Hiking Tube

[1streamcaster]

This isn't a rod-making post as much as an equipment making question. I want to make a walking stick out of an appropriately long (aluminum) tube. I'm thinking of getting a PVC end cap and fastening it to the closed end of the tube (so the tube won't take a beating.) How would i fasten it (what sort of glue)? And do you think I should put some sort of shock-absorber substance between the tube and the endcap? Of what sort?

Thanks in advance!
Peter

[BSAGuy]

I admire your creativity, Peter, but honestly this sounds impractical to me. As a hollow tube, your "walking stick" will be buoyant, much more than a solid pole. Also, not sure what your plan would be for a pointed pole end to get a good grip on a stream bottom. How are you going to grip the tube/walking stick? As you know, a true walking stick has a grip skin to a ski pole or hiking stick grip.

To directly answer your question, I would try some CA glue from a hobby shop or some super glue from your favorite big box hardware retailer.

[Tom Smithwick]

I made one of those once out of a 3/4" OD stainless steel tube. I capped both ends with short plugs of 3/4" brass rod with one end turned down so they fit snugly inside the tube, and glued them with gorilla glue. I had a neoprene rod grip around that I could slide in place on the shaft.
It all worked fine, the brass worked pretty well on rocks, the shaft was way stronger than it needed to be and I think I could have fended off a pretty nasty critter if I needed to. The only problem was that I wanted to use it as a wading staff as well. It worked great, but if you hit a rock with it, it bonged like Big Ben striking midnight and every fish in the stream knew you were there. I still have it, it makes a great flagpole for my front porch, and is basically indestructible. I doubt you would have the noise problem with Aluminum.

[bluesjay]

Hi Guys, I made them from cane with brass ferrule and aluminum for the the end, and cork grip. It's pretty, but not too strong, I think.

Jay Edwards

[1streamcaster]

OK Thanks for the replies so far. The reason I'm thinking this is so that I can hike into the river with my rod in that tube that I'm using as a hiking pole (not a wading staff, although I'm going to have to think about THAT some more!)

But we're getting there: Gorilla Glue and a neoprene strip/ strip of a bicycle inner tube/ plastic handlebar tape/ wrapped around the tube for grip.

How might I add shock absorber to the beast . . . a puddle of dried Gorilla Glue in the bottom of the PVC cap before affixing it to the tube? Or maybe add some padding INSIDE the tube to protect the rod . . . .

[henkverhaar]

Not sure a rod tube wide enough to contain your rod would be very comfortable as a hiking staff. I would probably prefer having the rod in a tube that can be slung across the shoulder (this would probably favour a 3-pc over a 2-pc though), and using a proper hiking staff for support while walking, preferably one that can double as wading staff. In fact that's usually what I do, whether here in mundane Holland or in the wilderness (of sorts) in Norway. Over here though I usually carry my rod strung up and ready, whereas in Norway I carry it in a tube slung across my back, down to the river (where I may actually hang the tube from a branch, ready to be picked up, for packing my rod once finished...).

[BigTJ]

Get a purpose-made set of trekking poles (Costco and Amazon sell serviceable models) and then make a tube out fluorescent lamp protector. The sum will be lighter than an aluminum tube by several ounces and they will both perform really well. The aluminum tube is too heavy for a trekking pole will be loud and will take a beating.

[henkverhaar]

Get a purpose-made set of trekking poles (Costco and Amazon sell serviceable models) and then make a tube out fluorescent lamp protector. The sum will be lighter than an aluminum tube by several ounces and they will both perform really well. The aluminum tube is too heavy for a trekking pole will be loud and will take a beating.

Interestingly (and while probably not relevant vis-a-vis Al tubes), my wooden hex rod tubes (4.5 mm wall thickness, flat-to-flat dimension 54 mm) are lighter than comparable PVC tubes (5 mm wall thickness, 50 mm OD)...

[BigTJ]

I’m not surprised - aluminum tubes are quite heavy. When I started backpacking again I realized I need something lighter. I believe those light protectors are some sort of extruded polyvinyl plastic, they are much lighter than schedule 80 PVC or wood. They flex a bit so you have to be a bit careful. But they weigh only a few ounces, the weight varying somewhat with length. I can get my base weight down to about 7.5 lbs for an overnighter - pack, tent, sleeping bag and pad, all other essentials. I can do a week with with around 15 lbs base weight, including wading shoes and a lot of flies. The last thing I want to do is throw a 14-oz aluminum rod tube into that mix.

John