What tool will cut rubber

[Shovel Man]

I want to cut some circular plugs about 2" dia x 1" long from old truck tire treads. Any hand tool techniques that will make a smooth job of it?

[Arlin Eastman]

If it is one of the old tires with out steel belts you can use a plug cutter or hole saw.

Arlin

[enjuneer]

I use a gasket cutting punch and a hydraulic press to cut rubber disks, though mine are less than 3/8" thick. It would be a real chore to remove a 1" long piece.

[JR1]

Rubber is rendered brittle and easier to cut at low temperatures, dry ice or liquid nitrogen. If the tire is steel reinforced you are out of luck unless you have a tire recap operation and then they might be able to do it for you. I don't know of any hard tool that will cut rubber other than holes in rubber stoppers.

[Downwindtracker2]

You can buy 1" sheet rubber, the company I worked at did, by mistake. For plugs a hole saw and drill press. When it comes to tires or conveyor belting with their steel cords, a " Zipcut" blade and a an angle grinder.

[Admiral]

Are the plugs the waste, or do you need solid plugs? If the former, something like this in the right size might work with a longer bolt.

http://www.amazon.com/Greenlee-7211BB-3-...kout+punch

[JR1]

I've a set I used to use for punching holes in chassis, they work fine on aluminum but no on rubber or plastics.