Adhesive Tapes

Adhesive tapes provide a quick means of joining most materials together.

Cellotape (‘Sellotape’) is the most common transparent general purpose tape. It is often used for repairs but can be used also to make durable labels by laminating print-outs.

Double-sided Tape can provide a neat, concealed fixing of two surfaces - e.g. when re-fixing packaging that has been turned inside out to use in box-modelling. Double sided foam fixing pads are used for general craft work or to mount displays and attach small components.

Masking Tape is paper-based and relatively low strength such that it can be fixed and removed easily to mask off for painting etc. If applied to acrylic it also provides a useful surface for marking out on.

Kraft Tape is brown paper-based tape coated with hide glue and was traditionally used when veneering. Packaging Tape is a tough self-adhesive plastic tape - usually brown but other colours of PVC Tape are available and can be useful when kite making. PVC tape is also commonly available as electrical Insulation Tape.

Duct Tape (‘Duck Tape’) is a strong cloth-backed self-adhesive tape originally designed for sealing heating, ventilation and air-conditioning ducts. Gaffer Tape is similar but releases more cleanly and is used for taping down lighting cables etc. in theatres and film sets.