Do you find yourself spending more and more on drive rollers for your Triad Wedge Welder?

Think back to the first year you owned your Sinclair Triad Wedge Welder and track system. Or, consider browsing parts invoices if they are handy. Depending on how long you’ve owned your machine, there’s a strong possibility you will discover the life of your drive roller has shortened by as much as 15-25%. Or so it would appear. But things aren’t always what they seem.

You may be replacing perfectly good drive rollers 

I know it seems counterintuitive, but let me explain: Think about how the drive system on your Triad Wedge Welder works: Motor turn pinch rollers, which in turn activate the drive roller. Traction is created when drive roller comes in contact with anti-slip tape in your track system, and - under it`s own weight - your hot wedge welder propels itself forward, welding industrial, tarp, awning, or banner fabrics. The friction between your drive roller and anti-slip tape is where all of the wear and tear takes place. If, as we suggest, the rollers aren't wearing as fast as you might think - there's only one other possible culprit

It may not the be the drive roller that needs replacement

Don’t misunderstand me: The hard neoprene material your drive roller is made from will most definitely wear - but not as quickly as the much softer black vinyl anti-slip tape installed on Sinclair’s track system. And while the embossed texture of the tape is seemingly quite deep, it only takes a few “thou” of surface wear to begin contributing less to the traction coefficient. Next thing you know, you are burning through material and money replacing the drive roller again.

If you made your own track system, you may have a different problem altogether

Oh, and if you were able to save some money by fabricating your own track system, that’s fantastic, but if you unknowingly used a brand of tape that has an abrasive or gritty surface, swap it over for the soft stuff. You may not be wearing out the track tape, but you are burning up drive rollers unnecessarily.

In either case, here’s a suggestion to save you time, money and aggravation

Next time you run into an issue where your machine is slowing down, or stopping altogether half way through your weld, don’t immediately run to the purchasing department and request a new drive roller right away. Take a closer look at that anti-slip tape. It could very well be the culprit.

Our product (#33700) is a perfect replacement - identical to material used on Sinclair’s track system - but for less money.

You were going to buy the drive roller anyway. Give a roll of our non-slip tape a whirl first. If it doesn’t solve your traction problems, then replace the roller too - with full confidence that you won’t be replacing either before its time.