Last Sunday, I attended the "Crossroads of the West" Gunshow in Phoenix where I picked up a new product (new to me at least) called "Rescue Tape." They have a website at:
http://www.rescuetape.com Uraijit and Fenix both expressed interest in seeing if this stuff really works. Well, today, I tried a somewhat scientific test in my backyard and I am pleased to report that this tape appears to be the real deal.
I took an old 5/8 inch garden hose and made a small cut through about 1/2 of the hose diameter using a box cutter. Then I turned the water on and energized the hose. Sure enough, it shot water out of the cut like crazy. I took the rescue tape and started applying it to the hose just the way the salesman at the gunshow instructed, about three inches either side of the cut and then doubling over the tape width by half as I put on two layers. I got soaked, but the tape did hold and stopped the leak. This stuff is weird, there is no adhesive on it, but when you run it over itself it bonds to itself without leaving any kind of adhesive on whatever it was you were trying to cover. The salesman emphasized that if you are using rescue tape to repair a hose of any kind, the hose has to be energized (i.e. expanded to it's maximum diameter) or else the tape will NOT hold properly. Based upon this somewhat scientific test, I would recommend Rescue Tape as a good addition to any tool box or B.O.B. It is expensive, and there are many, many occassions where I think regular old duct tape is good enough, but for repairing hose leaks, at least (I am thinking more in terms of an automotive application, not garden hoses LOL!), this stuff seems worth having a roll or two handy just in case. If you do get some, keep it stored in a location where it will NOT be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. The salesman told me UV light will damage it in long term storage and cause it to eventually break down. So, keep it stored for emergencies only.
What the wife don't know.....
