Part # 6969, 3M™ Duct Tape

This industrial strength duct tape owes its strength and reliable performance to its abrasion resistant, water proof polyethylene film backing. Its dense cloth scrim and aggressive rubber adhesive combine with the backing to produce an effective tape that conforms, sticks where needed, seals, protects and meets dozens of other demanding applications. In addition to strength and reliability, this tape tears easily by hand and removes cleanly for no-hassle use on demand. This heavy-duty duct tape is valuable for hundreds of uses in transportation, aerospace, automotive, commercial vehicle, RV, bus, truck, ship yards, military, metal working, furniture, electronics, solar, trailer manufacturing and woodworking industries.

One of the most important points to consider when choosing a duct tape is how it is going to be used. When it comes to choosing a 3M™ Duct Tape that meets the need for a particular job, consider the following: Performance Plus and Outdoor Masking Tapes are best-in-class tapes for indoor/outdoor use, offering clean removal and long term weather ability. Extra heavy-duty, heavy-duty and Multi Purpose duct tapes provide reliable performance for demanding contractor, MRO and industrial job site applications; and General Purpose duct tapes offer cost-effective options for general and lighter duty applications such as bundling, sealing, holding and identifying.

The need for qualities such as strength, moisture resistance, abrasion resistance, heat resistance and clean removal are among the issues that impact the effectiveness of a duct tape. Two of three principal factors that make up a tape's strength are its backing and adhesive. The thicker the backing, the greater tensile strength (the resistance to breaking under tension), moisture and abrasion resistance provided. A rubber-based or synthetic rubber adhesive provides instant stick, a strong bond and long-lasting hold, even in moist conditions. Lastly, the distinctive cloth scrim, laminated between the backing and the adhesive, adds additional strength and also helps guide straight horizontal and vertical tearing.

One last and often overlooked fact about tapes in general, is that they all need to be stored correctly and they all have a shelf life. Weak adhesion, lifting, curling, breakage and difficulty in removal are more often than not, attributable to age or improperly stored tape, as opposed to quality. In all cases, care should be taken to read all product information thoroughly. In particular, the tape's specifications should be weighed against the task at hand to ensure successful, cost-effective outcomes.

A toolbox mainstay in industry and home workshops, duct tape (sometimes mistakenly referred to as "duck tape") serves a wide range of maintenance, repair and construction needs. The term "duct tape" comes from the tape's original use in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) applications, including duct sealing. Today it is found in residential, industrial and commercial environments and used effectively in construction, electrical, industrial, marine, and military, abatement, trucking and automotive markets.