How to make tubes

[Stinger]

Hi

 

I think not every newbie has a very good source for paper tubes.So I will explain how you can make them yourself very easy.

It takes a bit of time, but if you master it, your tubes wont crumble when you are standing on them.

 

So, let´s check the materials you will need:

 

Carpenter glue

Some water

A wooden dowel ( smaller ID from 15-6mm requires a metalrod, I will explain why)

A small paintbrush

Grocery bag paper (should be heavy duty.)

A carpet knive

A long plate

 

1)

First off all, you need to spread out the grocery paper bag ( you can get them at supermarkets in larger amounts like 100 bags or more for free).

 

Just look how they are folded together and defold them.

Or simply cut off the bottom.

Now, you should have a paperstrip/sheet, that has been cutted very straight.

The length should be around 1-3m, depending on the desired tube-thickness.

 

2)

Take your carpenter glue, and mix it with 30% of water.

Say 700ml carpenter glue to 300ml of water.

 

Then take your wooden dowel, and control wether it is straight and not deformed like a bow.

If the dowel is not straight enough, the paper will form airgaps, if you apply the glue on it.

That will result in a very weak tube.

 

Take the strip, lay it down on the plate, add the wooden dowel on the strip, and begin to roll.

you can do it fast in this step.

Roll to the end of the strip, and control wether some telescopic ends have formed.

Back-roll the tube, and change the angle you lay the wooden dowel on the paper.

 

Then get a paintbrush, dip it in glue, and then apply the glue onto the paper-strip.

 

Now begin to roll very slowly and with a big pressure, thats very important.

If the tube is finished, it should look very nice and clean.

 

Cut off the ecces ends with a carpet knive and set the tube aside to dry.

 

If the tubes sound like a plastic-tube when you let them fall down on the floor, you have done everything right.

These tubes require a hacksaw to cut themin desired sizes.

Here are my tubes: ( 12mmID, 16mmID)

 

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/6331/s8001598wv8.th.jpg

 

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/8897/s8001599yb5.th.jpg

 

 

I hope you all like my tutorial and can follow the instructions.

 

Stinger

[WarezWally]

Smaller tubes are easier, its hard to roll 3/4" x 7" tubes

[nick2354]

Thank you for this Christmas present!

 

I personally think that this forum could do with more simple but effective tutorials like this one.

[asilentbob]

Those tubes look pretty good, good job! I need to get around to rolling more tubes myself. I use rolls of kraft from hobby stores.

[pudidotdk]

I make mine with masking recycled kraft paper, wheat paste and a final layer of 30# virgin to keep the tube from unrolling. Each tube cost me very close to 0$

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/4004/dsc02007yz3.jpg

(20mm and 15mm tubes)

[Stinger]

Hi

 

 

Very good job Pudi, I also wanted to use wheat paste, but it is kind of

slimy and very hard to roll a tube without getting stuck to the dowel.

Also, I can unroll my tubes, because my wheat paste is very unsticky, I dont know why.

I used common wheatpaste mixed with sugar.

 

Carpenter glue is not very cheap, 1000ml costs 10€, thats mot a bargain.

 

A few measurements from the wheatpaste would be nice( e.g. how much water to how much flour etc), since I am searching for a cheap glue to roll my tubes.

 

Stinger

[oskarchem]

Go to the tutorial section there you will see Pudi's wheatpaste tutorial

[mormanman]

Good tutorial but I think crazyboy25 already made one like this.

BTW, those are very nice tubes. Question: Do you think one could get a shreder and shred the kraft or grocey bag paper and then turn in back into a big peice of paper again? I've don't it with paper towels but I'm not sure, maybe the pulp and paper merit badge would help.

[oskarchem]

geez guys when I look at the way those tubes are rolled!! I just hate doing it, my tubes allways telescope..

[Stinger]

HI

 

Oskarchem, the problem is that your paper strips

are not cutted straight enough.

Cut them straighter and you wont have telescopic ends anymore.

 

Stinger

[Gottagotomoz]

Nicely rolled tubes you've made there. I usually roll my own tubes, on account of I hate dealing with those spiral wound tubes, that seem to be sold everywhere. Convolute rolled tubes aren't exactly cheap either. But yeah, I've been using either wood glue thinned with water, or Elmers white glue. Both work fine. Lastly, I give them a final coating with some sodium silicate. While not necessary, I find it useful for things like hot based comps (like Sr(NO3)2 based gerbs) as it makes for rock hard tubes. The biggest problem I found is the lip inside of the tubes though. A quick run through with sand paper usually fixes it, or I stick a knife in and slice it right out.

 

 

Merry Christmas everybody

[Stinger]

Hi

 

I made some really heavy-duty tubes,

16mm ID, 4,5mm thick walls.

 

I usually use them for stingers:

 

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/6522/s8001607dg2.th.jpg

 

There is also a stinger on the picture.

 

 

Stinger

[psyco_1322]

I've rolled some, but I always use card stock, roll less get more. But for the little I pay for the high quality of NEPTs I can stand to buy them.