Rollable ribbon separator

A method for separating fibers in a rollable ribbon comprising:

• providing the rollable ribbon separator including a chassis having a length and a guide surface along the chassis length for receiving a first portion of a rollable ribbon in a flattened position, the guide surface for positioning the first portion of the rollable ribbon having a first node with selected fibers to be separated, the selected fibers being positioned flat on the guide surface and a blade securable to the chassis, the blade having a cutting edge positioned toward the guide surface at an acute angle to the guide surface wherein the angle of the blade cutting edge with respect to the guide surface allows the cutting edge to urge the first portion of the flattened ribbon fibers against the guide surface when the fibers are drawn through the chassis along the guide surface;
• providing a rollable ribbon;
• selecting a first node for separation on the ribbon, the first node having an adjacent void;
• widening the adjacent void;
• draping the adjacent void over the blade;
• ensuring the first node is in contact with the guide surface;
• drawing the ribbon along the tool length until the first node contacts the blade edge;
• and
• continuing to draw the ribbon along the tool length until the fibers on the first node are separated.

A tool for separating fibers in a rollable ribbon, the tool comprising:

• a chassis having a length and a guide surface along the chassis length for receiving a first portion of a rollable ribbon in a flattened position, the guide surface for positioning the first portion of the rollable ribbon having a first node with selected fibers to be separated, the selected fibers being positioned flat on the guide surface;
• a blade securable to the chassis, the blade having a cutting edge positioned toward the guide surface at an acute angle to the guide surface, wherein the angle of the blade cutting edge with respect to the guide surface allows the cutting edge to urge the first portion of the flattened ribbon fibers against the guide surface when the fibers are drawn through the chassis along the guide surface;
• a blade storage compartment and a handle assembly including a handle, the handle assembly rotatably secured to the chassis wherein the blade storage compartment may store the blade in the blade storage compartment when the blade is not in use and the blade is accessible by rotating the handle away from the chassis;
• and
• a first magnet secured to the chassis and a second magnet secured to the handle assembly wherein the tool is biased in the closed position when the handle is in a first closed position and urging the handle to a second open position allows access to the blade storage compartment.