Bulk rubber weight belt strips

[sross]

Thanks in advance to all who can help me out here. I remember a few years back someone posted about where you could buy reels of rubber strip for making rubber weight belts, but I couldn't figure out how to find it using the search function. I'm sure its just me, not the search engine.

Anyhow, I have 2 questions:

1) do you know where you can buy long strips (say 10 m or longer) of rubber suitable for making weight belts?

2) In your opinion, what is the best thickness for rubber weight belts? I've never been able to experiment with different thicknesses, just having been able to use commercial, pre-manufactured belts. I presume the trade off is greater durability with greater thickness, but less stretch, which results in slipping belt issues?

 

[Bill]

Long time ago we found some reels of 2"x1/16 (50x1.5mm) in a surplus store. There was a great war surplus store in Toronto 60 yr ago. Now your best bet might be an heavy duty inner tube but the cost will probably be more than a good 'Marseille' belt. The doubled up 1.5 mm worked great with no loss of stretch.

 

[sross]

Thanx Bill. Wow! 60 years ago. A little before my time. You really are one of those old salts.

 

[Apneaddict]

Was that store called Active Surplus??

 

[Herup]

I think it should be possible to find some EPDM rubber that could be used. Its found in a broad variety of building and construction applications, so might wanna look in the direction of pro-hardwarestore.
I've also seen some small rippled black rubber in coils used for floor in vans, for doormats and the like, sold by the meter.

Best regards
H!

 

[sjurba]

I found this seal thing for greenhouses,dont know where you get it,but it works great ca 3mm thick 5ish cm wide and got sortof riples lenghtwise,very stretchy and strong.

 

[sross]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

I'll look into the ideas.

 

[Markusfugit]

There is a TireBusters near me (Midland, Ontario) from which I got an inner tube from a large construction tire. They have a big pile in their yard, and invited me to take as much as I wanted since it costs them to dispose of it all. There are synthetic and natural rubber tubes, with the natural rubber being rarer, and thicker. I found one (with their help) and have made several weight belts from it.... and can make many, many more. They work fine. Total cost is the cost of the buckle and some time.