The many uses of gaffer tape on my allotment.

[greenishfing]

I find gaffer tape to be indispensable on the allotment. While waiting for my husband to get round to fixing the broken arm on our geriatric garden bench I stuck it back together with the tape and 2 years on it has withstood the elements while the rest of the bench has disintegrated around it (not helped by an overweight relative who shall be nameless).

I have also used it for "temporary" fixes for cracked panes in the greenhouses and many other jobs where my other DIY tool, a big hammer, was unsuitable.

Yesterday I found another use. Due to overcrowded windowsills and leggy plants I decided the tomatoes had to go to the greenhouse. I asked my husband to bring the greenhouse paraffin heaters out of retirement just in case of a cold snap. They haven't been used for a couple of years as my seedlings have tended to commit suicide before being ready to move to the allotment. He had a pack of 4 new wicks but could not get them to go into the burner slots.

In a flash of inspiration I wrapped the ends in gaffer tape with a tail of a few inches and voilŕ they were threaded into place. Then I just peeled off the tape.

I just wish the tape came in bright red or fluorescent yellow rather than silver. It would then stand out and remind my husband that there was a permanent job waiting to be done.

Has anyone else found any unusual uses for this tape?

[noviceveggrower]

My thing is string Can't go wrong with string.

[alldigging]

There's a clear duct tape available apparently. I've not tested that one.

[Scarlet]

Yes, I've taped bamboo canes on the "legs" of my arches (grow beans over them) they've grown rusty over the years and the leg bits have rusted away. I also tape the glass that cracks in my GH.

[astraman1]

always kept a roll in not used it on the plot yet but always comes in handy main use was to cover warts it kills them but used it to tape the kids toy baskets back together and general bits like that may have to tape the kids to the wall one day lol

[bramble]

Clothes pegs are mystandby. I peg all kind of things together whennothing else works.

[Noosner]

Those are brilliant uses for gaffer tape, greenishfing! I use duck tape a lot, or is it duct tape? Same sort of thing I think.

And look! You CAN get bright red gaffer tape!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gaffer-gaffa.../dp/B004CS6REO

[Bill HH]

I held a headlight in my landrover for two years with gaffer tape.It wasn't pretty.

[Guest]

My first car was a 2cv6 and the roof was repaired with gaffer. I have also put pipe lagging round poles (gor comfort) sections of barb wire (fencing) then covered the lagging with gaffer to make it a bit more waterproof and a touch prettier. Eding on bottle spinners so no sharp edges. Gaffer is great, but one of by go to items for the garden is tights. Tying in young trees, covering the tops of buckets to stop beasties getting in, barley straw fish for the pond etc. etc.

[weed]

just don't let the kids get there hands on duct tape they seem a little more creative than us all aboard thats coming on board

[ESBkevin]

As a side point of interest the reason it's called gaffer tape? When the film studios set up in the early part of the last century in California they had large wooden poles in the high ceilings to suspend lamps and scenery from. The men hired to climb and rig these poles were experienced sailors because they were used to climbing the gaffs on ships so they became known as gaffers. The term has stuck throughout the film and music industry.
Gaffers tape (the proper stuff) is sticky but does not leave a residue when removed. Imagine sticking a microphone to an expensive grand piano and leaving a mess behind when removed! Duct tape or Duck tape or cloth tape are different products that are extra sticky and potentially waterproof.