Making Your Own Tubes


Paper tubes are an extremely important part of pyrotechnics because you have to have something to hold whatever it is you're making. Don't worry, they are easy to make and you can make quite a few of them at one time. Here is a list of what it takes to make paper tubes.

1. Kraft Paper - sold at most corner stores and is used to wrap packages in for mailing. If you can't find any don't worry, you can use brown paper bags that you get your groceries in from the local supermarket.
2. Dextrin - water based binder. Instruction to make this are located on my supplies page.
3. Toothbrush or small paint brush - use one of those free ones the dentists always give you ;-)
4. Plastic cup - just a little cup to mix the glue paste in, I prefer disposable ones.
5. Wooden Dowel - Get one the size you want the Inner Diameter of you tubes to be.
6. Saran or Plastic Cling Wrap - just "borrow" a little from the kitchen.
7. Piece of Carboard - Just cut a piece off from an empty box big enough to roll your tubes on.

Thats all it takes. now for some instructions:
1. I've found that it was a little difficult to get the tube the dowel after you rolled it as the dextrin glued the tube to the dowel. The best way to avoid this was to first wrap the dowel with saran wrap except the ends and secure the ends of the saran wrap with a little tape. This keeps it from sticking.
2. Now you need to mix up a little glue/paste. Put a little Dextrin into your plastic cup. The amount depends on how many tubes you plan to make, but don't worry you can always make more. Try not to make to much though, because any extra is just a waste as it will spoil. Add enough water so that it is between syrupy and watery. You may have to experiment to get what you want.
3. Cut a peice of paper from your roll of Kraft paper. Don't cut the width longer than the saran wrapped part of your dowel. You will also have to experiment with the lenght in order to get the right thickness of tube you want.
4. Brush some glue onto the paper like the pic. X = GLUE

			_________________
			|XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX|
			|XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX|
			|XX	     XX	|
			|  XX	   XX	|
			|    XX	 XX	|
			|      XX	|
			|    XX	 XX	|
			|  XX	   XX	|
			|XX 	     XX	|
			|XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX|
			|XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX|

5. Turn over the paper and do the same thing (this may not be nessesary, but I always do.)
6. Roll the paper onto your dowell, trying to avoid wrinkles and keep it tight.
7. Slide it off and viola -a tube-. Set it aside to dry and repeat the steps to make more. It takes a day or two to dry depending on thickness, climate, etc...

Now that you have your own tubes you can use them to make many awesome pyrotechnics!!!

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