I need a cardboard tube

September 14, 2010 12:30 PM

I need a cardboard tube or cylinder. It has to be approx. 8 inches in diameter and 8 inches tall, and made of sturdy heavy cardboard.

I'm thinking something like mailing tubes, and I wonder if there is any industry that uses something of that sort as a spool or reel for something - i.e. maybe I can find this tube I need as a waste product of some industry?

or

how can I make it myself? I could recycle some paper, put it in the blender with water and then use the pulp to make my cylinder, right? but how do I shape it?

posted by uauage to Grab Bag (11 answers total)

oatmeal canister?
posted by CathyG at 12:31 PM on September 14, 2010

Best answer: I've seen similar dimensions of heavy cardboard used as molds for pouring concrete for posts. That would likely work for your purposes and might be available at your local hardware store.
posted by JMOZ at 12:32 PM on September 14, 2010

Best answer: See if your local home improvement store carries concrete forms. They might have them in 8" diameters. They'd be longer than 8" but you could easily cut them down. We buy them for our rabbits to use as play tunnels -- they are very sturdy cardboard and they're cheap.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 12:33 PM on September 14, 2010

Best answer: In fact, searching Home Depot's website seems to work, though you'll have to cut them down to length.
posted by JMOZ at 12:33 PM on September 14, 2010

Depends on how sturdy you need it to be. Papier maché would be easier than making the pulp yourself, but I don't know about strengthening it.

I also need a sturdy cardboard tube 8-10" wide for a project I want to attempt, and have found mailing tubes that wide for about $10, but only sold in packs of 10, not individually. $10 I can drop on it. $100, no. I went to a craft store and found a cardboard cylindrical box about 9" in diameter and 6" tall, and plan on using my boyfriend's Dremel tool to see if I can remove the bottom and cut it in half without it falling apart. You might be able to find a similar box or hatbox in the size you need.
posted by telophase at 12:36 PM on September 14, 2010

You can buy them at the Post Office. I think they cost like $2.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:36 PM on September 14, 2010

Response by poster: GREAAAAT! thank you JMOZ!!! thank you rabbitrabbit!!!!!!!! you saved me. That's exactly EXACTLY what I need.
posted by uauage at 12:37 PM on September 14, 2010

Although this has already been answered, for future reference concrete forms as described above are commonly called "Sonotube" as that is the leading manufacturer.
posted by TedW at 12:57 PM on September 14, 2010

You may be able to get one for free at at carpet retailer. Their dumpster is probably full of them.
posted by Daddy-O at 12:57 PM on September 14, 2010

Also keep in mind that those concrete form tubes are coated on the inside with a pretty thick layer of wax. Which may be a hindrance or a benefit to your application. (it attracts dirt like the dickens)
posted by Pink Fuzzy Bunny at 2:33 PM on September 14, 2010

Go to web sites for building your own telescope and look for lists of sources. (Also, 2nd'ing Sonotube.)
posted by wenestvedt at 8:00 AM on September 15, 2010