About a year ago i started using gaffers tape on my PSK (and lots of other stuff) instead of electric tape. mainly becasue it sticks really well to almost any surface and removes easily without leaving a sticky residue. i find that electric tape does leave a pretty sticky residue after a while and doesn't stick as well to wide variety of surfaces. aside from that, i can easily rip smaller lengthwisel strips of gaffers tape if needed to get lots more mileage out of a small roll. anyone else use it?

Have been for a few years now, it is a great alternative to electrical or duct tape. I still carry some duct tape in my FAKs for blisters etc, but for utility and repair work Gaffer's tape is superior in my opnion. Another benefit, gaffer's tape holds up better in the heat of the arizona summer.

If your electrical tape is leaving glue on surfaces, you need better tape. The best is Scotch Super 33+ tape, good to better than 150degF. It stretches well for sealing and doesn't leave residue in room temperature applications. Plus it comes in a plastic container which is useful afterwards for storing stuff.

I would also second gaffer's tape for non-stretchy applications, but it's expensive. BTW, does anyone know if the "100mph tape" is just duct tape?

A couple of random observations on tape. One is to remember that most duct tape can conduct electricity and should not be used on electric cables. Two, Gaff tape will leave a permanent residue if left for too long in one place.

so far after one year of various conditions and various uses it has yet to leave a residue. maybe its because i use a good quality tape though (pro-gaff). but you know what, its also a fairly dry climate in southern california so i wonder if that has anything to do with it working so well.

aardvark,
i agree, the quality of electrical tape makes a world of difference. however, even using the scotch brand, after sitting in a warm environment for a while(ie. pants pocket) i still get the residue. but thats not the reason i switched, i just find gaffers tape to be more useful for me all around. especially since i live in one old apartment after another with brittle drywall. i find that gaffers tape won't rip a chuck out of the wall when removed, as other tapes tend to do. and thats important cause i sure do like to get my security deposit back <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I agree that all tape will leave some residue after being in place for a while and especially at high temperatures. I admit that i haven't tried leaving super 33+ in my pocket around a tin, but i have used it on antenna towers to wrap cable connectors and left exposed to sun and rain. The main thing is the nature of the residue: The cheap 25cent vinyl tape from china will immediately ooze a sticky clear goop that takes solvent to remove, the super 33+ will eventually dry a bit, leaving a dry black layer. You can sometimes get this off by sticking and peeling off some new tape, but solvent will do it too.

I would still favor electrical tape for sealing tins against water as it seems that the gaffers tape doesn't stretch and conform much because of the cloth inside. Might be a fun test to seal up some altoids tins with each kind and throw them in the pool. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

100MPH tape is super duct tape.

Stickier, the threads are a little stronger. But I find it doesn't handle water as well as as the darker outdoor grade stuff that Scotch sells.

Where to buy gaffers tape? I have heard of it before, but still do not know of an online source.

my favorite place to buy any type (glow, vinyl, reflective, etc) is: http://www.identi-tape.com/
shipping is fast and they sell quality tape.