Ranger bands?

Uncle Timbo

Uncle Timbo

Joined
Nov 23, 2005
Messages
5,300
Help! I went to Wally World and bought the fattest bicycle inner tube they had. Took it home and cut some Ranger Bands with it. They're CRAP! No stretch and they snapped. What do you all use?
 
Strange that they broke on you so easily.What are you using them for?
It could be that the Wally World tubes are too cheaply made or perhaps you tried to stretch them too much.
They don't have the stretch of a rubber band, but are normally pretty strong.

Try asking for discarded tubes at your local bicycle shop, they are usually happy to let you take your pick at no charge.
My local bike shop had a barrel partially full of old tubes & they let me pick & choose.
Try a variety & hopefully you'll find one that works for your needs.
 
Stretch 'em slowly! Work both open ends back & forth, a lil' at a time, and they'll stretch right nicely. I've used the mountain bike inner tubes to make pockets on large fixed blade sheaths like this. Just be patient & don't rush it.
 
I'm 59 and I remember inner tubes being more flexible. I guess they are what they are these days. I like the idea of the bike shop though. Thank you. Thanks everybody.
 
In the 1970's we had inner tubes that made quality slingshot bands......today I would have to buy therapy bands instead of using scrap inner tubes. Maybe cost cutting in the making of inner tubes but it used to cost nothing to whittle a forked stick slingshot and set it up with inner tube bands.
 
Uh hah...I thought they were more flexible. Thank you. Today, like a lot of other things, they're crap. They found a cheaper way of making them. I'm sure they work great inside a tire, but for Ranger Bands...not so great.
 
it could be that cheaper tubes are not as good of quality, and junk from the mountain bike shop started off as better quality. Rubber of that type has components that age out over time, so maybe they lost the vulcanization, or older used bands have been "worked in" and work better. either could be possible, I'm not a chemist. I have worked with tires, and rubber can do some weird stuff.
 
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