Making smaller tubes

[Johnny]

always nice to find new thibgs to do

[Jim Nunn]

Johnny,

It's nice to see you posting again.

Jim

[Johnny]

im still lurking around Jim

going to start modelling again this summer i hope....when my new garage is up and running

[rgmarine]

When rolling tubes I use a piece of sandpaper to thin the bottom edge of the top paper joint. You can make the top almost transparant this way and produce an almost invisible joint.

[mbauer]

One thing's for sure, long small tubes will drive you crazy....

I need the strength of cardstock (Index 110#), so the small tubes I'm making take some serious time and patience. Even at 1/12 scale, a Mercury LES is an interesting project!

1" tubes are the problem when scaled down....

This thread has been a big help so far, but rolling tubes this small is taking some serious time.

Mike

[VinceM]

One thing that works for me is to take a plastic drinking straw or coffee stir stick about the diameter you want, then take thin stock paper (like cash register receipts are printed on), saturate it with Elmers glue till it's soaked. Wrap around the straw and allow to thoroughly dry, like overnight. Then slide the straw out. The Elmers won't stick to the plastic straw, and the tube is hardened by the glue.
Sometimes the inside of the tube will still be soft , so plan on allowing extra dry time after removing the straw. If you need structural strength, leave the straw in.

I have a wide variety of straws and stir sticks, plastic toothpicks, WD-40 spray straws, etc., every time we go to a restaurant I look at the straws (much to my wife's dismay ).

[Silver Phoenix]

For solid tubes in 3 - 5 mm diameters, I've been using lollipop sticks. Many varieties are just machine rolled cardstock.

[mbauer]

Using a modified version of the techniques shown in this thread to make small cardstock tubes for a 1/12 scale Mercury LES.

The full size LES has three different Outside Tube Diameters for the frame:
1) 2" [50.8 mm]
2) 1.5" [38.1 mm]
3) 1" [25.4 mm]

At 1/12 scale these Diameters get really small:
1) 2" = 0.167" [4.2418 mm]
2) 1.5" = 0.125" [3.175 mm]
3) 1" = 0.083" [2.1082 mm]

Photo 1 shows the almost finished medium tubes needed (.125" [3.175mm]size)
Notice:
1) 1.5mm diameter carbon rod used for final rolling/gluing
2) Dashed line on flat cardstock before rolling. This line is a score fold line. It is scored using an embosser, just like doing regular fold lines. The final step before rolling is to take a knife to trim closer to the dashed line getting rid of excess cardstock. This bend and trim makes it easier to tuck inside tab around carbon fiber tube when rolling!!!!!
3) Sticky note is used to label each section as shown.
4) Black ring lines will be cut using hobby knife creating three total tubes


How the smallest tubes are being rolled:
Step 1 = Use a 1/8" diameter wood dowel to create first curves in flat cardstock pieces.
Step 2 = Next use a 2.5 mm carbon fiber tube to roll again
Step 3 = Use smaller carbon fiber rod 1.5 mm to roll again
Step 4 = 1 mm carbon fiber rod is used for final rolling/gluing support
(Sorry, no photos of these steps)

Photo 2 shows one of the larger diameter framework tubes being pre-shaped around a 2mm carbon fiber rod using a couple of cut rubber bands to clamp it to the rod.


Photo 3 shows the misc. parts for the main section of the LES.
Notice:
1) Near top of photo is the 1mm rod with one of the smallest framework tubes
2) Top Spike of Rocket, tube from rocket to spike (0.167 Diameter), and rocket body parts
3) Tube that holds the top cone in place hasn't been glued yet, but shows pre-shaping roll in it


Photo 4 Shows rolled and glued top cone (spike), and the tube ready to glue onto main rocket parts


Photo 5 shows Top of LES drying
Notice why I'm glad my new epson printer ink doesn't smear like the old HP printer ink does....(glue syringe was plugged just enough that when pressed a big blob of glue got everywhere).


Complicated process that is taking about 20-minutes to creat one small tube, that will be cut into final parts. Still have several to roll/glue before final assembly of framework...

BTW-Perfect tool for cutting smaller diameter holes is a leather hole punch!

Just thought these would help with small tube projects.

Mike

[Zakopious]

I cheat.
Today, I went to a patch of grass along our street and cut a bundle of grass stems.
They are thin at the top, thick at the bottom and about three feet long.
When I need a small tube like a gun barrel, I simply cut an appropriate stem to length, attache it to the model and paint it the correct color.
There should be enough grass stems to last me for the next five years.
The strength of the stem can be improved by forcing super glue or other glue into the stem with a pin.