To answer this question properly, we need to know what Duck Tape is and what Gaffa Tape is, where did it originate and where is it made. And what applications did this tape originally have and are the tapes still used for that today?

What is Duct Tape?

Probably what we now call duct tape originated during World War II. It was mainly used in the army to re-waterproof tents. Earlier, a type of tape that was water-repellent like the skin of a duck ('duck') also existed.

The name duct tape came into prominence after the 1950s after it was widely used in construction to wrap air ducts ('air ducts'). It also got its current silvery appearance then. A US company (ShurTech Brands, LLC) has been manufacturing duct tape under the commercial name Duck Tape since 1980. According to some, the name duck tape was also used before then but there is no evidence for this.

Some episodes of the television programme MythBusters explored the tape's capabilities. It was shown that you can make an approximately 30-metre-long bridge from duct tape that can carry at least one person. It was also shown that it is possible to build a waterproof boat and a working cannon from this tape. It was also shown that you can use duct tape to lift a car, make a battered plane fly again and get a wrecked car running again.

Duct tape has been carried on board since NASA' s early space flights to make emergency repairs. Among other things, it was used during the Apollo 13 disaster flight to move the_{CO2 filter} from the disabled command module to the lunar lander. During the flight of Apollo 17, it was used to carry out emergency repairs to the lunar vehicle. On 31 August 2018, astronauts sealed a leak in the ISS capsule with resin and duct tape. The hole had a diameter of about 1.5 mm.

What is Gaffa Tape (Gaffer Tape)?

Gaffer tape is a strong type of water-resistant, (wide) adhesive tape made of a cross-linked ('woven') fabric coated with a plastic layer, which can be easily torn and is designed (unlike duct tape) not to peel off paint or leave traces of glue when removed.

Gaffa Tape is used in theatre, television and film productions as well as in music performances where a lot of cable work is involved. It is used in those situations to position cables lying on the floor and prevent tripping over them and/or hide them from view - usually with black tape.

The term refers to the gaffer, the person responsible for lighting and electricity in the theatre, on stage or studio.

History

Gaffer tape was invented in 1959 by Ross Lowell, director, cameraman and founder of Lowel-Light. Lowell transferred the adhesive of Johnson & Johnson's Permacel tape, also known as duct tape, to silver fabric, and Lowel-Light thus launched the first version of Gaffa Tape (gaffer tape).

Gaffer tape is manufactured in many colours, including fluorescent and custom colours, but perhaps the most common variety is matt black. A matt finish ensures that the tape does not reflect light, so it blends into a typical stage floor. It is sold in various widths, from 12mm to 150mm, with 25mm and 50mm being the most common.

Gaffer tape is strong but can be torn by hand, so no cutting tools are needed, and it can easily be torn into narrower strips if required. The synthetic adhesive usually leaves little or no residue and will generally not damage most surfaces when removed. Gaffer tape is usually more expensive than duct tape because it is manufactured in smaller quantities, has stricter specifications and is marketed for professional use.

In the absence of console tape or artist tape, live sound engineers or lighting board operators can use a strip of white gaffer tape along the bottom of a mixing board to label the channels or submasters used for a particular show.

In climbing gyms, gaffer tape can be used to mark climbs on the wall.

Today, in the Netherlands, Nichiban' s Gaffa Tape is most commonly pasted, while in the USA, Pro-Gaff and MagTape are widely pasted.

The difference

Duct Tape is most suitable for fixed applications.
Gaffa Tape is most suitable for temporary applications.