What is gaffa tape?
Gaffa tape, often referred to as duct tape, duct and duck tape, construction tape or repair tape, is a versatile adhesive tape with a fabric backing. It is very adaptable, has high tear resistance and usually strong adhesive strength, is easy to tear by hand, sticks to almost all surfaces and is usually waterproof.
Gaffa tape is a versatile adhesive tape. Whether for household use, on stage or for technical applications, the quality of gaffa tape varies from tape to tape, for example in terms of fabric (coated/uncoated), adhesive and adhesive strength (high, medium, low) and colour (silver, black, white, coloured, fluorescent, striped, etc.). In summary, it can be said that
gaffa tape...
- is particularly abrasion-resistant, tear-resistant and usually waterproof.
- is highly adaptable, and pliable.
- sticks firmly to many surfaces: on smooth and textured substrates, around edges, corners and curves.
- can be torn off by hand ely – depending on the fabric, either crosswise or lengthwise.
- Adheres with varying adhesive strength, usually medium to extra strong.
- High quality (and mild adhesive) can usually be removed without leaving any residue.
- Often resistant to acids, alkalis, oil, petrol and alcohol, as well as UV radiation and other weather influences.
- Can be bonded over a wide temperature range.
- Versatile: for repairing, sealing, protecting and covering, for bundling, fixing and fastening (e.g. cables) and much more.
Why is it called gaffa tape?
Because gaffa tape originated in the theatre and film industry, its name also comes from the stage. Cloth tape is part of every lighting technician's basic equipment. In English, a lighting technician is called a gaffer. And that's how gaffer tape got its name.
Cloth tape for every application – adhesive tapes in different qualities
Whether for household and workshop use or as an indispensable tool for professionals in film, events, trade fairs and construction, gaffa tape is a valuable aid for bundling and protecting as well as for reinforcing, insulating, marking and masking. The cloth tape provides reliable sealing and offers secure fastening and fixing. It is not without reason that it is considered a proven assembly and repair tape.
The surface of the tape is uncoated and water-repellent or coated and waterproof. Depending on the adhesive, it has different adhesive strengths: gaffer tape sticks weakly, moderately or particularly strongly. Depending on the quality of the adhesive, it can usually be removed without leaving any residue. This is particularly important for all the cables and sensitive equipment used in production.
Would you like to know what the adhesive strength means, how the structure of the fabric affects gaffa tape, or why some adhesive tapes can be removed without leaving any residue and others cannot? Below you will find useful information about gaffa tape.
The adhesive strength of gaffer tape
The cloth tape is available with different adhesive strengths (adhesive properties): with high or medium initial adhesion and with a final adhesive strength ranging from weak to extra strong.
Universal duct tape (e.g. GT 561) often sticks very strongly, repairs and fixes quickly, seals reliably and adheres permanently. Premium quality tapes or gaffa tape with a surface-friendly (non-corrosive) adhesive system (e.g. natural rubber) can often be removed without leaving any adhesive residue despite their high adhesive properties ( e.g. GT 571, GT 102).
Important: The quality of a gaffer tape cannot be measured solely by its adhesive strength. Cheap tapes are often equipped with aggressive, corrosive adhesives. These cannot be removed without leaving adhesive residue. They often bond with the substrate, discolour surfaces and can irreparably damage the adhesive surfaces.
The fabric: every adhesive cloth tape is different
There are enormous differences in the carrier fabric of gaffa tape. The quality of a gaffa tape can therefore often be recognised at first glance. There are high-quality gaffa tapes with a finely structured fabric with a high thread count or coarsely woven products. These tapes are significantly cheaper and should rather be described as all-round tape or all-purpose tape .
A finely structured fabric with a high thread count promises very high tear strength (elongation at break). What's more , the finer the fabric, the more accurately it can be torn by hand. Although all fabric adhesive tapes can be torn by hand (crosswise), high-quality gaffa tape can also be torn lengthwise with clean tear edges (e.g. GT 571, Pro Gaff).
Further advantages of high-quality products
A high-quality cloth tape is particularly flexible. Why is this important? Because of the adhesion between the adhesive tape and the surface to which it is applied. The larger the contact surface, the more precisely the tape can be applied and the higher the adhesive forces (adhesion). And fine fabric is simply much more flexible and adaptable than rigid, coarse qualities. When you buy high-quality gaffa tape here in our shop, you are guaranteed to achieve good adhesive results. The premium adhesive tapes stick cleanly to smooth surfaces and are particularly flexible around curves, corners and on porous and uneven surfaces. This makes sticking easier and more durable.
