> Scotch Super 33 tape is great stuff, but Scotch Super 88 is
> even better-
> it's thicker, has a better adhesive, and it has better UV
> resistance. Cloth
> tape, AKA "friction tape", should be pitched into a trash can.
I haven't had friction tape in years. I remember finding rolls of it in my
dad's toolbox when I was a kid, and always wondered why anyone would use it
instead of regular electrical tape. Maybe some of you old-timers could
comment on the reason for its existance and intended purpose. Was it just a
precursor to today's plastic electrical tape, or did it have some other
definitive purpose, maybe specific to cloth-insulated electrical wiring?
While we're talking about tapes, somewhat off-topic, but repeater-related
nonetheless. Decibel attaches their harnesses to the mast using a filament
tape for strength, topped with an aluminum tape for UV protection. At one
time, Decibel sold these tapes as replacement parts, but Andrew (since
buying Decibel) no longer sells them (at least my distributor couldn't find
them in the current price sheet). Silly me lost the 3M part numbers for the
tapes, so I had to re-research them last week to order more since I ran out.
For those that are interested:
3M 890 - Black polyester-backed glass filament tape. Original Decibel part
was 12mm width, which seems hard to find. I was able to order 18mm width in
small quantity from RS Hughes (www.rshughes.com). To order the 12mm part,
no distributor I could find would sell small quantities, only by the case.
3M 425 - Aluminum foil tape, 4.6 mil, UV/outdoor rated. Available from
U-line (www.uline.com) in various widths (3/4" is what Decibel used).
--- Jeff WN3A
