Talk:Gaffer tape

message: In my theater experience, another characteristic of gaff is that it is easy to rip along one direction, which is really useful for pulling off quick strips.  Anybody else?  --Chinasaur 06:04, May 17, 2004 (UTC)
:Yup, it's easy to cut a half-width strip and it magically splits in half. I added it to the article. Binba 23:05, 4 November 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Hey, that's good. Find a way to work that in. I don't have much experience with US-style "duct tape", so the more differentiation that can be worked in, the better, I say. --Myk 16:24, 24 March 2006 (UTC)

text: That piece of information would probably be more suited to Duct Tape. I don't know about other editors, but I think that this page is best restricted to theatre/cinema usage. --Myk 00:07, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

text: Are you sure this is the same kind of tape? Gaff tape isn't so nasty... Binba 23:05, 4 November 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: In the US, few consumers are familiar with the term "gaffer tape" and tend to call it all "duct tape".  (Those who are familiar with it, do regard it as a specialty product similar to, but distinct from, actual duct tape and identify it with the correct term. [However, they often disagree on just what those differences are.])  It has been my observation, however, that the situation is often reversed in the UK, and "gaffer tape" is frequently used colloquially as a general term in reference to both products (though, perhaps not to the degree that Americans neglect to distinguish the two products.) Again, this has just been my observation, based on discussion over the years with very few individuals. Starling2001 (talk) 19:34, 14 March 2014 (UTC)
thread_title: In my experience

message: The article says "strong cotton cloth pressure-sensitive adhesive tape". What pressure sensitivity does this tape have? 89.240.60.214 21:13, 29 June 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: A lot of tape is pressure sensitive. A pressure sensitive adhesive doesn't stick until it is pressed down. Compare to a contact adhesive which sticks on contact.--66.102.196.36 (talk) 05:51, 31 March 2008 (UTC)
thread_title: Pressures sensitive

message: In my experience with live sound, gaff tape is hardly ever put on a console as it does leave some residue.  The small amount of residue is fine for cables but you don't want any of that stuff on your $40,000+ console.  I think that the comment in this article about that is off, artists tape is the most commonly used tape to label a console.  White gaff tape is used if nothing else is available, but it is not extensively used for sure.  Anybody else want to comment before I remove that section of the article?--PM - PhilyG talk 04:57, 18 July 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Yeah, I've only used masking tape and artist's tape. 71.102.122.130 03:40, 3 August 2007 (UTC)
replies: text:  I accommodated this in a new edit. Binba 23:05, 4 November 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Use by Live Sound Engineers

message: Nothing about McGyver using it?  —Preceding unsigned comment added by HTMLCODER.exe (talk • contribs) 08:07, 13 October 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: MacGyver used duct tape. oknazevad (talk) 17:17, 5 February 2022 (UTC)
thread_title:  McGyver 

message: "Gaffer's tape is often referred to as a production expendable because it is discarded after the production process is complete."
Is it really necessary to say that?  It's like saying "gift wrapping celophane tape is often discarded after gifts are opened..."  or "After the fight, the tape that is removed from the boxer's hands is discarded..."
Of course we throw the stuff away when we're done with it.  Why is it necessary to state the obvious?  All adhesive material is discarded when it is used.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.184.23.23 (talk) 03:02, 25 July 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: This snippet has been in the article for nearly six years so I suppose it's passed the test, which is surprising because it's wrong.  As written, it implies that unused expendables are thrown out, which isn't necessarily the case.  Expendables are so called because they are expended or consumed by use and must be periodically re-ordered.  The designation exists as a budgetary distinction to distinguish expendables from durable equipment rentals or purchases.  I'll make the change and add a citation if I can find one, which at first google didn't yield anything promising. --Threephi (talk) 07:18, 15 March 2014 (UTC)
thread_title:  is this necessary? 

