Cutting copper tape in half cleanly?

[skunkworx]

As many of use have discovered, copper tape only comes in a limited range of widths (preferably the thinner the better). Has anyone found 1/8" wide tape or have a clever way of splitting down a 1/4" roll? I've tried by hand and am less than excited about the results

[myxiplx]

A good craft knife, a self healing cutting board, and some electrical tape. Slice the electrical tape into inch long thin strips, and tape down the copper tape every inch.

You can carefully slice it by eye, or use a metal straight edge for a slightly neater finish.

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[kavic5150]

I have a short pair of scissors I use for the job. They have serrated edges but the effect isnt noticeable and I have to run a fingernail along the copper anyways so it smooths out the slight ruffle the scissors make along one edge.

I hold the 1/4 inch tape with my left thumb and index with the end pointing down. Then with the right I cut upwards and position the top scissor blade just to the right of center to get an even cut. The traction of the serrated blades also helps to hold the tape while I slide my thumb and index further up the tape.

It sounds tedious but once you get a rhythm it goes fairly quick.

[skunkworx]

I think I'll try the tape-down method. I'm better with a razor than with scissors, but I appreciate both suggestions equally. I may try both. You never know until you try it I suppose?

[aburkhardt]

Gus Petraits has an outstanding series on making blades. I highly recommend you watch all his videos. He uses a straight edge and tapes the copper every 2 inches.

Attaching Copper Tape.mp4 (3 min 34 sec)

[skunkworx]

I watched a couple of them. It's kind of hard to follow because they're not sequenced (or at least my phone wouldn't show them in order), but definitely some good insight. I just put in an order for 300 led's and hopefully they'll be here in a week or so. Going to try setting up some 450 blades to start off with. Looks like I have some more supplies to pick up in the mean time.

[aburkhardt]

I watched all of the before I started. Agreed they are not in order but you get many great tips throughout the builds.


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[thanasi]

Ty for that video

[Airworks]

i take my metal straitedge , and a piece of paper sided foam board, spray the foam board with super 77 spray glue ,. lay your straitedge down(so when you stick teh tape and backing to teh foam board , you lay it strait. let drya few minutes , . Now. you ahve the foam board , and copper tape with bakcing still on stuck to the board in strips. take your strait edge line up and razor blade it.
youll ahve your copper in cut strips on teh board ready to pull off , can do all your lenght cuts and everything while glued down.

[myxiplx]

That's inspired, glue the backing down!! Great tip, I'll be trying that one!

[skunkworx]

Foam board? It's that the project type stuff you find at Michael's or Joanne's? I think I have the method down in my head but I admit it's a bit confusing how it's supposed to work.

You put the face side of the copper tape down, or the white backing? I take it you don't peel it off until you're ready to slap it on the blade, right?

[flyinfool]

The other trick is to not star with 1/4 inch wide tape.
The wider the better so that it will not try to flex sideways.
Then it is easy to slice off strips with a straight edge.

Another option is to use a Top Flight Monokote Trim slicer. It is made for slicing pin stripes out of a sheet.

Ahhhhh, the good old days when you could buy 1/16 inch wide copper tape and 1/8 wide was the way heavy stuff.