Gaffer tape
Description
A heavy Cotton cloth pressure-sensitive tape with strong adhesive and tensile properties. Gaffer tape was invented in 1959 by Ross Lowell when he reconceived the duct tape product by combining an adhesive directly onto a a fabric backing to create gaffer tape in order to hold a flat metal plate on a window. Current commercial Gaffer tape is different from Duct tape in that it can easily be removed without leaving any residue. additionally the adhesive is on fabric (gaffer tape) rather than on vinyl (duct tape). Gaffer's tape is widely used in theatre, photography, film, radio and television production, and industrial staging work, particularly to cover and secure audio-visual cables. It is manufactured in many color, but the most commonly used if matte black.
Synonyms and Related Terms
gaffer's tape; gaff tape; gaffa tape; spike tape
Risks
- Combustible producing noxious gases
- Pro Gaff: SDS
Physical and Chemical Properties
For 3M™ Premium Matte Cloth (Gaffers) Tape GT3: Technical Data Sheet
- Colors: 19 available
- Adhesive: synthetic rubber
- Back: cotton cloth
- Tape thickness: 0.27 mm (11 mil)
- 180 peel adhesion: 7.9 N/cm
- Elongation at break: 6%
- Tensile strength: 98.1 N/cm
Resources and Citations
- Wikipedia: Gaffer tape Accessed July 2025
- CCAHA: Preservation Glossary[[