message: re the above section: this usage is similarly unsourced and should be removed. I have used Gaffer tape regularly for much of my working life both in professional and domestic situations. After all, it has a dark side and a light side, and holds the universe together. But I have never purchased it under the brand name of, or heard it referred to as, "Gaff tape".  pablohablo. 21:47, 30 November 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: I didn't challenge "gaff" for one reason: it is clearly distinguishable by ear from "gaffer", so if someone heard it called that it would be reasonable for them to put it in the article.  The basis of my challenge to "gaffa" is that I think people who spell it that way are the same people who routinely just rite down whateva sounds rite.  -- Zsero (talk) 01:00, 1 December 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: Here is one book that refers to gaff tape -  Careers in Technical Theater  see page 97 it is mentioned more than once in the book and there are other sources too. - Josette (talk) 01:37, 1 December 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Gaff tape sources 

message: The article does not seem to mention that a principal use for gaffer tape is to affix ultra-light film/video lighting instruments (such as many Lowel Lights) to walls and other surfaces. Lighting manufacturers supply metal plates with short mounting posts for lights. The post is gaffer-taped to a wall or other difficult surface. By far the most useful application of the tape's peelability, is from painted location walls.Jim Stinson (talk) 20:37, 27 May 2014 (UTC)
thread_title:  More on uses. 

message: Article states both:
"While related to duct tape, it differs in that it can be removed cleanly because it uses a synthetic petroleum-based adhesive rather than a natural rubber adhesive."
and
"The adhesive used is a high quality synthetic rubber which leaves little or no residue when removed and typically does no harm to whatever the tape is applied to."
So which is it? If both types of adhesives are used shouldn't the first instance be edited?  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.177.1.193 (talk) 19:11, 23 July 2014 (UTC)
thread_title:  Type of adhesive commonly used? 

message: I gave this article a complete once over for clarity and flow, and added citations.  Not completely finished but at least it mostly makes sense now.  --Threephi (talk) 01:56, 23 February 2015 (UTC)
thread_title:  Nearly-full revision, and citations added 

message: I have removed this for now, pending further research, but paste it below to preserve for future edits.
There are multiple issues with it, foremost that the broken link in the citation (working link here: ) mistakes it with the very interesting story of the invention of duck tape (later known as duct tape) during WWII.  The invention of gaffer tape is less clear, but Lowel Inc. claims to have done so in 1959 (see ) and ).
The second half of this passage states unsourced info, and is misleading as it gives the false impression Permacel tapes are no longer being produced (they are now sold under the Shurtape brand).
:The original manufacturer was the Permacel division of Johnson & Johnson, and until the brand's discontinuation by the current owner, was both the preferred brand and a generic reference used in the film, stage, and TV industries.
--Threephi (talk) 22:23, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
thread_title:  Origin of gaffer tape cut from lede 

message: The second source used in the opening paragraph (https://www.shurtape.com/search/products/technical?f%5B0%5D=field_product_market_list%3A529) does not support the claim mentioned ("It is widely used in theatre, photography, film and television production, and industrial staging work") and doesn't actually show any gaffer tape products; that page is about painter's tape, packaging tape, duct tape, and other tapes that are not gaffer tape. This source from the same website (https://www.shurtape.com/markets/arts-entertainment/gaffers/) more adequately supports the claim. Toa Nidhiki05 (Work) (talk) 20:50, 29 January 2019 (UTC)
replies: text: Thanks! Toa Nidhiki05 (Work) (talk) 17:51, 30 January 2019 (UTC)
thread_title:  Change the source cited in the first sentence 

message: * References are not necessary for the lead section if they are provided in the main body of the article, per MOS:LEADCITE.
* The references for the article have been updated, although not with the suggested Shurtape source, per WP:NOTPROMO.
Regards,  Spintendo  22:20, 29 January 2019 (UTC)
replies: text: Thanks! Toa Nidhiki05 (Work) (talk) 17:51, 30 January 2019 (UTC)
thread_title: Reply 29-JAN-2019