Light fiberglass tubes

[DonJuan]

Does anyone know where I can get some really light fiberglass tubing (at least 2 feet long x about 1/2 inch dia.)? I know you guys will probably tell me to just make it but I'd really rather just buy it. How light you ask? I've seen it used as a guide tube in the fuselage for a carbon fiber wing spar. It looks like it's only a few wraps of fiberglass. You can easily smash it. Any help would be appreciated.

[sporter]

What are you using for? Could you use a cardboard tube?

Sean

[jcpatrick]

If you can get by with a tapered tube, there's some that are ~0.67" tapering to 0.48" over a 40" length. It'd weigh about 60g. At the small end, weight would be around 1g per inch.

If you want smaller there's another tapered tube from 0.43" to 0.29" that's 30g for 40" length. At the small end, it may be about .4g per inch.

Not super light, but the price — $8 each— makes them attractive.

[Andrew0820]

Check:

Kitebuilder (http://www.kitebuilder.com/catalog/)

Goodwinds Kites (http://www.goodwindskites.com/)

Both carry fiberglass and carbon tubing, usually listed under Framework. I've found that kite suppliers carry a good selection of carbon, fiberglass and fabric at very competitive prices.

andrew

[DonJuan]

Thanks guys, I've been to both of those Kite guys and have bought things from them before. Everything I've seen is really for structure building which is understandable but I don't need it for structure. I really need it to be as light as possible. Maybe a piece of rolled depron with carbon fiber for support? A cardboard tube might be light enough if thin enough. But that really thin fiber glass guide tube material that I mentioned would probably be perfect. Anyone seen that sold anywhere?

[Troy]

How bout cardboard tube (per Sean) with a fiberglass sock pulled over and epoxied. I believe most of those wing tube guides are custom made at the factory on a mandrel. I have never seen them commercially available.

[DonJuan]

Thanks Troy and Sean, I think I'll try rolling some cardboard and depron and see which one works best. Can't use the Tapered stuff jcpatrick.

[Buddy Roos]

You can't get much lighter than this:

http://www.parmodels.com/Techniques_and_References/Rolled%20Balsa%20Motor%20Stick.pdf

If you need more strength, you can pull a fiberglass or carbon fiber sock over it.

Buddy

[DonJuan]

Thanks Buddy, I think I'll give that a try. I think I'll try it with depron too.