Jump to content
mjs

test tube tubes

Recommended Posts

After reading a post about tube molds I thought I would try making tubes by pouring into some test tubes. I had seen a youtube video of someone making huge tubes by pouring into a pvc pipe, but never thought to make bass tubes this way. Works well. I had difficulty dipping nice looking tubes as I work outside(cold) and they tend to harden a little misshapen rather quickly, but this way I got a much better proportion of keepers. A few I made too thin by pouring out too quickly, or too thick... 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I made a few this way just found it too slow of a method.   

You can also make a holder for test tube and over pour and then let cool.  You end up with a long solid tube and some very thin tails.     I did do some  solid  small tubes at one point also for split shotting  along weed lines for big gills.  Just split the plug/tube to make a tail (definitely not a "pretty" tube ) but teamed up with a 7ft light action spinning rod ended up with some nice gills and crappie.  

 

  

Tubes.JPG

Edited by Travis
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Perhaps this old thread could be useful

 http://www.tackleunderground.com/community/topic/20756-tubes-thanks-guys-for-your-suggestions/

If correlated links inside posts don't work anymore, then try with this one

 http://www.bassmaster.it/a_tube.htm

There are two interesting videos, their main concepts are explicated in TU thread.

Bye

 

Cami

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The video in Cami's post is the one I remember. Thanks for the links. 

Have you settled on dipping or injecting Travis? I agree that the test tubes are probably just good for a small scale guy like me making a  dozen. You have to oil the test tubes, and then wiggle the finished tube out...but I found some advantages. One  is not needing a lot of plastic.  It's  also inexpensive. For 6 test tubes , 2 different sizes, I think it was around 4 bucks at a local store.  However, the biggest advantage, for me anyways, is that this way doesn't take much skill. 

Haven't made any fully solid ones, but did make a few hard nosed ones  for mushroom jigs by pouring a little plastic into a finished tube,while it was still in the test tube.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nothing wrong with solid tubes.  I probably made a few hundred messing around. 

I  dip all my tubes.  Most of my fishing I prefer a Gitzit style thin walled smooth tube with thin tails.    I will make other variations but  just always liked that style of thin wall tube.    I would do the double or triple dipped flipping style tube at times also for guys. 

Dipping tubes really isn't that hard but we all have different learning curves.     I used a dip,  twirl, quick invert, then hang nose down motion and could dip out a 4 oz of plastic in one heating.    I use nail/spikes and round the points off on a grinding wheel.   The heads of the spike slid and hung into  a holder made of  egg crate. Definitely something you got into a groove and would knock out a bunch of tubes in short order.   No sags in the walls or "nipple" fronts.  Just a very simple no frills tube like those below.

Cutting the tails was really the slowest but didn't take a lot of time by any means once you get it worked out.  Slap the tube on the cutting mat and then I just pressed the stacked razor blade cutter down and done.  Every dozen or so tubes just pressed the blades onto a cloth soaked with worm oil and kept going.     

tube_zps089cc5ab.JPG

Edited by Travis
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 14/11/2017 at 8:35 PM, Travis said:

Nothing wrong with solid tubes.  I probably made a few hundred messing around. 

I  dip all my tubes.  Most of my fishing I prefer a Gitzit style thin walled smooth tube with thin tails.    I will make other variations but  just always liked that style of thin wall tube.    I would do the double or triple dipped flipping style tube at times also for guys. 

Dipping tubes really isn't that hard but we all have different learning curves.     I used a dip,  twirl, quick invert, then hang nose down motion and could dip out a 4 oz of plastic in one heating.    I use nail/spikes and round the points off on a grinding wheel.   The heads of the spike slid and hung into  a holder made of  egg crate. Definitely something you got into a groove and would knock out a bunch of tubes in short order.   No sags in the walls or "nipple" fronts.  Just a very simple no frills tube like those below.

Cutting the tails was really the slowest but didn't take a lot of time by any means once you get it worked out.  Slap the tube on the cutting mat and then I just pressed the stacked razor blade cutter down and done.  Every dozen or so tubes just pressed the blades onto a cloth soaked with worm oil and kept going.     

tube_zps089cc5ab.JPG

What size nails did you use? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...


×
×
  • Create New...
Top