cardboard tubes

[j taylor]

All the discussion seems to be around FG and HDPE tubes, but what about old fashion paper tubes? For the long term I can see the disadvantage but short term is there anything wrong with useing the 2" ID paper tubes I have seen on the cheap?

[Rosko2]

I'm not sure if your talking about buying cardboard tubes or using the tubes that come in shell kits. If your talking about buying them, I've seen some cardboard tubes that were much thicker than the cardboard tubes you get in the kits. These tubes would last longer than the kit tubes, but I'm not sure how much longer. If I were to go this route, I'd be inspecting them every once in a while just to make sure.

As far as the tubes in kits are concerened, they are intended to be used for the shells that came in that particular kit (8-12 shots usually). I WOULD NOT suggest using them for many more than that.

[MNPyro]

If you jump on rec.pyro there are several discussion about "protecting" cardboard tubes. Basically, making them waterproof and hard therefore making them last quite a long time.

But as Rosko says, I would use the thicker walled tubes for this, and not mess around trying to protect the cheap, thin walled tubes that come in most shell kits.

MNPyro

[RipSUp]

Yeah I know it's an old post :)

Anyone know of a place to pick up cardboard tubes that's relatively cheaper priced. Most the places I have found are about the cost of buying a fiberglass tube from the places here and I'd rather just buy fiberglass at that point.

These are only for blackbox shells as I plan to pick up some nice tubes for the nicer shells. But I'd like to get a significant increase in total shells through cheaper cardboard if I can while I build up my nice tube collection over the next couple of years :)

And unfortunately I haven't been able to get the right google search to find anything cause most that comes up is mailing tube stuff.

[glittertime]

Just my opinion, but by the time you buy the thicker cardboard tubes, then replace them later (because they probably won't last as long as FG or HDPE), you will have spent what FG or HDPE would have cost you initially anyway. I personally would just spend the money up front (if you can afford it) for something that's going to last longer, and be done with it. Just my opinion.

[RudyG]

I agree with glittertime on this one. Also, I would buy shell kits that add to your tube collection. If you buy Excal's, Lock & Load's, Black Mamba's, and Kylin King Super Mag kits, you end up with HDPE or fiberglass tubes that you can use to make poor man's racks. I've slowly built up my racks from Pyrogear, while using tubes from kits to get my tube count up. The tubes from Blackbox shells are hardly good for the shells that come with the kit. I have about seventy tubes now because of buying kits where I can salvage the tubes for year after year use.

[PAshooter]

I have a bunch of tubes that came with shell kits that I removed the bases from, re plugged and treated. A recent shoot was the first time I had a chance to shoot anything out of them, but among the tubes were 15 of the cheapest of the cheap, Small Festival Ball tubes. Granted these tubes I won't shoot anything out of but the shells that came with them, but out of curiosity I wanted to see how they held up. So I kept loading singles into one tube. I think I rapidly shot about 20 shells from one tube before I gave up. After inspection the tube was no worse for wear than the rest of the 15 that only had 1 or 2 shots out of them. Just remember before HDPE and FG there were 2 options. Burried Steel and paper. Paper can hold up just fine and is definately worth using especially if you are reusing the tubes you got in the kit. Treat them and you could concieveably get a hundred or so shots out of them. Storage is the only worry, Make sure you keep them dry and protected.

[Deweycoon]

Check these out.
http://www.pyrodirect.com/ccp0-prodshow/019-1936.html

IMO if your going to spend money on mortars stick with hdpe.

[npyroboy]

Check these out.
http://www.pyrodirect.com/ccp0-prodshow/019-1936.html

IMO if your going to spend money on mortars stick with hdpe.

Ive heard people say not to get the spiral bound ones:confused:
would these last?

[PAshooter]

Ive heard people say not to get the spiral bound ones:confused:
would these last?
If you really need an answer to that question, go to your nearest tube from a shell kit... remove pretty paper from outside and see how it is wrapped. However the tube that came with the kit is would be a good rule of thumb for those shells.

[Swash]

I was thinking about doing the same thing this 4th, make about 100 poor man tubes or so, but I don't think I will anymore.