Looking For A Special Tape

What's the end use?

Thin, to me is .002-.004". So, embossing is the only way to get there, if I understand.

A 1/32 dot stuck onto tape wouldn't work?

Surface mount components come on reels with clear covers for chip shooters, etc.

More details, please.

You might try the Metlon Corp in Cranston, RI www.metlon.com They manufacture and/or convert specialty tapes and specialize in slitting to these narrow widths. Of course there is always 3M but getting information from them is difficult unless you are interested in millions of yards.

I am home now, but I will check at work tomorrow. We are a speciality converting company and are a distributer of 3M products, and deal with most other adhesive tape manufacturers. Not that we can provide this product for you, but I may be able to steer you to a source.

I'll be back to you tomorrow

Go to a really well stocked fishing store, they have many tapes with different designs used to "dress up" fishing lures.

Some hobby - craft stores may also have tapes like you describe.

Try Dymo tape http://global.dymo.com/enCA/LabelMaterial/Embossed_tapes.html. It's an old-fashioned tape for embossing your own labels, but apparently still available.

Dymo tape is too thick and would require a special design machine to produce the dot spacing. The tape I have in mind is to represent lines of rivets for large scale railroad models. The only other option I know of is to drill tiny holes, spaced 3/8" apart and insert brass escutcheon pins and trim them flush on the far side; obviously a lot of work. The tape would have to be less than .010" thick. To apply, you would cut to length the strip of rivets and press unto the model. A clear lacquer coat would preserve it.

They would be more labor-intensive, but maybe brass escutcheon pins would work. The smallest in McMaster-Carr (97936A109) is 18-ga. (0.048") wire with 7/64" diameter head, length 3/8". Also available in SS.

If you can't find the tape with the embossed dots, you might consider the following idea.

First, buy a Brother label maker. The one I'm thinking about coasts about $40. It takes a variety of tape colors including clear, in various sizes. It has a menu for printing dots (and other characters) on the tape at selectable sizes and spacings.

http://www.imagesupply.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=125&idproduct=966&emailmarket=brotherlabelmaker.com

Then make your own embosser by driving some brads into soft pine. Place the tape over the embosser and run a thin roller over the tape to create the embossments you want.

Maybe try different tapes and something like a pattern tracer. It's a blade type roller with a starred wheel. Dull it up and with a straight edge run down the center of the tape.

Good luck!

Don't make me draw this, OK.

Here's a thought. You're pretty handy, have you considered making an embossing tool? Seems as simple as holes in a plate and a tool with the proper size ball bearing for the male forming tool.

Or, an embossing wheel? OK, you'd need two wheels, one with holes and one with balls. _{(Can I say that?)} One would need sides to keep the tape centered.

You'd want to add 2 sided adhesive film after forming and painting the concave part brass.

Does any of this make sense?