According to my ChatGPT, it’s not really very good for anything. There are purpose made tape solutions for nearly every need. What AI fails to understand though is that it’s pretty good at doing just about everything and it’s nearly always available when you need it.
Yeah. I keep a roll of duct tape in my car, and recommend everyone do that. There are so many "you never know" scenarios that could come up while out on the road somewhere where having something is way better than having nothing.
I actually used it once when the front bumper on the car got hooked on a curb when I parked and got partially pulled off when I tried backing out. Duct tape secured it in place until I could get to a body shop and they properly fixed the pegs that had been damaged.
Yep, I just duct taped my led headlight that the plastic lock snapped and was just loose. Fixed it right up and still going afterabout 6 months. A long time ago on a different car, it wouldn't start. So I messed with the starter while a friend tried turning it on. The wires needed to be lifted up to turn the car on. So I duct taped a large bolt underneath the wires, and then I wrapped that with electrical tape, because of electricity of course. Lasted for years until it got totaled while parked.
In this case, it recommended aluminum HVAC tape to tape together some ductwork I wanted to secure. Further investigation revealed that this was correct.
That's true, "duck" tape is a cloth or scrim-backed, pressure-sensative adhesive tape coated with polyethlene. It was invented in WWII to waterproof ammo cases, and make waterproof repairs. If you want something for "ducts", then aluminum tape.
Well, yeah that’s what ChatGPT said too, but don’t tell that other guy that he won’t believe you if he knows A . I said it!
Oh wait that’s you! Well, now, I don’t know if you are an AI just spouting back what ChatGPT already told me. Man. Everything just keeps getting more complicated.
But just so you know, ChatGPT has had some pretty good tape recommendations since I started using it as my adhesive guru. Glue too.
I'm just an old fucker from the previous century who actually repairs shit grew up knowing that Nazis were the bad guy (and whose father was in the Army in WWII), and has a home from the 1940's. I'll also say that you can use a water based "duct" sealant to patch old cast iron sewer lines.
When I was poor and in college, I repaired a huge rip in my shorts with duct tape. It looked awful but worked great and went through the washer with no problem.
If the surface is already wet, duct tape will not stick. Sandbags can be deployed while raining. Likely best to include both as a combination for redundancy if setting up before a storm. If it's already raining, duct tape could be used inside.
Tape on the inside would not work. It’s not really about how sticky the tape is, the water pressure will push it onto the gap from the outside. If the tapes on the inside the water pressure will push it off.
That's true. Seems like a poor alternative unless you have multiple ingress to not break the tape. Using it as an additional redundant barrier seems helpful.
Are you saying Duct Tape is more expensive? Its covered in the article:
“The cost difference is striking. A household may already have duct tape or be able to purchase a roll for £10 or less, while finding and deploying sandbags involves significant additional costs, transport and effort. “
I have an ongoing experiment with water and duct tape. I chipped my shower floor and it needed(s) repair. I didn’t have the time, and in part out of creativity and desperation I stuck a piece over and would get back to soon. When I went to remove the tape three months later it wouldn’t come off, so I left it. Out of curiosity I left it to see how long it would take for the water to reduce its adhesiveness. Three years later it is firmly stuck.
sweetica | 6 hours ago
Dang! Is there anything duct tape can't do? That's going to be so much easier than loading sandbags into your house.
Don__Gately__ | 6 hours ago
I built a canoe out of milk jugs and duct tape in middle school. It was awesome.
boogerdark30 | 3 hours ago
I’d love to see the finished product. You save any pictures of it?
Don__Gately__ | 3 hours ago
I don’t have photos unfortunately, but here is an Instructables on how to make one.
Ntroepy | 3 hours ago
lol - many, many years ago, I built a suit jacket and tie in high school for a dance from duct tape. It was actually pretty cool at the time.
calebmke | 6 hours ago
Well it shouldn’t really be used on ducts, so there’s that.
rufio_rufio_roofeeO | 5 hours ago
According to my ChatGPT, it’s not really very good for anything. There are purpose made tape solutions for nearly every need. What AI fails to understand though is that it’s pretty good at doing just about everything and it’s nearly always available when you need it.
If you’ll allow me: a Jack of all tapes
FaceDeer | 5 hours ago
Yeah. I keep a roll of duct tape in my car, and recommend everyone do that. There are so many "you never know" scenarios that could come up while out on the road somewhere where having something is way better than having nothing.
I actually used it once when the front bumper on the car got hooked on a curb when I parked and got partially pulled off when I tried backing out. Duct tape secured it in place until I could get to a body shop and they properly fixed the pegs that had been damaged.
CaptainKurticus | 3 hours ago
Yep, I just duct taped my led headlight that the plastic lock snapped and was just loose. Fixed it right up and still going afterabout 6 months. A long time ago on a different car, it wouldn't start. So I messed with the starter while a friend tried turning it on. The wires needed to be lifted up to turn the car on. So I duct taped a large bolt underneath the wires, and then I wrapped that with electrical tape, because of electricity of course. Lasted for years until it got totaled while parked.
Boozeburger | 3 hours ago
AI is really not a trustworthy source. If it's not right now, imagine when enshitafacation ensues.
rufio_rufio_roofeeO | 3 hours ago
I know! Imagine my surprise when it was right!
