Duct tape, Part II: from hoofs to hems

Beverly R. Couto of Mount Holly, N.C., says: "My husband keeps a roll in his saddlebags when he goes trail riding. While on the trail, another horse's shoe came loose. John wrapped the hoof and shoe with duct tape until it could be repaired. Worked great! I guess duct tape even has horsepower!"

Ellen Daugharty of South Jordan, Utah, says: "I baby-sit my 18-month-old granddaughter, and she loves to take off her pants and then her disposable diaper and run around laughing at her great accomplishment. I fixed her with duct tape. Now when I put on a clean diaper, I also add about a 4-inch strip of duct tape on top of the diaper fasteners. She laughs when I do this because she knows she can't take off her diaper."

Mrs. Melvin Gass of Troy, Ohio, says: "Several years ago when a delivery truck wrecked a rear corner of our travel trailer, my husband duct-taped the corner of the trailer where the siding was torn loose in order to keep the rain from going inside the trailer."

Gordon Hartley of Texarkana, Texas, says: "A man showed me a great trick about carrying duct tape. You usually don't need much for an emergency repair, so he cut up an old broom handle into 3-inch lengths and wrapped about 2 feet of duct tape around each piece. How handy to just toss in the glove box, purse or tackle box and always have a little bit there when you need it."

Margaret Lou Burges of Seguin, Texas, says: "When my daughter was in high school, she bought a pair of jeans, and of course she wanted to wear them to a dance that night. I knew that I would never get them hemmed in time for her to wear that evening, so I used duct tape on the inside. She went to the dance, had a great time, and the duct tape stayed in place all evening."

Linda Pritchard of Monroe, La., says: "My favorite way to use duct tape is to line the bottom and about 3 inches up the sides of the kids' new backpacks. I have four boys, and they're pretty rough, even on expensive backpacks. This keeps spiral notebooks, pens and pencils from poking a hole through the bottom."

Heloise: "Use parchment paper, place several strips on both sides and then fold in 3- or 4-inch lengths. I carry these in my purse and luggage."

Debby in Nederland, Texas, says: "When my son started high school, he was supplied with folders for each of his classes. But to his liking he took one folder and applied duct tape all around it. This folder lasted him his high-school career. We laughed when he started college and actually bought a new folder."

Again, I send out thanks to all those who took the time to drop us a line! —Heloise

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column. © King Features Syndicate Inc.