Cutting a roll to make tape

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by KnottyBuoyz, Feb 15, 2010.

  1. KnottyBuoyz
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    KnottyBuoyz Provocateur & Raconteur

    Has anyone cut their own tape from a roll? It seems like an economical way to go about it. I'm just not sure how to or what would be the best method. Any ideas>
     
  2. Hunter25
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    Hunter25 Senior Member

    Edges would unravel badly.
     
  3. Ilan Voyager
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    Ilan Voyager Senior Member

    On cloth it's a disaster. You'll need also a very good saw - diammond saw works best-. It works on biaxial if you have the very good saw. For a small project, counting the price of the saw, the blades, the time spent and all the material lost during the trials, it's not worth.
     
  4. marshmat
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    marshmat Senior Member

    I've tried- as Hunter and IV suggest, it doesn't work very well. Without the woven edges of a true tape, the home-cut stuff just unravels at the edges and makes a mess.
     
  5. KnottyBuoyz
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    KnottyBuoyz Provocateur & Raconteur

    Just got a call back from the guy. It's 1708 biaxial so I'm guessin' that won't work either. If ya don't know ask eh?
    Thnx fella's.
     
  6. mark775

    mark775 Guest

    Yes, IT WORKS. It requires a different blade (I don't know the blade, a "roll slitter"). The manufacturers do it all the time (I get mine in the widths I want), for example a 38" roll cut into thirds, quarters, sixths, or halves. I get veil cut into 3.5" tape. Call the glass guy again and he'll tell you if it a blade you will want to afford. Simple just to order what you want.
     
  7. Fanie
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    Fanie Fanie

    If you can find a long enough hand saw then sharpen the blade's teet to a rough smooth similar to the steak knives you get just finer teeth like you get with a course grinding wheel. It mustn' hook the strands, just the fibers.

    A foam cutter like these electric bread knives also cuts the glass faily well. Electric bread knives are too light for the job. I bought the biggest foam cutter and it just makes it.

    The sides does ravel out a bit, handle carefully.
     
  8. Zed
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    Zed Senior Member

    I thought it was doable with a band saw?
     
  9. KnottyBuoyz
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    KnottyBuoyz Provocateur & Raconteur

    Thnx Fanie. If found the old thread where we discussed this before. I've looked at those foam cutters $$$$$ yikes. I know a guy who's a whiz at sharpening knives and I'm gonna ask him for ideas.
     
  10. KnottyBuoyz
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    KnottyBuoyz Provocateur & Raconteur

    Gonna give it a try! Small scale though, see what happens.
     
  11. Ilan Voyager
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    Ilan Voyager Senior Member

    It's feasible with a band saw. In fact it's the best tool for that if you use a blade made for that. Diamond blades that look like the tile or hard stone blades give the best results at my knowledge and experience. An important thing is to warp the roll with wire or anything convenient each side of the cut line, very tightly. The purpose is to forbid the glass layers of moving and sliding.
    Good mask and goggles are mandatory.
     
  12. Zed
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    Zed Senior Member

    I think I saw pictures of a guy compressing the roll with cling wrap then cutting it?!
     
  13. Rogue Wave
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    Rogue Wave New Member

    I do it all the time Fanie's way, and it's super easy.

    Start with an old wood hand saw, then use a 36 grit disc on a 5000 rpm (or whatever) grinder to sharpen the opposite side (not the side with teeth).

    You just want to put a little bit of "bite" onto the edge, not make it perfectly sharp.

    Wrap masking tape around the area you're going to cut, then cut through it so it doesn't unravel.

    Rotate the roll as you cut.

    You'll be amazed at how quickly you can cut through a roll of cloth if your saw is set up right.

    Good luck and I hope this works for you!
     
  14. fcfc
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    fcfc Senior Member


  15. KnottyBuoyz
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    KnottyBuoyz Provocateur & Raconteur

    Thnx Rogue

    Ahhhhhh Wasaga Beach! Brings back some fond memories!

    Thnx again.
     
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