"Stacking" tubes?

I was assembling a kit and discovered the blank/tube was a quarter inch too short. Not sure how that happened. Wrong tube in the kit or picked up the wrong tube? Blank is drilled to 3/8 and I don't have the tube needed at 0.350 inches. I think I have tubes that would fit but are too short. Has anyone had success in stacking two tubes in a blank? How did you handle the epoxy/CA glue where the two join? Thanks for your help...as always.

I have successfully done it a time or two. Make sure the tubes at the join are clean and smooth and without any burrs. Epoxy MUST be used as CA, IMHO, is not sufficient to join two hunks-o-metal.

Thanks, John. Might be a misunderstanding here. Looking to insert two short tubes from either end to meet somewhere in the blank. How does one keep the epoxy from piling up where the two ends meet?

I've done this several times in the past - usually when I was using CA to glue the tubes in and a tube would seize up before it was fully inserted. I would simply glue another tube in from the opposite end and then cut both flush before squaring the blank.

To keep the glue out of the tubes, I always plug the ends with Foundation Wax, used by my neighborhood beekeeper. If I didn't have a readily available supply, I would opt for Dental Wax. Of course in a pinch you could try Play Dough or by even pressing them through a thick slice of potato. After gluing simply use a dowel to push the plugs out of the tubes.

Good Luck!

Dave

Dave, I have a good supply of modeling clay. I do wipe the end of the tube as the clay seems to leave a bit of an oily residue. If I get bored in the shop, I can make bunny rabbits.

Woodchipper said:

Thanks, John. Might be a misunderstanding here. Looking to insert two short tubes from either end to meet somewhere in the blank. How does one keep the epoxy from piling up where the two ends meet?

Click to expand...

Try to minimize, but you still need a solid layer of epoxy. I did this several times - a rat-tail file got the excess out with little effort. The epoxy will actually make the seam between the tubes less of an issue.

Dave's suggestions are also great.

Mark, thanks and thanks again to Dave.