The surface: special properties, many colours, from glossy to extra matt
The surface of a gaffa tape also differs from tape to tape: water-repellent (uncoated) or waterproof (coated). Some gaffa tapes are matt, others glossy. The colour of a duct tape also often plays a decisive role for professionals: in addition to the standard colours black, white and silver , the tapes are available in many bright colours. For labelling and marking, for example, gaffer tape is also available in eye-catching fluorescent neon colours (neon gaffa tape), as self-illuminating or striped caution tape.
In the entertainment industry, for example in film or stage and exhibition construction, the adhesive cloth tape is often matt black – matching the technology and equipment, with a non-reflective surface.
Properties of gaffa tape at a glance
Gaffa tape is a valuable accessory. Not every tape is made of the same material or is of the same quality. Each gaffer tape offers different properties, which we will discuss in detail below.
- Different adhesive strengths (from weak to very strong)
- Different adhesives (corrosive and non-corrosive)
- Adhesive including tape can often be removed without leaving any residue
- Wide temperature range for bonding (from -50°C to over 100°C)
- High abrasion resistance and mechanical stress resistance, e.g. due to different surfaces (coated, e.g. PE, PVC or uncoated/waterproof, water-repellent)
- Surface finish: glossy, matt or ultra-matt in many colours and designs
- Labellability: good to very good (with all pens)
- Fabric: medium, fine, very fine structure
- Moderate to very good tear resistance in transverse and/or longitudinal direction
- High tear strength and adaptability to edges, curves and structured surfaces
- Mostly high elasticity/elongation at break (from 6 to 25%)
- High breaking load (from 21 to 85 N/cm)
- Dimensions: various lengths and widths, e.g. 12 mm, 24 mm, 48 mm, 50 mm, 100 mm, 150 mm
What is the adhesive strength of gaffa tape?
This question is often asked by our customers. Each gaffa tape has individual adhesive strengths. These range from weak to medium to very high. A distinction is also made between initial adhesion ( ) and final adhesion (end adhesive strength). Adhesive strength is measured in Newtons per centimetre (N/cm). According to DIN EN 1939:2003 for self-adhesive tapes, a distinction is made between
l ow adhesive strength (< 1.5 N/cm) and medium adhesive strength ( ) from high adhesive strength (3 N/cm or more). Extra-strong gaffer tapes (very high adhesive strength) have an adhesive strength of around 6 N/cm (e.g. GT 571, Pro Gaff Gaffer Tape).
What is the adhesive strength of gaffa tape? And why do the surfaces play a decisive role in adhesion?
What is adhesive strength? "The adhesive strength of a gaffer tape refers to the force that must be applied to pull an adhesive tape off the substrate". However, the adhesion of the tapes does not depend solely on the adhesive, but also on the individual surface to which you are sticking the tape. Smooth surfaces offer high adhesion ( adhesive strength), while porous, rough or textured, deformed surfaces offer less adhesion and are therefore more difficult to stick to. In addition, depending on the material, there are so-called low-energy and high-energy adhesive surfaces. The former offer less good adhesion for adhesive tape, e.g. asphalt, stone and concrete, rubber, wood, Teflon, silicone-containing paints, polyethylene and polypropylene. Put simply, "cloth tapes slip off more quickly" on these substrates – which is also referred to as shear resistance (see below) in adhesive tape.
Difficult/low-energy surfaces must be treated with more aggressive adhesives and greater pressure. Under certain circumstances, pre-treatment may even be necessary, for example by roughening the surface or applying a bonding agent, known as a primer.
How is adhesive strength measured in the laboratory? A strip of adhesive tape of a defined length and width is bonded to polished steel under laboratory conditions. The adhesive tapes are then removed at a specified contact pressure, after a defined time (20 minutes) and at a defined peel speed. This gives the immediate adhesion.
The final adhesive strength of a gaffer tape is defined after 24 hours by a second measurement. The shear strength of the tape can also be measured in this way. It depends on the processing temperature and the temperatures acting on the bond. In the laboratory, the cloth tape is loaded parallel to the bonding plane and temperature-controlled. If the temperature is too high, some adhesives soften and begin to "flow". The adhesive tape loses its holding force and "shears off".
These factors influence bonding
- The coated adhesive itself, its adhesive strength and the applied layer thickness
- The condition of the substrate – is the substrate flexible/conformable (higher adhesive forces!) or rigid?
- The contact pressure applied when applying the adhesive tape
- The climatic conditions and mechanical stress that affect the adhesive tape after it has been applied, e.g. heat, cold, UV light, moisture or mechanical abrasion!
