New Uses For Duct Tape?

When I worked as a canoe guide in Northern Minnesota's Boudary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, my most indispensable repair item was a roll of duct-tape. In the middle of the wilderness, I patched canoes, repaired shoes, fishing rods, and even closed hatchet gashes with it.

At the time, I had no idea I was ten years ahead of the marketing curve.

The original use of duct tape was to provide a waterproof membrane to keep WWII ammo cases waterproof. Fifty years later, people are still coming up with creative ways to use the product.

From my hometown rag, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune today:


Even tough guys get boo-boos. Now they can fix their nicked knuckles with a new 3M bandage made of real duct tape and medical-grade adhesive.

Christine Pedginski, a 3M Co. marketing manager, said the company discovered that plumbers, carpenters and other workers routinely slapped duct tape on minor wounds.

The new bandage is about 20 percent longer than a standard model, the better to fit big hands and gnarly fingers. Despite its macho appeal, Pedginski said marketing tests showed that women liked it as much as men did.


Can you imagine life without post-it pads or duct tape? St. Paul-based Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M)is the company that originally created and marketed both products.

In Canada, Red Green popularized the many uses of duct tape, and a mosiac of the Canadian Icon can be seen at the Canadian 3M duct tape gallery:

Take A Tour Here:

What novel uses can you come up with for duct tape? Your responses will be documented for posterity here at the Poutine Diaries, in the event of future patent lawsuits.