promptly enlisted to repair anything that was broken, including jeeps, firearms and aircraft.
Because the adhesive tape had a canvas (or duck cloth) backing and repelled water like certain feathered fowl, it was quickly dubbed “duck” tape by WWII soldiers. Somewhere along the way (where exactly is a hotly debated topic amongst duct tape historians) there was a gloss from “duck” to “duct” tape. This is odd as the tape is rarely used on ducts — in fact many building codes forbid it for this use!
Now Duck®Tape is a brand of duct tape.
The utilitarian effectiveness of duct tape meant the humble gun-metal silver roll would find its way into toolkits in practically every profession and home around the world, and today it is known as “gaffer tape,” “racer tape,” “riggers’
tape” or “100-mph tape” (it was used to balance helicopter blades in the Vietnam War), and is regularly used where something absolutely positively needs to be taped down for good.
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Duct tape was famously used to repair the CO2 scrubbers on the lunar module of Apollo 13, providing much-needed oxygen to that mission’s marooned astronauts, and more recently, a few carefully placed silver slivers proved to be a low-tech but very effective fix for the Apple iPhone 4’s flaky antenna.
Duct tape’s explosive popularity grows as people explore its creative possibilities for fun instead of just its practical uses. Everything from prom dresses to artistic shoe repair can be made by this magic tape. In this book, learn to craft everything from a handy bike pannier to bodacious bow ties, from a decorated smartphone case to a customizable purse! Join the fun and master the sticky stuff to be a part of one of the most exciting and creative trends of the decade!
Getting Started
Tools you will need:
• Craft knife
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Large cutting board
• Sewing tape measure
• Compass
Useful material for your duct tape projects:
Snaps: Snaps are a sturdy way of holding things together and can give your project a polished look. They can, however, be difficult to position and attach.
Velcro: Hook-and-loop fasteners such as Velcro can be used where clasps are required, such as clothing or a lunch bag. While easy to apply if using the self-adhesive variety, they do not hold as well as snaps. You might want to consider sewing pieces of Velcro onto some projects for added security.
Zippers: Depending on the shape of your project, attaching zippers can be fairly easy, though figuring out the measurements can be a bit tricky. Zippers can hold with just duct tape, but to be safe it’s best to sew the zipper on as well, then cover the stitches with tape.
Twist ties: Used for decorations, such as the tail on a piggy bank (see page 97).
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Shredded newspaper and plastic produce bags: Used to create round shapes for animal projects such as a rabbit (see page 125).
Coat hangers: Used for support in projects such as a basket (see page 129).
Choosing Tape
Because it is not trademarked, there are many varieties of duct tape on the market, so buyer beware — not all brands are the real thing! Always look for cloth-backed adhesive tape. Accept no substitutes.
Thinner duct tape is better suited to making clothing or other projects that require flexibility. Thicker duct tape (sometimes called “professional grade” or
“industrial grade”) has more cloth fibers for increased strength and tends to be more expensive, but is better for projects that require more rigidity.
Of course, standard-issue silver or gray duct tape is cheaper than the colored stuff and comes in bigger rolls. If you can’t find colored duct tape at your local craft or hardware stores, you can certainly order them online.
Credits for duct tape used in book
The patterns of duct tape running along the sides of the projects in this book are from the following companies, and can be purchased through their websites.
Duck® Tape appears on the sides of the following pages: 14-37, 42-51, 70-75, 114-123, 128-133, 138-144. Duck®, and Duck® Tape are registered trademarks of ShurTech Brands, LLC, used with permission. Visit www.duckbrand.com to view all of the available patterns and browse the online store.
Platypus® Designer Duct Tape™ appears on sides of the following pages: 3-13, 38-41, 52-69, 76-113, 102-113, 124-127, 134-137. Visit www.designerducttape.com to view new and current patterns and to buy online.
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Colors and Customizing Projects
With a rainbow of duct tape colors now available, try casting your project in a new color: chrome, electric blue, neon pink or prints like tie-dye, polka dot, zebra skin or camouflage! Use your imagination. Put rolls of different colored duct tape side by side to see if you like them together. Choosing complementary colors on the color wheel (say, blue and orange) for contrast can create vibrant results. Change up a project by switching colors and decorations. Create a zoo of animals from a single project by picking different colors and altering facial features like ears, nose and eyes. Remember, there are no wrong colors!
Stencils and Decorating
You can decorate your projects with any shape or design, simple or intricate. But remember, the more detailed the design, the more precision and patience you will need! Stencils can make tracing out your design easier.
First, draw your design onto a piece of poster board or card stock and cut it out.
Place a piece of tape sticky-side down on your cutting board. (For bigger designs, line up and stick together a few pieces of tape to form a sheet sticky-side down.) Tape your stencil onto the piece of tape or sheet using smaller loops of tape.
Carefully