- The substrate to be bonded itself (rough, porous, smooth, high or low energy).
When purchasing gaffa tape from our shop, we therefore always recommend that you carry out a test application on your original surface, under the prevailing temperatures and other influences – this test ensures optimum adhesion and prevents possible damage!
How can adhesive tape be removed without leaving any residue?
Unfortunately, there is no general answer to this question. Several factors play an important role here. When removing adhesive tape, it is important to consider the following:
- Which adhesive is coated and what is the adhesive strength of the tape?
- On which surfaces was the adhesive applied?
- How much time has passed since the adhesive was applied and what are the climatic conditions affecting the adhesive cloth tape?
Depending on the adhesive (e.g. synthetic rubber adhesive, acrylic or other synthetic adhesives, natural rubber) and its properties, gaffa tape can be removed without leaving any residue or not. You will always find guidelines for this with the respective product. Our shop offers gaffa tapes that can be removed without leaving any residue for at least 3 weeks (Pro Gaff), even from cables and sensitive technology, or gaffa tapes that can only be removed without leaving any residue for a maximum of 24 hours and are therefore recommended for permanent bonding or for sticking to insensitive surfaces .
How to remove gaffa tape
When removing adhesive cloth tape, make sure you do so slowly and smoothly at a 90° angle. For some adhesive tapes, such as duct tape with heat-sensitive adhesives (e.g. hot melt, natural rubber), it may be helpful to warm the tape or its adhesive beforehand.
How to remove adhesive residue? If nothing helps, our range includes an adhesive remover. Other alternatives are alcohol, benzine or orange oil cleaner. Please ensure that the material is compatible!
Do you want a permanent bond?
There are tapes with special high-performance adhesives – they are designed for permanent bonding or sticking to non-sensitive surfaces. Examples include GT 561 cloth tape or Gaffa Tape Advance Tape AT 165. Standard duct tape , often available on the market at low prices, so-called construction tape or all-purpose tape, is very often coated with an aggressive adhesive. They stick aggressively because they form a permanent bond with the substrate. Without aids, these cloth tapes are difficult or often impossible to remove. In many cases, such inexpensive discount tapes discolour or even damage the adhesive surface (e.g. when adhering to natural wood, natural stone or painted surfaces).
Do you want a durable bond that can be removed without leaving any residue?
Other adhesive tape systems, especially technical adhesive tapes, also known as industrial adhesive tapes, can often be removed without leaving any residue and in some cases even reused or corrected after incorrect bonding ( , some pressure-sensitive PSAs, hot melt or natural rubber adhesives).
The adhesive has a so-called "open processing time" and , depending on the information in the safety data sheets , can be removed without leaving any residue for up to 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours or even for at least 3 weeks. For easy-to-remove adhesive cloth tape, order GT 102 or Pro Gaff from us.
Waterproof or water-repellent adhesive cloth tape? And what else the surface can do
Some cloth tapes, or rather their cloth carriers, e.g. made of plastic or textile fabric,, are coated on their surface (e.g. PE, PVC) - other tapes are supplied in pure cotton fabric without coating. The coated adhesive tapes are usually waterproof when stuck on (e.g. duct tape, construction tape). This means that these gaffa tapes can be used for almost any application and can be bonded indoors and outdoors. A coated gaffa tape seals reliably, even outdoors, and protects against dust and moisture. In addition, the durability (abrasion resistance) of is often increased by a coating. However, uncoated carrier fabrics also offer advantages: they are less stiff and therefore more flexible on substrates. In addition, the pure, uncoated cotton fabric of Pro Gaff Gaffa Tape, for example, is naturally matt.
Surface of adhesive tapes: glossy or matt?
Another surface treatment is the colouring, , and the finish , which can be matt or glossy, created by a plastic surface treatment. You can buy gaffa tape in our shop in almost every colour imaginable, including fluorescent (glowing under UV light or black light) or phosphorescent (self-luminous).
The surface finish, i.e. whether a gaffa tape is matte or glossy, can be particularly important for film and photo shoots or on stage. Glossy gaffas reflect spotlights, while matte adhesive tapes prevent often distracting reflections.
Secure fixation: Is gaffa tape heat-resistant? Which product has which temperature resistance?
