The so-called "American" tape is the economical cloth tape with high adhesion (Hot melt) and little removability. It is ideal for masking, bandaging, fixing, touch-ups, repairs and even covering, sealing or labelling. It bonds immediately and offers good long-lasting adhesion to a wide range of surfaces.
The so-called "Gaffer" tape on the other hand is a cloth (Rayon or Cotton) where polyethylene is spread, therefore with a greater thickness, with the adhesive mass in natural rubber. They are designed and intended for temporary use without leaving residue. Ideal for removable fixing of cables and wires on floors or walls. The “Professional” or “Premium” models have an anti-reflective (Matte) finish, much appreciated by professionals, and are indispensable on film sets and stages.
If you are looking for a more high-performance and permanent product, you should choose “PVC” which has excellent adhesion and removability but cannot be cut by hand. Leaves no residue if removed within 6 months of indoor application.
It is possible to choose the thin version of 130 microns (0.13mm) for general use or with a thicker 160/180 microns (0.16/0.18mm) for rugs and carpets. It is also possible to use a thin and soft PVC for carpets but it is preferable to use a greater thickness in very busy areas, for example hospitals, gyms and large public offices with high traffic.
If the need is to fix carpets, rugs, linoleum, mats, doormats, taraflex, the choice is the "Double-sided" tape which varies based on dimensions, materials used, tightness, durability, resistance to tearing, resistance to thermal variations, resistance to ultraviolet rays or humidity.
You can choose the permanent or removable version.
It is a very resistant and waterproof tape, which can therefore withstand humidity without compromising its hold, and is extremely versatile, being able to be used for closing, sealing, hanging and so on.
It can be used to repair anything, from a pipe to a kayak hull, from a motorcycle mudguard to a bottle. And again, it can be used to patch shoes, clothes or backpacks in an emergency, just as it can be used in case of need to make a resistant rope, or even to block injured limbs.
Gaffer tape, cinema tape and theater tapes are durable and sturdy tapes.
They are ideal for securing cables, props and marking positions on sets and are available in a range of colors for identification purposes and in a range of different thicknesses and strengths:
- PE coated cloth, vinyl cotton cloth and impregnated fabric constructions
- Multiple thicknesses available
- Colors black, white, grey, silver, red, blue, yellow, green, fluorescent orange, fluorescent green, fluorescent pink and fluorescent yellow.
- Adhesive systems in natural rubber resin
- Various width and length options to suit any application environment
“Professional” or “Premium” tapes save time on post-shoot clean-up sets by leaving a clean, residue-free surface when removed, secure cables and props with a non-reflective surface to ensure they always remain out of sight , even under bright lights.
Some of the features and benefits of using gaffer tape, film tape and theater tapes are:
- Easy to handle and apply
- Provide quick bonding and easy, clean removal
- Premium matte finish version available, ensuring it remains discreet where a non-reflective surface is essential
- Available in a selection of colors to blend effortlessly into the background
- Easy to tear off for quick installation, ready for performance
- Durable and robust tape surfaces to reduce re-application
- Can be written for easy identification
- Good bond to a wide range of surfaces to enable general use and demanding applications
The G390 is the best choice in terms of quality/price or alternatively the traditional Scapa G2721 IMQ and VDE certified with a thickness of 0.16mm
A good tape with a thickness of 0.13mm is the G420 in all colors (except grey) or the branded G2702 which offers both black and gray colors and IMQ and VDE certification.
For those interested in light gray (a cross between gray and white) we have the G564
Prices per meter excluding VAT (25/10/2023)
PVC 0.18mm
G4169 0.492 0.398
PVC 0.16mm
G390 0.146
G2721 0.238
PVC 0.13mm
G420 0.126
G2702 0.143
G564 0.182
This comparison aims to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each model to find the best in the test and the best purchase in terms of quality/price ratio
The test consists of applying the tape to a mirror and leaving it in the sun, wind and rain for 7 days.
The test ends with the verification of glue residues on the mirror, the tightness at the end of the test and the final condition of the product.
The excellent quality of the Tesa G4671, which turns out to be better than the test, and of the G150 is immediately evident. Those looking for uncompromising quality buy these tapes.
The G258 is excellent, although slightly less opaque, and was the best purchase for the quality/price ratio
Remaining among the professional opaques, the timeless Tesa G53949 is very good.
The cheapest purchase is the G58063 but it is on par with a good American tape like the G900.
For long-term applications we recommend PVC Tape which leaves no residue if removed within 6 months of indoor application.
Here is the result of the test with prices excluding VAT (04/2024):
1. G4671 23.70 22.60
2. G150 12.01 11.90 (50m) - 7.00 (25m)
3. G258 11.94
4. G53949 16.85
5. G58063 6.51 5.05
6. G900 6.41 (50m) - 3.32 (25m)