Coil binding tape = Empire tape? Suppliers?

I am rewinding a dynamo and I have located supplies of enamelled copper wire. What I also need is the cotton (?) tape to wrap the windings. It used to be called Empire tape but then, we used to have an Empire. So, what is it called now, and is cotton still the better material? Or glass fibre or what?

Many thanks

Tim

I should have said, of course - a UK supplier would be helpful, but other sources are not excluded, just slower, usually.

And it is only the field windings I am renewing.

Tim

I well know and have used the product of which you speak, Tim, but about 40 years ago, you could try them in Rotheram. http://www.empiretapes.com/Specialist-Tapes

The people that I got the enamelled wire from for that model electric engine I made last year do some insulating tapes, have a look down the left here, I ended up using old cotton sheet and shellac for the small amount I needed

I remember the term, varnished cambric, from the old days. I expect there aew newer and v=better materials..

Hello Jason

Yes, I have ordered wire and varnish, but they seem only to have self-adhesive glass-fibre tape, and I am not sure this will enable the regular tightening as the wrap is applied. And what is the effect of heat on the adhesive, I wonder?

Thanks anyway.

Phil - I have asked the Empire Tapes firm by email, as I cannot find the 'right stuff' in their listings. Perhaps the only users now are in China and India, and use local stuff? Thanks.

Tim

Damn. I should proofread before I submit.

When I did my Auto Electrical Apprenticeship in the early sixties we used to overhaul starters, dynamo's etc. We used Egyptian Cotton Tape for the field coils, then varnished when covered. Companies like Durite still sell it as far as I know. Do a Google search for Egyptian Tape and I am sure you will find what you want.

The modern product would be glass tape with thermosetting adhesive. A good example is 3M's Scotch 69

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/cloth-tapes/8855268/ or 12mm https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/cloth-tapes/8855255/

This can be used dry or varnished. Cotton is no longer acceptable due to flammability issues.

Robert G8RPI.

Try yellow pages for local motor rewinders? They are usually helpful.

Dress maker's cotton tape ? Various widths and weights - colours too.

The cotton tape is still used for guitar pickups.

This is a supplier of cotton and paper tapes:

https://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_Electronics/Pickup_Kits_and_Parts/Pickup_Kits_and_Parts_for_Strat/Pickup_Coil_Tape.html

Might give you some search terms to help your Google Fu.

Neil

Doh - here's their UK website...

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 27/04/2019 20:52:13

3M still make the traditional cambric tape if you want it. Link to supplier is below for that type and several others.

Woven glass and non-woven glass tapes with high performance resins are also available from 3M if higher temps and fire resistance or very high dielectric strength is needed.

**LINK**

You might get cotton "ribbon gauze" at the chemist shop, it comes in different widths and weaves form fairly open to quite tight. If you go to the sewing shop I think you would be looking for "bias binding" tape, the stuff I have here is cotton, most of the fancy ribbons are not cotton. Linen tape is used in the aviation industry in recovering fabric covered aircraft.

Ian S C