View Full Version : Gaffers Tape
A while back I posted a message about not wanting to use the new camera for fear of wear and tear and someone mentioned gaffers tape on the corners and such.
Can anyone share their experiences with using gaffers tape on a black body?
It sounds like a great solution, I just wanted to hear some feedback.
Thanks,
anglophone1
11-03-2005, 12:13
I cover all logos with gaffer or black electrical tape as a matter of course[see my avatar]. Youwould be amazed at
a] How neutral and "inexpensive" they then look from a"theft" point of iew.
b] The human eye automatically focuses on and reads the written word, if there isn't a wriien word chances are taht your subjects eye will move on instead of reading "Nikon" , "Canon", "Leica" etc. and saying "hey !"
c] Black finishes always wear, tape can be replaced.
Why advertise you have expensive stuff, same goes for horrid necxkstraps with lurid red or yellow brand names on..........................
Try it and see, what have you got to lose, it certinly won't hurt your camera!
Anybody used tape on a Contax G?
Paul
parks5920
11-03-2005, 13:35
I find that using gaffers tape over my eye lids really helps me focus my 'inner eye' that I use for all photography. Sometimes I like to wrap my entire camera in two or three rolls of tape, that way it is utterly impossible to tell what the hell it is.
One observation- I've seen an camera body that had gaffers tape left on it for a long period of time and the adhesive dried out and solidified to the body. Pulling the tape off took off only the cloth backing. I use gaffers tape to keep track of what kind of film is in a camera, but I wouldn't leave it on for a extended period.
Only my dos pesos.
Brian Sweeney
11-03-2005, 13:46
Just buy a fitted case for it!
I got a Nikon S2 Black Dial off of Ebay a few years ago, described as EX+. Great price, ended during the last quarter of the Super Bowl. When I got it, had black electrical tape near the accessory shot. Okay, that covers a huge dent I thought. Took it off, the tape had saved it from the usual slide marks. It was perfect. I leave it off and keep it in a case.
To get rid of dried tape, dab it with WD-40 or some other light weight oil. Don't spray it on the camera for heaven's sake. Spray some in the cap and use a swab or toothpick to transfer it to the tape. Leave it alone for a day and it will wipe off with ease.
A week ago I bought a roll of black gaffers tape. Everytime I pick it up to put it on my M I cringe. But I'll do it eventually. If only to keep the drool off of it.
parks5920
11-03-2005, 15:11
I find putting my GSN in a shoe box full of feathers and then using 9 rolls of duct tape to seal it very soothing!
ducttape
11-03-2005, 15:40
One observation- I've seen an camera body that had gaffers tape left on it for a long period of time and the adhesive dried out and solidified to the body. Pulling the tape off took off only the cloth backing. I use gaffers tape to keep track of what kind of film is in a camera, but I wouldn't leave it on for a extended period.
Only my dos pesos.
You gotta stop using poor quality gaffers :)
Polyken 511 is a lower tack adhesive that not only shouldn't leave residue on your camera, it shouldn't really be used at all. The stuff sucks.
Polyken 510 has an aggressive adhesive and it is made to come up clean. I've had mine on my M7 for I think 3 years now, and no problems. Plus, I usually leave a spare piece on the top because I never know what I'll have to tape over sometimes.
Point being, ask for a good quality, name brand tape when you buy it. Gaffers is now being made in Korea too, and low end is, well, low end.
Additionally, as a sleep well at night, Polyken is owned by Tyco Adhesives, which is owned by Tyco, which seems to own the entire business world. (Take Your Company Over-TYCO) While I am sure there is some caveat someplace, I don't think they would want the world knowing their tape ruins expensive equipment. Not a good brand recognition move.
BTW, the price of this stuff is becoming disgustingly expensive. Increases in Jan and March of this year, and 2 back to back 5% increase, November 1 and November 17th. If you are going to buy it, it isn't going to get any cheaper.
