Just to be a smarta$$, it really is DUCK, not duct, tape.

[johnaries]

I always thought it was "duct tape" people were just mispronouncing it, but I found out later that the original name was Duck Tape because it "shed water like a duck".

And, by the way, 3 people really DID suffocate by insulating a room with plastic sheeting and duck tape:
http://www.snopes.com/rumors/ducttape.asp

[beam me up scottie]

1. Really ? Three people ?

I'm going to print out those instructions and hand them out at work.
Then I'll feed my co-workers paranoid fears...

[OrlandoGator]

2. "Duck Tape" is a brand name. It is DUCT tape.

That is all, no need to respond.

[johnaries]

3. Actually, it was developed for the Army for ammunition boxes

primarily, although it was also used for other miscellaneous uses. It has nothing to do with "ducts".

[OrlandoGator]

4. You're obviously a better tape historian than me.

n/t

[WiseButAngrySara]

7. I think I heard this, and I was surprised about duck vs. duct. I do bet

that duck tape would effectively strip all of the feathers off of a duck, which would do severe damage to the duck's waterproofing! What amazing capabilities this duck/duct tape has!

[karlrschneider]

6. Until a few minutes ago I would have agreed with you!

http://www.octanecreative.com/ducttape/duckvsduct.html

[theHandpuppet]

5. It is both

Originally "Duck Tape" because it was first made from cotton duck, but then became "duct tape" when materials were changed and it went into common use for heating/cooling ducts.

http://www.answers.com/topic/duct-tape

And there you have it. You are both right. ;-)

[Eric J in MN]

8. Is "cotton duck fabric" from an animal or a plant? nt

nt

[theHandpuppet]

10. Cotton

There is no "fabric" that I know of which is manufactured from animals. The word "fabric" derives its name from the use of fibers, ie, plant material.

[Vickers]

20. What about wool?

:shrug:

Not trying to be a smartypants or semantically splitting hairs (har!), just for my own education.

[mopinko]

22. duck is a cotton fabric

a heavy weave, much like demin. i think they used it for sails, back in the day.

[johnaries]

9. OK, it's a TIE! It's BOTH!

:P

[theHandpuppet]

11. Now you both get a cold one!

:9

[brook]

12. Duck tape, duct tape...

whatever. Anyone in the film business can tell you, it holds the world together. :)

Soooo..can I be head of FEMA?

[theHandpuppet]

16. Hell, Red Green could tell you that!

As a matter of fact, perhaps he should have been appointed as head of FEMA! :D Ol' Red knows all about fixing all the world's problems with duct tape!

[Cronus Protagonist]

18. The film business mostly uses GAFFERS tape, not duck tape

Partly because it comes in various colors to help with identifying things, making the tape "disappear" on screen and it pulls up with no residue. I'm sure duct tape is used as well, but primarily, video, film and audio people use gaffers tape at least 90% of the time.

*heh*

:)

[OneBlueSky]

13. actually, it's gaffer tape . . . for musicians, anyhow . . . n/t

.

[Oeditpus Rex]

14. I thought gaffer tape

had less tack than duct tape so it wouldn't leave residue on floors.

:shrug:

[OneBlueSky]

15. actually, you're right . . .

these days, they do make a distinct product called gaffer tape . . . but back when I was involved with the music business, it was duct tape all around . . . :)

[Lochloosa]

17. And it is the worst thing to use on A/C "ducts"

any a/c repairman will tell you that it does not hold up to the moisture and heat in the attic. I'm done...}(

[tanyev]

19. Whatever...but "Duckie" makes a great nickname.

[graywarrior]

21. Proof

[TwilightZone]

23. Better tell "Duck" that their duct tape is duck tape

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=brandPageProcessor&brandpage=duck

Even they call it duct tape.