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A sticky proposition for terror war
By MARK ALBRIGHT, Times Staff Writer
It can fix a broken race car. Others think it cures warts. Can duct tape now help fight the war on terrorism? The folks who make the ubiquitous fix-all are starting to see increased demand after the federal Department of Homeland Security suggested that Americans stock up in the event of terrorist attacks. In case of chemical, biological or nuclear attack they recommended having plastic sheeting to shield your family and duct tape to seal it. "We've gotten some serious orders from retailers and industrial users already," said Brian McBride, market manager for Tyco Adhesives Inc., a Norwood, Mass., duct tape maker. "It seems to be taking off." "This might become like hurricane preparedness," added Melanie Amato, spokeswoman for Henkel Consumer Adhesives Inc., an Avon, Ohio, company that distributes about 40 percent of the $100-million worth of duct tape sold to consumers in the United States every year. "Our sales spike up to 40 percent in places expecting a hurricane." Retailers are waiting to see how big the demand will be. "We've seen a slight increase, but certainly no run," said Chris Ahearn, spokeswoman for Lowe's Inc., a Wilkesboro, N.C., home improvements chain. "We've got plenty of supplies, but it's really too early to gauge demand," said Don Harrison, a spokesman for Home Depot Inc., fielding his 21st media call on the subject Tuesday. The Atlanta chain packages and promotes groups of products that help customers cope with hurricane season and water shortage restrictions. But it's not considering disaster preparedness packages or offering classes in chemical warfare protection. It wouldn't be the first time duct tape got a lift from a new use. Some people apply it to furniture sticky-side out to keep cats from sharpening their claws on fabric. In Anchorage, Alaska, 250 people danced at a charity ball Friday dressed in suits and gowns fashioned entirely of duct tape. For trivia fans: Alaskans, it seems, buy more duct tape per person than residents of any state. The duct tape industry could use a lift. Sales have only inched up in recent years. The latest attempt at creating demand has been nurturing a duct tape arts and crafts movement. It's one reason why Henkel's trademarked "Duck Tape" now comes in 18 colors including several shades of neon. Actually, duct tape was originally named "duck tape" because it repelled water like a duck's back. World War II troops used it for quick fixes such as patching jeep bodies, tires and rifle butts. Manufacturers changed the olive drab, cloth-backed tape to silver and marketed it as a sealer for heating ducts. But the tape soon spread all over. In the entertainment world it's called gaffer's tape that holds down cables and lights. In racing it's called "200-mph-tape" that holds together wrecked fiberglass auto bodies. In 1972 a green version called "missile tape" was used by the Apollo astronauts to repair a lunar rover fender. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays a few years ago staged a duct tape sculpture contest. Comedians get a lot of mileage out of duct tape humor. On his radio show Garrison Keillor recites new duct tape uses such as heart surgery in ads by the fictitious American Duct Tape Council, which supposedly operates Adhesive World in Orlando. Canadian television's popular Red Green Show made a running joke out of jury-rigged repair work: "When in doubt, duct it." -- Mark Albright can be reached at albright@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8252.
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