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Had a little accident when we were just getting out on the road to come out here on vacation. In fact, this was before we even managed to get out of the driveway. I was pulling out of the garage when, for the first time*, I forgot to check that there was enough clearance for the rearview mirror.
Oops.
The mirror came off almost completely. It was just dangling by the cords.
In a way, it was a good thing, since this made us realize that we'd forgotten some stuff in the house (setting the alarm, for example).
In more obvious ways, though, it was a very bad thing. For we were due to drive 300 miles (almost exactly... 297, but I hit "trip reset" a little ways from home), and it's good to have the mirror in place. We didn't really have time to stop at a body shop to get it fixed, even if there had been one open at the time (a doubtful prospect at best). What were we to do?
There was only one answer. One that hasn't come up in a while, but which is the key to ever so many of life's problems.
The ultimate tape. The only one I know that's so cool, it has its own verb.
Gaff Tape!!
I ran to my room, grabbed a roll (in a lovely shade of black that actually closely matches the dark grey "granite" color of the car), got the rest of what we needed from the house, set the alarm, and then... I gaffed the mirror back in place.
It held the whole trip.
A week later, when Dad had to drive someone back home (nothing wrong; she was supposed to leave early), it was still on so well that he didn't even notice the damage at first. It made it all the way back to NYC and back out here (about a 500 mile round trip) and still held. The mirror shakes a bit, but it's still quite usable.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "You're a right and proper nerd, Paul. Why didn't you use duct tape?"
The answer to that is a little complicated, but I'll tell you right off... Duct tape is the tape of geeks, not nerds.
As to the rest... Gaff tape is more obscure and considerably more expensive than duct tape, but (unless you're trying to repair a duct or pipe) it is far superior. It holds just as well (nearly 1000 miles and the better part of a week parked near salt air should prove that), but it comes off with no mess. Under most circumstances, it can also be reused, and will hold at nearly full strength.
Duct tape, OTOH, is an evil vile substance, a fact which most geeks somehow fail to notice. It's designed to patch ducts. For that reason, it is made with the most awful goo imaginable as its primary adhesive. It's messy. It's gooey. And, once applied, you will never get it all off again. Even getting it mostly off will take an inordinate amount of work.
If I'd duct taped the mirror in place, the car would never have been the same. Because I gaffed it, however, the mirror will still hold until we get home, but the tape will come off cleanly and easily when we take it in to be more permanently repaired.
Behold the power of gaff!
It's also great for putting up posters and mobiles, patching holes in pocket protectors, a wide variety of household repairs, and, of course, the original purpose for which it was designed - holding theater sets together. (There, it holds wires and cords down, it holds "walls" up, etc etc. And comes off cleanly and easily when the run is over and it's time to put everything away.)
Oh, yeah. I suppose I should give an update on other stuff. We're having a great time on vacation. The family is together. The three grandkids (I have two nieces and a nephew) are playing nicely and really getting along. Even the dog is having fun. It's a little too hot, but that'll get better in the coming week, I think. Having a wonderful time. Blah, blah, blah...
Hooray gaff tape!!
Oops.
The mirror came off almost completely. It was just dangling by the cords.
In a way, it was a good thing, since this made us realize that we'd forgotten some stuff in the house (setting the alarm, for example).
In more obvious ways, though, it was a very bad thing. For we were due to drive 300 miles (almost exactly... 297, but I hit "trip reset" a little ways from home), and it's good to have the mirror in place. We didn't really have time to stop at a body shop to get it fixed, even if there had been one open at the time (a doubtful prospect at best). What were we to do?
There was only one answer. One that hasn't come up in a while, but which is the key to ever so many of life's problems.
The ultimate tape. The only one I know that's so cool, it has its own verb.
Gaff Tape!!
I ran to my room, grabbed a roll (in a lovely shade of black that actually closely matches the dark grey "granite" color of the car), got the rest of what we needed from the house, set the alarm, and then... I gaffed the mirror back in place.
It held the whole trip.
A week later, when Dad had to drive someone back home (nothing wrong; she was supposed to leave early), it was still on so well that he didn't even notice the damage at first. It made it all the way back to NYC and back out here (about a 500 mile round trip) and still held. The mirror shakes a bit, but it's still quite usable.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "You're a right and proper nerd, Paul. Why didn't you use duct tape?"
The answer to that is a little complicated, but I'll tell you right off... Duct tape is the tape of geeks, not nerds.
As to the rest... Gaff tape is more obscure and considerably more expensive than duct tape, but (unless you're trying to repair a duct or pipe) it is far superior. It holds just as well (nearly 1000 miles and the better part of a week parked near salt air should prove that), but it comes off with no mess. Under most circumstances, it can also be reused, and will hold at nearly full strength.
Duct tape, OTOH, is an evil vile substance, a fact which most geeks somehow fail to notice. It's designed to patch ducts. For that reason, it is made with the most awful goo imaginable as its primary adhesive. It's messy. It's gooey. And, once applied, you will never get it all off again. Even getting it mostly off will take an inordinate amount of work.
If I'd duct taped the mirror in place, the car would never have been the same. Because I gaffed it, however, the mirror will still hold until we get home, but the tape will come off cleanly and easily when we take it in to be more permanently repaired.
Behold the power of gaff!
It's also great for putting up posters and mobiles, patching holes in pocket protectors, a wide variety of household repairs, and, of course, the original purpose for which it was designed - holding theater sets together. (There, it holds wires and cords down, it holds "walls" up, etc etc. And comes off cleanly and easily when the run is over and it's time to put everything away.)
Oh, yeah. I suppose I should give an update on other stuff. We're having a great time on vacation. The family is together. The three grandkids (I have two nieces and a nephew) are playing nicely and really getting along. Even the dog is having fun. It's a little too hot, but that'll get better in the coming week, I think. Having a wonderful time. Blah, blah, blah...
Hooray gaff tape!!
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"Duct tape is the tape of geeks, not nerds."
Best. Line. Ever.
LOL!
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