BOB Essentials Series: Business Card Duct-Tape Wrap

[Gunny]

Everyone:

Occasionally I do a new series that highlights items which I consider to be essential components in any serious Bug Out Bag, Get Home Bag, or the like.

What's better is, this is one of the simpler additions anyone can add to their survival kit.

The original concept for this idea came from Kyle, I just put it into a picture narrative.

Supplies Needed:




1. Roll of Duct Tape. This pictoral used one large roll of military 90 Mile Per Hour tape.

2. A standard size business card. For this exercise, I've used a Zombie Squad card.

The concept is very simple:



1. Holding the business card lengthways, apply a strip of duct tape as shown in the photo above.



2. Wrap end over end over end, removing any bubbles or ripples in the tape as you go along. Don't be a perfectionist, but do make your wrap tight.



Wrap as much tape as you see fit. For this exercise I ended up using around 25' of duct tape by estimate. You can make your wraps as big or small as you'd like.



In the end here's what you have.



The picture above highlights the end concept. Shown on end for width compared to duplicate of original business card.



Horizontal length comparison shown against a duplicate of the original business card used.



Verticle Comparison.

This project is dead simple to do and can be done during TV commercials, or in about 3-4 minutes of focused work.



Hard to believe you can fit 25' of duct tape on this card huh?

Thoughts/comments are always welcome. Thanks for the read, and I hope you enjoyed this short series of BOB essentials.

[Jamie]

Cool way to pack on some tape...I used a slight variation on the theme in my MESA...Gorilla Tape on a prescription bottle filled with meds...





nfa

[ThatGuyFred]

I did the same thing but wrapped it around my wang


Seriously, I didn't really think of this before. I had just thrown a giant roll in my bag because I figured if my bag was big enough, why not? However I'll whip out some tape tonight and redo two of my bags. Danke

[Politenessman]

I did the same thing but wrapped it around my wang

You carry a computer in your BoB?
That must require a lot of tape

[PlatonicPimp]

I tried starting one of these the last time I organized my BOB. The gorilla tape I have was a lot stronger than regular duct tape, and I had difficulty unwrapping and wrapping simultaneously. After about 10 minutes I said "Screw it" and just tossed it into the bag. This was after I'd spent a few hours wrapping my cordage around everything I had already.

In the scouts, though, we used to do this around the canteens.

[MustangPwr]

You can do the same to a nalgene it works great foe quick fixes to gear and small items but its hard to get a good amount of tape on the bottle because when water leaks on to it the glue starts to loose its stickiness.

[Erik]

I just want to know where to get that ZS bookmark or whatever it is.

-Erik

[Gunny]

I just want to know where to get that ZS bookmark or whatever it is.

-Erik

They never read the threads

It's a ZS business card. I think evening is tossing in one or two with each store order if you want a few.

[jamoni]

See Gunny for all your merchandise plugging needs. Cool write up on a cool idea.

[tehuringa]

Nice tip Gunny..... these sort of BOB essebtial/space-saving tips are a great idea.

[hunter :(]

How well does it unroll and stick once it has been wrapped like that?

[thekessel]

Nice write up. Good photos as well. I have not tried the 90 mph tape before, but regular duct tape does not seem as sticky the second time around. It works great coming off the roll and going onto something, but the transfer makes it less sticky (like when you get a piece stuck on itself and have to unstick it). What is your experience with this issue, or is it a non-issue with the mil-spec tape?

[Gunny]

How well does it unroll and stick once it has been wrapped like that?

It unrolls just like it would off of a normal roll of 90mph. I'd listen to Kessel though, this project doesn't work as well with regular duct tape, but it does infact work.

[jamoni]

I'm lazy, so I just tear out the cardboard roll and stomp on the thing. You can put a turn of duct tape around it to keep it flat. It won't be as compact as this, but it's way faster.

[Gunny]

Bump per request.

[BHP]

Been doing this for over 15 years Gunny, reminds me that many of the simple things some of us do may not be common knowledge. I will have to take a long look at my field gear and see what else may fit into this category.

[jmcanon92]

I do this to. I am a bit obsessed with bringing enough duct tape when I go camping. I have duct tape wraped around my pack frame, my pencil, flashlight, and 1 of my all purpose camp stakes.

[Jeriah]

I keep a bit of duct tape stored in this way with me when I travel. I've been using a fair bit of it lately, to repair a busted flip-flop and I forget what else.

[Swoop411]

I keep a bit of duct tape stored in this way with me when I travel. I've been using a fair bit of it lately, to repair a busted flip-flop and I forget what else.

If Jimmy Buffet was prepared like you then we wouldnt have Margaritaville now!!

[Jeriah]

I keep a bit of duct tape stored in this way with me when I travel. I've been using a fair bit of it lately, to repair a busted flip-flop and I forget what else.

If Jimmy Buffet was prepared like you then we wouldnt have Margaritaville now!!

I think Leonard Cohen's got a line about a broken sandal strap, as well. Can't recall which song, though.

I'm from San Diego, originally. You at Pendleton? Or Miramar?

[Swoop411]

Miramar, thank God. I would lose my mind if I were at Pendleton I think. I havent been out much since I got here, got any suggestions??

[Jeriah]

Miramar, thank God. I would lose my mind if I were at Pendleton I think. I havent been out much since I got here, got any suggestions??

Best Thai food: Karinya Thai in Pacific Beach, on Grand I think (or is it Garnet?) right off of Mission Blvd.

Best beaches: for checking out hotties in bikinis, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach are ideal. They're also pretty good for surfing if you're into that kind of thing. Black's, which is clothing optional, is also very private and quiet; odds are good you'll have it almost to yourself. Access is via a rough trail down from U.C.S.D. PM me if you're planning to go down there and I'll find a map and give you better directions.

Best drinking: unfortunately most of my time in San Diego predated my drinking years, but Pacific Beach and the Gaslamp are popular. There's a good place in PB for pool, as well, though I don't recall the name.

Army-Navy stores: anything milsurp you can't get on base, check out G.I. Joe's, on 6th and Market, downtown. (My dad's an electrician, and he wired the building, many years ago.) Krasne's, next door, is a handy gun shop, although there are others.

Outdoor adventures: Green Valley Falls/Cuyamaca/the Lagunas are awesome for camping, most popular in summer. The Anza Borrego Desert is beautiful from October to April; avoid it like the plague in summer.

Local beers: the only local beer I rate worth mentioning is that made by Stone Brewing Co. in north county (Rancho Penasquitos or thereabouts). Arrogant Bastard is their flagship, it is EXCELLENT.

Oh, and check out TJ, duh, but go with a buddy and watch your six.

Feel free to PM me with any specific questions.

[Grace]

I just did this with normal duct tape and an old gift card. Very space-efficient. Thanks a lot for the how-to, Gunny.

[Gunny]

Reformatted this article's concept into a ZSS FEED article, look for it soon