CenturionIM

I am working on rehabbing my Araya 27" X 1" wheels with new rim tape/tube/tires. Got my velox recently in 16mm and tried to wrap the wheels tonight. When I fit the roll to the rim, it was too wide

okay, I guess I just have to cut it narrower. Proceed to do this with a pair of scissors. Tape won't cut. It kind of squiggles in between the 2 blades no matter what I try

What am I doing wrong here? How do you cut these tapes, with a razor?

Bill Kapaun

You need better scissors

southpawboston

You need a sharper pair of scissors.

rootboy 

Oo. That's tough duty. I'd just get another roll of the proper width.

Michael Angelo 

looks like you need 10mm width.

JohnDThompson 

+1 this.

CenturionIM

I don't know why I didn't think of measuring the rim width. In my mind was just like 1" =25 mm > 16mm no problemo. not.

Anyone can suggest a pair of scissors? I feel like the officeMax pair I've got has way better quality than any walmart stuff already.

ksisler

This is something one measures before ordering...

DiegoFrogs

The outside width of the tire and the inside width of the rim are different. It's probably something like 13 or 14 mm.

AZORCH

I'd try an X-Acto knife or sharp utility knife first, if you have one. Good scissors get pricey pretty quickly.

Bill Kapaun

I'd stay away from a sharp blade.
It likely wouldn't be a problem, but I'd hate to "score" the rim that could start a defect.

AZORCH

i don't mean to imply that you cut the tape while its on the rim. But if you're going to attempt to trim the tape anyway, you'll do better with a blade than with scissors in all likelihood. To be very clear: NEITHER option sounds like a winner to me; I would just get new rolls. But if you feel the urge to trim anyway, roll your tape out onto waxed paper in three foot segments (don't chop it off) and use a FRESH blade and metal straight edge to trim the unnecessary width. Keep knife or scissors, either one, away from the rim.

rootboy 

Good, Azorch.

I'm going to suppose the OP either doesn't have the proper width available locally, or is strapped a bit and doesn't want to spring for more tape. Your method is the best option.

Tulok

$3 for tape is better than a cut!

Take the roll, cut with the razor, into the roll so when you peel it off it is the proper width. Put the tape in a vice for safety.

WJV

Another possibility is to use Gorilla Tape for rim strips. I know it will probably be frowned on here, but it works well. The tape will rip in a straight line—much like fabric—with a well measured starting cut. So starting a cut with the right width will provide a strip of uniform width. Further, this method allows for multiple sizes on a single roll of tape. I have three different widths on a single roll.

I've only had to remove it on one rim and I left it in the sun to warm up before removing the tape. The tape came off clean.

WjV

Tulok

That's what I do too wjv, it's the easiest and one roll goes a long way!

whatwolf

I'd just buy new tape.

But if you want scissor suggestions, try Titanium ones. I forget the brand name, but they cut through any fabric, even polyester batting, in a straight line. Don't ask me how I know

rootboy 

How do you know, Whatwolf? Couldn't resist.

noglider 

I've used Gorilla Tape, too. It's cumbersome to do, because it starts sticking to itself before I have the whole strip cut, so if you value your time, don't do this. But it is a good money saver, and it definitely works well.

rootboy 

How does Gorilla tape differ from duct tape? Unless it is noticeably different, I wouldn't want that sticky mess residue on my rims.

CenturionIM

thanks all, i have a new 10mm wide one coming in the mail. Still hurts though, velox is not cheap.

I didn't know there are Ti scissors, gonna check those out sometimes.