Collect & Prep:

Collecting tubes for reuse is easy! You can stop by your neighborhood bike shop for old tubes or pick up at a material reuse location that takes and distributes tubes.  For California residents Mike’s Bikes always has a steady supply.

Inner tubes are easily transformed into a clean usable material. If you are using tubes for a classroom project you can prepare them in advance or with your students depending on age group. Just follow these easy steps and you’re on your way.

5 Steps for Tube Collection and Preparation:

  1. SOURCE AND COLLECT THE TUBES

  2. REMOVE THE VALVE STEMS

  3. CLEAN THE TUBES, (be aware, most inner tubes have talc inside but it washes out easily)

  4. SORT TUBES BY SIZE AND THICKNESS, AND FOR INTERESTING MARKINGS

  5. DESIGN AND RECRAFT BY CUTTING PUNCHING SEWING, LACING, ETC

View in-depth ‘How To’ videos of cutting,
hole punching, and assembly methods


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Additional detailed info sheets:
Material Collection and Preparation (pdf)
Techniques for Bike Tube Rubber (pdf)