Nature Nectar

Johnson Level & Tool J236 36" Aluminum Yardstick

List Price: $3.30

Here's your basic yardstick that no one should be without. Heavy duty aluminum construction for a lifetime of use. Read more...

Aluminum Yardstick (36 inches long)

Features: End to end calibrations Lightweight low-priced but sturdy Front side has yard marks and 16ths while the back is blank for imprinting

Aluminum yardstick...End to end calibrations. Front side has yard marks and 16ths while the back is blank for imprinting. Lightweight low-priced but sturdy. Measures 1/16 inches thick 1 1/8 inces wide x 36 inches long. Photo anodized imprints only. Read more...

Westcott Anodized Aluminum Yardstick, Silver

List Price: $14.99 Price: $14.96 You Save: $0.03 (%)

Features: Hang up hole Imperial scale in 16ths, metric in millimeters Smooth, non-rust matte finish Durable lightweight aluminum

Westcott Aluminum Rulers for the Professionalfor anyone.for all of your needs. Anodized, aircraft quality aluminum. Lightweight and durable with a smooth, non-rust, matte finish. Westcott Aluminum Rulers are a popular choice for professionals in the home, office or school. Read more...

Scotch Transparent Duct Tape, 2 Inches x 20 Yards, Clear (2120-A)

List Price: $9.80 Price: $6.76 You Save: $3.04 (31%)

Features: Tears easily by hand lengthwise and crosswise. Can be used on plastic, wood, glass, metal, vinyl and rubber. Clear color makes repairs less obvious. Strong enough to tackle almost any repair project in or around the home, vehicle, boat, or job site

This clear duct tape makes repairs less obvious, yet still withstands extreme temperatures and harsh UV rays. Even though the tape is heavy-duty, it still tears easily by hand, both lengthwise and crosswise. The durable design lasts six-times longer than other heavy-duty duct tapes. Plus, it can be used on a variety of surfaces, including plastic, wood, glass, metal, vinyl and rubber. Global Product Type: Tapes, Tape Type: Duct, Adhesive Material: N/A, Tape Special Feature: Removable. Read more...

It's not often the word revolutionary can be associated with duct tape, that old, sticky standby used in plumbing repairs, hockey stick augmentation, and homeland security protection. By getting the gray out--and avoiding the "sore thumb" look of typical duct tape repairs--3M's Scotch Transparent Duct Tape can indeed lay claim to a revolution of the toolbox. But seeing through it is just the start. This duct tape can be easily torn by hand, is UV resistant, and, through accelerated weathering tests, has been shown to last six times longer than its old-school namesake.

Duct tape has been around since 1942 when the military needed a waterproof tape for sealing ammunition boxes. Originally colored green, it was referred to as "duck tape" due to its moisture resistance as well as its cotton duck construction--the same ribbed cloth used in bandages. After the war, it was adopted by contractors working in the booming housing industry, where it got its "duct" name for easily connecting heating and air conditioning ducts.

History's fine, but what can 3M's new, clear duct tape do for us? Virtually anything. First, we noticed its powerful stickiness--the roll itself adheres to just about any surface when laid on its side. As advertised, the tape was easily torn from the roll by hand with minimal force. 3M also seems to have ironed out one of the biggest complaints about duct tape: wrinkles. In our testing, we applied it repeatedly and evenly without the tape sticking to itself and without creating odd bumps and creases. And while the tape is rather sticky, it doesn't go overboard, easily lifting off surfaces when we needed it to and not leaving the tacky, viscous residue often found with other duct tapes.

As for its transparency, the tape blended well into just about any surface we applied it to. It was never "invisible" but did have the chameleon-like quality of reflecting the surface beneath it and only calling attention to itself when caught in direct light. Also, we placed bands of the tape over our computer monitor before writing this review (don't try this at home, kids). Peering through the fabric ribs was a nuisance, but we were able to compose the description you're now reading. How's that for transparency?

Our only complaint is that, as with most transparent tapes, finding where to start peeling the roll can be difficult. While this certainly isn't a showstopper, we did find a solution: mounting the roll onto a tape gun.

Tape, by its nature, is not a terribly exciting product (or topic). But 3M's Scotch Transparent Duct Tape is truly a tipping-point entrant, one that may someday become ubiquitous and banish gray duct tape to the nether reaches of our tool sheds, and memories. --Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

• Transparent, easily blends into the surface background
• Easily torn from the roll with minimal force
• Sticky, but not too sticky
• Adheres smoothly without wrinkles or creases

• So transparent that finding where to start peeling the roll can be difficult