How can I get thin, clear, stiff plastic strip/ribbon?

September 6, 2021 10:35 PM

I'm looking for essentially a clear stiff ribbon about 3/16" - 3/8" wide, and at least three feet long (a roll of a few yards would be better). I'd love silicone, but I can only find super thin/stretchy elastic, and that will be too difficult for my use case: using it with some thin double-sided tape to slightly extend the edge of glass terrarium doors.

***My quest here is for ribbon or strips that are already the right width*** which is anything between 3/16" and 3/8".

I think the idea width might be 1/4", but having different width options would be nice.

Stuff I have to cut to width myself I already have, but it really doesn't work for my use case, since I'm hoping for a "professional looking" or at least good-enough-to-be-ignored result with minimal time outlay :)

I have found 1" wide clear weather stripping, but that's too wide, really, and lots of it seems to come with its own adhesive, which will be a mess.

I strongly prefer non-toxic (really non-toxic) options, and zero "cheap plastic" smell (I can heat/air/bake if that will help, but that usually degrades the plastic, so not a great option).

I've tried searching for "clear ribbon", "clear silicone ribbon", "clear silicone strip", etc.; I've looked at stock in Jo-Ann Fabrics, Grainger, Michaels, Home Depot, and other retailers I know about, but I might not have known the right search terms.

I'm actively looking at plastic u-channel and c-channel options, but my glass thicknesses and gap thicknesses vary, so I'd like to pursue the stick-some-plastic-strip-to-the-edge options for now.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

posted by amtho to Grab Bag (8 answers total)

I think the phrase you're looking for is "acetate strip". They're sometimes used in baking or chocolate making. The ones I see with a quick google look like they're too wide, but the texture (stiff-ish, but still bendy) is what I think you're looking for.
posted by Karmeliet at 10:48 PM on September 6, 2021

What should the thickness be for your 1/4 to 3/8 wide 'ribbon' or plastic strip? How much gap are you trying to span for the doors?
posted by TDIpod at 10:56 PM on September 6, 2021

Silicone is usually soft. Is that what you're going for? From your description it sounds like you want something that's more of a hard plastic, like acetate mentioned above. if you do want it soft then something in the weatherstripping / "seal" family might be the right direction to look.
posted by Lady Li at 11:21 PM on September 6, 2021

Response by poster: The thickness isn't that important as long as it's not obtrusive or flimsy. The gap will be spanned by applying the thin strip of double-sided tape I've found to approximately one half of the strip's width, and then applying this to the glass door edge so that the non-adhesive part of the strip extends out beyond the current edge.

Re: silicone: I have some silicone tape that's almost perfect, but it's too wide. The softness is fine in this form (I think it's about 3/64" thick, not sure). What I'm trying to avoid is the limpness of the super-thin lingerie strap products I've found -- they are designed primarily to stretch.

It may be that silicone can't be clear in the thickness I think I'd need in that material -- 1/32"? 3/64"? -- but if so, that softness could be kind of nice.

I don't need this material to cut through anything or resist any pressure at all (maybe a fruit fly nudging it...); I just need it to hold its shape.
posted by amtho at 11:53 PM on September 6, 2021

Response by poster: Also, I tried weatherstripping, but I can try seals, I guess. If you have a link to something specific that would be very helpful.

update: everything I can find in "seals" or weatherstripping is way too wide.
posted by amtho at 11:54 PM on September 6, 2021

Stuff I have to cut to width myself I already have, but it really doesn't work for my use case, since I'm hoping for a "professional looking" or at least good-enough-to-be-ignored result

If I understand right, does that mean you're mostly worried about a ragged or uneven edge if you cut the material yourself? If so, if you're not able to find something in the right width, a print, frame, or hardware-type shop might have have the tools to cut it for you professionally. Alternatively, a plastic-capable rotary cutter or electric scissors, together with a straightedge guide, could get you good results.
posted by trig at 3:59 AM on September 7, 2021 [1 favorite]

Screen door splines?
posted by TDIpod at 11:22 AM on September 7, 2021

Response by poster: Thanks trig -- I might end up doing that, although it conflicts with my "with minimal time outlay" spec. It's sounding like what I want might not exist.
posted by amtho at 3:13 PM on September 7, 2021