1001 Uses for Amalgamating Tape

[Bixxer Bob]

Electricians use it for waterproof joints, most DIY outlets sell it.  It is a layer of stretchy rubbery tape with a plastic film on one side.  You peel off the plastic and stretch the tape as you wind it on.  The stretching activates a chemical in the tape which causes it to weld itself to itself.  It sticks on contact and after a few minutes forms a bonded layer that you can't separate.  It's really good stuff and has lots of uses

[rybes]

  thas the stuff bob

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p3984.m570.l1311&_nkw=self+amalgamating+tape&_sacat=0&_from=R40

[rf9rider]

Handy stuff to know about 

[Bixxer Bob]

I first discovered it years ago when working outdoors with an electrician.  First time I used it myself was to waterproof the F connectors on my satellite dish.  I use it a lot on ancilliary electrics on the bikes, as well as heatshrink tube, although heatshrink doesn't have the same waterproofing qualities unless you get the stuff with a hot glue coating inside.

There are variants on the market now that can even make a temporary repair to rubber cooling hoses!!

[akendall1966]

the tape works well as rim tape on spoked wheels, you can go round a few times to get a nice thick buffer between tube and spoke ends.

[Bixxer Bob]

We should start a 1001 uses for amalgamating tape thread in the General Discussion area

Edit: I just did.....

[Timbox2]

I first used this stuff in the mid 70's when I was a Post Office(Before BT) Telephone Engineer, we used it to seal cable joints on the old copper cables in the ground. Good kit

[Sin_Tiger]

I did a joint repair on a submersible many years back that operated to a depth of 80m. Was doing it as a favour to the client as they couldn't get a new cable or a technician with the recommended epoxy potting kit in time for a big job.

Wrapped about four layers then slipped an adhesive lined heatshrink sleeve over it, did the job nicely. I bumped into the ROV pilot a year or so later.He told me when he decommissioned the spread at the end of the 6 month job he was curious as to how well it had worked. He ended up having to use a cutting disc to open it and found it bone dry without any corrosion and the soldered joints were still shiney