# Duct tape can NOT be used to repair a ... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 10, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851 "2004-09-10T00:43:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/21 "2004-09-10T11:06:44Z")
Broken [Link](http://goes-nowhere.com) Promise? But it can be used to patch a van radiator. Just not very well. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/22 "2004-09-10T12:37:04Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > It probably wouldn’t be too great at holding together the atoms in the fissile core of a detonating nuclear weapon. But it **can** be used to help support a [sustained nuclear reaction](http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1111/is_n1782_v297/ai_21281407). :eek: Duct tape doesn’t work to patch fire hoses. Nor does it act as an effective substitute for teflon tape for fitting threaded piping fasteners. ---
**Author:** ![misstee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@misstee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misstee)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/23 "2004-09-10T13:44:56Z")
cut skin. Once when camping one of my uncles cut himself and did not have a first aid kit around so he used Duct tape that was in his truck. He later said pulling the tape off hurt worse than the cut did. ---
**Author:** ![ponderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2bfe46/32.png) [@ponderer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ponderer)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/24 "2004-09-10T13:56:28Z")
It’s mediocre at best at fixing hemorrhoids… ---
**Author:** ![TastesLikeBurning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@TastesLikeBurning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TastesLikeBurning)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/25 "2004-09-10T14:02:20Z")
It is great for fixing… [DOOM HOLES OF DEATH!!](http://www.bigideafun.com/penguins/arcade/doom_funnel/default.htm) But not so good for fixing gaping chest wounds inflicted with a blunt axe. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/26 "2004-09-10T14:10:46Z")
You cannot duct-tape the opposing sides of the San Andreas Fault together to prevent earthquakes. Duct-taping snow will not prevent an avalanche. You also cannot duct-tape rocks to the ground in a falling rock zone to prevent falling rocks. You cannot duct-tape soil in irrigation ditches to prevent soil erosion. Duct tape will not fix a boxing match. It works on [warts](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12361440&dopt=Abstract), though. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/27 "2004-09-10T14:45:17Z")
Duct tape can NOT be used to repair… - a vasectomy - male pattern baldness - a light bulb fillament - an ingrown toenail - the Grand Canyon ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/28 "2004-09-10T15:10:33Z")
Duct tape can’t be used to repair: sinkholes, Michael Jackson’s nose, a family rift, hurt feelings or cavities. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/29 "2004-09-10T15:37:36Z")
\*Sunburn (I shudder at the thought) \*Broken bones, though it can be used in a pinch to splint a finger and keep it straight. It’ll hurt like hell to yank it off, though. \*Scratched CDs. \*crumbled-up cookies ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/30 "2004-09-10T15:49:42Z")
> [@t-keela](#): > > Sure it can. You have to take the tire off of the rim and sand the inside of the tire where the hole is. Then apply some rubber cement on the rough surface. \ BIZZZZZ … wrong answer. We’re talking duct tape and ONLY duct tape, not duct tape along with other tools and/or materials. I could duct tape 2-by-4s together then run a couple nails through them and build a house too. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/31 "2004-09-10T17:23:53Z")
Well, it’s _NOT_ a substitute for [good taste](http://www.octanecreative.com/ducttape/ducttapeball/). ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/32 "2004-09-10T17:43:30Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > \*Broken bones, though it can be used in a pinch to splint a finger and keep it straight. It’ll hurt like hell to yank it off, though. You could probably avoid the hurting part by essentially making a “tape loop” out of the duct tape first. Wrap the duct tape sticky-side **up** around the finger until the ends meet and overlap. The loop should be fairly firm to hold the finger straight. Then cut/rip the tape, and now wrap more tape sticky-side down right over the tape that’s already in place. This covers up the stickiness and adds more firm support to the “splint”. Only small areas of stickiness will actually be on the skin, and it could easily be cut off with a slim scissors. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/33 "2004-09-10T18:24:12Z")
Duct tape cannot be used to repair…credit… …but it can be used to tie up a clerk who won’t issue you credit, allowing you to loot the store. ---
**Author:** ![ieatglue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ieatglue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ieatglue)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/34 "2004-09-10T18:32:02Z")
Duct tape cannot be used to repair tear ducts. But it is, however, a great way to remove all of your eyelashes. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/35 "2004-09-10T19:08:01Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > This thread makes the baby Red Green cry. From [The Handyman’s Corner Archive](http://www.ioweb.com/redgreen/archive/handyarchive.html): > [@](#): > > How to fix a flat tire: > Duct tape a new tire to the old tire. I’ve got to say, the episode where Red tried that was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/36 "2004-09-10T19:54:16Z")
> [@ccwaterback](#): > > BIZZZZZ … wrong answer. We’re talking duct tape and ONLY duct tape, not duct tape along with other tools and/or materials. I could duct tape 2-by-4s together then run a couple nails through them and build a house too. > > 😃 Damn, my mistake sorry 'bout that. I skimmed that chapter in the manual _1001 Uses for Duct Tape_. You think duct tape might help fix the speed on these boards? and I’ll warn you now that duct tape isn’t a good replacement for toilet paper either. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2004, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/37 "2004-09-11T02:34:23Z")
a horse race or a boxing match 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2004, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/38 "2004-09-11T06:06:09Z")
Perforated eardrum Broken hymen aortic aneurysm broken piece of sidewalk lawnmower blade 8-track tape cracked LP burnt cheese sandwich dead hamster I’ll think of more, but you don’t want to know ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2004, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/39 "2004-09-11T22:13:15Z")
**Duct tape can NOT be used to repair…** [ul] [li]a book page with writing front and back[/li][li]self-esteem[/li][li]a sick fish[/li][li]a flaky teflon skillet[/li][li]a bad call or error in a sports game, especially an important one[/li][li]the national deficit[/li][li]Fred Phelps[/li][li]ice skate blades[/li][li]burnt toast[/li][li]lack of internet service :eek: [/li][li]world hunger[/li][li]Anna Nicole Smith[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851/40 "2004-09-11T23:34:42Z")
Duct tape /can/ be used to fix things that rhyme with orange, I’ve tried it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-can-not-be-used-to-repair-a/263851.md?page=3)