Joint Indicator Tape

[P4dstar]

I've always bought this from Gardiners. Lost the remainder of my current roll so had to go to Screwfix. Ordered 3m electrical tape in blue for £1.69. They tried to give me cheaper black stuff that is 89p. I said thats not the right stuff and he carried on looking. Came back and said they were out of stock. I asked what the difference between that and the white cheaper stuff is and he told me that 3M is a brand name... Can anyone clarify, is normal insulation tape acceptable and is 3M actually a brand name?

 

[scottish cleaning service]

3m is a big American company i think.

 

[Stevieboy]

3M is a massive American company. Surely you have seen the normally red 3M logo on lots of different things throughout your life. Originally known as the Minnesota mining and manufacturing company. Hence 3 M ‘s. 

 

[Stevieboy]

mostly insulation tape is made from vinyl. The joint tape from Gardiners is nothing special or unique.  A yellow vinyl tape made by 3M. Arguably 3M is the best make. 

 

[Alex Gardiner]

I've always bought this from Gardiners. Lost the remainder of my current roll so had to go to Screwfix. Ordered 3m electrical tape in blue for £1.69. They tried to give me cheaper black stuff that is 89p. I said thats not the right stuff and he carried on looking. Came back and said they were out of stock. I asked what the difference between that and the white cheaper stuff is and he told me that 3M is a brand name... Can anyone clarify, is normal insulation tape acceptable and is 3M actually a brand name?

Hi P4dstar

As has been said 3M is a brand, but this is not the reason we have chosen it. 
 

It is generally fine to use any brand of PVC electrical tape for this purpose as long as it is good quality. 
 

Some cheaper tapes are more flexible, have a softer surface and edge & the glue is not as good. We have found these cheaper tapes do not last well & can jam up and attract dirt. 
 

The exact tape we use has been the result of much testing and trialling and was chosen from the 3M range not because it was a brand name but because it was the best performing tape we could find. It is the right thickness, surface and edge hardness and has good glue. 
 

We have been unable to find this exact grade 3M tape in the UK and have to purchase from overseas. 
 

 

[Brianbarber]

Hi P4dstar

As has been said 3M is a brand, but this is not the reason we have chosen it. 
 

It is generally fine to use any brand of PVC electrical tape for this purpose as long as it is good quality. 
 

Some cheaper tapes are more flexible, have a softer surface and edge & the glue is not as good. We have found these cheaper tapes do not last well & can jam up and attract dirt. 
 

The exact tape we use has been the result of much testing and trialling and was chosen from the 3M range not because it was a brand name but because it was the best performing tape we could find. It is the right thickness, surface and edge hardness and has good glue. 
 

We have been unable to find this exact grade 3M tape in the UK and have to purchase from overseas. 

 

Agreed....Gardiners yellow is the best 

used cheap tape and I came really unstuck.....pun intended.

the tape came away and I had two sections jam up...it was a nightmare...then another section did the same, so in effect I had to returb all the tapes twice....

that is all 

Mr B

 

[P4dstar]

3m is a big American company i think.

mostly insulation tape is made from vinyl. The joint tape from Gardiners is nothing special or unique.  A yellow vinyl tape made by 3M. Arguably 3M is the best make. 

Thanks chaps... I don't recognise the brand. I'll probably see it everywhere I go now though.

Hi P4dstar

As has been said 3M is a brand, but this is not the reason we have chosen it. 
 

It is generally fine to use any brand of PVC electrical tape for this purpose as long as it is good quality. 
 

Some cheaper tapes are more flexible, have a softer surface and edge & the glue is not as good. We have found these cheaper tapes do not last well & can jam up and attract dirt. 
 

The exact tape we use has been the result of much testing and trialling and was chosen from the 3M range not because it was a brand name but because it was the best performing tape we could find. It is the right thickness, surface and edge hardness and has good glue. 
 

We have been unable to find this exact grade 3M tape in the UK and have to purchase from overseas. 

Thanks Alex, appreciate the reply. I know someone on the forum said a while back they use off the shelf 3M tape (Possibly @Iron Giant) but I've always bought from you guys just because I know what I'm getting. Normally I've got something to order so I just tag it on so I don't have to worry about postage but I've ordered so much recently I've nothing left haha .

 

[Iron Giant]

Thanks chaps... I don't recognise the brand. I'll probably see it everywhere I go now though.

Thanks Alex, appreciate the reply. I know someone on the forum said a while back they use off the shelf 3M tape (Possibly @Iron Giant) but I've always bought from you guys just because I know what I'm getting. Normally I've got something to order so I just tag it on so I don't have to worry about postage but I've ordered so much recently I've nothing left haha .

No, not me, I use the yellow overlap tape, I usually have about 3 rolls in various stages of use 

 

[Marko067]

When I last did maintenance to my everyday pole I was running low on the yellow 3M tape so I taped the top section with a generic electrical tape. It seemed to work ok till I went to strip the pole down today and what a mess. I think the glue had broken down and as I tried to separate the top two sections the remnants of tape and glue almost completely jammed them together. It took two of us to twist and pull to get them apart. I was expecting the pole to break. Fortunately it didn't. I'm sticking to the 3M tape in future.

 

[P4dstar]

When I last did maintenance to my everyday pole I was running low on the yellow 3M tape so I taped the top section with a generic electrical tape. It seemed to work ok till I went to strip the pole down today and what a mess. I think the glue had broken down and as I tried to separate the top two sections the remnants of tape and glue almost completely jammed them together. It took two of us to twist and pull to get them apart. I was expecting the pole to break. Fortunately it didn't. I'm sticking to the 3M tape in future.

Thankfully I've just located my yellow tape, it had fallen underneath some racking in the garage. There is enough on it see me through to my next order too ?

 

[Spartan]

So, outside of Gardiner where can I buy the best quality tape?

not against Gardiner but they obviously charge postage - £2 tape with £4 delivery.... so tape costs £6, bit dear if you ask me.

screwfix etc  I can pick up Instore.

 

[Stevieboy]

 

[P4dstar]

We have been unable to find this exact grade 3M tape in the UK and have to purchase from overseas. 

I think the stuff Screwfix sell is different chaps.