[ATM] Lightweight tube: was Strip planked telescope tube

["Rod Brackenridge" <rjbr@lycos.com>]

Afer thinking about the foam core suggestions several people made, I came across an old Telescope Making magazine article at our club on Saturday.  It described how someone made a tube out of gatorfoam (aka gatorboard) which is described by one supplier as: 'consisting of a rigid Polystyrene foam core faced on both sides by smooth, moisture resistant man-made wood fiber veneers'

A local arts supply shop gave me a sample piece about 10mm thick. It is certainly light and is supposed to cut easily with ordinary woodworking tools.  The wood fibre veneers are quite thin and look like mdf.  

I thought I might experiment with it and try to make a tube for my 6 inch F5 (currently using sonotube).  If that works, I would go ahead with this material on the larger project.  Gatorfoam saves me the trouble of having to veneer the foam myself.

Unfortunately I don't have the TM article at home and stupidly did not take any notes. If anyone has it, I would be interested to know what thickness gatorfoam the author used. 

Any comments on the viability of this material for a tube would also be appreciated.

Thanks,

Rod Brackenridge.



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