To get rid of dried tape, dab it with WD-40 or some other light weight oil. Don't spray it on the camera for heaven's sake. Spray some in the cap and use a swab or toothpick to transfer it to the tape. Leave it alone for a day and it will wipe off with ease.
A week ago I bought a roll of black gaffers tape. Everytime I pick it up to put it on my M I cringe. But I'll do it eventually. If only to keep the drool off of it.
BESTINE works good too with glue. You can get those from art stores.
I haven't seen GAffer's tape dry up like that.
Are you guys buying real gaffer's tape or something like ductape? Gaffer's tape is pretty expensive stuff and I've never had glue residue from it.
Todd.Hanz
11-03-2005, 15:46
I use gaffers tape over my Leica logos then paint "Canon" over that, I find my cameras don't get stolen anymore... :confused:
(sorry Joe) :D
Todd
back alley
11-03-2005, 15:49
et tu brute?
parks5920
11-03-2005, 16:12
I put a Leica logo over the Playskool logo on my kids "My First Camera", it's amazing how much better the picture quality is now!
Frank Granovski
11-03-2005, 16:26
:angel: No one thinks my CL is special. However, Gaffers tape would be a good idea for the G2 and the GSN. My FM2T doesn't need it because it has a Canon strap on it. ;)
parks5920
11-03-2005, 16:33
Good call on the Canon strap! :D
I use Gaffer Tape all the time. Not sure of the brand but its the one that stage folks used I have been told. Dont use duct tape! As others have mentioned, Gaffer Tape is expensive. I pay around US$30 for a complete roll. No residue at all even in high humidity Singapore.
JoeFriday
11-03-2005, 18:30
my company buys gaffer tape by the box.. about 30 rolls at a time.. it's funny how one or two rolls always end up in my car.. no idea how that happens
wow, such experts on gaffers tape!
I buy my tape at B and H.
They have it in the lighting equipment section and I never thought it was cheap,
although I never asked where it came from or what the model number was.
I'll do that..
Bestine does work well.
Is gaffer's tape the same as electrician's tape?
Dont think so but I could be wrong. I thought electrician's tape is more like duct tape. The gaffer tape that I have is more cloth like.
Is gaffer's tape the same as electrician's tape?
Electrician's tape is "plastic" of some kind, it stretches, and is generally not as good as gaffer's tape.
Gaffer's tape is not easy to come by in these parts, as I recently discovered.
I needed to repair several large format (4x5) film holders, which have a "hinge" on the bottom, consisting of (adhesive or just glued on) black cloth. Several of older holders I got leaked light through this material, and I got recommendations to just use gaffer's tape.
Now, from what I understand, gaffer's tape is kind of (rubberized?, impregnated?) adhesive cloth tape that usually comes in wide rolls (about 5cm or so?).
I managed to find a substitute in a local BauMaXX store (Austrian/German variant of Home Depot) - it is a Tesa brand, and is 38mm wide. Comes in 2.5 meter roll length, and costs about 5-6 EUR per roll. It was a perfect substitute for the original cloth hinges on my film holders :) I just taped it over the old tape....
If you need more info, it's Tesa Gewebeband, prod. code 56343 (it says on the packaging "Extra stark, Wetterfest")....
Denis
Thanks!
Denis -- Right now I'm using some sort of electrician's tape (Isolierband) to cover up the frameline window of my M3. Is this a bad idea?
I've used electricians tape to cover the logos on my cameras and had no problem removing it. Got my Oly ECR covered in it! Never tried Gaffer tape but would expect that being a cloth type tape would also give a little extra grip to some of the more shiny/slippery camera bodies. BTW just type in gaffer tape on Ebay and see the number of items that come up. Looking at those it seems no-one can decide which is the true gaffer tape as they all seem to differ.
