Does anyone make tubes? It seems like they would be tough to pour, and I never see any on here. Just curious.

There are a few ways to make them:

- Rod dipping

- Single pour molds

- Injection molds

The 1st two require a tail cutter.  The latest injection molds have mandrels that also form the legs.   I plan to try some via the rod dipping method, before my fishing season starts.  I have rods and tail cutter made up.   Bojon over at TU has provided a ton of info on this method. 

I make my own.  I have tried the dipping and cutting but got tired of it so I bought some of Bear's injectors and molds.  They are pricey to get into but easy to make.

I had an idea for a dipping rod that may make the strains while being dipped, but never had any time to make it...

What if you made the rod have big 'fans' of thin metal along the bottom so it automagically made slits for the strains? Say you wanted a 2 inch tube with 1/2 inch strains. You'd start the metal sheets 2 inches from the bottom of the rod and then dip the rod only 2 1/2 inches into the plastic...I don't know how to explain what I mean any better but does that make any sense at all?

I make my own. I have tried the dipping and cutting but got tired of it so I bought some of Bear's injectors and molds. They are pricey to get into but easy to make.

Thats the route I'd go.

Jigman,  I'm still waiting for you to let me borrow that thing. ;D

I made some yesterday, using the dipping method. 1st time tubes and happy with them.

Tube Making

That's a really set up and great looking tubes. I've been pouring a few plastics lately and I'm interested in dipping tubes. What diameter/ size bolt-screw-thing (yeah, I really know my stuff haha) are those that you used, and what did you use to hand them to drip on the nails?

Thanks,

JP

The bolts for those rods are 1/4" X 4.5", and 5/16" X 4.5" shoulderbolts with the heads cut off. You can go a little longer (5"), but was originally choosen for horizontal dipping in a pan. The handles are made with coat hangers, and wrapped around rod and sandwhiched between the nuts/washers. Small brads are in the 2x4 that the rod handles slip over. They need to hang near verticle.

I have since made some verticle dipping rods, styled after the type you can buy from Lurecraft. I have made three racks of each diameter rod. Four rods per rack, and to fit in a 2 cup pyrex. The holder also doubles as a height gauge to how far to dip when just doing the layers for the head.

I plan to test them this evening and dip some black tubes. I'll add some pictures to the link above if successful.

I added a couple of photos to the end of that linked page. If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask.