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.