Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Hey Jim, I've never tried the Nitrile bands. I have used the Green textured kind from Forest Classics.
Bought the 2mm and some 1/4" flat that I can't find right now. I used the green yesterday and it works
fine if you don't mind the color. As a rule the Wilesco springs is what I reach for.

I use 2mm poly cord ,works perfect for me , strong enough to run everything , thin enough to go round 3/8" pulleys. I am on my second batch of 200' , I use black and buy it from Dunham rubber...its pricey per foot though. I have lots of 3mm green belting , not my favourite... To stiff and designed for slippage (which it will) I simply heat the ends & join, trim off with a toe nail clippers.

Thanks for the replies Bruce & Ben.

This cutter is not needed but thought I would share, basicly if your knife is not wicked sharp the rubber will compress to oval before the knife jumps thru then when rubber springs back to relaxed the end cut will have some contour. We throw these cutters out all the time at work but the tool is shown "open" and you push rubber thru correct hole size and squeeze shut, the round hole supports the rubber and you get better cuts, any little thing helps as the glue area is so small. Another thing is a New double edge razor blade for shaver is significantly sharper than exacto blade and thinner, this helps reduce deformed cuts as well. A homemade version of this tool would be just fine. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

I sometimes use the spring belts but prefer the nitrile rubber or poly sort sort, as I paint most of my engines green the bright green colour does not bother me. Depending on the type and thickness I super glue or melt the ends together free hand ( my thumb says ouch that stuff in hot)

O ring material arrived and bought some of this and it literally welds it together as strong as if there is no join -

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