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25 PROJECTS TO MAKE
WITH DUCT TAPE
THE
Duct
Tape
Book
25 PROJECTS TO MAKE
WITH DUCT TAPE
Jolie Dobson
Published by Firefly Books Ltd. 2012
Copyright © 2012 Firefly Books Ltd.
Text and photographs copyright © Jolie Dobson 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publisher.
Publisher Cataloging-in-Publication Data (U.S.)
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Dobson, Jolie.
Dobson, Jolie, 1981-
The duct tape book : 25 projects to make
The duct tape book : 25 projects to make with duct tape with duct tape / Jolie Dobson.
/ Jolie Dobson.
[144] p. : col. photos. ; cm.
ISBN 978-1-77085-098-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-77085-098-9 (pbk.)
1. Handicraft. 2. Duct tape. I. Title. II. Title: Twenty-five 978-1-77088-076-4 (ePub)
projects to make with duct tape.
978-1-77088-077-1 (Web PDF)
TT880.D52 2012 745.5 C2012-902990-4
1. Duct tape. 2. Handicraft. I. Title.
745.5 dc23 TT880.D6376 2012
Published in the United States by
Published in Canada by
Firefly Books (U.S.) Inc.
Firefly Books Ltd.
P.O. Box 1338, Ellicott Station
66 Leek Crescent
Buffalo, New York 14205
Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 1H1
Cover and interior design: Jacqueline Hope Raynor.
Cover model: Jolie Dobson. Interior model: Allison Worek.
The publisher gratefully acknowledges the financial support for our publishing program by the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund as administered by the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Contents
Introduction
Duct tape history 5 • Getting started 6 • Choosing tape 7
Credits for duct tape used in book 7 • Colors and customizing
projects 8 • Stencils and decorating 8 • How to make duct tape
sheets 8 • How to make duct tape straps 10 • Taping flat surfaces 11
Taping right-angle flat surfaces 11 • Taping curved edges 12
Taping curved surfaces 13
Projects
Bike buddy 15 • Funky frame bag 21 • Fab frames 25 • Hot pink
handbag 29 • Smart phone holder 35 • Games on Board 39
Out-to-lunch bag 43 • The spill master 49 • Kleenex crib 53
Bag tag 59 • Wild wild vest 65 • Cheeky chaps 71 • Sassy skirt 77
Backpack 83 • Small-scale monster 91 • This little piggy bank 97
IYU box 103 • Yuletide tree topper 109 • Bodacious bows 115
Mad hatters 119 • Duct bunny 125 • Basket case 129
Analog photo album 135 • The cover up 139 • Passport pal 141
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Introduction
Duct tape was called “the handyman’s secret weapon” by Red Green. It’s been stowed on board every space flight since the Gemini missions in the mid-1960s.
And dollars to donuts it’s holding something together right now in your house, car or garage. But the biggest secret about the magic fix-all tape is that it is the ultimate craft material too! Its tensile strength lends itself well to sturdy construction, its resistance to water means it’s suitable for outdoor use and now that it comes in colors other than silver it offers a vivid palette for artists, fashion designers and craftspeople in their creations and projects.
In fact, duct tape DIY has become a cultural phenomenon — the Internet has exploded with duct tape art sites, forums and blogs. Indeed, the 25 projects that follow in these pages are a testament to the tape’s versatility and style and are shown in step-by-step fashion so you too, armed with a few rolls, tools and some basic rip and fold moves, can master the sticky stuff and become a duct tape sensei!
Duct Tape History
Duct tape was invented for the U.S. military by the cool-sounding Revolite Corporation (then a division of Johnson & Johnson) in 1942. Originally designed to seal ammunition cases, the tape was tough, durable and fantastically water-resistant and was promptly enlisted to repair anything that was broken, including jeeps, firearms and aircraft.
Because the adhesive tape had a canvas (or duck cloth) backing and repelled water like certain feathered fowl, it was quickly dubbed “duck” tape by WWII soldiers. Somewhere along the way (where exactly is a hotly debated topic amongst duct tape historians) there was a gloss from “duck” to “duct” tape. This is odd as the tape is rarely used on ducts — in fact many building codes forbid it for this use!
Now Duck®Tape is a brand of duct tape.
The utilitarian effectiveness of duct tape meant the humble gun-metal silver roll would find its way into toolkits in practically every profession and home around the world, and today it is known as “gaffer tape,” “racer tape,” “riggers’
tape” or “100-mph tape” (it was used to balance helicopter blades in the Vietnam War), and is regularly used where something absolutely positively needs to be taped down for good.
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Duct