How do you use dry electrical tape?

[FastKat]

I am starting to cover my hotrod's engine wiring harness with black corrugated tubing, as found on most of today's underhood wiring harnesses. On the ends of the corrugated tubing, the manufacturers put one or two wraps around then wire, slide the tape through the slit on the corrugated tube, and then wrap the tube with electrical tape. This keeps the tube in place.

I bought some electrical tape for use on wiring harnesses and I cannot figure out how to properly use it. It is dry, and has no adhesive. It sort of reminds me of teflon tape. How do I properly use this stuff??

Thanks, -Dave

 

[jhelrey]

Sounds like you got some garbage.... Go to the local big box store and get some real tape.

 

[spongerich]

Sounds like it might be rubber tape. Look closely and see if there's a backing that peels off.

 

[djjsr]

I have some electrical tape that's dry with no adhesive but it sticks to itself VERY well. It has a clear cellophane liner that keeps it from sticking to itself on the roll. When you stretch it around wires, it bonds to itself and seals very well. It's just about impossible to remove without cutting it.

 

[kursplat]

I have some electrical tape that's dry with no adhesive but it sticks to itself VERY well. It has a clear cellophane liner that keeps it from sticking to itself on the roll. When you stretch it around wires, it bonds to itself and seals very well. It's just about impossible to remove without cutting it.

sounds like rubber tape and it's self vulcanizing.

 

[Stuart in MN]

It's not supposed to be sticky to the touch, just wrap it on. The sticky stuff tends to get all gooey over time and make a mess, this stuff won't. You may need a short piece of regular electrical tape to fasten the end, or even better a short section of shrink tube.

 

[FastKat]

I didn't have much luck with it, so I just went back to my roll of Super 88. It didn't even want to stick to itself. I tried stretching it over itself and it still didn't want to stick. It was a reputable brand, too... Plymouth Rubber Co.

 

[turrican]

Was it a bit stretchy? It could have been vinyl tape - that's what a lot of OEM stuff is wrapped with. It doesn't have a sticky side, it sticks to itself when you wrap it tight (stretch it while wrapping). Leaves semi-loose ends but if you do it right they won't unravel.

I figure it was either that, or that you got a bunk batch of something

 

[FastKat]

I think that's what it was - maybe it wasn't PVC. I tried stretching it over itself and couldn't get it to hold the way I wanted. Thanks for the info though - maybe I'll try it when I work on the harness again!

Was it a bit stretchy? It could have been vinyl tape - that's what a lot of OEM stuff is wrapped with. It doesn't have a sticky side, it sticks to itself when you wrap it tight (stretch it while wrapping). Leaves semi-loose ends but if you do it right they won't unravel.

I figure it was either that, or that you got a bunk batch of something

 

[RobSmith]

I wrapped my harness with 'dry' tape like on all early model cars...it never goes gooey and to finish it you tuck the end back under the previous loop and pull it tight. The tape must be pulled firm. Not stretched. You get sore hands holding everything tight and wrapping at the same time. Nowadays I put a short length of heat shrink over the knot for insurance. It looks "factory finished" from the sixties.

 

[BillK]

Dave,
You have to stretch it for it to work. The brand that I bought actually has a strip of paper wrapped on the roll between the tape to keep it from sticking to itself. It works great if used properly. I just wired my Wife's car for some high ouput headlamps and used it on the harness.

 

[e-tek]

Where did you purchase this stuff? I didn't even know it existed though I've been looking for something to mimick the original stuff. Thanks!!

 

[bronc3buster842001]

This is where I get mine.

http://terminalsupplyco.com/Store/Default.aspx?CAT=TAPE110&PCAT=54189#Categories

 

[Stuart in MN]

I bought mine from the Eastwood Company.

 

[BillK]

Where did you purchase this stuff? I didn't even know it existed though I've been looking for something to mimick the original stuff. Thanks!!

Pretty sure I got mine at Advance Auto Parts or one of the other local parts stores.