Candice LandauLast Updated on April 29, 2024 by Candice Landau
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As a traveling (and sometimes teaching) diver, one of my biggest gripes is losing double enders and bolt snaps to others. I don’t think this usually happens as a result of malice, or intentional theft, the truth is, all bolt snaps and double enders look the same. While I wouldn’t normally care too much about losing cheap odds and ends, the reality is, these simple accessories aren’t all that cheap. One of them usually runs me about $13, if I’m buying it in stainless steel, which, to be perfectly frank is the only way you should buy them for longevity.
Using 3D paint on metal like this doesn’t last, nor do Sharpie marks. For a while I experimented with adding string to them, but to be honest, it’s a pain attaching it in a fashion that stays on, and it has the tendency to fray/move after a bit of time.
Enter self-fusing silicone tape. This stuff is AMAZING. Not only does it not leave ugly, grungy marks, but it’s also easy to remove and useful for a ton of other things. Since purchasing it, I’ve used it on dive gear AND to fix permanently underwater parts (think my toilet cistern).
How I use self-fusing silicone tape to mark my stainless steel
I’ve purchased a couple of rolls of this stuff. One in yellow and one in pink (the one in pink is from a different brand). I’ll get to why TWO in a second.
To use it, cut a small strip of the tape from the roll. Six inches should work. From there, cut it in half, lengthwise (don’t worry, it’s not sticky, though it does stick to itself super well, so be careful not to let it touch itself).
Start by wrapping the tape around the bolt snap or double ender. Pull it taught as you wrap it in the middle. Over and over itself, creating a brightly colored band. If you’re worried about others doing the same (this is my idea though, so they’ll have to have read this post), take another colored piece of the same tape, cut it to whatever shape or size you like and place it over your original round of tape. I liken this to a cave cookie. Every cave diver has a unique or signed cookie. In this same way you can make your own unique “signed” bolt snap. Perhaps a thin line of pink around a barrel of yellow? Or two slivers of different colors one next to the other.
I started doing this about 1.5 years ago and have not had the tape come off ever. I dive a lot and I dive in sometimes harsh conditions. I’m hard on my gear. The tape has never peeled. Honestly, it’s the reason I’m writing this post. This stuff is gold. I’m pretty sure plumbers know that but now, well, I hope you as a diver know it too.
If you give this a try, let me know how it works for you!
