Product Description

This clear duct tape makes repairs less obvious, yet still withstands extreme temperatures and harsh UV rays. Even though the tape is heavy-duty, it still tears easily by hand, both lengthwise and crosswise. The durable design lasts six-times longer than other heavy-duty duct tapes. Plus, it can be used on a variety of surfaces, including plastic, wood, glass, metal, vinyl and rubber. Global Product Type: Tapes, Tape Type: Duct, Adhesive Material: N/A, Tape Special Feature: Removable.

---

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #592 in Home Improvement
• Color: Clear
• Brand: 3M
• Model: 2120
• Published on: 2009-01-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 5.00" h x 4.00" w x 5.00" l, .42 pounds

Features

• Recommended Applications: Discretely repairing household items such as, Patio Furniture
• Children's Toys
• Decorations
• Home electronics
• Strong enough to tackle almost any repair project in or around the home, vehicle, boat, or job site
• Can be used on plastic, wood, glass, metal, vinyl and rubber.
• Clear color makes repairs less obvious.
• Lasts six times longer than other heavy-duty duct tapes.
• Tears easily by hand lengthwise and crosswise.
• Withstands extreme temperatures and harsh UV rays.

Amazon.com Review
It's not often the word revolutionary can be associated with duct tape, that old, sticky standby used in plumbing repairs, hockey stick augmentation, and homeland security protection. By getting the gray out--and avoiding the "sore thumb" look of typical duct tape repairs--3M's Scotch Transparent Duct Tape can indeed lay claim to a revolution of the toolbox. But seeing through it is just the start. This duct tape can be easily torn by hand, is UV resistant, and, through accelerated weathering tests, has been shown to last six times longer than its old-school namesake.

Duct tape has been around since 1942 when the military needed a waterproof tape for sealing ammunition boxes. Originally colored green, it was referred to as "duck tape" due to its moisture resistance as well as its cotton duck construction--the same ribbed cloth used in bandages. After the war, it was adopted by contractors working in the booming housing industry, where it got its "duct" name for easily connecting heating and air conditioning ducts.

History's fine, but what can 3M's new, clear duct tape do for us? Virtually anything. First, we noticed its powerful stickiness--the roll itself adheres to just about any surface when laid on its side. As advertised, the tape was easily torn from the roll by hand with minimal force. 3M also seems to have ironed out one of the biggest complaints about duct tape: wrinkles. In our testing, we applied it repeatedly and evenly without the tape sticking to itself and without creating odd bumps and creases. And while the tape is rather sticky, it doesn't go overboard, easily lifting off surfaces when we needed it to and not leaving the tacky, viscous residue often found with other duct tapes.

As for its transparency, the tape blended well into just about any surface we applied it to. It was never "invisible" but did have the chameleon-like quality of reflecting the surface beneath it and only calling attention to itself when caught in direct light. Also, we placed bands of the tape over our computer monitor before writing this review (don't try this at home, kids). Peering through the fabric ribs was a nuisance, but we were able to compose the description you're now reading. How's that for transparency?

Our only complaint is that, as with most transparent tapes, finding where to start peeling the roll can be difficult. While this certainly isn't a showstopper, we did find a solution: mounting the roll onto a tape gun.

Tape, by its nature, is not a terribly exciting product (or topic). But 3M's Scotch Transparent Duct Tape is truly a tipping-point entrant, one that may someday become ubiquitous and banish gray duct tape to the nether reaches of our tool sheds, and memories. --Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

• Transparent, easily blends into the surface background
• Easily torn from the roll with minimal force
• Sticky, but not too sticky
• Adheres smoothly without wrinkles or creases

Cons:

• So transparent that finding where to start peeling the roll can be difficult

From the Manufacturer
3M 2120A Scotch??? Transparent Duct Tape makes your repair less obvious. It will not fall apart in extreme temperatures or harsh UV conditions like other all-purpose duct tapes.

---

Customer Reviews

One of the best things ever, made better
Everyone knows how useful a roll of duct tape is. But did you ever think how much more useful it would be if it didn't look so lousy? (I wish I had! Doh!)

They've had different color duct tape for a while - the white was handy for a lot of things. But that doesn't quite do it, and they don't make every color, and I'm not going to buy every color!

But the clear tape is almost like having a roll of every color - since it (somewhat) blends into whatever you use it for. So go ahead and use it on your running shoes, your childrens' books (to repair the spine or stick down the popups again), and so many other new uses.

I can't vouch that it lasts as long outside as they claim it does (6x longer). And it is expensive - this is just 20 yards. So as mentioned, when you're taping up ducts in the basement, you're still probably going to want to use silver duct tape.

The Amazon description above is pretty accurate and useful, if you want more info. By the way, to find the end ... just run your fingernail around the roll, you can feel the end. The tape is thick enough that works well enough.

For a few bucks, everyone should have a roll of this at home, you'll find a hundred ways to use it. Maybe not on ducts. Or ducks. But you'll use it.

Close To Transparent?
I purchased this duct tape to seal up the gap in my bedroom window, due to installing a portable air conditioner. I didn't want to have to take out the window adapter in the Winter, because it took so long to get it into my window in the first place.

So, I had to think of a way to keep out as much air as possible. You would think buying a $400 room air conditioner, that it would come with everything you need, but it doesn't. So, I decided that maybe duct tape would work. A friend of mine told me, when in doubt use duct tape. This was my FIRST duct tape purchase!

I purchased this due to the reviews, and wanting duct tape that was as invisible as possible. I guess considering the myriad of colors duct tape now comes in, this duct tape is probably as invisible as it gets, but it isn't totally invisible, or as invisible as I would like it to be.

To me, seeing tape, period, is kind of tacky. It is alittle hard to start the roll, and the tape is really sticky. I found it hard to cut. I put a flag, you know, like a note tab, to hold the tape, so I won't need to find where the roll starts again.

I still have alot of the tape left. It is kind of pricey, at $7.30 a roll, but I wanted to get a well known brand, and as invisible duct tape as I could, so I guess that costs more. Iam hoping this tape is good for weather related conditions, such as heat and cold. I guess I will have to see! As this is something I will rarely purchase, I think it was worth the price I paid.

Good stuff, 20yards of mostly transparent duct tape
First the transparent part, it blends pretty well on most items I've used it on. So this is especially good for repairing stuff around the house. It's much more expensive than the regular duct tape, so I'd save it for cosmetic fixes. It's quite useful for small plastic trim pieces in older cars. Blends in pretty well and holds well.

The duct tape part, well, it claims to last 6x as long as traditional duct tape (the package says "based on accelerated aging tests"). I don't verify the factor of six, but the tape does seem to hold up pretty well.

If you need a roll of duct tape for cosmetic work, then this is your tool of choice.

Consider also the very small, <$2 rolls for a single project.