Seeking Ideas - 1000 Cigar Tubes

[psyteks]

Hello and Happy New Year!

I know this may be way off topic but didnt know where else to address it.
I have about 1000 empty cigar tubes and ive been trying to think of something to make and put them in use. Ideally separate so i might as well put them up for sale. In my sculpture days i have made this vehicle but looking for something different now. (see photos bellow)

Any ideas?

 

[Gregor]

[attachimg=1]

 

[psyteks]

Good idea, thank you Gregor!

 

[Paul G]

I know nothing about cigar tubes, are they metal or plastic? Are they air/water sealed?

 

[psyteks]

they are made of aluminum and sealed yeah

 

[Paul G]

If you don't do any camping this may seem weird but they could make a compact emergency fire starting kit. Stuff one with a good starter material like vaseline soaked cotton balls. Add some waterproof matches or a permanent match and tuck it away until needed. I know it's not artistic, but possibly practical. Just don't forget it in your bag if going through airport security, they may not appreciate it.

 

[psyteks]

hehe yeah i dont suppose they would. i like that idea but the problem is that the tube is very thin and could easily get damaged in the bag.

 

[Picktool]

Why not make a giant wind chime?

 

[psyteks]

Thats actually a great idea. Thank you!

 

[Holzhacker]

And I've just been throwing them away in the recycling bin

 

[PreferrablyWood]

You could mail them back to Cuba..

Build a futuristic model city.

Some kind of air filter system if you live in a polluted city.

Toys for children

 

[Dogberryjr]

Glue them together to form a decorative column to separate spaces in the house. I can't picture what 1,000 tubes looks like, so maybe it's more of a small wall than a column.

 

[Gregor]

If you don't do any camping this may seem weird but they could make a compact emergency fire starting kit. Stuff one with a good starter material like vaseline soaked cotton balls. Add some waterproof matches or a permanent match and tuck it away until needed. I know it's not artistic, but possibly practical. Just don't forget it in your bag if going through airport security, they may not appreciate it.

hehe yeah i dont suppose they would. i like that idea but the problem is that the tube is very thin and could easily get damaged in the bag.

Kindling and igniter for an emergency fire into the tube to give protection against accidents (unintended fires) and keep them dry and ready sounds like a good start.

Not sure if it's a really bright idea, but:

Why not surround the tube with some starter wood for the fire, giving it a second job of providing a shell to protect the tube: Principle of the Schwedenfackel just smaller and waxed as seal against moisture to keep it dry (and also provide a little additional fuel value)...

 

[clark_fork]

Powder coat them in three colors, gold, silver and white. Create varnished wood blocks to receive single tubes or three tubes and offer them to florists and wedding shops for bud vases.

Powder coat them in pink or blue, add lettering  "It's a Boy" or "It's a Girl", fill with wrapped candy and make them available to Kiddie shops and Maternity shops.

Powder coat them white. add rice and sell them to wedding shops to pass out at weddings for guests to shower the bride and groom on the way out the door.

They could be made into funeral floral sprays at smoker's memorial services.