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Best electrical tape for engine bay wiring. Cheap stuff sucks

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Old 06-17-2012, 11:02 PM
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Default Best electrical tape for engine bay wiring. Cheap stuff sucks

I'm trying to clean up some harness wiring and the crappy stuff from Lowes just comes off. I wrap it tight and just sitting in the garage is slowly comes off. Trying to find some good OEM type stuff. About to order from McMaster so if they have the good stuff please tell me which one, there are several kinds.
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Old 06-17-2012, 11:12 PM
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never had regular electric tape "just come off" before, not sure on that one.
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Old 06-17-2012, 11:21 PM
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3M Temflex
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Old 06-18-2012, 12:47 AM
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Use a dry vinyl tape, like this stuff http://www.rjminjectiontech.com/products/harness-wrap
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Old 06-18-2012, 12:49 AM
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The most expensive 3m tape at lowes/home depot whatever. There reallly is a difference in quality bethween their cheapest stuff and expensive stuf.

But really,

self sealing electrical tape bitch
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Old 06-18-2012, 12:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Faeflora
There reallly is a difference in quality bethween their cheapest stuff and expensive stuf.
Indeed. Whodathunkit. The expensive stuff is thicker and therefor stronger, it has better adhesive that holds much better and doesn't turn sticky and gummy over time.
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Old 06-18-2012, 10:13 AM
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self-fusing silicone tape will never come off or melt or get gooey.

you can get it at mcmaster-carr.

baller. that's what it is.
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Old 06-18-2012, 10:46 AM
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Is that what it is called on McMaster? I'll order that. It is the stuff that won't come undone even if I wanted it to?
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Old 06-18-2012, 11:00 AM
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It is also expensive IIRC.
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Old 06-18-2012, 11:47 AM
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Originally Posted by Reverant
It is also expensive IIRC.
just put a dollar into your piggy bank every time you get slimy electrical tape goo on your hands and you'll have enough to buy it very soon.
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Old 06-18-2012, 12:33 PM
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This is the stuff: http://www.mcmaster.com/#electrical-...g-tape/=i16fkh
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Old 06-18-2012, 12:58 PM
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Originally Posted by y8s
just put a dollar into your piggy bank every time you get slimy electrical tape goo on your hands and you'll have enough to buy it very soon.
I'm by no means cheap, but at $18 per roll (even more expensive over here) it will take about 2 years of working on my to justify its price.
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Old 06-18-2012, 01:02 PM
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McMaster isn't the best price by any stretch. Just giving you a place to start. A web search should reveal much cheaper places to buy it.
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Old 06-18-2012, 03:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Reverant
I'm by no means cheap, but at $18 per roll (even more expensive over here) it will take about 2 years of working on my to justify its price.
I just like that it works and it's silicone so the temperature under the hood, near the exhaust, whatever is never an issue.
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Old 06-19-2012, 10:29 AM
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It's not that expensive if you know where to buy it. $12 for this roll:

1inch x 12yard silicone self fusing tape from Uline.
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Old 06-19-2012, 12:02 PM
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Originally Posted by rleete
Do I want the stuff that has a flat cross section, or the stuff that's thicker in the middle ("triangular")?
http://www.mcmaster.com/#electrical-...g-tape/=i1ojm0
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Old 06-19-2012, 12:46 PM
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I wonder if the Harbor Freight analog of this product is worth anything?

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-x-10-...ape-68401.html

Like most things at HF, it is exceedingly cheap. Surprisingly, however, some web searching has turned up relatively positive reviews. (And who bothers to write a review for a roll of tape, anyway?)

The traditional electrician's tapes that HF sells are total garbage, but for $3.99, I'm tempted to drop in and pick up a roll the next time I'm nearby.
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Old 06-19-2012, 01:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Joe Perez
I wonder if the Harbor Freight analog of this product is worth anything?

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-x-10-...ape-68401.html

Like most things at HF, it is exceedingly cheap. Surprisingly, however, some web searching has turned up relatively positive reviews. (And who bothers to write a review for a roll of tape, anyway?)

The traditional electrician's tapes that HF sells are total garbage, but for $3.99, I'm tempted to drop in and pick up a roll the next time I'm nearby.
I have 3 or 4 rolls of that HF tape. It is decent as long as you do not stretch it out to much. If you stretch it to thin then it will come undone if it rubs against things. At $4 a roll instead of $10+ elsewhere it is worth being cheap.
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Old 06-19-2012, 02:07 PM
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Originally Posted by JasonC SBB
Do I want the stuff that has a flat cross section, or the stuff that's thicker in the middle ("triangular")?
http://www.mcmaster.com/#electrical-...g-tape/=i1ojm0
I wouldn't know, never having used it myself. I always use shrink tubing whenever I can, and avoid using tape because it tends to get nasty over time.
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Old 06-19-2012, 02:33 PM
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Originally Posted by JasonC SBB
Do I want the stuff that has a flat cross section, or the stuff that's thicker in the middle ("triangular")?
http://www.mcmaster.com/#electrical-...g-tape/=i1ojm0
I use triangular. In theory it maintains a constant thickness as you wrap.
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