Recommend good electrical tape

[joseywales]

Sounds dumb, but I'm finding electrical tapes aren't getting great reviews. I have some 3M. Now it could be a bit old, but it's sticking to itself in the topside of the tape. Come to find, other brands are having similar issues. I have a small role of no-name tape that's old and seems fine. All are usually in my cool dry basement.

I won't use one roll per year, so I need a tape that can be stored properly and last a while. Any thoughts?

 

[Wamsutta]

You're not going to believe this, but the best electrical tape I ever bought was at the dollar store; and that was 5 rolls for a dollar. I figure the Chinese must've been using some real good adhesive that's banned in the United States.

 

[malibu101]

Scotch Super 33 Plus.
http://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-...l-Electrical-Tape?N=5002385+3294355633&rt=rud

 

[Local]

3m super 33 is good stuff but expensive. I used the cheaper 3m and it gets all sticky and nasty to work with.

 

[metaldad]

scotch 33

 

[PCustoms]

Scotch 33. If it goes bad in storage (I had a roll on my bag at work for over 2 yrs and it was OK) just buy a new one.

I also got some scotch 88 last week as I needed something that offered a bit more protection, used about 6" and now it's hanging from my electricians pouch.

These days I drive a desk more them tools at work, so everything lasts me a long time lol

 

[captaindiode]

Super 33. Cut, don't tear, and stretch slightly as you wrap. Keep it in the box it comes in, if you don't use it often, the sides of the roll will stay clean.

 

[scooby074]

.33+

 

[joseywales]

You're not going to believe this, but the best electrical tape I ever bought was at the dollar store; and that was 5 rolls for a dollar. I figure the Chinese must've been using some real good adhesive that's banned in the United States.

I can believe that. I have a few small roles of "junk" tape and no idea where they came from. But they all work great.

I'll grab dollar store tape and some Scotch 33+ and see what happens!

 

[joseywales]

Super 33. Cut, don't tear, and stretch slightly as you wrap. Keep it in the box it comes in, if you don't use it often, the sides of the roll will stay clean.

I always cut tape with my teeth. Is that a problem

 

[FigureItOut]

3M Super 33 and Super 88 both have a shelf life of 5 years, and never get sticky on me even after sitting in a hot car for hours. If you use a roll a year, the $5ish per roll shouldn't bother you much if it solves a problem.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

 

[LXCam]

Super 33 here too. Are you sure you don't have self volcanizing rubber insulating tape?

 

[Brownsfan]

I use the 3m 700 at Lowe's and Home Depot. The adhesive is the same as 33 but it's not as thick as the 33. I use it more as a multi purpose tape. For wire fishing, wrapping wire and insulation. It's 9.65 for a 5 pack. And sometime a 6 pack when they have the bonus pack. I used to be a 33 or nothing guy but this is much less expensive and it's just as "sticky". Just not as thick and doesn't come in the plastic container. Which is pretty nice. I have tons of them from before and use them to hold connectors and screws. Plus I now use it to put the tape in now. It keeps it "fresh".
http://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-Scotch-3-4-in-x-66-ft-700-Vinyl-Electrical-Tape-24413-BA-6/202195404

 

[jumbojak]

I like super 33 too. The savings in frustration are worth the cost.

 

[joseywales]

Super 33 here too. Are you sure you don't have self volcanizing rubber insulating tape?

Honestly? I can't recall the last time I bought tape. Every yard sale, etc., I'll grab clean roles, but I never bought tape at a store or looked at names.

When I pull tape off, the finish of the next later begins to come with it. Looks line sunburned skin pealing, if that makes sense.

 

[LXCam]

Honestly? I can't recall the last time I bought tape. Every yard sale, etc., I'll grab clean roles, but I never bought tape at a store or looked at names.

When I pull tape off, the finish of the next later begins to come with it. Looks line sunburned skin pealing, if that makes sense.

Perfect sense cause it's the type I referenced. That lizard skin is what keeps it from sticking to the next layer. Also once that **** has gotten old it's an absolute PITA to get the protective layer off. I stopped using it years ago and use a different type when doing make up.

Anyhow get some 3m 33 and you'll be much happier, then toss that other **** in the garbage.

 

[cheechi]

super 33+ and 88 are the greatest.

I bought some HF **** years ago and will probably never use it all up but I use it for non electrical stupid stuff that don't warrant electrical tape but it's the best thing.

 

[SKaReCRoW]

super 33+ and 88 are the greatest.

I bought some HF **** years ago and will probably never use it all up but I use it for non electrical stupid stuff that don't warrant electrical tape but it's the best thing.

I made the mistake of buying HF electrical tape. It doesn't stick to ANYTHING. Literally, nothing. It's almost as if they forgot to actually put any adhesive on the plastic at all.

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk

 

[JohnDeere1]

I hate how when the cheap stuff heats up it softens the tape and makes a sticky gooey mess HF is one of the worst.
I got a bunch of good 3m rolls left over from my father's telecom days he always has had a ton of it.

 

[Tinner]

3M 33 and 88 are all I've used for decades,

 

[thesilverone]

another vote for 33

 

[6PTsocket]

I looked at the provided link from 3M. 33 is 7mm, 88 is 8.5 mm and 22 is 10 mm. 1700 is 7mm but they suggest it is to be used for cable bundling and other non critical jobs, not for insulation. The colored marker tapes seem to be other colors of 33.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[SantaAna12]

3M 33 and 88 are all I've used for decades,

^^^+1.

