Description
Gardner Bender Black Self-Bonding Repair Tape is a silicone emergency repair tape for quick, tidy fixes around the home, workshop and vehicle, supplied as a 2.5cm x 3m roll. It has no sticky adhesive layer. Instead, you stretch it as you wrap and it fuses to itself, forming an airtight, watertight seal that suits hoses, pipes, cables and tool handles.
About the formula
The tape is made from silicone and relies on self-bonding rather than glue. It only fuses to itself, so it doesn't leave a tacky residue on the item you wrap. The manufacturer describes it as resistant to heat, friction and UV, and it is rated for temperatures up to 260°C. That makes it handy for jobs where ordinary tapes would soften or perish.
Where to use it
Indoors: temporary repairs to leaking water pipes, wrapping and protecting electrical cables and connectors, and rebuilding or gripping tool handles.
Outdoors and in the vehicle: patching engine hoses and radiator pipes, wrapping exhausts, and emergency repairs on guttering.
It is well suited to hoses, pipes, cables, connectors, guttering and similar round or irregular shapes that can be wrapped. Because it bonds to itself rather than to the surface, it works on a wide range of materials.
How to use it
Wipe the area to be repaired so it is clean and dry. For a leak, ideally shut off the flow or pressure first. Start wrapping a short distance beyond each side of the damage. Stretch the tape firmly as you wrap, overlapping each turn by about half the width so the layers press together and fuse. Finish by wrapping the end back onto itself and pressing it down firmly.
Important notes
The tape must be stretched while wrapping, otherwise it won't fuse properly. It bonds to itself only, so it is a repair tool and not an adhesive for sticking two different surfaces together. It is an emergency and temporary repair for many plumbing and automotive jobs. Replace damaged pipes, hoses or fittings properly as soon as practical, particularly for high-pressure, gas, fuel or mains-voltage applications. Check the tape's suitability yourself before using it as electrical insulation on live circuits, and always isolate power first. Keep it below the rated temperature of 260°C.
Specifications
| Brand |
Gardner Bender |
| Product |
Self-Bonding Repair Tape |
| Size |
2.5cm x 3m roll |
| Colour |
Black |
| Material |
Silicone |
| Adhesive |
None, bonds to itself |
| Moisture sealing |
Yes (waterproof and airtight when wrapped) |
| Maximum temperature |
Up to 260°C |
| Resistance |
Heat, friction and UV |
| Application |
Hand wrapped |
Safety
As a general precaution, keep the tape away from children, wear gloves when working around hot pipes or exhausts, and allow hot surfaces to cool before wrapping. Isolate electrical power before working on cables or connectors. Refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for full details.
