This clear duct tape makes repairs less obvious, yet still withstands extreme temperatures and harsh UV rays. Even though the tape is heavy-duty, it still tears easily by hand, both lengthwise and crosswise. The durable design lasts six-times longer than other heavy-duty duct tapes. Plus, it can be used on a variety of surfaces, including plastic, wood, glass, metal, vinyl and rubber. Global Product Type: Tapes, Tape Type: Duct, Adhesive Material: N/A, Tape Special Feature: Removable.
It's not often the word revolutionary can be associated with duct tape, that old, sticky standby used in plumbing repairs, hockey stick augmentation, and homeland security protection. By getting the gray out--and avoiding the "sore thumb" look of typical duct tape repairs--3M's Scotch Transparent Duct Tape can indeed lay claim to a revolution of the toolbox. But seeing through it is just the start. This duct tape can be easily torn by hand, is UV resistant, and, through accelerated weathering tests, has been shown to last six times longer than its old-school namesake.
Duct tape has been around since 1942 when the military needed a waterproof tape for sealing ammunition boxes. Originally colored green, it was referred to as "duck tape" due to its moisture resistance as well as its cotton duck construction--the same ribbed cloth used in bandages. After the war, it was adopted by contractors working in the booming housing industry, where it got its "duct" name for easily connecting heating and air conditioning ducts.
History's fine, but what can 3M's new, clear duct tape do for us? Virtually anything. First, we noticed its powerful stickiness--the roll itself adheres to just about any surface when laid on its side. As advertised, the tape was easily torn from the roll by hand with minimal force. 3M also seems to have ironed out one of the biggest complaints about duct tape: wrinkles. In our testing, we applied it repeatedly and evenly without the tape sticking to itself and without creating odd bumps and creases. And while the tape is rather sticky, it doesn't go overboard, easily lifting off surfaces when we needed it to and not leaving the tacky, viscous residue often found with other duct tapes.
As for its transparency, the tape blended well into just about any surface we applied it to. It was never "invisible" but did have the chameleon-like quality of reflecting the surface beneath it and only calling attention to itself when caught in direct light. Also, we placed bands of the tape over our computer monitor before writing this review (don't try this at home, kids). Peering through the fabric ribs was a nuisance, but we were able to compose the description you're now reading. How's that for transparency?
Our only complaint is that, as with most transparent tapes, finding where to start peeling the roll can be difficult. While this certainly isn't a showstopper, we did find a solution: mounting the roll onto a tape gun.
Tape, by its nature, is not a terribly exciting product (or topic). But 3M's Scotch Transparent Duct Tape is truly a tipping-point entrant, one that may someday become ubiquitous and banish gray duct tape to the nether reaches of our tool sheds, and memories. --Agen G.N. Schmitz
Pros:
Transparent, easily blends into the surface background
Easily torn from the roll with minimal force
Sticky, but not too sticky
Adheres smoothly without wrinkles or creases
Cons:
So transparent that finding where to start peeling the roll can be difficult
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
Duct tape you don't see!:
Up until I saw the listing for this item I had no idea transparent duct tape existed and I just had to have it! I used it to seal the area around an indoor window AC unit. It works just like regular duct tape but I didn't have to have my indoor window covered by tacky looking gray duct tape! It's not even visible from across the room unless you are really looking for it or know it's there. Up close it looks just like little white dashes but with plenty of visibility so again you'd have to know it's there to... more info
Even a Professional:
I wanted something with a more professional look than silver/other-colored Duck Tape, but it had to be relatively professional looking as well. Ended up finding a roll of this at a local store, but now they've quit stocking it. Therefore, I went lookingIt is essential in a medical office: mends charts beautifully and wears like iron. No more torn backs on the charts for us, taping and re-taping. One time is all it takes with Scotch "Clear" Duct Tape!
Close To Transparent?:
I purchased this duct tape to seal up the gap in my bedroom window, due to installing a portable air conditioner. I didn't want to have to take out the window adapter in the Winter, because it took so long to get it into my window in the first place. So, I had to think of a way to keep out as much air as possible. You would think buying a $400 room air conditioner, that it would come with everything you need, but it doesn't. So, I decided that maybe duct tape would work. A friend of mine told me, when... more info
Good stuff, 20yards of mostly transparent duct tape:
First the transparent part, it blends pretty well on most items I've used it on. So this is especially good for repairing stuff around the house. It's much more expensive than the regular duct tape, so I'd save it for cosmetic fixes. It's quite useful for small plastic trim pieces in older cars. Blends in pretty well and holds well. The duct tape part, well, it claims to last 6x as long as traditional duct tape (the package says "based on accelerated aging tests"). I don't verify the factor of six, but... more info
