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Duct Tape --- "What is it Not good for"

Gonzo

By Gonzo
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Gonzo Grand Master

Gonzo

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DuctTape

 

 

 

When people list the millions of uses for duct tape they never seem to include the various ways I've seen it used on the family car. I'm a big fan of duct tape myself. My son has even made himself a handy little wallet, a tie, bookbinders, and whole bunch of other cool things with it. I'm no pro at conjuring up different uses for this stuff, but I've seen what some creative people can do with a roll. Why, just last night I was out to dinner with the family, and low and behold there in the parking lot was a minivan with the front bumper strapped on with layers upon layers of duct tape. Nice job... it definitely was holding it in place, that's for sure. You could tell it's been that way for quite some time, all the edges were starting to fray and the inner grid of the tape was showing through.(Probably time for another layer…)

 

Even NASCAR has found a use for this magical fix all tape. If you're running around the track at high speed and you get tagged by the guy trying to pass you, there's a good chance something is going to get torn off. The next trip around the fourth turn means a little more tug on the steering wheel, and a down shift into the pits. Then your pit crew jumps the wall, slaps on a few layers of duct tape, and off you go back out onto the track again, grabbing the next gear and holding the pedal to the floor. No wonder duct tape has the nickname "200 mph tape".

 

Then there are those uses I think are really ridiculous. Like using duct tape to hold up a broken electric window. It probably sounded good at the time, but wait until you need to take it off. That's usually left up to me when the car is in for repair. It will come off, but you might need a bit of elbow grease and a few shots of cleaner and solvent to get it off. It's even more fun to remove on a hot summer day;it can be an icky, gooey, nasty, slimy mess to get off the paint and windows of the car.

 

Talk about creativity, I've seen duct tape hold broken glove box doors in place, center console lids, visors, door panels, and various other assorted interior components together. I've even had a car come in that had it wrapped around the entire steering wheel, as if it was a steering wheel cover. Not to mention the patched upholstery, a stereo install gone wrong, or the broken key fob. The list is endless. Let's not leave the exterior out of this, there's the trunk lid when the latch has broken, using it as electrical tape, repairing a broken taillight lens, or the occasionally door that won't stay shut. Of course, then there's the engine compartment; it's a plethora of unending duct tape extravaganzas there. You know, if it's all you have at the time, well... I guess you have to use what you've got on hand...but, really... it's "duct tape" not "tape to hold the coat hanger in place where the radio antenna used to be". It gets hysterically funny when you get a chance to really notice what some duct tape connoisseurs have dreamed up in the way of duct tape innovations.

 

Some time ago I had a car come in the shop with a severe drivability problem. The service light was on; it was stalling, hard to start, no power,coughing, and for the most part... just plain sick. The service codes showed a rich condition and some really crazy short fuel trim values. When I opened the hood I noticed the rubber intake plenum was completely collapsed onto itself. I thought that was a bit weird, but I might as well pop it back into shape and see what happens. At first the car sounded great,but in a few seconds it was back to what it was doing. This time I took the plenum off the car and checked it a little further. Wedged up against the filter box opening to the plenum was a huge wad of duct tape, completely strangling the air intake system.

 

Apparently the owner couldn't find the right size air filter for the car, so he used the duct tape to make the opening small enough to accommodate the air filter. It had been on the car for so long he completely forgot about it. As the duct tape adhesion deteriorated, it started to slowly ball up at the connection between the filter box and the leading edge of the plenum. One new (correct) air filter, and a lot less duct tape took care of the problem. I know it's called"duct tape" and this is a duct, but this isn't the kind of duct to be using it on. (I'll have to add this to my list of failed uses for duct tape.)

 

There was a TV program on not long ago that did a whole segment on duct tape. (Had to watch that one for sure.) They turned duct tape into a sail boat, picked a car off the ground with it, and showed several other cool ways of using it. I'll have to admit they were pretty ingenious and proved the point of how versatile this sticky stuff is. I'm sure there are more ideas that haven't been tried yet, and I doubt that we'll ever run out of ideas for using duct tape in some creative way. Who doesn't have a roll of duct tape lying around somewhere, and who hasn't tried some crazy idea with this stuff? Ok, Ok… maybe splicing a car back together wasn't the smartest thing I've ever seen duct tape used for… but it sure was cool.

 

Ah yes, duct tape, it's a good thing to keep around for a variety of emergency repairs. It has a purpose no matter where you are or where you go. I keep a roll handy in my tool box all the time. You never know when the need for a few strips of duct tape will come in handy. Just ask the guys on Apollo 13 how valuable a roll of duct tape was. Yep, that's right duct tape even went to the moon.

 

Duct tape… if it's good enough for NASA, it's good enough for me.


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kenk Collaborator

kenk

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I heard it is used for just about everything except what it was intended for, that is sealing heating/cooling ducts. It does not hold up well there and they use a metal type that will hold up much longer.

