Ross Lowell shuffles off this mortal coil.

February 28, 2019 7:47 AM

There's an old saying favored by combat engineers, motorcyclists and technicians everywhere: If it doesn't move and it should, WD-40 it. If it moves and it shouldn't, gaffer-tape it. This week, Ross Lowell, Oscar-winning filmmaker and inventor of gaffer tape, met his demise. (Death of WD-40 inventor John Barry previously, h/t to SharQ for post format)
posted by Cash4Lead (29 comments total)

As a keyboard player with a slippery sustain pedal, gaffer tape has enriched my life in more ways than I can count. It truly is rolled gold.

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posted by grumpybear69 at 8:23 AM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]

Has anyone tried taping him back together? That should work. (Love gaffe tape!)
posted by drewbage1847 at 8:24 AM on February 28, 2019 [3 favorites]

There's never enough gaff tape. Years past my backstage life I still long for it when I'm fixing something solo - one hand to hold the roll, one to tear the tape, no scissors or frustration required. If only one hand is available, kneel on the roll or tuck it under the chin, tear with the one free hand.

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posted by wellred at 8:27 AM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]

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posted by praemunire at 8:37 AM on February 28, 2019

Gaffer’s tape is gold. I just taught a photo workshop to highschooler’s and since it was kind of chaotic I got out my roll and taped some cables, which inspired a lecture by their teacher about how important it is and how they don’t have any anymore because it disappears, but it’s expensive. Someday those kids will understand! My business basically has an amazon prime membership so we can order gaffer’s tape at odd times when we think of it. That was the actual reason we have it and it comes up whenever we talk about canceling.

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posted by jeweled accumulation at 8:38 AM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]

early days of film school. I'm nineteen and driving like an idiot because I'm late for a shoot and I've got all the camera gear in my car. I take a chance crossing a busy street and get nailed by an unsighted car coming from my left. The damage is mostly to the front of my car, crumpled hood, busted headlights etc, but the car still drives, if only I can do something about all the loose pieces. Which is when I remember there's some gaffer tape in the camera bag. Long story short, I gaffed the front end together and ended up only losing ten minutes getting to set. Thank you, Mr. Lowell.
posted by philip-random at 8:39 AM on February 28, 2019 [9 favorites]

... and there's a movie
posted by philip-random at 8:41 AM on February 28, 2019

One of the earliest lessons I learned in run-and-gun documentary work was to wrap some gaffer tape around a pen that can be easily pocketable instead of lugging around an entire roll of the stuff. I can't count the number of times it's been a lifesaver having some gaff tape easily at hand -- not just on productions but in daily life.

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posted by theory at 8:42 AM on February 28, 2019 [3 favorites]

Basically every time I hear someone going on about the marvels of duct tape I think "dirty sticky plebe" and mentally caress a roll of gaffer tape.
posted by cyclopticgaze at 8:42 AM on February 28, 2019 [27 favorites]

Gaffer tape has saved me from serious injury more than once. RIP.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:03 AM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]

I'm sorry for his family, but now I know the difference between gaffer tape and duct tape, and I also now know that depending on which wikipedia editor you believe, duct tape was originally called duck tape, or it wasn't.
posted by yhbc at 9:26 AM on February 28, 2019 [2 favorites]

◯
posted by sammyo at 9:31 AM on February 28, 2019 [3 favorites]

There's a special place in hell for anyone who secures a cable with duct tape instead of gaffer tape.
posted by rocket88 at 9:45 AM on February 28, 2019 [7 favorites]

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posted by Adridne at 10:18 AM on February 28, 2019

mentally caress a roll of gaffer tape.

You can't physically caress it because any roll brought to the production will be stolen the same day.
posted by 1adam12 at 10:20 AM on February 28, 2019 [7 favorites]

The man who invented gaff tape deserves far more than just a period.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Godspeed, you brilliant genius.
posted by soundguy99 at 10:58 AM on February 28, 2019 [6 favorites]

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posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 11:19 AM on February 28, 2019

All the film crews in Toronto had a minute's silence, heads bowed, hands on left hip where gaff tape hangs from belt krab.
posted by scruss at 11:31 AM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]

I had to rent some AV equipment for work a few years ago. When the guys came to install it, I told them not to worry too much about the cables, since I'd be taping them down with gaffer's tape. Shortly after that, there was some question about how we'd be using something, and they said that they'd normally not trust the customer with it, but since I owned gaffer's tape, I obviously knew what I was doing.

I'm going to go pull a couple feet off the roll and throw it on the ground in honor of Ross Lowell.
posted by jonathanhughes at 11:48 AM on February 28, 2019 [8 favorites]

I needed to build a little pedestal for our TV to elevate it above the soundbar. I built one out of scrap wood but it was winter and I didn't want to spray paint it indoors. You guessed it, gaffer tape to the rescue. Black and not shiny, it basically disappears. Thanks, Mr. Lowell.
posted by tommasz at 11:54 AM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]

As I get longer out of the arts industry my stock of gaffer gets more and more jealously guarded. I mean, there's no way I'm going to pay for it, that's what work is for.

Best I saw in theatre was a door hinged with it, one strip up each side, nothing else used. Worked fine. You need the good stuff for that though, Nashua 357 preferably.
posted by deadwax at 12:50 PM on February 28, 2019 [3 favorites]

I remember Carrie Fisher talking about wearing gaffer tape under her costume in A New Hope, because George Lucas wouldn't let her wear a bra.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:40 PM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]

The Gaff Tape Around the World blog has few entries and hasn't been updated in years, but gaff taping a broken toe is a highlight. I always appreciated that the stickiness of the adhesive, if you got a good brand, was enough that you could confidently stick pieces to yourself and have them still be sticky enough to use when you need them.

I've always loved the simplicity and clean lines of those low-budget theatrical sets that primarily consist of colored gaff and spike tape (in theaters where the audience can see the stage floor). Done right, they become tape art and not just facsimiles of a rehearsal studio.

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posted by zachlipton at 3:03 PM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]

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posted by jadepearl at 3:32 PM on February 28, 2019

🔘.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 6:56 PM on February 28, 2019

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posted by faceplantingcheetah at 4:38 AM on March 1, 2019

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posted by filtergik at 5:38 AM on March 1, 2019

A roll of gaff tape lives in my oh-shit bag, which is a zip-top canvas tote that stays packed with a comprehensive first aid kit, common hand tools, a folding saw, Bowie knife and a roll of TP in a ziploc. If I can't save the day with my oh-shit bag, it's time to call in the professionals.

Godspeed.
posted by workerant at 9:19 AM on March 1, 2019 [1 favorite]

His delightful film about brothers.
posted by SyraCarol at 12:29 PM on March 1, 2019 [2 favorites]