# Packing tape dispensers were invented in Hell by Satan **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 7, 2018, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packing-tape-dispensers-were-invented-in-hell-by-satan/825764 "2018-12-07T22:03:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packing-tape-dispensers-were-invented-in-hell-by-satan/825764/41 "2019-07-05T00:49:38Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I’m talking about[this kind](https://store.stamps.com/Store/catalog/product2.jsp?id=prodlightdutytapedispensers) of dispenser. Here’s one made by [Scotch](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Scotch-Sure-Start-Shipping-Packaging-Tape-Dispenser-Value-Pack-1-88-in-x-38-2-yd/31954928), aptly named because attempting to use one will make you need a scotch–or five. :mad: > > The free end of the tape gets stuck to the roll, unless you remember to fold it over. Threading it through the two little guide thingies is completely useless. When you pull a strip of tape off of the roll, sometimes it splits lengthwise into two pointy useless pieces. When _I_ attempt to attach a long piece to seal a box, inevitably it gets wrinkled. Maybe that’s just me. Tearing the tape off along the serrated edge is awkward, if it even works. > > It’s actually easier to just use the roll of packing tape by itself, stick it to the side of a table or counter, and cut off pieces with scissors. > > I don’t really want one of those [big, honking, industrial tape dispensers](https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-465O/Tape-Dispensers-Hand-Held/Uline-Heavy-Duty-Tape-Dispenser-3-Orange?pricode=WA9752&gadtype=pla&id=H-465O&gclid=CjwKCAiA0ajgBRA4EiwA9gFOR7JrNIzaRYg7goj1wnzbT3fEzB8SuGAdbEUaNbbm91DxHYDKBRBuLBoCZToQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds), as I don’t use it all that much. Are they a whole lot better? It’s mostly at this time of year when sweetness, harmony, generosity, light, and sugar plums should be dancing in my head. Instead of visions of the Devil chuckling at how he has tanked the holiday spirit with his clever disruptor. Preach it. The whole thing. “American ingenuity,” my ass. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packing-tape-dispensers-were-invented-in-hell-by-satan/825764/42 "2019-07-05T05:29:03Z")
I use the kind that you can tear, and have never had a problem with it. Just the roll, no dispenser at all. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packing-tape-dispensers-were-invented-in-hell-by-satan/825764/43 "2019-07-05T13:17:04Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I use the kind that you can tear, and have never had a problem with it. Just the roll, no dispenser at all. Packing tape that you can tear by hand? Evenly, with no need for scissors? I’d like to know about this product. Linky or picture? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packing-tape-dispensers-were-invented-in-hell-by-satan/825764/44 "2019-07-05T13:31:03Z")
The problem I’ve always had with using a bare roll of tape is that frequently I’ll lose track of the end and have to waste time finding it again. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packing-tape-dispensers-were-invented-in-hell-by-satan/825764/45 "2019-07-05T16:12:51Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Yes, they are a whole lot better. But still not perfect. > [@Mtgman](#): > > Tape guns are awesome. Get one and don’t look back. I have many tape dispensers and for packing tape _for boxes_, a tape gun is best IMO. But I am often using packing tape for other purposes, and for that I use [a desktop dispenser](https://www.google.com/search?q=desktop+tape+dispenser+packing+tape&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiuwtyulZ7jAhWSsZ4KHSvLCyUQ_AUIESgC&biw=1272&bih=943). I prefer the Uline brand; they always properly weight their bases and they have good-sized rubber feet. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packing-tape-dispensers-were-invented-in-hell-by-satan/825764/46 "2019-07-05T16:13:51Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The problem I’ve always had with using a bare roll of tape is that frequently I’ll lose track of the end and have to waste time finding it again. In my business, we always tab our tape. I highly recommend this practice. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packing-tape-dispensers-were-invented-in-hell-by-satan/825764/47 "2019-07-05T16:59:02Z")
After boxing up an entire house worth of crap, I kind of got the knack of it. Most of the time. However, I totally approve of the OP. Surely there must be a much, much better way. ---
**Author:** ![Hopeful\_Crow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/da6949/32.png) [@Hopeful\_Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hopeful_Crow)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packing-tape-dispensers-were-invented-in-hell-by-satan/825764/48 "2019-07-05T18:07:19Z")
> [@NanaMan](#): > > I also improved on the design by gluing a short section of chopstick across it where the two little nubs are. The nubs sometimes let the tape slip out and that caused a lot of problems. With the wood chopstick going accross that area now it id a dream to use. > I’d post a pic but I am too new to have pic posting privileges… This is awesome! Thanks for sharing it. Don’t have any wood chopsticks on hand but I have some skewers so I’m going to try that. I always save a few used up gift cards because they come in handy for other things sometimes. Mainly, they’re good for scraping gunk off of things you don’t want to scratch. But a couple of years ago, I cut a strip off of one to stick to end of the packing tape rather than folding down a corner. Works well but then you have to put it down (_And_ remember where you put it down!) then reattach the strip every time you use a piece of tape. This chopstick/skewer thing is going to be a game changer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packing-tape-dispensers-were-invented-in-hell-by-satan/825764.md?page=2)