Greetings and welcome to NCR's forums. Possibly the easiest way is to wrap the straight edge of a piece of paper around the tube, tape it in place so that it's even, mark the line with a sharpie or pen or pencil and then carefully use a very sharp single edged razor or exacto blade to cut it. Practice a few times on a scrap piece of tube to get the feel for the cutting process. Best to score the line around the tube a few times before actually trying to cut thru it. Then a little touch up with sand paper to knock off the fuzzy cardboard and you've got a shorter tube with a clean cut.

Welcome!

About the only thing I'd add, would be to back up the cut to prevent tearing through the inside of the tube. Keep a stock of dowels and tubing couplers and just slide one in to support the tube while cutting.

Ken

For Estes type paper tubes, I use a small miter box and an X-acto razor saw. Need to do a little touch up with 220 sandpaper afterwards and then you're good to go.

Welcome on board.

Warren

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

Dewayne

Hey Dewayne welcome to NCR. You are in with a great group of guys and gals with a huge amount of knowledge. Should not have any problem finding info or help here.

Dewayne, you've been given the best advice, and welcome! I don't live that far from you. Maybe some time we can get together and talk rockets. I've been cutting tubes since 1965 just the way our club prez (Joe Hinton) said, having something (a dowel) underneath gives you good support and makes a cleaner cut, too. The only thing I'd like to ad is use a fresh blade! 😉

Dewayne, welcome to to the forum! I to live south of the mall, several of us live in the area. Might need to start a carpool.

Dewayne,

Here's my welcome to you as well! The most critical thing is a new exacto blade, like Joe said. Don't punch through on the first cut but hold the knife still with the tip of the blade touching the line while you slowly roll the tube with your other hand. The tubes will just fall apart. To be honest I never tried the dowel insertion idea, but I'll give it a try! We used to make our own tubes on 3/4" dowels (19mm), but I wouldn't know where to get an 18mm dowel. I guess a 13mm tube would slip over a 1/2" (12.7mm) dowel.

Get tubes-of-plenty from Apogee in Colorado Springs. You'll get them the day after you order on-line (or call directly). You'll get a wide variety of sizes to inspire your creative ideas.

If you are interested in NAR competion there are several of us who can help you with competitive design ideas.

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