Making Rubber Bands

[Bill Hudson]

Ever wonder what to do with an old leaking inner tube? (Yes, I know you can fix the leak, however, I chose not to.) Make super-size, industrial strength rubber bands. Here is all you need:
the inner tube
a piece of hardwood
clamp
utility knife (works better if it has a new, sharp blade)
piece of steel

Place the piece of wood on your workbench, then put the inner tube over the wood. Clamp the steel straight edge on top of the inner tube and to the workbench. Cut the tube and then set up again to cut your first rubber band. I cut mine about 1/4" wide. Want stronger bands? Simply cut the band wider.

I use several of these bands in various applications and find them very useful. I hope you will also.

Bill

[Joe Malinowski]

Finally something to do with those tubes that have been hanging in the corner taking up space. Great idea thanks Bill.

[Winfield Dave]

Bill....My Dad "recycled" old inner tubes like that as long as I can remember...still have several as tensioners on tire chains...
Great tip for the young'uns...

[Rudi]

Bill:

Excellent tip

My grand dad used old tubes for many uses .. as clamps to hold chairs together as the glue dried, bungees to hold tarpaulins/canvas down on the wood pile, all kinds of uses. Rubber bands are another great use.. one to keep in mind.

I routinely use old bicycle tires -- usually from 27" or larger rims to cover the teeth of my Saw Table ... helps keep the sun and the rain/snow off of the teeth and gullets.

[coppersmythe]

in the early seventies, i worked as a young buck at the exxon refinery as a sheet metal worker on an insulation crew. they took inner tubes and made "rubbers" to wrap around the big vessels, then slip the individual blocks of insulation under the rubbers to temporarily hold it in place until the stainless steel bands where put on. i never thought about it since till this thread reminded me. they could have endless uses. thanks,coppersmythe.................

[Rick Prentice]

Thanks for the Great tip, Bill. I just cut a 3" extra wide band and stretched it over an extra spool of wire for the wire welder. It'll do a great job keeping condensation from settling on and help keep the wire protected.

Rick

[Bill Hudson]

Rick,

I really like that application.

Bill

[Eugene]

Cut the inner tube on a diagnal to make longer rubber bands. Just replaced one rear tire and tube. Just the tube into a bunch of rubber bands of different lenths and widths.

I've been using inner tube rubber bands to hang up garden tools. Works really great for hanging up garden hose.

[BIGHOSS]

Guess this is showing my age to you young'ns, but during WWII, real rubber was could not be used for domestic applications. The real rubber was only used for the war effort, while we at home were stuck with the synthetic rubber. Synthetic rubber from inner tubes was no good for making sling shots. It stretched very little. After the war we were then able to get the real rubber and begin again to make real killer sling shots.

[Barnyard]

...during WWII, real rubber was could not be used for domestic applications. The real rubber was only used for the war effort, while we at home were stuck with the synthetic rubber. Synthetic rubber from inner tubes was no good for making sling shots. It stretched very little. After the war we were then able to get the real rubber and begin again to make real killer sling shots.

Ron, I guess our guys in Europe and the Pacific had some great slingshots to entertain themselves with between battles.

[Bob Perry]