Lining, Packing & Fabrication

Sometimes a fabrication job simply needs a strip of rubber between two surfaces. Red Cat insertion rubber strips provide reinforced material for suitable lining, packing, cushioning & protection jobs across toolboxes, ute trays, trailers, workshop equipment & fabricated assemblies.

Before choosing a strip, measure the area it needs to cover. Calipers (Digital / Manual) are useful for checking smaller dimensions & material thickness, while Measuring & Layout Tools help with longer runs, positioning & fabrication work.

What Is Insertion Rubber?

Insertion rubber is rubber material containing internal reinforcement. It is commonly used where a flat strip or cut piece is required for lining, packing, cushioning, protection, gasketing or separation between components.

Depending on the individual product, insertion rubber can be supplied in different:

► Thicknesses
► Widths
► Lengths
► Reinforcement configurations
► Material specifications

Those differences matter.

A narrow strip beneath a bracket has a very different job from a wider piece protecting a toolbox or fabricated panel.

What Does the Reinforcement Do?

The reinforcement sits within the rubber rather than being applied as an external layer.

Its purpose is to provide additional stability to the material for suitable applications where plain rubber may stretch or distort more readily.

That can be useful when the strip is being fitted, clamped, cut into repeated pieces or used between components.

It does not mean every insertion strip has the same strength, construction or performance. Reinforcement type & material specification can vary between products, so check the individual Red Cat product before choosing it for a demanding application.

Start With the Job

Before deciding on thickness or width, work out what you need the rubber to do.

Packing a gap?
Thickness will be one of the first measurements to check.

Protecting a contact area?
Look at the width & length of the surfaces meeting each other.

Lining part of a toolbox or tray?
Measure the area that actually needs coverage rather than automatically lining the whole panel.

Separating two components?
Check how adding rubber changes their final position.

Cutting a gasket or shaped piece?
Measure the finished component, hole locations & available edge clearance before cutting.

The material should be chosen around the job rather than simply buying the thickest or widest strip available.

Thickness Can Change More Than the Gap

Adding insertion rubber beneath a bracket, rail or panel changes the position of that component by the thickness of the material.

On some jobs, that difference is insignificant.

On others, it can affect:

► Fastener engagement
► Bracket alignment
► Panel clearance
► Hole position
► Component height
► Clearance around neighbouring parts

Take a simple bracket mounted directly against steel. Add a strip of rubber beneath it & the bracket now sits further away from the mounting surface.

Before tightening everything back together, check that the original fastening arrangement still makes sense.

Where the job involves refitting fabricated components, Bolts & Fasteners provides a related pathway into the surrounding hardware.

Width Should Follow the Contact Area

A narrow strip can work well beneath a rail, support or along an edge.

A wider strip may be more appropriate when a larger surface needs lining or separation.

Measure the contact area rather than choosing width from appearance.

Too narrow & part of the intended surface may remain exposed.

Much wider than necessary & you'll spend more time trimming material that was never required.

If several identical pieces are needed, mark the dimensions first & work out how they can be cut efficiently from the available material.

Where Can Insertion Rubber Strips Be Used?

Insertion rubber can be useful across vehicle, workshop & fabrication jobs where the specifications of the individual strip suit the application.

Toolboxes

Use selected strips or cut pieces where components need lining, separation, packing or protection from direct contact.

Ute trays & canopies

Insertion rubber can be useful around suitable brackets, rails, storage modules, panels & other fabricated components.

Trailers

Selected lining, packing, edging & protective applications can benefit from cut rubber strip.

Workshop equipment

Insertion material can provide a useful layer between suitable equipment, brackets, supports or fabricated surfaces.

Machinery

Cut pieces may be used for suitable packing, separation or protection jobs where the individual material specification meets the application.

General fabrication

Insertion rubber is particularly useful when the required piece is straightforward enough to cut from strip material rather than needing a dedicated moulded component.

For wider fabrication & repair work, Workshop Equipment connects the material with the surrounding workshop setup.

Toolbox Protection Doesn't Always Need Full Coverage

If a toolbox has one area where equipment repeatedly contacts the surface, covering the entire panel may not be necessary.

Look at where the contact actually occurs.

A strip may be enough:

► Beneath a removable component
► Along a support
► Between a bracket & panel
► Across a regular contact point
► Between adjoining fabricated parts

Using the material only where it serves a purpose can produce a cleaner installation & reduce unnecessary cutting.

