Cutting latex?

[DDRRedneck500]

how do you all do it? ive heard in alot of places where people use latex gloves cut into strips for bodies, and ive tried cutting it myself, but it always either ends up very sloppy or i just cant do it. so what are youre techniques?
thanks

[G-man]

DDRRedneck500,
I use a steel ruler and a x-acto knife
G

[kengore]

I have used three methods with some success...

1. Layer it between pieces of paper and cut with sharp scissors or exacto blade, the paper helps keep the latex from stretching and moving about.

2. Roll the latex into a tight tube, cut strips by slicing cross sections with sharp razor blade. The tighter the roll the easier it is to cut

3. Use a rotary cutter. These are rotating disk blades used for cutting cloth, look for them wherever quilting supplies are sold. I'm lucky enough to be able to borrow one from my wife.

[DDRRedneck500]

I have used three methods with some success...

1. Layer it between pieces of paper and cut with sharp scissors or exacto blade, the paper helps keep the latex from stretching and moving about.

2. Roll the latex into a tight tube, cut strips by slicing cross sections with sharp razor blade. The tighter the roll the easier it is to cut

3. Use a rotary cutter. These are rotating disk blades used for cutting cloth, look for them wherever quilting supplies are sold. I'm lucky enough to be able to borrow one from my wife.

i really youre first idea with the paper. that was my main problem; it kept stretching when i was trying to cut it, making it exremely difficult. thanks for the advise

[William Fitzgerald]

I use the rolling fabric cutter mentioned above that you can purchase in most sewing depatment in craft stores. I cut rubber gloves latex and foam. Use a metal straight edge to hold the material down while cutting. You will never go back to scissors for strip cutting. BILL

[TxEngr]

I use the rolling cutter after trying many other methods. You have the best control over the width with no pulling of the material. One of the small ones with the mat is very cheap and can be used for many other materials as well.

TxEngr

[rrhyne56]

Don

Mighty try one of those rolling cutters with the hard plastic board to cut on, the ones that look like pizza cutters?

[TomW]

To cut latex do the following.
Attach scotch tape to the latex, then cut the latex to size with sharp scissors . Then peel the tape off. It always helps to have a little tab of each to get started removing the tape after cutting.

Aways works for me.


Tom

[Al Beatty]

Hi,

I'm kind of with kengore and Tom where one uses paper and the other uses scotch tape. Personally I like to use the sticky part of Post-It Notes stuck to both sides of the latex then use scissors to cut really fine strips out of the "sandwich arrangement" for small flies or a straight edge/rolling cutter if making strips for larger flies. I use the left over non-sticky part of the Post-It paper for mixing epoxy so I can crumple it up and throw it away when I'm done apply the goopy material. Take care & ...

Tight Lines - Al Beatty
www.btsflyfishing.com