How durable is copper tape?

[philo426]

How durable is copper tape? seems awlfully thin!(Studio Pro copper tape)

[waaytoomuchintothis]

There two thicknesses available commonly, others for stained glass craftsmen. Either of the two common thicknesses will last longer than your interest in the current track, and that's a fact. I stripped 17 year old tape from my current track when I started work restoring it, and it was very nicely stuck down, and NO wear-throughs, which amazed me. My old track had a place where the tape had corroded a bit and I retaped that section, but I could just as well have sanded or Brasso'd it to bring back full conductivity. If I wasn't using that as an excuse to re-rout the slot in a different path, I might not have re-taped at all.

P.S.- I should add that what is critical is using fresh tape. I do stained glass art, so I have a bunch of this stuff at all times, and I recently learned that the glue can dry out, making it peel up within a year. Just don't leave the package open for years at a time!

[philo426]

I went to Hobby Lobby and bought some today.Considering the price of copper it was only 7 bucks! They had plenty too if i need more.what is even better is that the wiring was explained very clearly in another thread.Thank goodness for this forum!

[waaytoomuchintothis]

I was about to give you the stained glass artist's supply link for a better price, but there's not that much difference. The price went up since I bought any. I assume you bought 1/4 inch at that price. I wanted to steer people away from the creeps at Hooby Looby, you see. Bad folks.

[philo426]

I take it you had a bad experience?

[Xr4ti]

If you run real horsepower on copper tape it will tear it up. Depending on the application, if what you have in mind is todays 1/32 homeset cars, you should have no problem, or at least a minimum of issues. The big power and heavy vintage cars I ran on my figure 8 required that I do repair work on a regular basis. Since I'm running steel rail on plastic now, these problems have vanished. An occasional cleaning of the rail is all that is required + I get downforce, something you can't get from copper.

Xr4ti

[bobbyraz49]

[bobbyraz49]

[HomeRacingWorld]

The tape you bought is fine.

I used it for many years on my oval that has countless laps. The occasional break would happen but easily fixed. We raced a variety of models from vintage to modern.

I am 99% sure you will be happy.

[philo426]

I plan on running 1/24.i will keep tape on hand if it tears it up .Should i use pine,poplar or Masonite?

[waaytoomuchintothis]

Oh, I see I assumed you were further along. Use either regular weight or lightweight 3/4 inch MDF. In some situations, you can save money by using 1/2 inch, but it depends on your situation.

Hooby Looby is the outfit that got away with telling their employees that couldn't use birth control and be on the health care benefits prescription plan. Creeps.

[HomeRacingWorld]

Ok, Rob please. You know I don't like that kinda stuff on here. It just starts a storm...you KNOW that.

This one is done.