# I have a bunch of giant cardboard tubes. What should I do with them? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 21, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973 "2004-11-21T19:20:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/1 "2004-11-21T19:20:43Z")
These are the kind of tubes used to mail large photographic prints or posters. About three inches in diameter and three feet long. The walls are about a quarter inch thick. I have about two dozen of them. So, gimme some ideas on fun activities to be had with giant cardboard tubes. Bonus points if it’s a fun activity that _could_ be had with a paper-towel or toilet-paper tube, but which would be markedly improved with the use of a giant tube. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/2 "2004-11-21T19:24:55Z")
Make a musical instrument - assemble them into a long rack (parcel tape will probably do the job), and cut them to different lengths. Play by whacking the tops with a table-tennis racquet (or anything similar). ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/3 "2004-11-21T19:26:16Z")
I bet [**Velma**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=287348) would like to have a word with you. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/4 "2004-11-21T20:00:11Z")
I am stunned that you even needed to ask. Fencing, of course. Christmas wrapping paper tubes never lasted very long (and there was always the risk of incurring Santa’s wrath if we got too violent) but your tubes should make for hours of fun. En garde! ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/5 "2004-11-21T20:10:18Z")
Well this mght not be a fun idea but give them to a local school or kindy. They will have the fun idea for you. ---
**Author:** ![tisiphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tisiphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tisiphone)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/6 "2004-11-21T22:17:02Z")
When my sister got gifted with a bunch, she promptly had a papier-mache party, and constructed an almost-life-size reindeer. It’s going on her front lawn for Christmas - after that it poses somewhat of a storage problem. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/7 "2004-11-21T22:29:12Z")
Teach yourself didgeridoo. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/8 "2004-11-21T22:43:10Z")
> [@IrreverentTone](#): > > I am stunned that you even needed to ask. Fencing, of course. Christmas wrapping paper tubes never lasted very long (and there was always the risk of incurring Santa’s wrath if we got too violent) but your tubes should make for hours of fun. En garde! Seconded. I can’t even begin to estimate the number of cardboard tubes I broke over my sisters’ heads over the years. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/9 "2004-11-21T23:01:17Z")
You got cardy-board tubes? Now you can have indoor plumbing – just like they’s got at the women’s lockup! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/10 "2004-11-21T23:29:23Z")
You could cobble together a really neat indoor junglegym/multi-tree-perch thingie for someone’s pet cat or parrot, even. You could wrap the tubes in various animal-pleasing shredding materials like sisal/jute twine/rope, burlap, carpet, etc. Would make for an exceptional gift for a cat-lover friend, or an interesting (and potentially lucrative!) offering on Ebay. The pics on [this page](http://www.angelicalcat.com/) should get you started… ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/11 "2004-11-21T23:31:30Z")
Hampster Maze ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/12 "2004-11-21T23:50:01Z")
A sun-viewer. You know, a pinhole camera by which you can observe the sun. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/13 "2004-11-21T23:57:54Z")
If you don’t find anything to do with them, you can probably donate them to your local NSPCA. Ferrets go insane over them. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/14 "2004-11-22T00:38:05Z")
Build a [Rocket](http://www.funology.com/boredombusters/bb011.htm). ---
**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/15 "2004-11-22T03:13:51Z")
Seal the ends, polyurethane them, rope them together and go rafting. Not that I would try that with paper-towel tubes. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/16 "2004-11-22T03:25:33Z")
Take 'em to your local middle or high school and give them to the art teacher. She will weep with joy. We use them as forms for ceramics classes - to make mugs and such. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/17 "2004-11-22T03:32:17Z")
I get lots of these, as seismic data and maps are commonly delivered within such. If they’re the sort that have a free-sliding internal tube, onto which the cap fits, they make great pop-guns. ---
**Author:** ![Jpeg\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/18 "2004-11-22T03:41:51Z")
Cut them into short pieces and assemble them honeycomb style for sock cubbies, a spice rack, or whatever fits into it. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/19 "2004-11-22T03:48:53Z")
[Cardboard Tube Samuri](http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2003-03-03&res=l) ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973/20 "2004-11-22T04:24:22Z")
> [@Jpeg Jones](#): > > Cut them into short pieces and assemble them honeycomb style for sock cubbies, a spice rack, or whatever fits into it. If they’re big enough, that would be a great wine rack (with a very, er, Late Cinderblock aesthetic) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-bunch-of-giant-cardboard-tubes-what-should-i-do-with-them/275973.md?page=2)