What would you do with a cardboard tube?
January 11, 2007 8:34 AM Subscribe
So I have a buttload of cardboard tubes...what can I do with them?
They are 3 feet long, 4 inches across on the inside diameter, and about 1/4 inch thick (sturdy).
I was thinking maybe building some rockets or a launcher of some type, but I would like more ideas.
Links would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks!
They are 3 feet long, 4 inches across on the inside diameter, and about 1/4 inch thick (sturdy).
I was thinking maybe building some rockets or a launcher of some type, but I would like more ideas.
Links would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks!
Oh wait, I blew it. The right answer should have been:
"eat more fiber."
posted by craniac at 8:45 AM on January 11, 2007
"eat more fiber."
posted by craniac at 8:45 AM on January 11, 2007
Best answer: 1. Place one end towards guitar amp or other type of speaker.
2. Place mic at other end.
3. Record.
4. Adjust placement and volume to get different sounds.
You can also join multiple tubes end to end to get weirder sounds.
posted by chillmost at 8:48 AM on January 11, 2007
2. Place mic at other end.
3. Record.
4. Adjust placement and volume to get different sounds.
You can also join multiple tubes end to end to get weirder sounds.
posted by chillmost at 8:48 AM on January 11, 2007
Best answer: Extraordinary Uses for Cardboard Tubes
posted by Pastabagel at 8:49 AM on January 11, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Pastabagel at 8:49 AM on January 11, 2007 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Build a fort!
And that's not snark...I'm dead serious. Spend some time acting like a 6 year old again...it'll do ya good.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 8:50 AM on January 11, 2007
And that's not snark...I'm dead serious. Spend some time acting like a 6 year old again...it'll do ya good.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 8:50 AM on January 11, 2007
Lots of cardboard tubes? Build a cardboard Internet!
posted by Robot Johnny at 8:53 AM on January 11, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by Robot Johnny at 8:53 AM on January 11, 2007 [2 favorites]
At least a few of them should be destroyed via cardboard tube sword fights.
The cardboard tube samurai would approve.
posted by utsutsu at 8:57 AM on January 11, 2007
The cardboard tube samurai would approve.
posted by utsutsu at 8:57 AM on January 11, 2007
Pinhole Camera
Room Divider, stuff them wth sound mufflers and link 'em up.
Or just let the work of Shigeru Ban inspire you.
posted by Sara Anne at 8:57 AM on January 11, 2007
Room Divider, stuff them wth sound mufflers and link 'em up.
Or just let the work of Shigeru Ban inspire you.
posted by Sara Anne at 8:57 AM on January 11, 2007
Best answer: Call up your local primary or middle school art department and see if they could use them. Then pat yourself on the back for contributing.
posted by orangemiles at 8:59 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by orangemiles at 8:59 AM on January 11, 2007
Any local daycare centers nearby would have to have a portion of your buttload. Kids can think of all kinds fun ways to use them.
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 9:00 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 9:00 AM on January 11, 2007
Find someone with lots of pet hamsters / gerbils / rats / mice. Donate.
posted by afx237vi at 9:03 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by afx237vi at 9:03 AM on January 11, 2007
Err, 'love to have'. (Or, yeah, what orangemiles said.)
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 9:05 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 9:05 AM on January 11, 2007
Best answer: Make a pixelator.
Here are more links. They are what the kids call "cool."
posted by SassHat at 9:05 AM on January 11, 2007
Here are more links. They are what the kids call "cool."
posted by SassHat at 9:05 AM on January 11, 2007
Please refrain from using the words "buttload" and "tubes" in the same sentence in the future. Please. Think of the children.
Second the daycare idea - there's nothing so much fun for a five-year-old as a cardboard tube for some reason.
posted by Aquaman at 9:08 AM on January 11, 2007
Second the daycare idea - there's nothing so much fun for a five-year-old as a cardboard tube for some reason.
posted by Aquaman at 9:08 AM on January 11, 2007
codpieces.
posted by andythebean at 9:10 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by andythebean at 9:10 AM on January 11, 2007
Best answer: I used a collection of similar tubes (about 12" long) as shelf organizers....
I stacked them so that their open ends were accessible from the front of the shelves and each one made a cubbyhole into which I could insert long skinny things.. in my case, stone carving tools, clay sculpture tools, a pile of metal bars, short dowels, ear plugs, safety glasses, ad nauseum. Every thing was visible, protected, sorted, accessible and the shelf volume much better utilized. Instead of a jumble of crap on the shelf, I had 50 little holes to stick things in. Loved it.
