substitute for glass tape in making mast bushings?

[JeffM]

I want to experiment with shorter masts without burning any bridges, so I figured to buzz down my stopper bushings on the middle mast sections, make new bushings maybe 8" further up the tube, allowing me to slide the sections together a bit further. Trouble is I'm out of fiberglass of any kind. I priced glass tape on Duckworks, but don't need an entire role at about $30. Since the main purpose of the glass tape is (I think) to make the bushings even in thickness, could I use some other material instead? Any idea what? Do I really need anything but epoxy in the bushings at all, or could I simply find a cord to act as a spacer, and slather thickened epoxy between wrappings of it?

[Designer]

You can use thickened epoxy for the bushing.

[JeffM]

Thanks, Graham.