Paul
ducttape
11-04-2005, 02:31
Both electrical and gaffers use a rubber adhesive. Electrical, costing under 2 bits right out of the orient, tends to be cheap adhesive. Make it stick, make lots of it, make it cheap. Gaffers, on the other hand, is litterally 10 times the price. Plus, the applications are different. Electrical gets put on, and stays on. Gaffers frequently has to be removed (and, removed residue free.)
FYI, gaffers if more of a cloth surface. Duct is the polyethylene surface. Shiny. The gaffers is matt because it can't reflect light, ie, used in the theaters.
B&H pays under $10 a roll for gaffers. I'm not sure of their margins, but a regular, I-don't-buy-a-lot house pays just shy of $15, so the stuff should cost under $20US anywhere here in the states.
Again, gaffers is the way to go, short of grinding the logos off.
Does this look like the right stuff?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7559368184&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1
My lens is on the way!
Thanks!
Denis -- Right now I'm using some sort of electrician's tape (Isolierband) to cover up the frameline window of my M3. Is this a bad idea?
Electrician's tape could leave some residue/gunk which might be have to be cleaned afterwards.
Covering the frameline window? You mean the window which lights up the framelines? Why would you cover it? Then you wouldn't see the framelines and the RF patch! How do you focus then?
Anyway, a quick illustration - the photo below shows the ordinary (smaller) roll of "Isolierband" (electrician's PVC tape), and a (larger) roll of the Tessa tape I mentioned above. Hopefully, you'll be able to see the texture of the Tessa (gaffers) tape...
Denis
Pherdinand
11-04-2005, 03:45
It really cracks me up when I see something like this, someone buying one of the most expensive cameras out there and then sticks some tape on it for various reasons (to protect it, to hide red dot, to fix something)
sorry, but why would you want to protect it with gaffers tape??a safebox is much more effective.
Maybe i think so because i've never owned a Leica...
I pretty much prefer taffers tape myself.
bmattock
11-04-2005, 04:36
et tu brute?
No, ah et three. Tu ain't enuff.
Best Regards,
Brute
I imagine I'll get over the sticker shock at some point...
It really cracks me up when I see something like this, someone buying one of the most expensive cameras out there and then sticks some tape on it for various reasons (to protect it, to hide red dot, to fix something)
sorry, but why would you want to protect it with gaffers tape??a safebox is much more effective.
Maybe i think so because i've never owned a Leica...
Go here (http://www.mcmaster.com/) and enter gaffers tape in the find box. It'll tell you more than you want to know about the tape. I ordered 7612A92 which is made by polyken.
They're not a retailer so you would have to order through your job or open a business account. But it's a good source of information.
Great info Nick,
Thanks - I just ordered a few rolls from them.
Go here (http://www.mcmaster.com/) and enter gaffers tape in the find box. It'll tell you more than you want to know about the tape. I ordered 7612A92 which is made by polyken.
They're not a retailer so you would have to order through your job or open a business account. But it's a good source of information.
ducttape
11-04-2005, 13:35
And should someone be interested... I'm not a retailer either but I have 500 rolls of Polyken 510 in Olive Drab I can't get rid of.
Didn't Leica make a Safari Green once?
And should someone be interested... I'm not a retailer either but I have 500 rolls of Polyken 510 in Olive Drab I can't get rid of.
Didn't Leica make a Safari Green once?
Try a hunter's forum. They use tape to mask shiny metal parts on guns when hunting, esp. turkey.
Frank Granovski
11-04-2005, 15:36
Electrician's tape is "plastic" of some kind, it stretches, and is generally not as good as gaffer's tape.
I agree. However, I have black electrician's tape covering the metal thingies of my Leica CL's $1 strap, to keep the holy body from becoming un-pristine. :D
richard_l
11-04-2005, 17:00
I like high quality black masking tape, like http://www.dickblick.com/zz230/29/
Denis - yes, good photo!
