Carpet tape

Carpet tape is a high-strength, high-adhesion double-sided tape used in weapon construction.

Carpet tape is available in a variety of qualities - it is important to use only the high-grade indoor/outdoor variety with visible fiberglass weaving, as the "plasticy" looking indoor-only variety has little strength and less adhesion.

A recent discovery is a semi-generic brand of carpet tape sold by certain hardware stores in the upper midwest and manufactured by the "Custom Tape Company" (possibly this one). The Indoor/Outdoor version is thick and black and is both extremely strong (and stiff) and has a very sticky adhesive. It is a very strong alternative to DAP for use in weapon construction, even at the point of binding foam to the core of the weapon. It is ~$5/roll and can be difficult to find. The Indoor/Outdoor version comes in a blue and white box with a picture of someone laying down outdoor carpet by a pool.

Pros and Cons of Indoor/Outdoor Carpet Tape:

Advantages to Carpet Tape: 1. Takes far less time. No more waiting overnight for a sword to dry. 2. (In addition to #1) If it's true what they say about time being money, carpet tape is worth it. It's only about 4-5 bucks, and if you're only making a couple weapons, then go for it. No need to have DAP sitting around unused. 3. You can't spread *too much* on. With DAP, if you put too much on, it will take MUCH longer to dry, and becomes a pain in the ass. With carpet tape, one strip usually does it (unless the surface is very wide, then you should line the perimeter with carpet tape and then one piece through the middle). 4. SAFER. There are no fumes, so if it's the dead of winter, you can do it in your living room (though the mrs. won't enjoy that as much) 5. Overall, it's easier to work with. If you drop it, it won't get carpet all glued up, stain, or leave an unpleasent glue smell for the next day or two.

Disadvantages: 1. In pretty cold weather, it has difficulty holding up in a vehicle. (shouldn't leave weapons in the vehicle anyways) 2. Per use, it *is* more expensive. DAP can build far more weapons (with greater variety) with one container than a roll of carpet tape can build. 3. If foam didn't break down as quickly, carpet tape's use would be null and void. Because of the properties of DAP, it creates a 360* flexible bond between the pieces of material you attach together. Carpet tape is tape. It's used to attach 2 pieces of material together, not necessarily *bond* them together.

Hope this little "compare-and-contract" helped you out a little bit!