Why electric tape on handles?

[skipskip]

Why do people put plastic electric tape on tool handles?

I see it most on pliers, but I have seen it other tools too.

What's the point?

It makes such a mess when you try to deal with the tool.


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[nissan_crawler]

Why do people put plastic electric tape on tool handles?

I see it most on pliers, but I have seen it other tools too.

What's the point?

It makes such a mess when you try to deal with the tool.


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Heck if I know. Some genius's version of an "insulated" tool?

 

[toolnut]

Most likely they could be working on electrical systems a lot. The cheap way to avoid sparking your wrench,pliers ,or ratchet under the hood. I usually use the plastic dip to insulate handles against a "accidental" spark or weld. Using electrical tape as a grip would not work well as oil or grease would make it slippery.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I just pull the negative lead on the battery if i'm worried about arcing something.

 

[Diablo]

I do it on my channel locks and Kleins for two reasons, one to identify them as mine on site as everyone usually has the same kind. and two to prevent the top of the factory insulation from tearing and fraying. Ive wrapped my screwdriver shanks in tape to prevent shorting cct's out.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I just pull the negative lead on the battery if i'm worried about arcing something.

If I'm under the hood, or welding, or doing anything remotely related to electrical, that's pretty much step #1. It helps prevent the stupid things.

If we're talking ac voltage, then it seems it would just be best to buy the proper tools if you have to work on hot wiring.

 

[kwhitelaw]

I did it in the past to help identify my tools over someone elses without having to etch.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I always pull the negative lead when doing timing belts and stuff too. Only takes one ******* to start a car with no cam belt fitted to ruin your day..

 

[autoace]

I always pull the negative lead when doing timing belts and stuff too. Only takes one ******* to start a car with no cam belt fitted to ruin your day..

I worked with a guy, that did that to a Honda, it really ruined his day.

 

[nate379]

A bunch of my pliers are because the factory rubber worn threw, split, started slipping, etc.

I suppose I could plastic dip them, but electric tape is like 0.10 a roll and I always seem to have 15-20 rolls laying around.

 

[AmickRacing]

Electrical tape is usually the easiest since everyone has a roll hidden somewhere.

Heat shrink tubing is also a pretty slick thing too, especially some of the heavy duty stuff.

 

[fatfillup]

Heat shrink tubing is also a pretty slick thing too, especially some of the heavy duty stuff.

Now that's an interesting idea, thanks!

 

[nissan_crawler]

I heatshrink the body of my flashlights. Keeps them from getting beat to hell when you drop them and such.

 

[wrenchr]

Well once the goo from the tape starts getting everywhere you will not have to worry about them slipping out of your hand!!

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

Well once the goo from the tape starts getting everywhere you will not have to worry about them slipping out of your hand!!

They tape up a bunch of the nobs on one of the lathes at work, Just what you said happened. You always had to go was your hands after you used it

 

[fomocoforrester]

If your going to do it, to improve the grip, identification, or whatever, you really should use self amalgamating tape to avoid all that mess and unravelling that you get with the ordinary stuff.

 

[bgott]

I think it started back in the old days when electrical tape was made of cloth. They used to wrap their tools with the cloth tape to keep their hands from slipping. The practice carried over, now a lot of people wrap handles with slippery plastic electrical tape without even really knowing why they are doing it, it was just something Grandpa did.

 

[-B-]

why the tape ?

Working out in the cold in any climate that has a real winter, working out in the sun with no shade.

 

[Diablo]

Heat shrink tubing is also a pretty slick thing too, especially some of the heavy duty stuff.

I heatshrinked the already insulated shafts of my Wera screwdrivers. I have them in the field all day and they tend to get beat up the heatshrink just helps prevent that a little bit.

 

[c130herc]

I usually use F4 tape to gain some grip on tools that I mainly use on greasy jobs, also use it to enlarge the handle area to shape my hand better.

 

[krazykev]

the battery on my renault megane scenic is under the drivers seat. it would be very foolish to try and undo the battery terminal without an insulated tool because it would short circuit on the seat frame. this could set of the seat belt pretensioner and / or air bag. do you get the idea now?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

the battery on my renault megane scenic is under the drivers seat. it would be very foolish to try and undo the battery terminal without an insulated tool because it would short circuit on the seat frame. this could set of the seat belt pretensioner and / or air bag. do you get the idea now?

Undo the negative lead first?