joining tint tubes

lizardking

IT IS STILL ALL BENS FAULT
Joined
Dec 26, 2014
Messages
416
Location
Gold Coast
hi all i have been playing with cheap and easy way to join tint tubes no the best way i have found so far is to use 1.125 l soft drink bottles cut the center piece where the label is and place over the tint tubes end to end put the bottle piece over the join and heat with heat gun and it shrinks tight to the tubes now i have not tested the difference the plastic makes to the appearance of the lights
 

Attachments

  • 2015-05-10 22.07.36.jpg
    2015-05-10 22.07.36.jpg
    1.6 MB · Views: 54
  • 2015-05-10 22.09.28.jpg
    2015-05-10 22.09.28.jpg
    1.9 MB · Views: 51
  • 2015-05-10 22.11.28.jpg
    2015-05-10 22.11.28.jpg
    1.6 MB · Views: 48
  • 2015-05-10 22.14.54.jpg
    2015-05-10 22.14.54.jpg
    399.4 KB · Views: 56

AAH

I love blinky lights :)
Community project designer
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Messages
4,188
Location
Eaglehawk
I have joined a few just by cutting a short sleeve (100mm) out of the tint tube and splitting it and super glueing it over a butt join. Mine are viewed from about 30m away but I can say that I haven't even noticed the joins when I am much closer.

I may have used clear plumbers glue or super glue. It was a few years ago so I can't remember and I use lots of both clear plumbers glue and super glue.
 

fasteddy

I have C.L.A.P
Global moderator
Joined
Apr 26, 2010
Messages
6,648
Location
Albion Park NSW
The issue with the tint tubes is that they will go yellow within 1 season so the amount of work that goes into making something from them may not be worth it if you dont want yellow tubes.

Im not sure what others who used the tint tubes expericenced, but that was my experience.

They still look great though and give a more warm white look when white
 

mborg10

Michael Borg
Joined
Dec 28, 2011
Messages
1,446
Location
claremont meadows
I don't know what the tint tubes are made of but you can weld acrylic with acetone. The 2 mating surfaces have to be smooth and flat though. The acetone actually melts the acrylic and welds them together not glues them.
 

David_AVD

Grandpa Elf
Community project designer
Generous elf
Joined
Jun 12, 2010
Messages
4,681
Location
Victoria Point (Brisbane)
I tried the plastic sleeve cut from a 1.25L bottle today it it did shrink down quite well.

Are there any other methods not listed above that people have used? If so, how well did it work?
 
  • Like
Reactions: AAH

Goliath

Full time elf
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
166
Location
Gracemere
I use the 1.25 l softdrink bottle. Holds it good enough for my purposes, and not noticeable to casual observers. I reckon you should get four years out of a prop at least, if it is only in the sun for one month a year.
 

AAH

I love blinky lights :)
Community project designer
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Messages
4,188
Location
Eaglehawk
Would a couple of holes in the ends with cable ties to pull them together work?
The biggest problem with that method would be that you would have hotspots where some of the light from inside the tube is passing directly out without going through the diffuser (tint tube wall). It also wouldn't have the structural integrity of a glued joint. My own 1st tint tube prop which has been in use since 2012 is being replaced this year as the tint tube is getting pretty brittle and breaking up. 7 Christmases and the glued joints were still holding up. I'll actually be trying out David's method of using a coke bottle shrunk onto the tubes when I rebuild a bit later in the year.
 
Top