While moving recently, my wife and I had a lengthy discussion on where tape should be placed on a box in order to maximize strength while using the least amount of tape possible. Assuming we already taped the main opening of the box shut, how can we make sure the box doesn't break open with weighty items inside?
To me, it doesn't make sense to put tape perpendicular across the opening of a box, detailed below.
(Top/bottom of a closed box)
_________________
| | |
| | |
| | |
| - - - | - - - | <- Tape across here
| | |
| | |
|________|________|
This doesn't strengthen any weak points of the box. If anything, it may only be helping the tape that is going across the box's opening stay in place.
Although the surface area actually being touched by the tape is seemingly small, it seems that putting tape along the side openings of the box would directly strengthen the weakest point of the box, detailed below.
(Top/bottom of a closed box)
Tape along the seam here
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
_________________
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
|________|________|
↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
And along the seam here
What's the best way to tape a box closed to maximize the strength of the box relative to the amount of tape being used? (May not necessarily be one of the options described above.)