Gaffer tape is a flexible, cloth-backed adhesive tape available in various lengths and widths. It is similar to duct tape but more flexible and leaves no residue. It is commonly used in the film and theater industries and can adhere to a variety of surfaces. It is also resistant to heat and water and can be easily removed or repositioned. It has spread to other industries such as librarians and the military.
Gaffer tape is a flexible, strong, cloth-backed adhesive tape available in lengths ranging from 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) to a potential 6 feet (1.8 meters), with the most common width being 4 inches (about 10 centimeters). ). It is similar to duct tape, but is more flexible, can be molded into a variety of shapes, and usually leaves no residue. This tape is most commonly available in a matte black finish designed for stage use, but is produced in a range of colors for various applications, including red and bumblebee stripes to indicate hazards.
While it won’t break when pulled or twisted, the duct tape can easily be torn along either side. This makes it ideal for applications where a wide variety of tape lengths and widths are needed, as users do not need to bring scissors to cut it. The tape is used extensively in the film and theater industries, and its common name likely derives from the head of a film crew’s lighting department, also called a gaffer. A company called Gaffa also makes Gaffas Tape, so both spellings are accepted. Gaffer tape is produced in large rolls 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter and cut to the size needed, making it theoretically possible to order a roll of tape that size, although it may be difficult to unroll and handle.
Gaffer tape is capable of adhering to a wide variety of surfaces, although it will sometimes strip paint or finish from wood surfaces. The tape can be easily removed or repositioned with a gentle pull. It is also somewhat resistant to heat and water and able to withstand cold temperatures, which is why it is used in many scenic applications, such as taping wires and ropes for safety; put block signs for furniture, actors or cameras; and glue the pieces together. The tape is also commonly used for labeling and sealing film cans, as well as channel labeling on light and sound panels. Costume departments have also been known to use it for emergency alterations.
Most electrical and sound crew members on movies carry rolls of duct tape in various sizes and colors, and sturdy, multi-purpose tape has spread to other industries as well. Librarians, for example, often use it to bind damaged books, and the military also use it in various environments.
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