Pro Gaff™ pushed to the limit
By Mark Gibbons
Director
Last updated: 08/07/21
We pushed Pro Gaff tape to the limit buy putting it through our real-life testing programme. It’s been one of the worlds favourite gaffer tape brands for decades, and we wanted to see how how far we could push it.
What is Pro Gaff tape?
Pro Gaff tape is a premium gaffer tape. It’s been developed over 40 years with a close connection to the Arts & Entertainment industry. Pro Gaff is an essential tool for marking stages, concealing cables, covering trip hazards and an endless amount of quick fixes.
The residue test
Pro Gaff is a prominent brand on film sets and live events. Both of which are packed with HD cameras, audio systems, flight cases and other high-value equipment. And, no one wants a tape that leaves sticky residue over that kinda’ kit. Thankfully, Pro Gaff is renowned for its clean removal; that’s a popular requirement in those industries. But, how would it fare in our extreme six-month test?
To get a comprehensive result, we tested Pro Gaff on a variety of surfaces. These included steel, aluminium, plastic, wood, vinyl, carpet and rubber cable. We conducted all tests indoors and at room temperature.
Squeaky clean up to 30 days
We found no residue whatsoever on any of the substrates after 30 days. Pro Gaff was off to a good start.
Still no residue after 90 days
There was still no trace of any adhesive residue, even after 90 days. Impressive.
Minute traces of residue after 180 days
Pro Gaff left no noticeable residue on 6 out of 7 materials, even after six months! However, there was a tiny amount of residue left on the rubber cable after this period. Nevertheless, this is still an outstanding result. Compared to tests we’ve conducted on other brands, Pro Gaff would be at the top of the table for clean peel performance.
Five stars for Pro Gaff. Well done.
The stay-stuck test
A good gaffer tape should have a reliable hold on almost any clean, dry surface. Like in our residue test, we applied Pro Gaff to steel, aluminium, plastic, wood, vinyl, carpet and rubber cable to see how it performed. The tape was applied at room temperature and regularly monitored over the 6 month period.
No lifting or peeling for over 6 months
There were no signs of Pro Gaff lifting or peeling on any of the surfaces. Tapes can often lift at the edges naturally. This lifting can be a result of the adhesive beginning to dry out. However, six months in, and Pro Gaff showed no signs of it. Even though the tapes were not under strain, having edge to edge hold for this amount of time can be a good indicator of reliability.
Long-life performance test (18 months)
We go well beyond any manufacturer recommendations with this test. But, we wanted to see how hard we could push it. We conducted the test on just one substrate this time, rigid plastic.
Held firm and removed in one piece – 18 months on.
We left Pro Gaff stuck to a rigid plastic for over 18 months. Amazingly, even after all that time, it was still holding strong. Moreover, it came away in one continuous piece when removed, with no breaking or picking. There was a little residue around the edges, but that’s the least we were expecting. Pro Gaff surprised us all in this test, it was an outstanding result.
External weather test (Autumn/winter)
Like most tapes, external weather and UV from the sun is a big challenge. Although Pro Gaff may not be designed for exterior use, we wanted to see how it would hold up.
Applied to: Aluminium
Duration: 90 days, spanning across an English autumn/winter
Weather: A mix of rain, frost and cool sunny days
We pushed it beyond manufacture spec. – In the interest of fairness, we’d like to state that we’re not aware of any manufacturer claims that Pro Gaff is intended for outdoor use. This was just an experiment.
A bumpy start
About 48 hrs into the test (and lots of bad weather), one of Pro Gaff’s edges had lifted. This allowed water to get under the adhesive. We thought it was game over, however…
Pro Gaff hung on in there for 6 months
After a few days of rain, the weather eased off, and Pro Gaff dried out. From then on, it held on through a mix of rain, frost and cool sunny days. It was clearly out of its comfort zone, but it didn’t let go.
Testing information: We performed these tests in-house and in real-life situations – not in a lab. As a result, you may not get the same results for every application. Therefore, we recommend all users assess the suitability of any product themselves, and for their specific application. Furthermore, there are many factors that can cause a tape to leave residue and performance to vary. Thus, test results should not be considered a guarantee. We recommend testing on a small area first.
Summary
For indoor applications, Pro Gaff is hard to beat. It excelled in our residue test, finishing above many other top brands. Furthermore, Pro Gaff’s outstanding performance over 18 months was one of the best we’ve ever seen. If you’re looking for a reliable tape that’ll stick to just about anything, Pro Gaff is what we’d recommend.
Key Takeaways
- Outstanding residue resistance
- Excellent hold on all surfaces we tested
- Impressive long-term performance
- Best suited for indoor applications
Talk to a human
Hi, I’m Mark
We are a family run business with traditional family values.
If you’d rather talk to a real human, just give me a call.
01480 494540
mark@lemark.co.uk