Copper foil tape - more for less

cdlynch

cdlynch

Nov 11, 2009
647
686
4,911
Boston's Glorious South Shore
www.choochoolarouge.com
#1
I'm close to the end of my StewMac roll of 2" copper tape, and I tried something new. I was at a local electronics store and saw they have rolls similar to the StewMac ones. Turns out they source from Spark Fun, and the comparison seems to work well.

Both have 2" wide rolls with conductive adhesive backing, but StewMac has 15' for $20.36 plus shipping, and Spark Fun has 50' for $14.95 plus shipping. They seem to be the same thickness too. The open question is whether the Spark Fun tape's adhesive is as strong, but otherwise the value is crazy.

UPDATE: Finally used it 11 months later (5 months beyond the stated shelf life) and it's great. Better conductivity and stickiness than the Stew Mac tape, so it's a great value.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: rufus.K, franksidebottom, MattZilla and 1 other person
#3
bholder said:
Anything you can find elsewhere than at StewMac will be cheaper than it is at StewMac.
Click to expand...

I'm well aware of the StewMac Markup. ;) But these two examples of conductive tape are clearly from different factories so it's not necessarily apples-to-apples. I just want to be clear about that so no one has a nasty surprise. The adhesive on the StewMac tape is black, and the Spark Fun tape has clear adhesive. Both are conductive. There could be differences in adhesive conductivity or stickiness, but it'll be a while before I finish my StewMac roll.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bholder
#4
I haven't tried the Stewmac tape, but I got some no-name stuff off EBay a while ago, also with clear adhesive. Best to remember that any tape adhesive is just slow drying glue, and the stuff I bought had dried up to the point it didn't stick well, almost impossible to get the backing paper off it without shredding the copper. They should put a "sell by" date on it. I have the typical Love/Hate relationship with Stewmac, love the range and quality of products, hate the price gouging and ridiculously inflated "shipping and handling" charges they tack on. Let us know how it works out, always looking for cheaper alternatives to Stewmac.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cdlynch
#5
Gilmourisgod said:
Best to remember that any tape adhesive is just slow drying glue, and the stuff I bought had dried up to the point it didn't stick well, almost impossible to get the backing paper off it without shredding the copper. They should put a "sell by" date on it.
Click to expand...

I've had my StewMac roll for years and it's still good. I just read the Spark Fun datasheet, and it ends with, "shelf life is 6 months." Damn. Maybe I'll try vacuum sealing it...
 
#6
Slight derail here CD, but have to ask.
You still rockin that Gibson in your avatar?

I LOVE, that bass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Especially with those mods.

Sorry gang, carry on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cdlynch
#8
Technicality said:
I have a roll of stuff with clear adhesive backing that I got from ebay. Done several instruments with it and its stickiness and conductivity (I always check the grounding with a multimeter) are excellent.

I'd definitely give the sparkfun stuff a go
Click to expand...
Got a link? At my production rate of one bass every four years or so, I don't think I'd use up a 50' roll before it goes bad on me. I've been buying just enough for one or two guitars and using nearly all of it up. I can't remember what the name of the seller was last time, but I posted a bad review on the product, and he went volcanic on me via personal e-mail, guess I messed up his 100% rating! So sue me, I think it's incumbent on the seller to know if what they are selling is fit for purpose.
 
  • Like
Reactions: franksidebottom, MattZilla and cdlynch
#10
JJR58 said:
Slight derail here CD, but have to ask.
You still rockin that Gibson in your avatar?

I LOVE, that bass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Especially with those mods.

Sorry gang, carry on.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I certainly don't mind a derail that strokes my ego. ;) I'm also a fan, but I only finished it recently and haven't had a gig or band rehearsal in five years. It sounds nothing like a Gibson, or at least what they're assumed to sound like. Bright and mudless. Too bright? I hope to find out later this summer. Full details (including another link to the build thread.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: JJR58
#11
cdlynch said:
Thanks! I certainly don't mind a derail that strokes my ego. ;) I'm also a fan, but I only finished it recently and haven't had a gig or band rehearsal in five years. It sounds nothing like a Gibson, or at least what they're assumed to sound like. Bright and mudless. Too bright? I hope to find out later this summer. Full details (including another link to the build thread.)
Click to expand...

I haven't gigged since 2007, don't feel so bad.

edit; and yes, i remember the thread, that's why i asked.
Must sound KILLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: cdlynch
#13
Gilmourisgod said:
Got a link? At my production rate of one bass every four years or so, I don't think I'd use up a 50' roll before it goes bad on me. I've been buying just enough for one or two guitars and using nearly all of it up. I can't remember what the name of the seller was last time, but I posted a bad review on the product, and he went volcanic on me via personal e-mail, guess I messed up his 100% rating! So sue me, I think it's incumbent on the seller to know if what they are selling is fit for purpose.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how helpful it will be since I am in the UK, but my emails tell me it was this:
EMI COPPER FOIL SHIELDING TAPE 100mm x 4m LOW IMPEDANCE CONDUCTIVE ADHESIVE | eBay
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gilmourisgod and cdlynch
#15
bholder said:
Anything you can find elsewhere than at StewMac will be cheaper than it is at StewMac.
Click to expand...

True, but if it's something that will take me an hour to find elsewhere and make sure it works, I'll often just choose to pay their markup as you know their stuff is suitable for guitar/bass builds. Everyone's time has value...some more than others, which is not at all a judgement on the value of the person. When I'm retired my time will be marked down considerably and SWMBO will expect me to do more myself instead of paying to have it done.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bholder and cdlynch
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back