Duct Tape

[Squirrel Girl]

I returned some stuff to The Container Store and had a nicely padded gift card burning a hole in my pocket. They had flat "rolls" of duct tape. It's made for packing. I bought two, each for $2.49. I don't recall how much was on each "roll" (really a card). It wasn't very much. It was the perfect thing for a cave pack or backpack. Enough to be useful in an emergency, yet not too much to be heavy or bulky and beyond need.

It's about time.

PS - I *know* that most cavers would be too cheap to buy it that way, but I thought it was useful and cool.

[NZcaver]

Good to know!

I normally use the old 2-step process:

Step 1 - buy a roll of duct tape.
Step 2 - stand on it and squash it flat.

[Scott McCrea]

Something like this?

[Stridergdm]

I tend to take an existing roll and simply unwrap the duct tape from the roll onto my water bottle for 20-30 turns. Gives me plenty of duct tape in a useful place.

[Squirrel Girl]

Scott - yep, that's the stuff. Stridergdm, that's what most cavers would do. I'd try wrapping DT around my water bottle, but wasn't entirely satisfied. And if you don't already have a mostly empty roll, you can't make a squashed one. I KNOW most cavers are too cheap and DIY-like for most of 'em to buy this stuff. But geez. It's $2.49. It's mostly for an "emergency" so it's not like you'd be going through "rolls" of the stuff.

[Andy Shoun]

I make my own flat "rolls" of tape by peeling of 10 inches, folding it over sticky side to sticky side then wrapping with more tape until I have as much as I want. You can not use the first 10" of tape but the rest comes off easy enough. So buy a big roll and make you own small 3 yd flat "rolls" of tape.

[Squirrel Girl]

My experience was that the stickiness was not the same after unrolling it and re-doing it. But I did not even approach doing a scientific experiment. Maybe I was just starting with a bad or old roll.

If you all find it works for you to make your own from a big roll (as I figure most cavers would), then by all means do it!

[Rick Brinkman]

I've used the 'flat pack' for a few years. I think I've added new tape 2 or 3 times now.(Needs it again for this summer.) It fits nicely into my first aid kit.

[Cashewchick39]

Just as gardeners look at seed catalogs this time of year, thinking and planning how they can improve their little plots of earth, so am I perusing any and all information on improvements/additions to my cave gear. So Squirrel Girl, thanks for submitting. I know it will lead to discussion on other DIY stuff if I bring it up at my next grotto meeting.

[Vader]

Nice to see so many other cavers taking Duct tape into caves. I thought I was the one. I wrap mine around a pencil. I only carry about a yard or so.

[mabercrombie]

We call that Alabama Chrome in TAG

[knollee]

I remember being amazed at the variety of uses cavers found for duct tape. One of my first TAG rappells was on Lookout Mountain at a place called Eagle Cliff. They had installed a permanent rope pad - all made out of silver duct tape. It was kinda funny to see the sun glinting off this silver rock shelf! Now I know what to call it

[Squirrel Girl]

Duct Tape to make Prom outfits:

http://www.ducktapeclub.com/contests/wi ... ntestPID=1

Those are SO cool. I like the one a year or so ago that was "Starry Night" as a suit/dress design.

[speloman]

[quote="Squirrel Girl"]Duct Tape to make Prom outfits:

http://www.ducktapeclub.com/contests/wi ... ntestPID=1

Those are SO cool. I like the one a year or so ago that was "Starry Night" as a suit/dress design.[/quote]

I used to have a friend that did that. Nothing fancy like that just old fashion Grey Duct tape. Shirt, Pants, Shoes and a tie. He even made a wallet. I thought he was but Pretty neat.

[pebblepoint]

I've been wrapping duct tape around my pants bottoms and boots for years. I tell the newbies that it's to keep the snakes out. That's a joke, son. (However, one of our CRF'ers in Mammoth did have a mouse run up his pants. We thought he'd found Jesus there for a minute.)

My real reasons are that it keeps the boots tied, provides a bit more ankle support and keeps debris out.
Be sure to double it back on itself to make it easier to remove.
don
little egypt grotto