Finding a proper all around duct tape should be easy considering the amount of choices we have, but after looking closely it isn’t that obvious what to choose.
As one of the world leaders 3M has always been one of our top potential choices for this review.
Products chosen for this comparison:
3M 1900 tape – clickable link
3M 3939 tape – clickable link
3M 6969 tape – clickable link
3M DT8 tape – clickable link
3M DT11 tape – clickable link
3M DT17 tape – clickable link
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Why such choices and comparison.
We wanted to test professional grade lineups from 3M. The problem is that many tapes are hard to judge by their descriptions and the specs they have – overlap.
In general what we noticed is that DT8/11/17 seems to be the new lineup, and 3939/6969 being the older one, nevertheless both are presently produced.
This review was not sponsored by any vendors. Some of the links in our video descriptions are affiliate, which means at no extra cost to you, we will make a small commission if you click them and make a purchase. As Amazon Associates we earn from qualifying purchases. These help us to create more content for you. Thank you for your support!
PRODUCT SPECS (as provided by the manufacturer):
1900
Elongation at Break 15 %
Tensile Strength (Metric) 33 N/100mm
Total Tape Thickness without Liner (Imperial) 5.8 mil
Total Tape Thickness without Liner (Metric) 0.15 mm
DT8
Elongation at Break 19 %
Tensile Strength (Metric) 42 N/cm
Total Tape Thickness without Liner (Imperial) 8 mil
Total Tape Thickness without Liner (Metric) 0.2 mm
3939
Elongation at Break 17 %
Tensile Strength (Metric) 47.3 N/100mm
Total Tape Thickness without Liner (Imperial) 8.6 mil
Total Tape Thickness without Liner (Metric) 0.22 mm
DT11
Elongation at Break 19 %
Tensile Strength (Metric) 50.8 N/100mm
Total Tape Thickness without Liner (Imperial) 11 mil
Total Tape Thickness without Liner (Metric) 0.28 mm
6969
Elongation at Break 16 %
Tensile Strength (Metric) 59.5 N/100mm
Total Tape Thickness without Liner (Imperial) 10 mil, 10.7 mil
Total Tape Thickness without Liner (Metric) 0.25 mm, 0.27 mm
DT17
Elongation at Break 13 %, 18 %
Tensile Strength (Metric) 66.5 N/100mm
Total Tape Thickness without Liner (Imperial) 17 mil
Total Tape Thickness without Liner (Metric) 0.43 mm
PACKAGE CONTENTS:
Due to a big difference in thickness, the actual length provided in rolls differs.
1900, 3939, 6969, DT8, DT11 all have the same length of 54.8m.
However one roll of the DT17 has only 32m in length, it is also the most difficult one to find in stores and usually costs the most.
PRICES:
Prices will vary depending where you buy and may go all over the place starting from $8 per unit and up even to $30. Respectively the 1900 “value series” has been the cheapest at $8 and the DT17 and 6969 the most expensive at around $20.
TESTS:
1 – being best
6 – being worst
Test 1: Tear & Finger Stickiness
All tapes proved to be relatively easy to tear by hand. We also verified how sticky they feel and whether they leave any marks, stains or residue on your fingers.
1. DT17 – very high hold, no residue
2. DT11 – high hold, no residue
3. 6969 – medium+ hold, no residue
4. DT8 – medium hold, very elastic, no residue
5. 3939 – light+ hold, no residue
6. 1900 – light hold, no residue
Test 2: Stick to Fabric/Cloth
A use case for this task could be lav microphones that are very commonly stuck to clothes. In this test thickness plays a big role, since the thicker the tape is, the harder it is to hide/conceal it from the view. Based on the price, thickness and stickiness the value 1900 proved to be the best option. DT8 is on par, a bit more expensive, but because it is more flexible, it may actually be a better choice in some applications.
1. 1900 – medium hold, thin – easy to hide on clothes
2. DT8 – medium hold, thin – easy to hide on clothes
3. DT11 – high hold, thick – hard to hide on clothes
4. 6969 – medium hold, thick – hard to hide on clothes
5. 3939 – light hold, medium thick – hard to hide on clothes
6. DT17 – high hold, very thick – very hard to hide on clothes
Test 3: Wood
We took a clean flat cutting board and tested how well the tape samples stuck to it. Overall DT11 and 6969 showed the best results, but because DT11 is a tad stickier we gave it the first place .
