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How To Tape Your Ceiling Hook, Haligan And Tools

Posted On 28 Apr 2014
By : John Hayowyk Jr.
Comments: 6

Why Tape Our Tools?

Because when our gloves are soaking wet and we’re using our hook trying to hook a ceiling or wall our hands slide all over the shaft of the hook or other tool.   This is frustrating and inefficient.

Here’s how to fix that: Put a grip on your tools and be a more effective firefighter.

Materials Needed

The materials necessary to obtain a better grip consists of using oxygen tubing and sports grip tape. These can be purchased at your local pharmacy and sporting goods store or online at Amazon.com .  The cost is minimal but the reward of having a tool that won’t slip through your hands is great. Note: There can be some substitutes for the oxygen tubing. You can use paracord, twisted up shoe laces, or grip tape that has been twisted up onto itself.

The tape & hose needed for adding grip to your tools.

The tape & hose needed for adding grip to your tools.

Here Are The 3 Steps To Add a Grip To Your Tools:

Step 1:

Be sure to clean the entire tool with a simple degreaser to remove any oils, dust, soot, or ash before you begin to wrap your tool.

Step 2:

Secure the oxygen tubing at the top of the shaft with a piece of sports grip tape. Wrap the oxygen tubing around the shaft of the tool spacing it approximately 3î apart. Secure the tubing about every 9î as you wrap it going down the shaft of the tool until you reach where you want to stop.

Step 2 -

Step 2 – Secure the tubing to the tool in a spiral fashion with pieces of the tape

 

Step 3:

Begin the wrap over the oxygen tubing with the grip tape pulling tightly as you wrap the tape down the shaft. Wrap the tape at an angle and overlap about half of the tape from the previous wrap to ensure complete coverage. Once the tape has been completely applied to the shaft area with the tubing; cut the tape and tightly apply the last portion to the tool. Then take your hands and grip the tool tightening the grip tape to the tool.

Step 3 - Wrap the tool and tubing with the athletic tape

Step 3 – Wrap the tool and tubing with the athletic tape

Finished

FirefighterToolbox_Tool_Handle_Gripped

Special Notes

FirefighterToolbox_Tools_With_GripSlightly lubricate the working parts of the tool with a little oil.

If during the course of firefighting operations the tape rips, you can simply re-tape the shaft and it will look and work as if it was new.

When your tool wrapping project is complete, be proud to show it off and pass the knowledge along. (Post A picture below)

 

Stay Safe!

About the Author
John Hayowyk Jr. has been in the fire service for over 20 years. He is currently a Lieutenant for the City of Passaic FD in NJ (Ladder 1). John is also a NJ Certified Level 2 Fire Service Instructor and teaches at Passaic & Sussex County Public Safety Academies. He also heads up of the Training Division for the Roxbury Twp. Volunteer Fire Dept. John is an active Fire Inspector & Arson Investigator and also maintains his EMT certification. John has a passion for teaching all levels of education in the fire service. He enjoys when he is able to see the A-Ha moment in his students and fellow firefighters when they master the skill or fully understand the information that they are given. John also continues to his education in various classes and courses to maintain his knowledge and skills.
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6 Comments

  1. Greg April 28, 2014 at 12:40 pm

    As an alternate to the O2 hose you can take a piece of tape and do the same. Just pull a long enough length of tape off the roll and before you cut it off hang the roll at the bottom and give it a spin. The tape will twist up into rope/sting that can then replace the O2 line.

    Cheers, Greg

  2. Matt Ebersold April 28, 2014 at 10:32 pm

    Another alternative is using paracord. It takes a little bit longer to put on, but I think it last longer and will take more abuse. If anyone needs pictures let me know. Keep it safe!

  3. Eric June 21, 2014 at 12:14 pm

    Greg, you must be Canadian. This is how any good hockey player tapes his stick. Take the “sports grip tape” aka stick tape, and unroll it a couple of feet. Don’t rip it off yet, instead, give the roll a spin. This will cause the tape to form a nice little string. Now you can make your grip.

    Less material, less time spent fighting it.

  4. Greg Howard June 22, 2014 at 1:29 pm

    Indeed!

  5. Nick August 22, 2014 at 12:06 pm

    Do you just wrap the paracord in place of the tubing?

  6. Matt Ebersold August 22, 2014 at 12:16 pm

    It is a series of half hitches. Email me if you would like pictures. [email protected]

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