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Steamed gum tape tubes


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Posted

Somewhere I remember reading about dry rolling tubes with gum tape and then steaming them in a double boiler or slow cooker to activate the adhesive. Has anyone done this or can you point me to the thread? I've tried searching the forum but can't find anything. Probably user error but I can never get the search function here to play nice for me.

Posted

Also, meant to post this under rockets not chemistry. Whoops.

Posted

Seconds in a pressure cooker will activate the gum and leave a rock hard tube.

Posted

Biggest issue I see is that tools are a fixed size and truly round, but unless wound on a mandrel tubes are not perfectly shaped.

Posted

Biggest issue I see is that tools are a fixed size and truly round, but unless wound on a mandrel tubes are not perfectly shaped.

Maybe you should try something before you comment on it.

Posted

Might have to dig out the old pressure cooker (unless its been hoofed) just to satisfy my curiousity ;)

Posted

Biggest issue I see is that tools are a fixed size and truly round, but unless wound on a mandrel tubes are not perfectly shaped.

I'm not sure what your criticism is. The tubes are still wound on a mandrel, just not fully glued until briefly steamed. Wet rolled tubes are not (at least commercially) dried on the mandrel.

 

I rolled some tubes last night and set them on a double boiler for maybe 10 seconds. Tubes set up nice and hard in just a few hours, no swelling or warping. I did give each one a quick twist on the mandrel to ensure the inner layer was down flat.

 

If you're rolling small tubes for spolettes, inserts, or bottle rockets this is an awesome way to get nice tubes with no mess and without the dreaded telescope tube.

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