curved paper tube (diam. 1-3 mm)

[paperPino]

Good morning, everyone.
Question:

How do you make a paper tube of small diameter (2-3 mm) with curvature. The easiest way to build small straight tubes is, I suppose, to roll thin paper until the desired diameter is reached. But how to make the curvature without squeezing it?

Thanks & cheers to all

[John Wagenseil]

Admit failure, then
use bent wire or steamed wooden dowels.
Perhaps you could bend paper to correct curvature, soak paper with cyanoacrylic glue and then sand out the crinkles.
Or role out small tubes in Sculpy, cut to length, bend, bake and paint.
Cut strips of paper from sheet that is desired thickness of tube, wet, roll just enough to round off edges, and then bend strip with its grain, paint if necessary.
Use thread coated with glue to maintain shape and hide fuzz and twists.

Please let us know what works, I am looking forward to seeing your next creation.
I wonder what it will be, and if it will feature a lot of small tubing.


PS Thanks for all your previous creations.

[Siwi]

With dexterity and thin enough paper it is possible to roll paper around wire of 1mm thickness.
Another suggestion if the tube does not need to be hollow is to soak absorbant paper such as kitchen roll in glue and roll it like bread dough.
Hardening and sanding a length of greyboard or mountboard may also work.

[cardist]

Hi Paper Pino, check this thread;

Flexible paper pipes

I was playing around with soft solder and very thin paper in my little experiment. The pipes were not hollow, but the technique allowed for bent/curved pipes.

[Revell-Fan]

I soften up the paper a bit before rolling by breathing on it or by putting a very small amount of water on the backside with my finger. This makes the paper more flexible and prevents wrinkling.

[mbauer]

Have you tried to use paper "all day sucker" sticks available where candy making products are sold? Can peel the layers to get proper size and then bend using finger pressure.

Mike

[paperPino]

Thank you for the many and very interesting suggestions.
Generally they are beyond my limited modeling capabilities, but now I know my way around....
Thank you again.