Does duct tape work in the heat?

[belfert]

I used duct tape to tape plastic over the sides of my bus as the windows are out.  I did this about two weeks ago and now that it is hot, all of the duct tape has come offf.

Is this normal for duct tape?  I used Scotch brand duct tape that was newly purchased.  I bought some Scotch outdoor duct tape, but not sure it will work any better.

Brian Elfert

[Dallas]

Brian,

I've used all kinds of Duct Tape and have found variations in all of it.

I just tore some off the side of a camper that had been there for at least a couple of years, and it still didn't want to let go.

You might try buying some HVAC tape, that is, if you aren't too picky about how your paint looks when you skin the tape back off again.
That stuff will rip paint skin, hair or just about anything else it comes into contact with.

Good Luck!

Dallas

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Brian,

Dallas is right, There is a world of difference in the duct tape you get in a hardware store, compared to the real stuff you

can buy in a HVAC supply house! The stuff I buy has to withstand extreme temps in attic's. Also, we never use duct tape to

mechanicly fasten flex or boots. Only to seal them!

Nick-

[belfert]

I don't want anything permanent.  It just needs to last a few weeks and not destroy the paint during removal if I can help it.

Brian Elfert

[gumpy]

If you don't want to ruin the paint, I wouldn't recommend duct tape. It will leave a residue that is nearly impossible to get off without chemicals which could damage the paint.

Been there, done that. Run of the mill duct tape does not stick in the heat and rain. Duck brand is the best I've found, but haven't found it locally. But even it didn't hold my plastic well.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Guy's

I used clear packing tape when I temp. covered my windows

Nick-

[82 MCI-9]

i had the same problem when i tried to cover up my windows but i live in the desert so when it hit 102 any kind of duct tape pretty much just melted right of.
So i went and bought a rv cover and covered it up but i wouldnt suggest this either because now after my roof raising it looks like a pretty exspensive rag

[Barn Owl]

If you get the wrong kind of adhesive stuck to your bus you could be in for a lot of extra tedious work. The longer the tape stays on usually the worse it gets. To bad there is not some other way to do it. If your bus is steel could you use some type of magnets? Like the ones out of an old refrigerator door. I have no idea what I’m talking about, but I’m just throwing this out there. Good luck!

[ceieio]

Brian - I am doing the same thing right now and believe it or not, blue painters tape is holding the plastic on my bus just fine!  It varies from hot to rain here in a given week (77 and showers today, 90's this weekend) and the tape is holding up.

Craig - MC7 Oregon

[DrivingMissLazy]

After several weeks, masking tape would be impossible to remove. I would suspect that the blue painters masking tape would have similar characteristics.
Richard

Brian - I am doing the same thing right now and believe it or not, blue painters tape is holding the plastic on my bus just fine!  It varies from hot to rain here in a given week (77 and showers today, 90's this weekend) and the tape is holding up.

Craig - MC7 Oregon

[belfert]

If you get the wrong kind of adhesive stuck to your bus you could be in for a lot of extra tedious work. The longer the tape stays on usually the worse it gets. To bad there is not some other way to do it. If your bus is steel could you use some type of magnets? Like the ones out of an old refrigerator door. I have no idea what I’m talking about, but I’m just throwing this out there. Good luck!

I already spent 45 minutes cleaning off duct tape adhesive residue from just 10 feet or so.  The bus is aluminum skinned, so no magnets.

Brian Elfert

[gumpy]

I finally ended up buying a huge tarp at Northern and a spool of poly rope which I used to tie the tarp around the bus. You can get more eyelets to install in the tarp, since they don't put very many in to begin with.

[WEC4104]

I have had good success using the line of products called "Goof Off" to remove gummy adhesive residue from surfaces. It is a solvent that kinda reminds me of lighter fluid. Works well for removing stubborn price stickers. I think it is made by Valspar.  You would need to be careful with painted surfaces however, and test it first in a hidden location.

[belfert]

I finally ended up buying a huge tarp at Northern and a spool of poly rope which I used to tie the tarp around the bus. You can get more eyelets to install in the tarp, since they don't put very many in to begin with.

This was my original idea, but a tarp big enough was like $50 so I went with the $15 worth of tape and plastic.

It looks like a tarp is really my best option.  I had forgotten all about a tarp.

Brian Elfert

[niles500]

'Gorilla tape' available at some ACE Hardware stores