For those using 'Holographic Mylar' as a tt drive

I see the html address auto-magically becomes a hyperlink. I probably knew that......

Milos,

The advantage of taping across the belt is the same as cutting on an angle. It lets you avoid vertical joins or material boundaries. Those can cause a thump, or at least some microscopic slippage, when they encounter tight bends like the motor capstan. Making the cut and taping on an angle greatly reduces that problem.

Good advice about just making a few belts. Getting a feel for it is really all it takes!

True, that, Doug. I might have been clearer in my post. I cut the splicing tape on a bias, to smooth the icky thump--I never heard the thump, but the spliced area is stiffer than the mylar alone, as can easily be seen when it passes the capstan.

Worth the extra effort, no doubt.

Btw, Johnbrown, if it wasn't noted elsewhere, the splice tape goes on the outside of the belt. Bet you knew that already, owning a reel-to-reel..... Nice idea on the splicing block, too.

"Smooth the icky thump"? Sounds like a new dance craze!

That increased stiffness is visible, as you said. If the patch were much longer it would probably cause excessive slippage. I once tried 3 mil mylar tape and that was much too stiff. It couldn't make the turn around the motor without slipping.

Anyone want some 1/2" x 3 mil mylar? There's 96 feet left on the roll. Free to good home. :-)