Boutique crafting duct tape
March 22, 2016 11:30 AM Subscribe
I've got a nephew who enjoys building duct tape wallets and the like. Generally we just buy him tape off the rack down at the hardware store (they have a surprisingly large selection of color and patterns) but I'm curious if there is .... I don't know, artisanal tape out there somewhere. Something to get as a special treat.
Via the late David Rakoff, you might try Tape Planet.
posted by maudlin at 11:40 AM on March 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by maudlin at 11:40 AM on March 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Gaffer tape is like a better quality duct tape--it's fabric rather than vinyl based, for one thing--and I like metal tapes as well. I line the bill section of duct tape wallets metal tape in my duct tape wallets for RFID shielding, but mostly because it makes my wallets impossibly glamorous.
posted by ernielundquist at 11:40 AM on March 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by ernielundquist at 11:40 AM on March 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
Best answer: Our local craft stores (Joann's, Michael's, etc.) have not only the sheets but a wide variety of patterned rolls, including themed patterns around the holidays. (I love the candy corn version I picked up a few Halloweens ago.) It looks like you can get a good selection directly from Duck Tape as well.
Perhaps also try some wide washi tape? The texture will be decidedly different - it's more decorative than utilitarian - but there's a wide variety of colors and patterns to be found.
posted by okayokayigive at 11:49 AM on March 22, 2016
Perhaps also try some wide washi tape? The texture will be decidedly different - it's more decorative than utilitarian - but there's a wide variety of colors and patterns to be found.
posted by okayokayigive at 11:49 AM on March 22, 2016
Most dollar stores have pretty substantial selections of duct tape in their craft sections. They also have the hardware store colours in their hardware sections, cheaper than you're likely to get it from the actual hardware store in most cases.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:05 PM on March 22, 2016
posted by jacquilynne at 12:05 PM on March 22, 2016
I like Nashua 357.
posted by ryanrs at 12:59 PM on March 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ryanrs at 12:59 PM on March 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Duck brand (not-really duct) tape is indeed really high quality.
Gorilla brand tapes are also top notch. The clear stuff is even uniformly clear unlike traditional packing tape.
posted by porpoise at 1:54 PM on March 22, 2016
Gorilla brand tapes are also top notch. The clear stuff is even uniformly clear unlike traditional packing tape.
posted by porpoise at 1:54 PM on March 22, 2016
Washi tape isn't quite as sturdy but it comes in so many varieties that he might enjoy jazzing things up with it.
posted by Hermione Granger at 2:10 PM on March 22, 2016
posted by Hermione Granger at 2:10 PM on March 22, 2016
Best answer: Identi_Tape sells tons of really fun tape. I always ordered from them when I used to make hula-hoops and the customer service was great.
posted by GoldenEel at 2:59 PM on March 22, 2016
posted by GoldenEel at 2:59 PM on March 22, 2016
Best answer: Depending on his dexterity and safety considerations, he might love using better tools to manipulate his materials. A proper exacto knife with a good grip on the handle and a safe way to dispose of dull blades makes cutting sharp edges and designs much much easier. But it can be kind of dangerous for a younger kid who might cut his fingers if he isn't paying attention. Another thing that would help is a large self-healing cutting mat. Those are sold in sewing and craft stores but you can usually find them cheaper online. They are wonderful for protecting work surfaces, keeping corners square, and safely using sharp blades on. Also available at sewing and craft stores are rotary cutters with different blades. They are like effective pizza cutters that usually quilters use to cut fabric. A good rotary cutter will have a cover that only opens when the blade is in use, but sometimes changing the blade (for different edges or effects or perforations) can be dangerous. You can also buy fancy scissors in scrap booking supplies that cut fun decorative edges, like scallops and zigzags and more. These aren't as multipurpose as a rotary cutter but a lot safer and plenty of fun.
Duct tape craft leads nicely into a few other things: general papercraft (cutting and gluing), loom weaving, stencil creation, mixed media collage, and actually leathercraft. It's maybe weird to think about but the properties of duct tape are similar to leather, especially when used for accessories. So if he wants to branch out, there are lots of different things for him to dip into if he has a nice work surface, sharp tools, and good safety practices.
posted by Mizu at 4:31 PM on March 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Duct tape craft leads nicely into a few other things: general papercraft (cutting and gluing), loom weaving, stencil creation, mixed media collage, and actually leathercraft. It's maybe weird to think about but the properties of duct tape are similar to leather, especially when used for accessories. So if he wants to branch out, there are lots of different things for him to dip into if he has a nice work surface, sharp tools, and good safety practices.
posted by Mizu at 4:31 PM on March 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Book binding tape is expensive but really nice. It is sold at art supply stores. Not as plasticky as duct tape.
posted by jabah at 9:19 PM on March 22, 2016
posted by jabah at 9:19 PM on March 22, 2016
Here's a list of BoingBoing.net's duct tape posts. It includes Nuclear proof duct tape, Camo, Clear etc.
You could also get him some aluminium exhaust pipe tape (muffler?).
posted by guy72277 at 12:51 AM on March 24, 2016
You could also get him some aluminium exhaust pipe tape (muffler?).
posted by guy72277 at 12:51 AM on March 24, 2016
Response by poster: Thanks all. We looked at a lot of what people mentioned and then we went over to Jo-Ann's and just picked up basic colors to replenish his supplies. Ah well, at least I tried.
The one new thing we got was a large self-healing cutting mat. He's been very happy with that.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 3:51 PM on March 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
The one new thing we got was a large self-healing cutting mat. He's been very happy with that.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 3:51 PM on March 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by INFJ at 11:39 AM on March 22, 2016 [1 favorite]