Best recognized for its strength and ability to conform, Gaffer tape is used by many! Its amazing that I can rip the smooth tape myself without the using a scissor. And when I remove the tape without trouble, there isn’t any residue left for me to clean. I mean my other tapes leave residue behind, so why doesn’t gaffer tape? Gaffer tape is made up of cotton, vinyl, and a synthetic ruber adhesive, making it last longer and leave less residue than the average tape.
Once I was on the set of a movie and I couldn’t believe how much gaffer tape I saw. That day I learned that gaffer tape is used constantly in the entertainment industries including television, motion picture, music and theater, etc.
It can be found securing power and audio/video cords, and props. It is also used to mark the stage to block cameras and actors, yet cannot be seen by the audience or the cameras.
So, what's the the difference between gaffer tape and duct tape? I mean they are both adhesive and similar looking, and are used in similar situations. I learned that the tapes are made up of slightly different material which allows gaffer tape to be more conformable and bendable than duct tape. This is why gaffer tape is used more frequently than duct tape in the entertainment industries as it can conform to the shape and size of a cable cord with more ease.
Despite the differences, many people use both tapes interchangeably. Take it from me, use both according to your needs