 

[dadsEH]

I made the mistake of buying HF electrical tape. It doesn't stick to ANYTHING. Literally, nothing. It's almost as if they forgot to actually put any adhesive on the plastic at all.

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk

Lol....you bought WRAPPING TAPE...its not meant to stick.

 

[SKaReCRoW]

Was that meant to be a joke? I'm ashamed to admit TWICE I bought electrical tape from HF, and both times every roll was completely useless. If you hold a lighter to the tape until it starts melting the tiny bit of adhesive that's on it will ooze out and get your hands all sticky, and MAYBE the tape will stay where you put it, but that's mostly because you just melted it to itself.

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk

 

[mbshop]

Huh, I have basically always used cloth tape. Hate the plastic stuff. The 3m stuff that sticks to itself is great but to expensive for average use. The cloth tape gets better as it heats up as the glue just adheres to itself.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Lol....you bought WRAPPING TAPE...its not meant to stick.

That is called harness tape. Frequently 1" wide and absolutely no adhesive . $$$ and hard to find.

 

[anndel]

Scotch Super 33 or 88.

 

[AA/FC]

I only use super 33+, or super 88. You get what you pay for and they are the best.


/thread

 

[sberry]

I used them all and really subsist on the 10 pack rolls from the box store. I havnt bought any from HF, the other stuff works good, I have a roll of 33 around but for most stuff it doesn't make much difference and its the installer that causes most problems.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

3M 33 for the electrical jobs. The quality is worth the price.
For other jobs, like wrapping foam pipe insulation or securing wire to fish tape, I use the cheap HF or other lower brand.

 

[SKaReCRoW]

That is called harness tape. Frequently 1" wide and absolutely no adhesive . $$$ and hard to find.

What I bought was electrical tape. I think that poster was trying to be funny, but failed hard.

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk

 

[Biomed]

I looked at the provided link from 3M. 33 is 7mm, 88 is 8.5 mm and 22 is 10 mm. 1700 is 7mm but they suggest it is to be used for cable bundling and other non critical jobs, not for insulation. The colored marker tapes seem to be other colors of 33.

Huh?

7mm = 0.2755 inch
8.5mm = 0.3346 inch
10mm = 0.3937 inch

That would be some pretty narrow electrical tape. Typically the 3M Scotch 33+ tape I have seen/used is 3/4 inch (19.05mm).

 

[mikebaker1129]

Scotch Super 33 Plus.
http://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-...l-Electrical-Tape?N=5002385+3294355633&rt=rud

This ^

 

[6PTsocket]

Huh?

7mm = 0.2755 inch
8.5mm = 0.3346 inch
10mm = 0.3937 inch

That would be some pretty narrow electrical tape. Typically the 3M Scotch 33+ tape I have seen/used is 3/4 inch (19.05mm).

If you didn'l ike my old measurements you will like my corrected ones even less. The three tapes are 7, 8.5, and 10 mils, not mm. That is even narrower. Try turning it on edge for more width.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[joseywales]

Huh, I have basically always used cloth tape. Hate the plastic stuff. The 3m stuff that sticks to itself is great but to expensive for average use. The cloth tape gets better as it heats up as the glue just adheres to itself.

You'll get a chuckle out of this then. I have a rack where all of my tapes get tossed. There's a white, maybe 1.5" wide roll of cloth tape. No doubt it's athletic tape, probably from the 80s, used for hockey sticks, etc. However, there's a black role of cloth tape, maybe 3/4" wide, origin unknown, but I could swear it hasn't been here more than a few years. I just can't recall where it came from, yard sale tool box perhaps? I always thought it was black athletic tape, again for wrapping hockey sticks. Now I'm thinking it might be cloth electrical. I check the inside of the role again, but don't recall any markings.

 

[Fsatsil]

I hate how when the cheap stuff heats up it softens the tape and makes a sticky gooey mess HF is one of the worst.
I got a bunch of good 3m rolls left over from my father's telecom days he always has had a ton of it.

+1
The main difference I've found between the cheap tape and expensive tape is that the cheap stuff doesn't hold up well in the heat and cold. In the heat it tends to get all sticky and messy and in the cold it gets stiff doesn't stick. My father retired from Con Edison about 7-8 years ago and he has a nice stash of 3m 88 that still works perfectly fine. The guys at work are always asking me for a roll of that "good tape"

 

[rlitman]

I only use super 33+, or super 88. You get what you pay for and they are the best.


/thread

I tend to prefer the 88, but yes, you get what you pay for. Don't forget the Scotch 35, if you need something other than black.

I will say though that Scotch is not the only quality tape out there. It is just the only quality tape I can buy locally in my area. A number of years back, I was shopping for premium electrical tape at a Home Depot in the Denver area, and unlike my region, they had nothing from Scotch. The premium tape there was a brand I didn't recognize, but it too came in a plastic container like the Scotch, and I feel that it was just as good. Perhaps it was Scotch rebranded.

 

[Sn0wlink]

I mostly use Scotch 3m 33+ tape like many others.
Occasionally I use Advance AT7 tape which is a great alternative and cheaper.
It also has a really nice plastic core, rather than the standard cardboard.
It's the little details.

 

[maintguy]

super 33+ and 88 are the greatest.

I bought some HF **** years ago and will probably never use it all up but I use it for non electrical stupid stuff that don't warrant electrical tape but it's the best thing.

I agree on the 33+ and 88

I use the cheap stuff for attaching wires to fish tapes. or labeling wires.

btw I don't tape my wire nuts. I find that hackish