3M 1" Core Value Tape Dispenser Black 3 Each
- Brand: 3M
- Type: Desk Supplies
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595
Heavy Duty Tape User?
Pros
Easy to install, easy to use
Cons
Takes up more space and cost more initially than disposable
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
If you use a lot of Scotch tape, then this dispenser is indispensable.
With a new job, comes a new desk with the need for new office equipment. Sure, there are big things like a new computer and tech stuff that helps with the job like a a fancy USB flash drive. But as Michael Scott once said, "Real business is done on paper". So the need for traditional office supplies such as pens, highlighters, markers, post-it, and pads of paper is still there.
So just like with my reviews on the pens, another office product I've come to study is the 3M Scotch Tape dispenser model C38BK (black version).
The Design
It looks all so tradition in black, and has a heavy base. Two rubber pads on the bottom make sure that the dispenser does not move while you pull the tape out. The included plastic hub goes inside of roll of Scotch tape - whatever kind that floats your boat. The center hub sits in a slit cut out just perfectly for the hub, which allows the roll of tape to...well...roll.
The profile of the dispenser feels so traditional without so many lines. The profile does have a swooping feel due to the fact that it needs a blade at the end and need clearance to keep the tape from sticking to any other part of the dispenser. Therefore, the design seem to be more functional, but at the same time it adds to the traditional look.
A healthy and non-intrusive Scotch logo is painted in gold color on the front fascia of the dispenser.
Installing
Installing the roll of tape to get it ready for use is a very simple task. You unbox the roll of tape, insert the center hub in the middle of the roll, and stick the hub into the slits on the dispenser. You can then pull the tape out and place it on the blade.
You're done!
In Use
Using the dispenser is even easier than the installation. Just pull the tape and snap it against the blade. You can pull as long or as short as you need it. Very small pieces of tape (such as to write protect floppies or audio cassettes) may not work well on the blade, as it is serrated. Attempting to cut small precise pieces may actually destroy the small piece of tape. Those who need a fine cut for a miniature job will require a small and sharp shears.
The Economics
Why spend the money on a dispenser, and then have to buy the tape separately? The 3M Scotch Tape dispenser (C38BK) initially cost $8.00, and a 2 pack of 3/4 inch Scotch Magic Tape cost $5. A disposable dispenser version of the same 3/4 inch Scotch Magic Tape cost #3 each. Why spend so much more?
Well, first of all, having a tape dispenser on your desk just makes it feel more "official" that this is your work space. Aside from that, it does have some financial benefits as well. A single refill of the 3/4 inch tape is 1296 inches long in a single roll. If you purchased the disposable dispenser that comes with a roll already, that roll is only 900 inches long. The $3 each for the disposables will add up eventually.
Conclusion
I don't find myself using Scotch tape all that much at home, so if you are the same boat, the space the dispenser requires may not be ideal. Also the cost benefit may not reveal itself for a very long time. For a home user, it is simply not worth it.
However, at my place of work, we often have to tape notes and labels on boxes that need to be shipped out. The labels are not permanent, since a real shipping label will eventually replace our notes (which tells our shipping department how and where to send). Thus, a tape dispenser such as the 3M Scotch Tape dispenser makes sense for this environment.
So just like with my reviews on the pens, another office product I've come to study is the 3M Scotch Tape dispenser model C38BK (black version).
The Design
It looks all so tradition in black, and has a heavy base. Two rubber pads on the bottom make sure that the dispenser does not move while you pull the tape out. The included plastic hub goes inside of roll of Scotch tape - whatever kind that floats your boat. The center hub sits in a slit cut out just perfectly for the hub, which allows the roll of tape to...well...roll.
The profile of the dispenser feels so traditional without so many lines. The profile does have a swooping feel due to the fact that it needs a blade at the end and need clearance to keep the tape from sticking to any other part of the dispenser. Therefore, the design seem to be more functional, but at the same time it adds to the traditional look.
A healthy and non-intrusive Scotch logo is painted in gold color on the front fascia of the dispenser.
Installing
Installing the roll of tape to get it ready for use is a very simple task. You unbox the roll of tape, insert the center hub in the middle of the roll, and stick the hub into the slits on the dispenser. You can then pull the tape out and place it on the blade.
You're done!
In Use
Using the dispenser is even easier than the installation. Just pull the tape and snap it against the blade. You can pull as long or as short as you need it. Very small pieces of tape (such as to write protect floppies or audio cassettes) may not work well on the blade, as it is serrated. Attempting to cut small precise pieces may actually destroy the small piece of tape. Those who need a fine cut for a miniature job will require a small and sharp shears.
The Economics
Why spend the money on a dispenser, and then have to buy the tape separately? The 3M Scotch Tape dispenser (C38BK) initially cost $8.00, and a 2 pack of 3/4 inch Scotch Magic Tape cost $5. A disposable dispenser version of the same 3/4 inch Scotch Magic Tape cost #3 each. Why spend so much more?
Well, first of all, having a tape dispenser on your desk just makes it feel more "official" that this is your work space. Aside from that, it does have some financial benefits as well. A single refill of the 3/4 inch tape is 1296 inches long in a single roll. If you purchased the disposable dispenser that comes with a roll already, that roll is only 900 inches long. The $3 each for the disposables will add up eventually.
Conclusion
I don't find myself using Scotch tape all that much at home, so if you are the same boat, the space the dispenser requires may not be ideal. Also the cost benefit may not reveal itself for a very long time. For a home user, it is simply not worth it.
However, at my place of work, we often have to tape notes and labels on boxes that need to be shipped out. The labels are not permanent, since a real shipping label will eventually replace our notes (which tells our shipping department how and where to send). Thus, a tape dispenser such as the 3M Scotch Tape dispenser makes sense for this environment.
