Your typical rubber company is going to mostly deal with large sheets and rolls. And while these large sheets and rolls are incredibly useful, ultimately, not every application is going to require large pieces of rubber. Therefore, rubber must be cut down into smaller pieces that are more appropriate for the needs of a particular application. While many companies offer custom fabrication of rubber parts, sometimes, a much simpler process is necessary to create the proper rubber product. One such process is slitting rubber, which is essentially running a rubber sheet through a machine which cuts it into narrower rubber strips using high powered blades. Rubber stripping can be repurposed towards a number of commercial and industrial applications. These rubber strips can be cut into smaller rubber pads or products like a solid rubber bumper. Unless you have a slitting machine of your own, this process will need to take place at whichever rubber store you choose to purchase your products from. Some of these providers may already have pre-cut strips in their inventory, so be sure to familiarize yourself with their complete line of products and services!
EPDM – Commercial Grade – 60A
EPDM – Commercial Grade – 60A
- EPDM rubber with a smooth finish
- A black weather resistant rubber that is ideal as an outdoor liner or pad
- EPDM material is in stock in 1/16″, 1/8″, 3/16″, 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″ thickness
- A blend of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM rubber) and SBR
- This sheet rubber weighs about 1-1/4 lbs. per square foot in 1/8″ thickness
Excellent Industrial Sheet Rubber: EPDM rubber has adequate elastic and pliable qualities. The material has a durometer of Shore 55-65A but on average, has a Shore 60A measurement. A Shore A scale measures the hardness of the rubber. For example, a soft pencil eraser has a durometer of Shore 20A. Although higher than an eraser, the durometer of EPDM still maintains a good amount of flexibility for all of your necessary projects. In addition, EPDM rubber has a minimum elongation of 300%.
Popular Gauges: Rubber-Cal understands that some gauges are in higher demand than others. Therefore, the most popular gauges can usually be found in stock, ready for customers. This includes a range of eight different gauges to choose from. Custom thickness and widths are available upon request, though non-standard sizes will have large minimum orders. A Rubber-Cal representative can assist you in exploring customization options. With so many choices, you’re bound to find the perfect size of EPDM material.
Closed Cell Rubber – EPDM – 39″ x 78″
Rubber Slitting Machine
The origin of this machine is based in saw mills, when large logs would be cut into smaller sections; for this reason the process is sometimes referred to as “log slitting,” even when the materials that are being dealt with are not wood-based. Today, slitting simply refers to cutting down a coiled or sheet material into narrower sections. This process can be used for many different kinds of material and has a very high and very fast output rate.
When slitting softer materials circular blades are used to cut through the material as it is fed into the machine. Some machines have programs which can monitor the blades to keep them cutting precisely by sharpening them on a regular basis. On the output side, the materials can be rewound on paper or plastic cores to create thinner rolls. Your rubber converter may carry these rubber strips on-hand in various thicknesses that can be used for just as many different applications.
Custom Fabricated Rubber Parts
Tapping Rubber Trees
Stripped Rubber Applications
It is likely that the rubber source you are purchasing from offer rubber stripping services for a number of applications. Here are just a few:
- Curtains and Flaps: A flap is a hinged plate that is used as a cover or a one-way valve. Flaps and curtains can serve as a screen or buffer area to shield against unwanted dust and particles. They are often used in mechanical systems for air and material movement.
- Belting: There are many instances in which a rubber belt would be used. For example, conveyor belt systems are made from elastomer materials. Or, in any sort of pulley system, such as an elevator or simple weightlifting machines, rubber belts will guide machinery back and forth between stationary and moving positions. Or perhaps take a minute to think of the inner-workings of your vehicle. Underneath the hood, you are guaranteed to find belting made from rubber which not only pads machinery but helps it to run smoothly.
- Skirtboard: This is perhaps the most versatile of stripped rubber products, as Skirtboard can be used for:
- Conveyors
- Belt wipers
- Rubber pads
- Sealing strips
- Flapping
- Construction projects
- Street sweepers
- Snowplow blades
- Airfield applications
- Industrial padding
- Gasketing
- Chute lining
- Sand and shot blast curtains
- Scraper stock
- Bumper stock
- Small solid rubber bumper
As you can see, rubber strips are an incredible versatile product that can be purposed towards a number of unique uses. Hopefully the firms you choose will offer slitting services, making, rubber stripping, hence all of these unique applications readily available to you. With smaller rolls of rubber you can cut your own rubber pads or a small solid rubber bumper with minimal costs!
Recycled Rubber – 60A
- Made in the USA
- Available in several different speckled color options
- Easily cleaned with common household soaps
- Provides better insulation against cold and damp surfaces
- Can be installed with either adhesive glue or double-sided tape
- Available for custom fabrication according to specific requirements
Durable Protective Rubber: Another important benefit of having recycled rubber sheets is that they are very durable. This is thanks to the recycled tire material used to make the product. Vehicle tires are a hard rubber product because they are expected to function in a variety of extremely abrasive conditions. This recycled rubber roll can be used for any application that is physically demanding. It can handle the repeated physical stresses of both heavy foot traffic and solid machinery. It is hard to beat this quality level of durability.
Good for Outdoor Use: These tough and reliable recycled rubber sheets can be used in outdoor applications without them suffering any environmental damage. The reason for this is actually twofold. First, the recycled rubber material, being made mostly from vehicle tires, exhibits strength against UV rays, ozone, and moisture. Vehicle tires are expected to function in various environmental conditions and this trait is passed on to these protective rubber sheets. Secondly, these rubber rolls contain a bit of EPDM material in their composition. EPDM further enhances their longevity against UV rays. Feel free to place them in the outdoors.
