Nothing special...just a 4" PVC longbow tube

[Lee Robinson .]

I am sure MANY PEOPLE have used these, but still I thought I would share the photo. A 4" tube can typically hold 1-3 moderate r/d or straight limb longbows. A 3" bow-tube can typically hold 1 of most longbows, but won't be able to hold a highly r/d longbow. Using PVC glue, I glue an end cap on one end and a screw cap on the other.

A 4" sewer drain tube, end cap, and screw cap attachments costs about $16 to make and caps seem to be easily available at Lowe's store. A 3" tube should be cheaper, but our local Lowe's doesn't carry the caps for the 3" tubes.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Very cool.  Thanks for sharing.

[greyghost]

Used that on a lot of my trips in the past and taking 2 bows I used 2 tubes along with an arrow container and ducked taped them together. Then the airlines counted it as one piece of baggage. That tells you how long ago that was.

[Rob DiStefano]

good stuff, lee - dat's da way to do it, folks!  

[Lee Robinson .]

I did the same as far as attaching a longbow tube to an arrow tube for air travel, but I actually glued the tubes together and didn't have tape on it while flying. They wouldn't allow tape because of conveyor belts or something. I forgot why.

I did have to use tape to hold the tubes together while the glue set of course. Here is how I made those tubes. I don't have a photo though as I gave those tubes to a friend years ago since I seldom fly.

To glue them, I got a 3rd tube that was SLIGHTLY shorter than the arrow tube and cut it LENGTHWISE into two halves by slicing it end to end. Once I did this, I cut a bit more off each half tube so I ended up with two pieces that were about 1/3rd of the sidewall of the original tube (looking at the end it was like a banana shape, but was about 30" long). I took one of these pieces and smeared PVC glue on the OUTER surface of it and then laid it between the other two tubes (with pipe sitting on the inner side of it to weight it down while it dried). Using this splice provided considerable glue surface to connect the two tubes.

After the glue dried, I flipped it over and glued the other 1/3rd on the other side so it would be strong and stable by doing the same as I did above. Once it dried, I removed the tape. The airline never complained about it being two packages as they were chemically joined together and made ONE unit.

[Ben Maher]

I jhave actually done similiar as you described with two tubes . The airline over here didn't find it so great though lol !
Thanks for posting this ... might save some $$$ for some of us .

[Lee Robinson .]

LOL. I do remember the joined tubes kind of being a bit awkward to carry as it wasn't balanced in weight...but it got the job done. The last time I travelled by airlines WITH A BOW and ARROWS was back in 1997...so things may be different now post 9-11.

[Raging Water]

I did the same thing, with a 3' PVC tube, but with one exception. I drilled a small hole at each end near the caps. Then, I took two small eye hooks with nuts/washers and length of cord. I put those items in a soft bag with the bow. When I got to my destination, I removed the bag of eye hooks and cord. I attached the eye hooks and tied on the cord. Presto, instant shoulder strap for carrying.

Matt

[Wannabe1]

Wish someone would teach this to Craig at Howard Hill Archery. I had a beautiful Half Breed get damaged on the edge of the lower limb because of the cheesy boxes he ships his bows in!

[Apex Predator]

I ship all my bows in the white sewer drain pipes.  I buy them in the 10' lengths.  One end is flaired so that I buy two pipes and can join the cut-offs to make three shipping tubes from the two pipes.  I pay around $6 for 3" pipes and $7.50 for 4" ones at Lowes.  The caps are less than $2 each.  I glue on one cap, and tape on the other.  Total cost is about $8 and $10, depending on size.  When the bow arrives at the owner they can buy one of these caps to replace the cheap one I taped on and have a permenant case.

 

[Lee Robinson .]

Our lowes doesn't have the caps for the 3" pipe believe it or not. I don't know why that is.

I don't like the wing nutt cap end. I am surprised shipping companies would accept a tube with the wing nutt sticking out.

Great idea about joining the scrap ends of two tubes to get a 3rd tube. That will help keep shipping costs down. I will start using the scrap pieces of two purchased tubes and just use two of the cheaper end caps on those tubes for my customers that don't want spend the extra money on buying a $15 shipping tube. That would only cost me about $4 and the scrap ends of two "longbow cases"...and that way the customers that don't want a "longbow case" will still have a SOLID shipping tube without having to pay for a screw cap end "longbow case." Great idea.

[Paul Mattson]

Instead of using the glue on end caps, and clean outs.  You can save money using test caps, they are made to be broken out after the test is complete.  So they are brittle, but taping over them will keep them from breaking

[magnus]

Lee I think Apex meant you put the wing nut on after you receive the tube so you have a case with easy access at home. Not for shipping.

Keeping the Faith!
Magnus

[Lee Robinson .]

Oh. For the longbow case, I wouldn't want that wing nutt sticking out. I use the threaded end cap that has the square head. It does require the purchase of the threaded adaptor though. I hope you don't mind my opinion on such. Thanks again for the idea on joining the scrap pieces for a 3rd tube as that will solve a need I have for customers that don't want to buy a longbow case.

[Apex Predator]

Yep to what magnus said.  At the other end the customer can put a fancier cap on the end and have a permenant case.

[Pon]

I also like to add sponge inside the caps to protect the tips if the tube is on an upright position

 
 
 

[David Mitchell]

I did all that on a longbow I shipped to Shinken on this site and UPS virtually destroyed the thing--the top 6" or so of the tube with the screw on cap was totally gone with only jagged edges left--the bottom cap had a hole in it big enough that the bow fell out of it when he picked the tube up--which by the way was just left at his door in that shape.  Shinken posted pics of it on here at the time.  No matter how it is packed, UPS can destroy.  Just a heads up--I will NEVER EVER ship anything UPS again.  

[Shinken]

Be safe out there!!!

One of life's lessons....

 

 

 

[David Mitchell]

Shinken, thanks for putting the pictures up.  I did not keep them--too gruesome to look at!

[Lee Robinson .]

Conveyor belt or truck...or were they playing javaline? That's nutts. I don't want to have to use the thick walled heavy PVC stuff.