You will always find two temperature specifications in the specific data for our gaffa tapes:
- the processing temperature / application temperature
- the temperature range / temperature span
The processing temperature should be observed so that an adhesive can develop its optimum tack/adhesive properties. The temperature range describes the temperatures at which a gaffa tape remains adhesive, i.e. at which temperature it adheres securely and does not slip. Some gaffa tapes become brittle in cold weather, others are not heat-resistant, lose their stickiness in heat and shear off as described above.
Are you looking for heat-resistant gaffa tape?
Of course, you can also buy heat-resistant adhesive cloth tape in our shop. We recommend the following tapes: Pro Gaff and Spike Tape from Pro Tapes (93°C), adhesive cloth tape GT 571 (80°C) and AT 200, AT 201 (80°C). You will find all the relevant information about each individual product in the product description.
The dimensions of (almost) all gaffa tapes: 50 mm x 50 m
A typical roll of gaffa tape is often 50 mm wide. Other sizes, e.g. 19 mm or 204 mm, as well as extra wide 100 mm or 150 mm, can also be ordered from our online shop. But have you ever measured the width of a tape? Foreign manufacturers often produce their adhesive tapes in inches; here, the gaffer tapes are 2 inches wide. So don't be surprised if the 50 mm tapes are actually 5.08 cm wide. The manufacturer Pro Tapes, for example, produces in inches but rounds down to the nearest mm. The 2" (inch) tape is actually only 48 mm wide, while the 1" gaffa tape is 24 mm wide. This means that for tape widths in inches, 1 inch (1") = 25.4 mm. Pro Gaff produces rounded tape widths: 24 mm (1''), 48 mm (2''), 72 mm (3''). Advance Tapes, on the other hand, produces tape in metric sizes.
The length of the rolls also varies. A typical roll length is 50 m, but there are also small rolls with 25 m, 10 m, 5.5 m and even 2 m, as well as extra-long rolls of 100 m. The following applies to tapes from foreign manufacturers:
55 yards = 50 m (Pro Gaff)
50 yards = 45 m (Fluor Tape)
60 yards = 55 m (Artist Tape)
Our gaffa tape range: GRIP Tape, Pro Gaff, Advance Tapes & Co.
Our range includes gaffa tapes from various manufacturers as well as GRIP tapes from our own brand GRIP Eventbasics – high-quality tapes at low prices.
We generally stock the following gaffa tapes:
Gaffa Tape black matte: For use on stage and for professional film and photo work, you will find gaffer tapes with an extra matte, extruded, particularly smooth surface. These adhesive cloth tapes absorb light and do not reflect. The tapes are made of a very fine fabric and coated with high-quality adhesives. They can be easily removed without leaving any residue after being applied (e.g. to cables). The extra matt gaffer tape is also available in white and grey. Neon tapes or special blue or greenscreen gaffer tapes can also be ordered with a matt surface.
All-round gaffer tape: Generally known as duct tape, construction tape or repair tape, PVC-coated gaffer tape is an adhesive tape with maximum immediate adhesion and aggressive final tack. It adheres to almost all surfaces, has high tear strength and is completely waterproof. Caution! This duct tape cannot be removed without leaving residue. In addition to white, silver and black, the standard quality is also available in many colours. It is mainly used for colour coding on insensitive surfaces or for colourful bonding of carpets in trade fair construction. The classic colours here are black gaffa and white gaffa tape.
Neon gaffa and warning marking tape: Adhesive cloth tapes in particularly eye-catching colours are availablefor labelling, warning and marking. Thanks to their bright colours, gaffa tapes are eye-catching adhesive tapes during the day. They are also often fluorescent, which makes them easy to see under UV light. Ideal for marking stages and sets, as well as cables and wires for lighting and sound equipment, and for artistic design and effects in stage construction. A yellow and black striped cloth tape is particularly popular for temporary hazard areas or for covering cables.
Colourful cloth tapes in premium quality: Matt glossy professional tapes with a finely structured fabric. A gaffer tape with excellent adhesive strength and high tear resistance. Can be removed without leaving any residue for a long time. Available in many bright colours.
Duck tape, gaffer tape, duct tape & co. – the history of duct tape
Did you know? The cloth tape was originally developed as a self-adhesive bandage. However, the surface of the medical tapes often remained uncoated. These so-called "open tapes" are still available today as adhesive tapes.
Are you interested in why there are so many different names for the same cloth tape? Then read our Duct Tape History.
Buy gaffa tape in the adhesive tape shop at allbuyone
You can buy gaffa tapes here in our shop at low prices and with fast delivery times. Gaffa tape with 24-hour shipping! Let us advise you personally; we will always find the right adhesive tape for your individual application. You can reach our team by telephone on: +49 89-122 89 06 22