Perhaps they'd work similarly in a pantry, though you'll have to shorten them.
posted by FauxScot at 9:27 AM on January 11, 2007
I stacked them so that their open ends were accessible from the front of the shelves and each one made a cubbyhole into which I could insert long skinny things.. in my case, stone carving tools, clay sculpture tools, a pile of metal bars, short dowels, ear plugs, safety glasses, ad nauseum. Every thing was visible, protected, sorted, accessible and the shelf volume much better utilized. Instead of a jumble of crap on the shelf, I had 50 little holes to stick things in. Loved it.
Perhaps they'd work similarly in a pantry, though you'll have to shorten them.
posted by FauxScot at 9:27 AM on January 11, 2007
Response by poster: Wow! Thanks for the buttload of responses! Keep 'em coming!
posted by Totally Zanzibarin' Ya at 9:29 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by Totally Zanzibarin' Ya at 9:29 AM on January 11, 2007
I remember having a couple of those around when I was a kid and I loved them. I would cut them up and use them as toys in all sorts of ways, it was great. Definitely see about the arts & crafts donation idea. I don't think they're quite suited to rocketry as from what I remember they were extremely heavy due to the wall thinkness.
posted by Rhomboid at 10:09 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by Rhomboid at 10:09 AM on January 11, 2007
That collection of tubes is going to be very, very, deceptively strong. You could probably set them all up together and make something that looks like it could never be held up by mere cardboard, but will actually end up being as sturdy as if it had been made by 2x4s.
posted by anildash at 10:12 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by anildash at 10:12 AM on January 11, 2007
I had a boyfriend once who built me a four-poster bed out of cardboard tubes (I think they were from inside industrial-sized rolls of fabric). It lasted for about a day and half, before collapsing beneath its own weight in a hilarious fashion. Romance+Comedy=Profit!
posted by hot soup girl at 10:13 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by hot soup girl at 10:13 AM on January 11, 2007
Best answer: Speaking of reliving your childhood, you should smear at least one with peanut butter, roll in bird seed, and make the biggest cardboard tube bird feeder ever!
posted by textilephile at 10:29 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by textilephile at 10:29 AM on January 11, 2007
Response by poster: At least a few of them should be destroyed via cardboard tube sword fights.
It would be an epic battle as these are very strong.
That collection of tubes is going to be very, very, deceptively strong.
I can stand on one and it will barely deflect!
posted by Totally Zanzibarin' Ya at 11:10 AM on January 11, 2007
It would be an epic battle as these are very strong.
That collection of tubes is going to be very, very, deceptively strong.
I can stand on one and it will barely deflect!
posted by Totally Zanzibarin' Ya at 11:10 AM on January 11, 2007
For some reason, this reminded me of the Monty Python skit involving 3 inch lengths of string.
posted by norm at 11:52 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by norm at 11:52 AM on January 11, 2007
Build a time machine.
Those fools at the Academy thought I was mad to try it. But here I am posting from 2037! Who's laughing now!
posted by tkchrist at 12:55 PM on January 11, 2007 [1 favorite]
Those fools at the Academy thought I was mad to try it. But here I am posting from 2037! Who's laughing now!
posted by tkchrist at 12:55 PM on January 11, 2007 [1 favorite]
Actually. We use them for dog toys. Tape it up with a piece of bacon inside. They go nuts over it.
posted by tkchrist at 12:57 PM on January 11, 2007
posted by tkchrist at 12:57 PM on January 11, 2007
Relive your teenaged years: fill with black powder, cap the ends with glue, insert fuse, test on neighbor's mailbox.
Oh, hello Mister FBI man.
posted by toxic at 4:31 PM on January 11, 2007
Oh, hello Mister FBI man.
posted by toxic at 4:31 PM on January 11, 2007
If the tubes are rigid and you have some time, you could make some unique furniture.
Like shelves... (some imagination with same size tubes might make some interesting designs) or you could make a telescope or a pinhole camera with a tunnel effect.
posted by Benway at 5:01 PM on January 11, 2007
Like shelves... (some imagination with same size tubes might make some interesting designs) or you could make a telescope or a pinhole camera with a tunnel effect.
posted by Benway at 5:01 PM on January 11, 2007
I nth the idea of donating them to a grade school art or music teacher: maybe suggest a thongaphone orchestra...
posted by eve harrington at 5:08 PM on January 11, 2007
posted by eve harrington at 5:08 PM on January 11, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
flickr pics
posted by craniac at 8:45 AM on January 11, 2007