I’m not a sporty lad. So I was clueless about hockey tape until Rob Cosman wrapped some around my fretsaw’s handle many years ago.
The high-friction tape is a lot like gaffer’s tape. Heck – it might be a different version of gaffer’s tape. It sticks to stuff quite well. And it offers a grippy exterior.
Earlier this year I wrapped all our clamp handles with the stuff (it’s inexpensive) to see if it improved our grip. Many of our clamp handles are slick painted wood. And when my hands are wet from cleaning up glue, it can be difficult to get a good grip on a slick wooden handle.
I am happy to report that the hockey tape greatly improved things, even when my hands were wet.
If you want to become an aficionado of hockey tape, check out Cosman’s website. He has a special way to wrap the tape that makes the grip even grippier.
Also, the stuff is cheap. I bought a package of six rolls of the Ruban brand of hockey tape for about $20. I wrapped all our clamp handles and still have three rolls left. Been thinking about wrapping the tail of the next cat that pees on my coffeemaker….
— Christopher Schwarz
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Occupational Therapists (in Australia) use D3Tape, a cohesive bandage compression wrap available in supermarkets. It iss great for wrapping tool handles to aid grip and also by successive wrapping, to significantly bulk up handles, such as scalpel holders for marking and cutting. I also use the tape for tennis racquet handles. Doesn’t unravel (for years).
I think you are describing the stuff rural Americans call horse bandage or vet wrap? Sticks well to itself, but does not stick to your arm hairs? If so, it is readily available in the US, but much cheaper when marketed for livestock than for people. We always have several rolls around
Absolutely vet wrap, I work at a barn a stones throw from the District of Columbia, barn was built in the 30’s before the neighborhood got fancy
I played hockey as a kid, but had completely forgotten about hockey tape until I saw Rob use it. Rob spins the tape to make a rope, then taping over it. Worked great when trying to hold the end of a stick with bulky gloves on. Great addition!
From Wikipedia “Kopi luwak is a coffee that consists of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet” you could be onto something! I’m not drinkinking though. Love the string/rope wrapped stuff with raised knots
Chris, if you decide to market that special blend, i suggest calling it “Urine for a Treat” fresh browned coffee
I’ve tried using (probably cheap) athletic-like fabric tape for various things around the house (baby stroller) and found it to be incredibly tacky on the outside and leaves residue on your hands. Is this the case with hockey tape? Am I doing it wrong? Was it just crappy tape?
Hockey tape does not do that. I have tool handles that were wrapped 15 years ago and I’ve had no problems with it.
I can tell you what DOESN’T work… Bicycle inner tube slipped over the handles. It’s just as slippery as the paint.
With the taste of coffee, how could anyone tell if a cat peed on the machine?
You’re not a coffee person?
There’s a shortage of freshwater in this world. Polluting it with coffee goes against my religion.
Coffee is gross.
The micro tacky tennis handle grip wraps work well too.
Not as durable as hockey tape but easy to swap out.
May be a good option for people that don’t like a really bulky tape.
https://www.amazon.com/Tennis-Racket-Wrap-Tape/s?k=Tennis+Racket+Wrap+Tape
Hockey tape has become an industry unto itself.
https://howieshockeytape.com/collections/all
We had something similar for our tennis racket handles when I was playing tennis. Might find it at a sporting goods store. Not sure how pricing would compare.
There are actually two different types of hockey tape. One yet sticky type that is used on the blades to give traction to the puck when shooting. This is actually an electricians product that was used to seal connections and is really inexpensive and available at most any big bow or hardware store in the electrician section. And the other is typically what we use to tape ankles and to hold up socks and shin guards. This is a cloth Luther that is sticky one one side but can give grip to the upper area of the stick. It does not leave residue. You can find it in the first aide section of most any drug type store.
Both of these can be ordered in larger quantities from places like Amazon. Actually good to have both on hand.
Another good thing is to put one wrap, then pull off an appropriate length and twist into a cord then spiral around the top to make finger grips and complete wrapping in the opposite direction to cover and hold these ribs in place. For this I would use the clutch faced version. It will absorb some water and give you a nice grip but not leave residue on your hands.
Lol, if you really want to mess with the cat, put tape on the bottom of their paws…
That’s a good way to find poop in your shoes.
Would you really poop
In his shoes?
Pictures, or it didn’t happen…
Push a bicycle handle bar grip down over the wood clamp handle. A shopmate came up with this and everybody borrows his clamps. Makes a comfortable larger secure grip that’s easy on overworked hands. $5 for a pair.
If you like the black tape, then you should order the shin pad tape. Best elastic clamp you can get for holding small pieces in place while gluing.
Dunno, I think that prize went to Saran Wrap a while ago…
The defining feature of actual gaffer’s tape is that it doesn’t leave sticky residue behind.
It’s also usually mat black in color, and tears easily.
Genuine Gaffer’s tape is also usually more expensive than what you paid for the hockey tape.
If only it were so. Years as a lighting tech left me a bit of a connoisseur of gaffa. Nashua 357 was my preference but it and all the others, assuming they stick in the first place, certainly leave goo if left more than a couple of days.
I knew a bloke whose car seat lining disintegrated, he thoughta bit of gaffer reupholstery would be the go. It was not good come summer and at the price of that stuff some seat covers would have been cheaper, had he rather than the theatre we were working at been paying.
Thanks for a great tip. I’m ordering mine now.
I grew up with this in BC, called friction tape.
One time I dipped a clamp handle in that plastidip stuff that’s sold in cans and stinks to high heaven. It’s my best clamp handle, but it’s not worth the mess.
I’ll try hockey tape.
The bike repair place near me has bike handlebar tape wrapped around all their wrench handles. Same idea, and it looks attractive too.
^ rolls for about $20.00?? Check his prices again they are a lot more!!!
Who’s prices?
I can kill two birds with one stone here because i also need to wrap my hiking poles, they have a hard rubber handle that has a seam that cuts into the web between my finger and thumb on long hikes. Have been putting off looking for something.
I grew up playing ice hockey everyday after school in Minnesota. COLD. We all took great pride in our sticks. There was magic in the taping. With the stick’s end done right, your hands felt exactly where they needed to be for total control and the perfect shot. Practice, feel, rewrapping. You knew if you could get just right, the Hat Trick would be yours! When I saw Rob’s wrapped mallet sitting on his bench, duh. I immediately ordered some tape from Amazon. Patience. I’ve only wrapped one mallet. After 50 years, I must recall and reproduce that sublime feel. Nothing will beat a wrapped mortise chisel. Woodworking perfection will be mine!!!! I still have my first hockey stick sitting in my shop.
And hockey tape makes durable, flexible bandages….
As I am getting older, I’ve noticed three things: I need a lot more light to see like I used to, my fingernails are no longer made of “iron” and more prone to cracking (despite keeping them clipped short), my grip strength is diminished. To which most older folks will say, “only three things? Lucky you.” Not quite ready for grippy tape as I don’t like the look of it. I know I will get it some day for all the reasons you mentioned.
We don’t have much hockey around here but I use Howie’s tape to wrap the fire tool handles on our engine. They also have a hockey stick wax that I use one plane soles. It’s a convenient flat puck with a notoriously great smell.