Fix mini blinds.
218. Get rid of plantar warts.
219. Hold telephone together.
220. Hold computer mouse together.
221. Write on vehicles.
222. Muzzle.
223. Make a Halloween mask.
224. Decorate guard rifles.
225. Make really cool underwear.
226. Make a mummy costume for Halloween.
227. When you get in a really boring conversation pull it out and ask the other person if they can name 101 uses for it (plus or minus 70 or 80).
228. Attach underwater flashlight to underwater strobe for night dives.
229. Hold a car battery in.
230. Headbands.
231. Jewelry.
232. Attach glow-in-the-dark bugs to people's houses.
233. Fixing the toilet seat.
234. Torture by pullinh hair of men's chest
235. Window shade.
236. Hair extensions.
237. Seat covering for any vehicle.
238. Wrap around cardboard tube to make fake swords for the kids.
239. Waterproof apron.
240. Beverage holders.
241. Cooler.
242. Pet rain gear.
243. Toilet paper roll cover.
244. Cell phone holder.
245. Tool belt.
246. Shower curtain.
247. Repair speaker cones.
248. Poor man's Viagra ,two Popsicle sticks and duct tape.
249. Hold the plastic on your car where the window should be.
250. Wrap a "365 Uses For Duct Tape" calendar for Christmas.
251. Hold up worn out socks.
252. Suspenders.
253. Tape keys to bottom of car so you never lose them.

No one can deny Duck Tape is awesome. What other material can solve all your problems? The uses of duck tape are only limited by ones imagination and amount of duck tape your have. If someone says somethings impossible, they haven't used enough tape.