NTArrington Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Does anybody know where you can still get the old fashioned, non vinyl, cloth style electrical tape. I want to wrap a portion of a wiring harness up and that shiny stuff just doesn't look right-Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynaflash8 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 It's called FRICTION TAPE and it is getting hard to find. When I lived in Virginia I could always get it at BOWIE'S HARDWARE in Oak Grove, Virginia, about 30 miles east of Fredericksburg on Virginia Route 3. I bought all they had in December before I left, but I'm sure they have more. I'm going up there this weekend, and can check for more, but won't be back until 15 Dec. If you live near Bull Run, it's not that long a drive, and when you get there, you are at the entrance to God's Country, Virginia's Northern Neck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Hoover Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Earl is right, it's Friction Tape you're looking for. I buy mine at McMaster-Carr. Look it up at www.mcmaster.com Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Silverghost Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Old Style "Friction Tape" is very hard to find ...BUT... I use HOCKEY TAPE (Renfrew Co. Canada)which is used to wrap hockey sticks that seems to be the same as "Friction Tape" with a much better adhesive than the old tape. It has a very nice woven black cloth backing!!! This is a great period looking harness wrapping tape!!!It's also great to wrap starter,motor + Gen. windings to look origional.Most sporting goods stores here in Pennsylvania carry it!!! If you like...I can send you some rolls??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Green Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 You may also want to check a local electrical supply house as it is still available. I think I may of saw some at Home Depot or Lowes? Eastwood used to sell something similar. Clink on this link! Hi guys, I had to change Ron's Hyperlink to get the page narrower, and i learned something else today because of it. Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest De Soto Frank Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 In addition to being an early electrical tape, friction tape (my Dad calls it "tar-tape") was used as an anti-squeak between wooden body framing members and also metal to wood joints in wooden coachwork, according to my 1932 Fisher Body manual...I never found it very good as electrical tape, but as "friction tape", there are few things better ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ken G Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 I have to disagree with Frank. The stuff sold as electrical tape, polyester tape with one side adhesive, is not adequately flexible, so it doesn't wrap into tiny corners. In my experience it always falls off. In contrast, friction tape (simply known as insulating tape in Britain) bends in all directions and is sticky to itself, but not to other things, on both sides.When I found I could not buy thin laminated safety glass but had to settle for thicker, I could not use the expected U-shaped rubber strip in the channels of my Rover's windshield, and had to resort to friction tape, which in fact worked very well.Ken G, 1925 Rover 16/50 (San Francisco) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest De Soto Frank Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Ken,I have found there are varying qualities of plastic electrical tape - the best was stuff my father-in-law had from his days with the Bell System...very flexible and sticky.Most of the stuff you find at the home centers these days is no where near as good...I use heat-shrink tubing wherever possible nowadays...the softer flexible stuff preferable...the shiny black shrink tube from Lowe's isn't so great...Kind of like comparing modern vinyl-coated extension cords to good old genuine rubber-jacketed SJ cord...I'll take the rubber stuff any day...I hate fighting stiff, kinky vinyl cords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Green Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 3M also makes a rubber tape (semi sticky one side) that is about 1 1/4" wide and a little thicker then friction tape however you can stretch it to a thinner thickness. I use it for the side glass, etc where the rubber u channel is not available or too thick. Trimming it with a razor around the window frame after the window is installed makes it look factory.Wayne, your getting to be a computer wizard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friartuck Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Cloth based electrical tape is called Gaffing tape. It is purely cloth based without the excessive adhesive like Duct tape. Its intended to be used in motors and places where it may get hot and you don't want adhesive to drip into moving parts. 3M makes several versions, the one I'm familiar with is 3M6910 which is 2 inches wide. I'm sure they make a narrower version.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shop Rat Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 (Happy Birthday Friartuck!!! ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest De Soto Frank Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Hmmm..."Gaffer's Tape" ( as I know it, from the performing arts, where "gaffers" come from ) is a cloth tape, not excessively adhesived, but it's different from friction tape.Gaffer's tape is sticky on one side, but has a smooth (non-sticky) finish on the top side. Friction tape (as I remember it) is sticky on all sides... In the entertainment industry, gaff-tape is used for "everything", but it's primary function was to tape down lighting and audio cables on stage and movie sets. If not left in place too long, it usually pulls-off leaving little or no residue, and usually does not harm painted surfaces.I have used it as an electrical tape in an emergency, but it is not necessarily water-proof or electricity-proof.It can turn gooey if left in place for a long time...I believe Gaffer's tape is made from a slightly lighter weight cloth than friction tape, but that might be the difference in coatings...Gaff tape is available in a variety of colors; the standard width is 2". The 1/2" wide version is known as "spike tape".Now that I know about it (and it is readily available) I don't know how I ever lived without it ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barry22 Posted February 11, 2006 Share Posted February 11, 2006 I've purchased friction tape from Lowes. Here is the link to their website where the tape is illustrated.http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=39255-98-3407 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 I found the stuff in the local Big Lots. $1.49 for three 3/4" x 90' rolls- more than I will use in a while.Big Lots has a lot of neat oddball stuff. Spent an hour or so in there today while it was snowing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkes Posted July 26, 2006 Share Posted July 26, 2006 I also used hockey tape to wrap up wiring harness. It works really good in cold climate. Go to any Sporting goods store. It is even a lot cheaper, especially when you are wrapping whole harnesses to give them that period look, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrpushbutton Posted July 26, 2006 Share Posted July 26, 2006 Hockey stick tape and friction tape are one and the same--just marketed to different segments. If it's cheaper at the sporting goods store, good deal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atikovi Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Does anybody know where you can still get the old fashioned, non vinyl, cloth style electrical tape. I want to wrap a portion of a wiring harness up and that shiny stuff just doesn't look right-ThanksCan't be too old fashioned since the 2012 Chevy Cruze I picked up has it all under the hood on the wiring harnesses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caballero2 Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I am not sure, but I think this is what you are looking for. Contactor Grade Friction Tape Sports Use Electrical Use | eBayDan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandpa Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 A company named "YnZs Yesterdays Parts" sells cloth type electrical tape.YnZs Yesterdays Parts | Auto Wiring Harness | (909)798-1498Grandpa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atikovi Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I found some Scotch/3M friction tape at Home Depot for $3. Looks the same as what GM used in my Cruze. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atikovi Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I am not sure, but I think this is what you are looking for. Contactor Grade Friction Tape Sports Use Electrical Use | eBayDanAnd you do know we are replying to a 6 year old thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Electrical supply stores have it. Electricians still use it in some applications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Crusty Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Worth bumping the thread to spread the word about Gaffer's tape, I bought an assortment of widths in black (and two rolls of white) and it's been serving me well for years. The stuff is fantastic. Easy to tear and it comes off without leaving residue, at least if it hasn't been applied for very long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yirgaman Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 My Dad always had this friction tape at home when I was little - I'd like to know why it "sparked" when you pull it off quickly? yirgaman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vila Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 (edited) If you are re-wrapping wiring harness then you want "Harness Tape", not friction tape. Friction tape seems to have a lot more adhesive and is affected by the heat a lot more than harness tape.I just re-wrapped the harness in the engine compartment of my BMW 633 CSi and it looks great.The picture of the BMW harness tape found at the ebay link I attached does not look that great, but when I re-wrapped the harness it came out perfect and solid black. This is the exact place where I got mine.bmw harness tape | eBayVisit my website at: Bob's Vintage CarsYes I know this is an old thread, but there may be members out there looking for harness tape.Vila1933 Chevrolet1962 Triumph TR41984 BMW 633 CSi Edited February 4, 2012 by Vila (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KarynMcB Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Quote from Vila: Yes I know this is an old thread, but there may be members out there looking for harness tape.And another year and a half later, here is yet another post on the subject! I was extremely happy to find this web site-I am actually looking for the cloth tape to cover aluminum wiring on which the coating has (probably long ago) crumbled away in a Singer sewing machine motor. Thank you for the tidbits of information-at least now I know where to start looking! (P.S. Oddly enough, I have access to gaff tape at work at our local college's Performance Hall-but I'm thinking the post regarding heat and sustainability is probably dead on, and am going to try to get the "real thing" at an electrical or automotive location, first.) Karyn McB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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