Classic Black -- This Tape Dispenser is Dressed for Success
Written: May 17 '04
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: contemporary design, durable construction, heavy so won’t move while in use
Cons: only available in black and putty color
The Bottom Line: The Bottom Line has wrapped itself around the tape drum. Talk about sticky situations!
|
|
|
| dlstewart's Full Review: MINNESOTA MINING AND MANU. Scotch C-40 Deluxe Tape... |
Okay, raise your hand if you are excited about the tape dispenser on your desk. I’m not raising my hand either ... so maybe the world needs tape dispensers with neon light strip decoration or built-in DVD players.
Description of the C-40
Well, since I don’t have a fancy, entertaining tape dispenser, I’ll delight you with a description of the Scotch C-40 Tape Dispenser on my desk. It’s black. Black goes with everything, so it looks at home on my desk.
This dispenser has a contemporary appearance. It’s a rectangular shape, but the top of the dispenser has a nice curve for a less “boxy” look. In a further attempt at style, a recessed line runs around the entire dispenser. The plastic exterior of the C-40 is also built to withstand abuse. Even the drum that holds the tape is ingeniously constructed so that this dispenser has no removable parts.
So how does one fill the dispenser, you ask? It’s clever and took me a moment to figure it out. It’s really bad when I need an instruction manual to insert tape into a dispenser. To fill the dispenser, grasp the center drum that holds the tape roll and lift upward. The entire unit is on a free-swinging arm that raises. Simply pop the roll of tape onto the drum and lower the arm back into the dispenser until it snaps back into place with a click. Unwind the tape from the roll and cut it on the 1" wide metal serrated edge. This dispenser holds up to 3/4" wide tape on a 1" core.
Actually, this tape dispenser is heavy at 1 1/2 pounds. When the dispenser is tipped from side to side, it sounds as though it is filled with sand. Don’t drop it on your toe! Not that I’ve tried it, but I’m sure this dispenser could cause damage if thrown.
Overall, the size of this tape dispenser is 6 1/2" long x 2 1/2" wide x 2 3/4" tall. The bottom of the dispenser has two 1 1/2" square rubber feet, one at either end of the dispenser. It also comes in a choice of two colors: black or putty. This baby isn’t moving by its own.
The Joys of Tape
I’m sure you don’t need step-by-step instructions for using tape. If you are like me, you’ve probably managed to wrap your hair in the sticky stuff at some point during your life. Tape does have other useful purposes besides taping notices to walls, pictures in scrapbooks or giftwrap to presents.
Remove lint. Have you ever reached work only to find yourself covered in lint? The sticky side of tape is a quick way to remove pet hair and lint from clothes.
Fix eyeglasses. I’ll never forget the day I first started my last job. My glasses broke, and I was expected to deliver important items to a meeting. I wrapped tape to bind the two broken pieces. Not glamorous, but it saw me through the day.
Create tabs. Run out of index tabs? Fold a piece of tape, catching the edge of the paper or cardboard. Then write the index heading on your improvised tab.
Keep snacks fresh. Seal an open bag of chips with a piece of tape wrapped around the neck of the bag.
Improvise a bandage. Cut yourself with no bandage in sight? Grab a tissue and fold it into a square. Then fasten it with tape to the cut.
Safety clean-up. Ever break a glass or dish on the kitchen/cafeteria floor? After the floor is swept, use a long piece of sticky tape to pick up any small glass shards that might still be on the floor.
Seal desk cracks. If your pens, papers or PDA stylus disappears into the crack between two pieces of abutted furniture, run a piece of tape along the crack so nothing drops down it.
Labels. Stick the tape to whatever you wish to label, and write on the tape with either a ballpoint pen or permanent marker.
Likes
* contemporary design
* weighted so won’t shift on desk or table
* non-skid rubber on base bottom
* no removable pieces to lose
* easy to load tape & use
* durable plastic construction
* clean with the wipe of a cloth
Purchasing
The Scotch C-40 Tape Dispenser on my desk was purchased from Staples.com for $7.69 (they carry both black and putty colors). Officemax.com sells the black dispenser for $7.59 and does not carry the putty color. Tape is sold separately at various prices depending upon whether a single roll of tape is purchased or if buying a multi-pack.
Summary
This dispenser is a nice addition to my desk. The office has one of these same dispensers that must be at least ten or fifteen years old. It’s not as stylish as mine (looks more boxy). These dispensers are durable and worth the price. They have been dropped and manhandled, and still dispense tape as if new. Now I’m off to see what other innovative ways I can use tape! You know ... I think I have way too much time on my hands.
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
3M Commercial Office Supply Division
St. Paul, MN 55144
Toll Free Phone # 1-888-364-3577
(Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. CST)
Please read my other reviews.
Scotch Double-Coated Tape
Post-It Tape Flags
Rolodex Covered Petite Card File
Fellowes Metal Copyholder
Stanley Contemporary Electric Pencil Sharpener
Stanley Heavy-Duty Stapler for up to 120 sheets
Rubbermaid 3-Drawer File Cabinet on Wheels
Sharpie Twin-Tip Permanent Marker
HON Metal 47" Bookcase
Sharp Solar Calculator with Battery Backup
Belkin UPS Emergency Battery Backup
Copyright 2004 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.