1. DT11 – very high hold
2. 6969 – high hold
3. DT17 – high hold
4. 1900 – medium hold
5. DT8 – light hold
6. 3939 – very light hold
Test 4: Plastic
Plastic surfaces showed a good preference for thick tapes. Thinner tapes did not stick as well, nevertheless all of them were comparable. Only the DT17 turned out to be significantly stronger than the others.
1. DT17 – very high hold
2. DT11 – high hold
3. 6969 – medium hold
4. 3939 – medium hold
5. 1900 – light hold
6. DT8 – light hold
Test 5: Rusty Iron
Typical rusty, weathered outdoor railings. These tasks are particularly difficult since rust is hard to work with. The results are different this time. DT11 being the best and 1900 being the runner up. Surprising result for the consumer 1900 since this is a typical industrial application for pro grade tapes.
1. DT11 – high hold
2. 1900 – medium hold
3. DT17 – medium hold
4. 6969 – light hold
5. DT8 – light hold
6. 3939 – very light hold
Test 6: Plastering
A typical use case: you need to tie somebody and stick them to a wall. You have to choose the right tool for it.
1. DT17 – very high hold
2. DT11 – high hold
3. DT8 – medium hold
4. 3939 – medium hold
5. 6969 – light hold
6. 1900 – light hold
DT17 was magnitudes better than the other tapes, it’s also much stronger since it’s thicker. A conclusive victory here. 1900 showed the worst result here.
Test 7: Concrete
Concrete applications are quite typical for construction applications. This test showed a different result, 3939 being the best for the first time. Re-tested it twice to double check and indeed 3939 was the best. DT17, DT11, 6969 were all comparable.
1. 3939 – high hold
2. DT17 – medium hold
3. DT11 – medium hold
4. 6969 – medium hold
5. DT8 – light hold
6. 1900 – very light hold
Test 8: Strength
Strength was tested subjectively, without any measuring tools. We stuck the tape between two rods and tried to break it using muscle strength. The results were very close to the specs. The thicker the tape, the harder it was to break it. But some exceptions also occurred where 3939 did not show good results.
1. DT17 – very hard to break, medium elongation
2. DT11 – hard to break, very good elongation
3. 6969 – medium effort to break, medium elongation, feels dry and not flexible
4. DT8 – easy to break, very good elongation, feels more flexible than the others
5. 3939 – very easy to break, weak elongation, feels dry
6. 1900 – very easy to break, weak elongation, feels very thin
CONCLUSIONS:
3M 1900 – link
Overall an interesting tape. Cheap, easy to find, light and surprisingly capable for the price. Lost to the other tapes, but will do the job for the 90% of typical minor daily household repair activities.
3M DT8 – link
Somewhat different from the other tapes, feels softer and more elastic than the others. Shows the best results for applications where a thin flexible tape is needed. A better choice over the 1900 if the price is right.
3M 3939 – link
Marketed as industrial grade, but practically is not much different from the 1900 value series. The closest competitor of the DT8 but is inferior to the latter in almost every aspect except the thickness and stickiness to concrete. Recommended for purchase only if the price is very good, otherwise the DT8 or DT11 is a better choice.
3M DT11 – link
Similar to the 6969 in specs, but has a better adhesion, elasticity and overall strength. DT11 is our overall winner for this entire competition. Good all rounder, can handle both lightweight applications and some more demanding tasks as well. Is thicker than the DT8, so for the extreme lightweight concealed tasks the DT8 will be better. But, if we were to choose the one and only as a universal solution – it would be the DT11.
3M 6969 – link
A thicker version of 3939, overall very similar. Has thickness on par with the DT11, but it has lost to the latter in almost all of the tests. Recommended to purchase only in case it can be found for a much cheaper price than the DT11.
3M DT17 – link
A specialty tape, very thick, feels like cloth rather than duct tape. The stickiest of all, the strongest of all. But due to a very high thickness it is not suitable for lightweight tasks and feels too bulky. Also the most expensive and hard to find. Each roll is twice as short as the others.
If we were to choose the one and only, which one would that be?
Answer: Probably the DT11, it is the most balanced of them all.