Gonzo Grand Master

Gonzo

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That is a hilaious story about the air filter Gonzo.

Thanx... it's on tape... lol

Gonzo Grand Master

Gonzo

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You are so right about NASCAR. I had the chance a few years back to go into the garage area before a race and I saw with my own eyes the mechanics applying strips of duct tape to the back of the hood and fenders. I asked them about it and they said, "We use it all the time, works great and saves time having to repair the hood and fenders so much". Amazing!

l

Couldn't leave NASCAR out of the duct tape. Every time i watch a live race i always say, "this race is on tape!" Nobody gets the joke.... lol

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      The Technician Shortage Is Our Fault, And It's Time We Own It
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      The Technician Shortage Is Our Fault, And It's Time We Own It
      Nearly every day, I hear shop owners complain: "There's a technician shortage. We can't find qualified people. There's no one out there." If that's true, then who's to blame?
      The industry? The schools? The government? I don't know how you feel, but who promised us an endless supply of qualified technicians?
      Another common complaint is that young people do not want to work in the trades. Well, if that were true, then why are other trades such as HVAC, electrical, and plumbing growing? What are they doing that the automotive industry is not? 
      Here's the reality we need to face: We do have a problem, but we shouldn't look for someone or any entity to rescue us. Not the government. Not the trade schools. Not the recruiting companies. No one owes us a workforce. If we want great people in our industry, it's up to us. At some point, we need to own up to the truth: Building a pipeline of qualified technicians is our responsibility.
      In this blog article, I will break down the key reasons we are in this situation today and what we, as an industry, can do to solve the technician shortage. Are you ready to look in the mirror?
      Have We Pushed Technicians Away?
      Let's take a look at flat-rate pay. True flat rate, which pays a technician only for the hours they produce, is a controversial pay plan that emphasizes high production levels and creates a competitive work environment that, if not properly controlled, can lead to increased mistakes and a decline in morale and team spirit. Additionally, the stress and physical demands placed on technicians as they age are not favorable to long-term employee retention. What do we do with technicians as they grow older into their fifties and begin to slow down? 
      I have heard all the arguments and pros and cons of flat-rate pay, and I am not going to judge any pay plan. Let the facts speak for themselves. True flat rate has changed in most areas around the country and has evolved into a pay plan that gives technicians some pay guarantee.
      Many shop owners have learned that team morale, along with the opportunity to earn income, is important to technicians and to the company's long-term success. But let me ask you: how many technicians have left or been pushed out over the years because of the old flat-rate pay system?
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      Now, again, I need to point out that I was truly grateful for the opportunity this shop owner gave me. I learned a lot working there, and the experience was pivotal in my career. But looking back, I wonder how many people were discouraged by these working conditions?
      While the physical demands of the repair workplace are daunting, perhaps even more critical is the culture. Too many of my generation shop owners preached the mindset of "my way or the highway." We were the business owners, after all. We started our companies, took all the risks, and provided jobs. Why shouldn't we be the ones to set the ground rules our way?   
      Many of us found over the years that the "my way or the highway" mentality was a sure way to isolate employees and make them more likely to look over the fence for greener grass. In other words, it led many technicians to seek employment elsewhere, where they felt they could be appreciated and recognized for their hard work. The issue, however, was that there wasn't much green grass around. Disappointment after disappointment, bouncing from repair to repair shop, eventually led to despair. So, I ask you: were workplace conditions a contributing factor in today's technician shortage?
      Another factor that we are all well aware of is the complexity of the modern automobile. When I started, the work was mostly physical, and you were required to master essentially three vehicle models: General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. Let's fast-forward to today. The evolution of automotive technology, along with the extensive training and tools required, has outpaced the typical technician's pay compensation, with no clear career path. Again, leading to frustration and insecurity about the future.
      Here is the bottom line: people don't leave their job; they leave their experience. We must do a better job. 
      The News Isn't all Bad; Your Next Steps to Fix the Technician Shortage
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      Next, shop owners must become more financially knowledgeable. Knowing your numbers and what you need to achieve for a strong bottom-line profit is essential to paying technicians the money they need and deserve. Profit will also allow you to compete with other trade industries by providing a benefits package that has real take-home value and security.
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      As technicians age, we need to have a place for them. Expecting a 58-year-old to perform like a 35-year-old is unrealistic. We need to be more focused on career pathing. Provide training, skill development, and coaching to develop leaders and mentors within our older workforce. While their bodies may have slowed, the knowledge they have gained is priceless. 
      Our future is dependent on young people entering our industry. We need to give more young people opportunities. Every shop owner across the country should consider hiring an apprentice, then build an apprentice training plan and career path for them. If every shop did this, we could solve the technician shortage within five years. Get involved with the trade schools and high schools in your area. Look into the NAPA Apprenticeship Program. Don't sit on your hands with this one. Do it today.
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