In this case, it recommended aluminum HVAC tape to tape together some ductwork I wanted to secure. Further investigation revealed that this was correct.
Boozeburger | 3 hours ago
That's true, "duck" tape is a cloth or scrim-backed, pressure-sensative adhesive tape coated with polyethlene. It was invented in WWII to waterproof ammo cases, and make waterproof repairs. If you want something for "ducts", then aluminum tape.
rufio_rufio_roofeeO | 3 hours ago
Well, yeah that’s what ChatGPT said too, but don’t tell that other guy that he won’t believe you if he knows A . I said it!
Oh wait that’s you! Well, now, I don’t know if you are an AI just spouting back what ChatGPT already told me. Man. Everything just keeps getting more complicated.
But just so you know, ChatGPT has had some pretty good tape recommendations since I started using it as my adhesive guru. Glue too.
Boozeburger | 3 hours ago
I'm just an old fucker from the previous century who actually repairs shit grew up knowing that Nazis were the bad guy (and whose father was in the Army in WWII), and has a home from the 1940's. I'll also say that you can use a water based "duct" sealant to patch old cast iron sewer lines.
sbrt | 5 hours ago
When I was poor and in college, I repaired a huge rip in my shorts with duct tape. It looked awful but worked great and went through the washer with no problem.
Frostsorrow | 4 hours ago
Remember folks, if they don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
GarrisonSteel | 6 hours ago
Red Green be like “See, I told you so”
bloodandsunshine | 6 hours ago
If the women don’t find you handsome the floods will wash them away
scrotumscab | 6 hours ago
So they'll find me handsome because of the... implication?
Lower_Ad_1317 | 6 hours ago
I’m confident that this article is ignoring the fact that if a problem cannot be fixed with duct tape, then not enough duct tape has been applied 🫵
Mindless_Cookie_9098 | 6 hours ago
Nice try dad. Writing an article from beyond the grave on how duct tape fixes everything
Fluffy-Opinion871 | 5 hours ago
Was Red Green conducting these tests? He is an expert in this area.
SPECTRE-Agent-No-13 | 5 hours ago
If it was Red Green a pipe would burst in the house and turn the fist floor into an indoor pool
Frostsorrow | 4 hours ago
But on purpose
turtlepsp | 2 hours ago
If the surface is already wet, duct tape will not stick. Sandbags can be deployed while raining. Likely best to include both as a combination for redundancy if setting up before a storm. If it's already raining, duct tape could be used inside.
LoSoGreene | 2 hours ago
Tape on the inside would not work. It’s not really about how sticky the tape is, the water pressure will push it onto the gap from the outside. If the tapes on the inside the water pressure will push it off.
turtlepsp | 2 hours ago
That's true. Seems like a poor alternative unless you have multiple ingress to not break the tape. Using it as an additional redundant barrier seems helpful.
coffee_warden | 6 hours ago
Nice try, Big Duct Tape
FloodAdvisor | 4 hours ago
I learned everything I needed to know about duct tape from The Red Green Show
GeneralCommand4459 | 5 hours ago
Like a duct to water
Jimmy_Fromthepieshop | 4 hours ago
Last time I used duct tape and it got wet, it came straight off, didn't stick at all. So I'm not sure how much I believe this.
Wisco | 5 hours ago
It'd be way more expensive though, wouldn't it?
darkquanta42 | 2 hours ago
Are you saying Duct Tape is more expensive? Its covered in the article:
“The cost difference is striking. A household may already have duct tape or be able to purchase a roll for £10 or less, while finding and deploying sandbags involves significant additional costs, transport and effort. “
Wisco | an hour ago
We had flooding in our neighborhood once and they were handling out sandbags for free
bilky_t | 55 minutes ago
Handing out duct tape for free is free too. There's still cost involved, and that kind of statement misses the point entirely.
tape_snake | 3 hours ago
And much harder and time consuming to set up properly.
Weep4Thee | 4 hours ago
Florida man not gonna get any credit when he does something positive?
ApprehensiveTerm3351 | 4 hours ago
Sandbags wrapped in duct tape
Mountain_carrier530 | 4 hours ago
Just got to get the Navy special EB Red tape that you can patch leaking pipes with.
ChrisRiley_42 | 3 hours ago
Was the research done at the Red Green institute for science-type stuff?
tubulerz1 | an hour ago
Brought to you by the Duct Tape Council. Remember, “don’t get sandbagged by sandbags”
Memory_Less | an hour ago
I have an ongoing experiment with water and duct tape. I chipped my shower floor and it needed(s) repair. I didn’t have the time, and in part out of creativity and desperation I stuck a piece over and would get back to soon. When I went to remove the tape three months later it wouldn’t come off, so I left it. Out of curiosity I left it to see how long it would take for the water to reduce its adhesiveness. Three years later it is firmly stuck.
NoMidnight5366 | 6 hours ago
I know a guy who makes a product better than duct tape.
CarolFukinBaskin | 5 hours ago
What an informative and thoughtful reply. Thank you redditor 🙏
macmarklemore | 5 hours ago
And my dad can beat up that guy’s dad!