Duct tape is a common find in the toolboxes of many DIY enthusiasts and most self-respecting handymen. They were a versatile invention for the United States Army, though their use has far extended applications within the military. In the army, the tape was the solution to sealing ammunition boxes so that they can remain intact during transit, while also keeping moisture away from the ammunition. However, the tapes currently can be used in nearly every industry, and they are one of the top tape types you will get in the market today. If you are wondering what the craze about the tape is all about, then here is a look at some of its most popular applications that you may not have known existed:
Fixing tents
If you regularly go camping, then you know now inconvenient it is to find a tear in your tent, when you are far from civilization where you can have the tent mended. However, if you include a colored duct tape among your camping tools, then you don’t have to worry about medium tent tears. This is because you can use the tape to seal such tears and use the tent as if nothing happened. You can use it as a temporary fix for the tent while you plan on making a repair or buying a new one.
Removing splinters
Splinters are not just painful when getting them but removing them can also be a challenge, especially if you don’t have tweezers ready. But you don’t have to worry about that or having any special medical skills to remove splinters if you can have access to duct tape. All you have to do is wrap a small portion of the tape on where the splinter is, and then slowly peel the tape off. It may not come off with the first try, but if you continue trying for a couple of times, you will be amazed at how easy it is to remove the splinters with nothing but a little bit of patience and duct tape.
Keep your snacks fresh
Most people do complain about losing snacks such as chips because they become stale due to improper sealing of the container. It is a shame to complain about this when you could have access to duct tape. If you are tired of having to throw away your snacks because your disposable containers are not doing a good job in keeping them fresh, then you need to try the magic of duct tape. All you need to do is to wrap the tape around the containers so that you can keep all the air out and your snacks will keep fresh and you will love eating them without worrying about having to throw them away.
Treating warts
Did you know that you can use duct tape as a treatment for the boring wart? Well, this is one of the ingenious uses of duct tapes that most people don’t know about and there is a simple science behind it. When you place the duct tape on a wart, it will act as an irritant, and this will stimulate the immune system to attack it. To use the tape for wart treatment, put the tape over the wart for about six days, then peel it off. Then simply scrape the area using a pumice stone. If the wart is still there, do this a couple of days more and the wart will slowly disappear.
Bandage replacement
When duct tapes were first used in the military, the primary purpose was to seal ammunition boxes. However, due to the unpredictable demands of the combat fields, the medics ended up using it as a bandage in certain dire conditions, and practice has continued with the tapes even in everyday situations. Therefore, if you run out of bandages and you need a quick solution and you can access a duct tape, you don’t have to panic or worry about anything. Its design makes it some sort of a bandage, and you can rest assured that it will not come off as easily as the normal bandages.
Book covers
If you are interested in having a durable, creative and waterproof book cover, then you have every reason to consider using duct tape. And there are many ways you can achieve this. For instance, you can wrap the entire book cover with duct tape so that it acts as the primary cover. Alternatively, you can first start by wrapping the book with a newspaper or any other suitable cover, then you cover the newspaper or your suitable cover with several layers of duct tape. This is ideal if you want to keep the book longer for others to use, or if you have any intentions of selling the book at a later date as some students do at the end of the semester.
Waterproofing your shoes
Are you an avid gardener, or you love hiking but you hate your boots getting moisture leaks? Well, all you need is a few rolls of duct tape on your shoes. All you have to do is simply cover your shoes or boots in several layers of duct tape so that you can prevent both water and dust from accessing. It is a great way to stay safer and more comfortable as you go about your gardening or hiking.
Catching flies
Finally, you don’t have to withstand the menace and irritation caused by flies if you have duct tape around the home. The tapes have a very strong glue that any insects that come into contact with will not escape. All you need to do is hang a few strips around the room, especially near the door and windows where flies use the most to get into the house. The flies will land on the tape as they ponder their next move, but unfortunately, that will be their last move in your room.
MPI Matco specializes in the distribution and manufacturing of industrial tapes and adhesives. We offer a wide range of tapes for many applications, from duct tapes to PTFE impregnated fiberglass tapes. For all your adhesive needs, get in touch with one of our tape specialists for expert advice.
