I was wondering if anyone knew were I could get a dye tube large enough for six (6) 18 inch silks. I want to do a continues color changing silk through paper tube like in Tarbell. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Rob Pond

Home Depot (or your local hardware/plumbing store) is the cheapest place. 5 inches of 1.5 inch diameter brass drain pipe should do it. Sand the edges after cutting the pipe. Sand the exterior prior to spray painting it flat black. If you MUST have a stopper, try black cloth tape from a fabric store (three-quarter inch wide should do it). Saw a slit on each side of the center of the tube, insert the cloth tape, then bind the ends sticking out of the tube with black electrician's plastic tape. However, if you practice with the tube a lot, you don't need any stopper. I have even performed with a cardboard tube from a roll of toilet paper, but it doesn't last as long.

Other than making one yourself Rice silk studios had a large one at a reasonable price.

Yes, Ruth Rice has books on the this "Thru the Dye Tube" and three different sizes of dye tubes that will hold the silks. Go to the Rice website and then write Ruth. I am sure she can help you.

Richard

Thank you for all of the help. I will be going to Home Depot this weekend and pick up a couple of different sizes to expirement with. I am also going to get one from Rice when I get more silks.
Rob Pond

Spellbinder tells all my good secrets! Mine is a large pill bottle with BandAids on it for color.

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

Wow, you must have some very large pills. I tried one of my pill bottles and I could barely get one silk in it. Maybe I should ask my grandparents, they have big pill bottles (and lots of them). Thank you for the idea.
Rob Pond

Rob,

Ask your pharmacist for a 40 dram vial. It will hold six 18" silks. If you will saw the end off in a mitre box it will be straight. Remember that they will melt. So that if you drill it, do it at slow speeds and use a sharp bit.

Contact lense saline bottles will be the same size but they are too soft.

Good Luck!

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

PS --- I just got back from doing silk lectures in Ohio. How did I miss you?

I will ask my cousin(he is a pharmist) for one next time I see him. As for missing me with your silk lectures, I live in the middle of nowhere in Northwest Ohio. My town is so small it isn't on most maps. I wish I would of known about them though, they would of been a lot fun time.
Rob Pond