For larger storage projects, Tool Storage provides related options for toolboxes, cabinets & workshop organisation.

Ute Trays & Canopies – Check the Whole Installation

Vehicle fabrication can put panels, brackets, rails, storage modules, wiring & accessories into a relatively confined space.

If insertion rubber is being fitted between components, check:

► Available width
► Required thickness
► Fastener positions
► Edge clearance
► Nearby wiring or hoses
► Drainage paths
► Access for future removal
► Movement of adjacent components

A rubber strip beneath a bracket may look like a minor addition, but it becomes part of the finished assembly.

For broader work around utes, trailers & service vehicles, Car Repair & Maintenance provides a relevant connection to the surrounding vehicle-maintenance equipment.

Adding Rubber Beneath a Bracket? Check the Bolts Again

This is easy to overlook.

Suppose a bracket originally sits directly against a steel panel. You add insertion rubber between the two surfaces.

The bracket is now spaced away from the panel.

Depending on the installation, that can change how much fastener engagement remains, how the bracket aligns with another component or whether existing clearances are still adequate.

Check those details before completing the installation.

For more on the role of the fixing within the complete assembly, read Why Good Fasteners Matter More Than the Tool You Drive Them With.

Cutting Insertion Rubber

Good results start with a clear layout.

Before making the first cut:

► Measure the finished length
► Confirm the required width
► Mark the cut line clearly
► Identify any holes or openings
► Check the piece against the component
► Allow for final trimming where appropriate

Use cutting equipment suited to the individual material & thickness, keep hands clear of the cutting path & work on an appropriate surface.

If the job requires several shaped pieces, a simple template can save time & improve consistency.

Making Holes or Openings

Where practical, mark hole positions from the actual component rather than transferring every dimension separately.

Place the cut strip against the part, check its orientation & confirm the hole centres before making the openings.

Also check how much material remains between the hole & the edge of the strip.

If ten identical pieces are required, don't start by making ten.

Finish one first.

Fit it to the assembly & check:

► Hole alignment
► Edge clearance
► Overall dimensions
► Fastener position
► Interference with nearby components

Once the first piece is right, use it as the reference for the remaining parts.

Insertion Rubber & Door Seals Are Different Products

Both contain rubber, but their jobs are different.

A door seal is generally a shaped profile selected around a closing panel, mounting arrangement & sealing interface.

Insertion rubber is flat strip or sheet-like material commonly cut or positioned for jobs such as:

► Packing
► Lining
► Protection
► Separation
► Cushioning
► Gasketing

If you're trying to seal around the perimeter of a canopy door, a purpose-made door-seal profile is generally the more relevant product family.

If you need a flat strip beneath a bracket or across a contact surface, insertion rubber may be the better starting point.

Check the Material Specification for Demanding Environments

Not every rubber compound behaves the same way.

If the installation involves regular exposure to oils, fuels, chemicals, elevated temperatures, prolonged outdoor conditions or another demanding environment, check the specifications of the individual Red Cat product.

Do not assume suitability from colour or appearance.

A black rubber strip can look similar to another black rubber strip while having a different material construction or intended use.

For general packing or lining, dimensions may be the main concern. For specialised environments, the material specification becomes just as important.

Check the Surface Before Covering It

If the insertion strip will remain underneath a bracket, panel or piece of equipment, inspect the surface before installation.

Look for:

► Swarf
► Dirt
► Sharp edges
► Raised welds
► Loose coating
► Existing corrosion
► Damaged mounting holes

Clean up anything that could leave the strip sitting unevenly or hide a problem beneath the finished assembly.

This is particularly worthwhile on ute trays, trailers & fabricated equipment where the rubber may stay in place for years.

Work Out How Much Material You Need

For a single straight strip, the calculation is easy.

For a fabrication project involving several components, write the required pieces down before cutting.

For example:

► 2 × strips beneath side rails
► 4 × packing pieces beneath brackets
► 2 × protective sections around toolbox mounts
► 1 × spare test piece

Then work out how those pieces fit into the available strip length.

This reduces guesswork & can make better use of the material.

Make the First Piece Your Test Piece

Repeated fabrication work is where a small measurement error becomes expensive.

If you need several identical strips, make the first one completely.

Fit it.

Put the fasteners through it.

Check the clearance around neighbouring parts.

Only then cut the rest.

Five minutes spent checking the first piece can save an entire batch from being cut incorrectly.

For more on preparing equipment before the workload increases, see Spring Jobsite Prep Getting Your Gear Ready.