How can I reuse or recycle bike inner tubes?
We’ve already covered the wheel rims but Erika has emailed asking:
I was wondering if there were any ideas about old bike tubes….
I’m presuming we’re talking inner tubes anyway – it’s quite possible there is another type of bike tube since I’m not a terribly keen cyclist – I live at the top of a steep hill and prefer to tackle it on foot. If there is some other ‘bike tube’, please feel free to answer about both ;)
(Photo by kikashi)
Cut them up to make rubber bands.
If you’ve had a small puncture you might be able to put a patch on it and continue using it. Park Tool makes a little box of stick on patches that work very well. Those and a pump and a tire lever will keep you rolling.
I’ve also seen people wrap an old tube around the chainstay to reduce the noise of chain slap that occurs on some rear suspension mountain bikes.
I’m thinking that if you had enough tubes you could cut them lengthwise and somehow bind them (heat) to make sheets of rubber for..i dunno mats? chaps? weather stripping? shoes? rubber is pretty versatile.
The air valves aren’t needed for most of these so those would be a sub-item to recycle how
I know someone who made it into sheets of rubber for a miniskirt, boobtube and choker set that she wore to a fetish night. The valve was left in to use as a sort of fastener.
Thing is, once it got warm the glue went sticky and the whole thing came apart. Whilst this was appreciated by numerous observers, it wasn’t the desired effect.
Still, with a better glue I reckon she’d be on to a winner.
Cut them up in small arch sections, when placed side by side they make a scalloped edge for a garden (attach to wire or sticks to make a decorative low fence)
Or attach pieces to the sides/end of your garage where your vehicle (hopefully hybrid or less) doors may bang against walls or other objects.
Cut out a wood dog leaping (check cartoon dogs in Google images) and hang da puppy from the centre of the reinforced tube as a piece of yard art.
I’ve seen them used for making tables and chairs along with the rims. Here’s a website that sells them. I made a table and used them to make a pad on the bottom of the legs. I tried to make patches from old tubes but the glue becoming tacky again was a problem. Water balloon launchers are popular at my college.
I forgot to put the website on there.
http://www.bikefurniture.com/pagesSeating/modtype2a.htm Sorry.
i use tire tubes to tie young trees to stakes.
We currently recycle old inner tubes from our local bike shop and transform them into trouser clips which we sell via the website http://www.ecoutlet.co.uk
The stretchy nature of the material is perfect for the job and the trouser clips seem to be going down well with customers so far. If anyone has any inner tubes they would like to donate please feel free to send them in and we’ll happily send a pair of trouser clips in return.
I once saw at a craft fair someone used them to make really funky wallets.
I know someone who sews them together and makes bags, backpacks and diaper bags out of them.
My dad told me once to use them instead of clamps when you’re making a box – because they’re stretchy it holds the box securely all the way around.
They also make great weather seals for windows and doors. Cut them open to make a flat piece of rubber and nail or tack to the bottom edge of the window to make a tight seal. It’s a great way to save energy.
Found this, looks cool.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_8&listing_id=13607346
Make a dripping hose.
You can cut them up to make new patches for puncture repairs, or use larger sections as non-grip handles on suitable items, roll or slide them over the handles,or use the elastic to make large catapults between two trees :-)
I guess you could use them as grip under stuff like carpets or chairs and such
Try IT Clips: They are specially designed (Patent Pending) to transform old inner tubes in to tie-downs. Check out the web site http://www.it-clips.com to see pictures and find retailers.
I just introduced a new product, IT Clips and IT Hooks. IT Clips are a unique system (Patent Pending) to re-use bicycle inner tubes as tie-downs or bungee cords. Each set of IT Clips/IT Hooks come with two clips (available in 4 colors) and two metal hooks. All components are made in the Denver/Boulder area. Both clips and both hooks are exactly the same. There are no male/female pieces. The clips can be used independently of the hooks, the hooks can be used independently of the clips, and the clips and hooks can be used together. The tie downs are more flexible than standard bungee cords as they are completely adjustable. They are can also be securely linked together to make a tie-down strap of any length. The resulting tie-down straps have as many uses in biking as they do in camping, skiing, golfing, and other recreational activities. Other features that users often mention is that they are lighter than standard tie-down straps, they tend not to scratch the surface/remove paint from the item being tied down, and that the clip only mechanism is easy to use and tends not to tear clothing like standard bungee hooks can. Check out http://www.it-clips.com for more information.
My uncle used to make sling-shots from them, he cut a Y-shaped piece from a tree branch and used a strip of intertube for the sling.
use them for tiying thins down in trailers, bike racks, roof racks etc. They are good for this because a simple not can hold something very securly because of the friction.
You can also use them for any sort of padding. They are very usefull for opening jars and bottles that are hard to open
Similar to Flex’s comments, IT-Clips is a developed solution to create tie down straps out of old inner tubes. Currently we have a clip and hook solution that are not only affordable but extremely practical. They work great in truck beds, ski-racks, dollies, etc. Check out the website and help us all go green!!!!!!
They’re, um, good for gently tying people up…..
I used to make jewellery, bags and sometimes clothing out of recycled rubber inner tubes. The problem I had was getting the dirt off without damaging the rubber. Also It’s too thick to glue so I used to punch tiny holes and thread them together with rubber lacing for seams.
Just starting to use them in my jewelry & cleaning is a bit tricky. Any advice would be appreciated.
I make notebooks. You can see them here.
http://www.palepink.etsy.com
You can make elastic bands out of them. Either cut straight into them for small ones, or cut diagonally for longer ones. The thinner they are the more stretchy they are. They work as good as bands you buy. Two inner tubes should be enough bands to last you years!