From: "McHatten, Shawn" 
To: atmlist 
Reply-To: "McHatten, Shawn" 


        Not sure if I've mentioned this on the list before but a carpenters
trick to getting a multisided tube to hold together while drying is to use
duct tape. Lay out three strips of tape approx 2 inches longer than the OD
of your tube. Lay two strips parallel, spaced a couple of inches short of
the length of the tube and the third parallel to the first two in the
middle of them. Then just start laying down the strips with the outside
facing down. Then as you roll up the tape the tube rolls
up with it. This is a great way to see what the tube will look like before gluing up.
        This works not only for telescope tubes but also plant pots, wooden
pails and decorative baskets if anyone does scroll work. It's also how I
built my tube. The rubber bands work good for pulling the tube tight while
drying. I used tourniquets for mine.

Shawn

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob May [mailto:bobmay{at}nethere.com]
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2003 1:54 PM To: atmlist
Subject: Re: ATM Looking for 10" tube


Why not make a tube of whatever diameter you want? Go find some nice
3/4" thick maple and rip it into pieces that are the width needed and
then rip into 1/4" stock.  A 12 sided tube can be made by putting the
table saw at 15 deg. and cutting the pieces.  The next thing is to take
some more stock and cut that angle on the edge so you have a roof shaped
edge on the wood and then cut it off of the board.  These will be supports
on the inside of the tube.
Assemble the tube by first getting a tube from an old tire (truck tire
places have lots of them) and cutting it into a long rubber strip.  You do
the gluing up of the tube by taking the pieces and use some short loops of
the rubber to hold them in a circle, glue the joints between the 12 pieces
and then wrap the whole tube with the rubber band tightly.  Wait a day and
you will have a nice tube the diameter that you want. Afterwords, put in
the supports for the joints and ballons will do a good job of holding the
pieces in place untli things dry. Bob May
http://nav.to/bobmay
bobmay{at}nethere.com
NEW! http://bobmay.astronomy.net

--- BBBS/NT v4.00 MP