Packing tape

Packing tape is strong and will keep your package together during shipment. You should never pack a shipment with scotch tape or masking tape as it will not hold. Strong packing tape is usually clear, although sometimes it is opaque in color. You can buy packing tape in any office supply store or a store that sells moving supplies. You can even get small rolls of packing tape at your local drug store.

Scotch tape

This is a name brand of tape that is referred to all clear tape. This tape has little adhesive quality, is not very strong and comes in either shiny finish or invisible so that you can hardly see the tape lines. You use this to wrap presents. Because it is clear, it does not show when you are wrapping. It is available just about anywhere and can be found in most stores in bundles. If you buy it in bulk, you can save money.

Double Sided Tape

Double sided tape is used to hang up pictures as well as for craft projects. Both sides of the tape are adhesive, but this tape is not usually very strong. It can be used to hang small photos or for some minor projects. It is also used to affix ribbons and other items to presents and parcels.

Masking Tape

This is also called painter's tape. Masking tape comes in different types of strengths. It used to be the primary tape used for packing until stronger packing tape was created. Masking tape today is used to cover up writing on boxes for shipping purposes. Painter's tape is much less adhesive and is used to cover woodwork and areas that you do not want to drip paint on when you are painting walls and ceilings in your home. The painter's tape is easily removed without tearing along any other tape.

There are many purposes of all types of tape. Tape is something that we use to repair paper that gets torn. Most tape will yellow over age but the adhesive quality will hold. If you are looking for tape, you can find it in just about any type of store.

Most tape today comes with its own dispenser that has a serrated edge, making it easier to cut the tape for the project. You can, however, save money by buying adhesive tape that is made for a dispenser and buying a dispenser.