100 MPH Tape©

 

 

100MPH tape, duct tape, duck tape, it doesn’t matter what you call it, it is an awesome product with literally thousands of uses.  But who invented this life and time saving tape, and what is its history?

 

During World War II, Vesta Stoudt, a mother of eight, who had two sons in the armed forces, went to work in Illinois’s Green River Ordnance Plant, inspecting and packing the cartridges that were used to launch rifle grenades by the Army and Navy.  These cartridges were packed eleven to a box, and like many of the boxes designed to carry military supplies, they were taped shut with thin paper tape and waxed to make them gas, water, and damp-proof.  A tab of tape was left loose, so that it could be pulled, to easily break the waterproof wax coating and open the box.  The thing was that the thin paper tape wasn’t very strong, and the tape-tabs often tore off, as soldiers tried to open the ammo boxes, leaving them desperately scrambling to tear open the boxes under enemy fire.  Vesta thought of a solution to this difficulty, why not use a stronger, cloth-based waterproof tape, instead of the weak paper tape?  She brought her suggestion to her supervisors at Green River Ordnance Plant, but they ignored it.

 

However, Vesta wasn’t the type of person to accept defeat so easily, especially with the lives of soldiers and sailors at stake, so she decided to take her idea to the top, ALL the way to the top – and on February 10, 1943, she wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, explaining both the problem and her solution:

“I suggested we use a strong cloth tape to close seams, and make tab of same.  It worked fine, I showed it to different governmentinspectors they said it was all right, but I could never get them to change tape.  Now your son, my son and our neighbor’s son must pull this tape off some way, perhaps with his teeth or his knife if he is lucky enough to have one, nine chance out of ten he hasn’t any”. ¹

 

Roosevelt was so impressed with Vesta’s idea that he forwarded it onto the War Production Board in Washington, D.C., and on March 26, 1943, the War Production Board formerly accepted her idea and asked Johnson & Johnson to begin production.

 

Vesta Stoudt, for her invention, received an official thank you letter from the War Production Board and the Chicago Tribune gave her the War Workers Award, on October 25^th, 1943.

 

According to author Margaret Gurowitz, Johnson & Johnson called the new tape, “Duck Tape”, because it was waterproof like a duck and because it was made with cotton-duck fabric.  After World War II, it became known as “Duct Tape”, because it could be used to tape metal ducts together.

 

During the Vietnam War, the soldiers called duct tape, “100 Mile an Hour Tape”, because it could withstand winds up to 100 mph (160 kph) and could be used to reinforce or repair helicopter rotor blades!

 

So, what can you use duct tape for?

 

First, it is important to remember that original style duct tape doesn’t stick well to rough surfaces, like concrete, rock, stucco, and evensome cloth, because it has a thin adhesive layer and therefore can only stick to the high points of the surface.  Also, it doesn’t work on surfaces with high oil or plasticizer content, like EPDM rubber or PVC.  So, remember to use it on smooth, non-oily surfaces, where it will stick better and make a stronger bond!

 

Oh, and duct tape doesn’t work below freezing (32^oF or 0^oC), although it won’t be hurt by freezing and will work like normal when it returns to temperatures above freezing.  Duct tape works well at temperatures between 40° to 120°F (4^oC to 49^oC), depending on the brand, but it works best at room temperature.  Additionally, it will keep sticking up to 150°F (66 ^oC), above that it will begin to lose adhesion, before failing completely around 200° F (93^oC).

 

Also, it is important to clean the surface and brush off any loose particles and dirt from the surface you are taping, before applying duct tape.  Apply the tape carefully, smoothing out any pockets or rolls, for the best results.

 

As for what you can use it for, let your imagination run wild!  I used to work in a steel mill, and it was common to see someone with duct tape wrapped around a finger, or an arm, because they had cut themselves and the closest item to cover and close the cut was duct tape.  Personally, I have used it on hiking or canoeing expeditions, to cover cuts, hot or raw spots on feet.  I have also used duct tape to make temporary repairs of tents, boots, and even pants!

 

But there are so many kinds, which is best?

 

Polyken 231 Military Grade, T-Rex® Brute Force™ Duct Tape, Gorilla Tape or Duck Brand Duct Tape, which is best?  The first three all claim that they are stronger, more durable than the original Duck Brand Duct Tape.  I have never used Polyken 231 or T-Rex® duct tape, but I have used both Gorilla Tape and the original Duck Brand Duct Tape.  Personally, I found that Gorilla Tape sticks better, is more water resistant, and is more durable, in more situations, than the original Duck Brand Duct Tape.  This agrees with Gorilla Tape’s claim that it is “Made with double-thick adhesive, strong reinforced backing, and a tough all-weather shell, this duct tape is great for projects and repairs both indoors and out.  Gorilla tape sticks to smooth, rough and uneven surfaces, including wood, stone, stucco, brick, metal and vinyl”.²

 

But in the end, any duct tape is better than no duct tape at all in an emergency.  So don’t leave home without it!

 

Next week I am going on an adventure, and your regularly scheduled article will be back the week after, so don’t forget to come back and read “OK I'm lost and I'm having an Unexpected Overnighter©” where I will tell you all about how I got lost and spent the night alone in the middle of the Allegheny National Forest.

 

I hope that you continue to enjoy The Woodsman’s Journal Online and look for me on YouTube at BandanaMan Productions for other related videos, HERE.  Don’t forget to follow me on both The Woodsman’s Journal Online, HERE, and subscribe to BandanaMan Productions on YouTube.  If you have questions, as always, feel free to leave a comment on either site.  I announce new articles on Facebook at Eric Reynolds, on Instagram at bandanamanaproductions, and on VK at Eric Reynolds, so watch for me.

 

That is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!

 

 

Notes

 

¹ “The Woman Who Invented Duct Tape”, by Margaret Gurowitz

 

² From Gorillatough.com, https://www.gorillatough.com/product/black-gorilla-tape/

 

Sources

 

Armstrong, Mark; “Gorilla, Duct or Flex Tape – Which Is Best Underwater?”, KayakGuru, January 5, 2023, [© Copyright 2023 by Kayak Guru], https://kayakguru.com/gorilla-duct-flex-underwater/, accessed August 26, 2023

 

Dybedahl, Matt; “Quick Tip: 25 Survival Uses for Duct Tape”, October 27, 2015, [© 2023 The Sportsman’s Guide, Inc.] https://guide.sportsmansguide.com/duct-tape-survival/, accessed August 26, 2023

 

Gurowitz, Margaret; “The Woman Who Invented Duct Tape”, June 21, 2012, © Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. 2011, https://www.kilmerhouse.com/2012/06/the-woman-who-invented-duct-tape, accessed August 26, 2023