Adhesive Tapes - All the Uses and Ranges

Gaffer Tape is a general word for Cloth Tape. One of the top branded Gaffer Tape's is called Performance Gaffer Tape. The name Gaffer comes from the theatre industry, people use to go to the boss (aka as the Gaffer) and ask for some tape hence 'Gaffer Tape'. The general use for this tape in Theatres is for securing cables. Gaffer Tape is also known as PCL tape - this stands for Poly Cloth Laminated.

Builders or Asbestos Companies will use this for sheeting up polythene tents and the tape will be used to join the seams and create a waterproof seal. Gaffer Tape is a tape that finds its way into most Maintenance Men's tool boxes as its uses range from repairing carpets to general bundling. This tape is available in all colours and the widths vary from 25mm to 150mm on
50M rolls.

Parseal tape is a quality brand of Packaging Tape and is specially manufactured polypropylene tape for Directa. The name comes from the children's game pass the 'parcel'/parseal and the general term for wrapping parcels. The tape is brown/buff /transparent in colour, Brown/Buff blends in with brown boxes and is transparent for boxes that are printed, so you can see the printing through the tape. Parseal is odour free and tightly wound to ensure a quick release for volume packing. The most popular size is 50mm width by 66M but other sizes and lengths are available to suit manual and automatic tape dispensers.

Leading Masking Tapes (Topper') is manufactured by 3M. The tape is a paper tape with an adhesive backing. Available as a multi purpose economy tape, that can be used for masking when general painting or used to hold on backs of picture frames. The Economy Masking Tape can be used in temperatures up to 60 deg C and comes in sizes of 12mm to 96mm on a 50M length roll. Also available is a High Temperature Masking Tape used in the Automotive Trade when spraying cars, ideal as it works up to 80 deg C for a time of 1 hour and won't leave any adhesive deposits and there's also Ultra High Masking Tape that work up to 180 deg C for an hour.

Velcro Tape is a very popular multipurpose adhesive product, supplied in rolls which are easily stored and give you the flexibility to cut the length you need. Velcro PS 14 has a rubber based adhesive, offering good tack. It is ideal for use on low energy surfaces including Polystyrene, Acetyl, PVA (polyvinyl acetate), Polyethylene, Polypropylene and Teflon. It can be used in temperature ranges from -15C to 60C.

Industrial Suppliers offer a wide range of 3M adhesive tapes including 3M Filament tape, a general purpose tape suitable for a range of holding, sealing, bundling or tabbing operations. 3M VHB s utilise firm acrylic adhesives which have excellent long term holding power. The peel adhesion and tensile holding power of products in the VHB family are significantly higher than typical pressure sensitive tape.