Pherdinand - I want to use a 40mm Rokkor on my M3, taking the entire viewfinder as a 40mm FOV. The 50mm lines, which are always on, are distracting, so I want a quick method of turning them on and off without damaging the camera's finish. By the way, my user M3 was a lot cheaper than a user Canon P or Bessa R3a, which were the cameras I'd originally considered. Being the most common M, it's the one that goes overlooked by collectors, who are to blame for raising the prices beyond reason. Flawless except for a few chips in the Vulcanite and "light meter" marks on the top plate, it cost less than many a black Minolta 7sII body + CLA. Certainly less than your average plastic digital point and shoot off the assembly line. And it won't lose value quite as fast, either. :D
Nobody mentioned the most important!
Duct tape is like the force, it has a light side, a dark side and it holds the universe together!
Duct Tape (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duct_tape)
Gaffer Tape (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaffer_tape)
Wikipedia to the rescue :)
Can I get gaffers tape from home depot?
Be careful of some versions of the black gaffers tape... I have had it do exactly what folks expect it not to... leave a tough black residue on the camera body that needed windex or 409 and some tough scrubbing to get off.
I use high quality 3M electrical tape now... it may leave a slight residue, but one that rolls off in your fingers.
Gaffer's tape is special purpose tape used by "gaffers," the people that set up lighting in motion picture shoots.
It's not available in hardware stores: get it from a motion picture equipment rental or dealer. It's probably not the right tape for repairing bellows because it's specifically designed to be readily removable (unlike duct tape).
It looks like duct tape but it's quite different: The adhesive is strong, but it's specifically designed to peel off walls and furniture (to which a light may have been taped) without doing damage to the paint/varnish/veneer.
Gaffer's tape is fairly expensive...and since it's easily removed it is sometimes re-used.
Can I get gaffers tape from home depot?
I doubt it. Most photo shops don't even carry it. The usual suspects have them. B&H, Adorama, Calumet. Ain't cheap. About $30 bucks a roll. But they are really worth it. It sticky, holds great, and doesn't leave residue. When I assisted, I had a bunch tied to my waist ready for action.
Go here (http://www.mcmaster.com/) and enter gaffers tape in the find box. It'll tell you more than you want to know about the tape. I ordered 7612A92 which is made by polyken... I have a roll of Polyken 7612A92, thinking about using it on a couple black camera bodies. From your experience, does it leave any residue after a while? - thanks!
This sure looks like a dead horse - subject... oh well..
Hey Andy,
I recently took some off of a camera after being there about a year. It came off easily and didn't leave goo behind like electrical tape. However, I could see where it had been even if it was very subtle. I took a little bit of thin oil on a cloth and rubbed the spot and it removed all traces.
You gotta stop using poor quality gaffers :)
I agree here! Good gaffer's tape is expensive. I've takent that stuff off after YEARS of use and barely any residue.
Hey Andy,
I recently took some off of a camera after being there about a year. It came off easily and didn't leave goo behind like electrical tape. However, I could see where it had been even if it was very subtle. I took a little bit of thin oil on a cloth and rubbed the spot and it removed all traces. Hi Nick, this is just what was hoping to hear - thanks a bunch, this really helps.
Planet earth is calling, where are you guys? Thiefs come in two divisions, proffs and non proffs. The proff will know exactly what camera is it, no matter how much tape you put on it, and they will steal it if the opportunity is given, and the non proff will steal any camera if the opportunity is given, so stop act like a complete idiot, the tape isnīt going to save your camera... You are!
I just like totally black bodies, is all..
I just like totally black bodies, is all..
Paint them black...
Stephanie Brim
10-06-2006, 13:12
Um...some people don't use gaffer's tape only as a means to deter thieves...it's also a handy way to prevent brassing and light reflecting off the camera if it's a chrome body. It's also much cheaper than just painting them black.
oh, look. this thread is granovski approved! :D
And the question is: "How do good threads go bad?"
Post deleted by posters request
oh, look. this thread is granovski approved! :D
Actually, the whole idea is!:D
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