TUBE CHOPPER 3527!!!
Hi, this note is from future me. Ive just posted an instructable on better version of tube chopper, so if you was dirrected here from my other projects or don't want to waste your time on less efficient jig, go straight here:
Future Me
Recently I've managed a deal with a bicycle workshop nearby, so now I can get a bunch of inner tubes every week for free. It means that now I have to figuree out what I can do with them, and probably will result in a bunch of upcoming instructables.
One way to to reuse bicycle innert tubes is to weave with them. I've learned about this technique from Idea63's instructable INNERTUBE LOOP CREATIONS. After that I used it in my BICYCLE BAGGAGE NET FROM OLD INNER TUBE project. You can see the result on the photo.
Now I'm planning to experiment more with this technique and I already have a couple of projects on my mind, but firstly I have to make the process more sufficient. The thing is that for the weaving you need cut the tube into multiple loops, or rings. It's can be accomplished by hands, as I did in mentioned project, but it's a quiet time and energy consuming process. So I came up with this chopper.
This device allows you to cut/chop multiple inner tube loops of regular widts with less afforts. And it;s pretty simple. I've made it as a working prototype from scraps of wood and a handplane knife. After I figure out what improvements I want to implement I'll make version 4000, but even as it is, it works well.
the whole thing is quiet simple and you can make your own version just by interpreting the photo of the finnished device. I'm posting this tutorial since I'm going ro reffer to it in upcoming projects, and probably many people will ask me how to make the copper anyway.
So firstly, I've scethched the design, and found suitable wood scraps.
The middle block on the basis is supposed to be the cutting surface, so I turned it with the grain facing up. It didn't last long though (it was pine wood) so use densed wood for this or just other material, like a piece of polyetheline cutting board for example.
Two wooden planks are screwed to the basis pieces from the sides and hold everything intact. The plank on the left side is taller and acts as a fence for positioning the tube.
The inner tube loops for weawing are supposed to be of 10-12mm width. So you need to create a recess in the vertical beam of equivalent depth. Otherwice, you can glue on a piece of wood of required width onto top part of it.
The blade I'm using has this long vertical slit in the middle, which is characteristic for certain type of old siviet planes. I'm using it to attach the blade to the vertical post with bolt, nut and a washer. The blade freely slides along the slit.
If the blade you have doesn't have a slit, wecure it on the wooden block with two Г-shaped brackets on sides.
To guide the blade and prevent it from rotating I'm adding two aluminium brackets to the sides made of available scraps.
When everything is assembled, the chopper is ready to be used.
Cut the inner tube with scissors first, pull it undearneath the blade till it stops against the basis of the vertical post. Aligne the side of the tube relatively parallel to the fence on the side. Put the blade down and smack it a couple of times with a hammer to cut a loop.
I'll keep thinking on improvements and, maybe, completelly different designs, but this is it for now, thank for your attention and have a nice loops.
I'll be posting some of my experiments with inner tube recycling on my Facebook page, so, take a look, and maybe stay for longer.
Upgrading to V. 3527!!!
As some of you have suggested in the comment section, and as I myself was going to anyway, I have added a lever. And it sucks. Maybe the overall structure isn't ridgid enough or maybe... it just suck.
So, if it happens so that you'll achive better results with this, let me know what, and how you did it.