The duct tape kid

Thirteen-year-old Christopher Pickard of Sheffield catches up with some good reading with his favorite book, “The Jumbo Duct Tape Book.” The son of Sam and Toni Pickard, Christopher is an eighth-grader at Bureau Valley South in Buda. (BCR photo/Donna Barker)

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SHEFFIELD — There’s no question about it. Christopher Pickard of Sheffield knows his duct tape.

In fact, his dad, Sam, says Christopher lives for duct tape.

At age 13, Christopher is an eighth-grader at Bureau Valley South, where he likes his math classes best and is a member of the Scholastic Bowl and the Robotics team. But his real passion is duct tape.

One of Christopher’s favorite books is his autographed copy of “The Jumbo Duct Tape Book,” by Jim Berg and Tim Nyberg. According to the book, the one rule which can get you through life is “If it ain’t stuck and it’s supposed to be, duct tape it.”

Christopher even likes to wear a black T-shirt that displays his apparent motto- “When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.”

However, working with duct tape is more than just a fun hobby for Christopher. It’s his business.

Three years ago, Christopher made his first duct tape wallet as a Boy Scout project. About 60 wallets and 10 purses later, Christopher hasn’t lost his enthusiasm for duct tape. In fact, it’s growing.

When a neighbor recently had a snake in the driveway, it was Christopher’s plan to lay down a duct tape trap for the reptile. Unfortunately, the snake escaped before the trap could be set.

But the possible uses of duct tape are practically limitless, it seems.

Christopher’s next plan is to design and make for himself a pair of silver duct tape pants. Since, by definition, duct tape pants can only be made of duct tape, there will be no snaps or zipper. When asked how he planned to keep his duct tape pants up, Christopher was not flustered.

“That’s easy, with a duct tape belt,” the Sheffield boy said.

Though today’s duct tape comes in a wide variety of colors, from neon orange to camouflage to sky blue, Christopher said he still favors the original silver color.

Christopher said he likes making things from duct tape because it’s something he can do while watching television. He keeps his rolls of duct tape in a small suitcase, along with his cutting and measuring tools.

Christopher estimated he can make four wallets out of one large roll of duct tape. To make a purse, Christopher will use slightly more than one roll. There is no cardboard used in any of his wallets or purses. It’s strictly tape against tape.

The wallets sell for $3 each, and the purses are $15 each.

Christopher said he has marketed his duct tape products primarily through word of mouth. He does have his own business card, Duct Tape Unlimited, and would also like to develop his own Web site.

His father said 90 percent of Christopher’s duct tape creations have been sold. His son is definitely a budding entrepreneur, Sam said.

“It’s good for him to have this goal to make some money, to come up with the idea on his own and to execute it on his own,” Sam said. “We haven’t pushed him at all. I’m very proud of him.”

As far as a future career in duct tape, Christopher said he’s keeping an open mind. He’d like to go into engineering some day. Now he just has to figure out a way to make buildings and bridges from duct tape.

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