How to Cut Wrapping Paper Tubes

Recycle wrapping paper tubes for a variety of craft projects.

You can use cardboard wrapping paper tubes for a variety of home and craft projects. Cut pieces of the tube to different sizes and tape them together to create an organizer for pens, pencils, paint brushes and many other crafting items you may have. Kids can use the tubes to create toy binoculars, hand-painted bracelets and a variety of other craft projects. Because cutting the tube can be tricky, you should use the right tools and technique to get a clean cut without having the tube unravel or tear.

Things You'll Need

• Serrated knife or mini-handsaw

Instructions

1. Mark the tube with a pencil all the way around to create a guide for where you want to cut it.

2. Place the tube on a flat surface. To avoid leaving any marks on the surface, you may want to place a piece of cardboard or stack of newspapers on the surface first.

3. Hold the tube in place firmly with one hand, but without crushing it. Keeping the tube still will allow you to apply enough pressure when cutting to avoid tearing the cardboard or causing it to unravel.

4. Place the serrated knife or mini handsaw on the cutting line and gently press down to make contact. Make short, sawing motions back and forth until the knife or saw cuts through.

5. Rotate the tube slightly and repeat until the knife or saw cuts through. Repeat until the tube is cut all the way around.

Tips & Warnings

• To avoid future unraveling, reinforce the cut edge with a strip of masking tape or duct tape.

References

• Make-Stuff: Things You Can Do With Cardboard Tubes
• Knives Town: Plain Edge or Serrated - Which is the Best Choice?