3M 130C Rim Tape

[Dingus Khan]

So I'm in the garage replacing a blown tube on my son's Wally World Huffy, when I notice his rim tape is VERY thin and folded over in several places. I try to straighten it out, but it's just no good. I had an epiphany, and thought "Hmmm, electrical tape?". So, I start rummaging in the old tool box and find this:

3M 130C Rubber splicing tape.

I start wrapping the rim, and come up with this:

It looks pretty beefy, and should work pretty well. I'll pass on results, positive or negative.

 

[user 135]

Rim Tape can be almost anything except duct tape. Nice thinking.

 

[ifitsfreeitsforme]

I use that splicing tape as a first wrap on my road bike bars before wrapping the bar tape over that. Makes a nice thick bar, with better cushioning.

 

[Dingus Khan]

^ that's pretty smart. I'll have to put that tip in the mental rolodex.

 

[chimichanga]

I used to use electrical tape all the time for rim strips.

 

[JunkYardGuy]

Duct tape also works well, I have used it several times with no problems.

 

[Houndog]

I used the same stuff a few weeks ago,made me feel cheap and degraded,but it works...

 

[deorman]

Actual rim tape works pretty well. :mrgreen: Old schood bandage tape looks pretty much like the same stuff. :| I've used electrical in a pinch, but I wouldn't trust it much for any real speed, distance, or off road work.

 

[yoothgeye]

I'm sticking with cutting up old tubes. 16" for 20" rim, 20" for 26" rim. I keep lots of old tubes and the seams around the tube give you a line to cut around.

 

[clamdigger]

I also use the electrical splicing tape ,not on rims, but for protecting handle bars or the paint on frames when mounting clamps. The rubber is soft and does not hold up as well as inner tubes. I guess if the tops of the spoke nipples are smooth, the splicing tape will hold up for a while.When I needed to make do for a rim strip alternative I used Scotch Strapping Tape ( nylon filament reinforced ) on a mountain bike. Works good.

 

[Road Master]

OK, I'm lazy - I just grab a handful of the $1 rim strips at my LBS every so often when I'm in there. Robert

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

I'm cheap , i'v been using Electrical tape for years, i get it at my local ACE Hardware for .99 cents a roll ! :wink:

 

[Henry morgan]

I'm cheap , i'v been using Electrical tape for years, i get it at my local ACE Hardware for .99 cents a roll ! :wink:

ralph .. you did not have to tell us... we all know your cheap :lol: I have dont it on 24 inch wheels.. a couple of times...
I go around the wheel three time stay to one side all the way around... then come around again on the other side.. then down the
middle for just to lock it in . has worked well ...

 

[scrumblero]

I tried E-tape once, worked fine, but absolutely would not come off in one piece after a couple weeks. took me a good hour to pick it off .. :x

 

[Dingus Khan]

Good to know I'm not the only stubborn knucklehead that only uses what's in their garage to kludge things together.