Customer Reviews

Safco 30531 Telescoping document tube, 24-1/2 to 40, 3-1/2 dia., black tube/clear cap

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Safco Telescoping Document Tube is a cylindrical plastic container with adjustable lengths. Its principal intended use is to provide protection for important documents (i.e. artwork, blueprints, posters, etc.) during transport.

In preparation for shipping the tube, Amazon threw it into a needlessly oversized shipping box that contained no cushioning material, allowing the tube to freely jostle in the spacious box without any protection. No matter. The tube survived the treacherous transport from one of the company's many regional outposts to my front door (...unintentionally, it passed the first test of its ability to withstand the rigors of travel).

The black tube with one clear cap and ID label (as pictured on Amazon's website) turned out to be a black tube with one black cap and no ID label (the other end is completely sealed and part of the tube). No affixed ID pouch on the tube itself is provided either. I made do with my own label. The screw-on end cap (rather than the slip-on type) is more reassuring, as it is more secure in protecting the documents inside from sliding out and shielding them away from the elements.

The material of the tube barrel is thin, pliable soft plastic. Not exactly what I had envisioned as I had preferred thick, non-compressible hard plastic. Nonetheless, it is rugged enough for normal handling as the cylinder and, more importantly, documents inside have survived multiple trips thus far over a 6-month time period.

The tube has endured the expected hazards that accompany transport inside my car's trunk, a cab's trunk, plane's overhead bin, and a hotel shuttle's storage area. The container has been exposed to Pacific coast breeze, Bay Area fog, sweltering Texas sun, and Northeast freezing rain without any apparent damage thus far. Even with the tube extended near its maximum length, I have been able to carry it on planes without any questions or hassles from airline personnel.

No written instructions come with this no-frills product. The manufacturer must have tested this out with lab monkeys and felt that if they could figure out how to extend/telescope the tube, so can their human counterparts.

Tube's Inner Dimensions:
Diameter = 3 in.
Shortest Length= 24 1/8 in.
Longest Length= 39 3/4 in.

Strengths:
- Protects documents from the elements
- Screw-on end cap leaves little to chance for contents to slide out
- Adjustable tube length by 3/4 in. increments to accommodate documents of varying dimensions
- Adjustable nylon strap to carry tube behind the shoulder or across the back

Limitations:
- Thin, pliable soft plastic (I preferred something more rugged; however, not a problem with durability so far)
- No ID label on end cap (as advertised); no ID pouch either
- No written instructions
- Price-point seems a bit high

Overall Impression:
Given the cheap plastic material and low production costs, the Safco Telescoping Document Tube seems a bit over-priced. Nonetheless, it has lasted surprisingly longer than I anticipated and continues to work as intended thus far. My posters have arrived at conferences and returned home unscathed inside this tube. Therefore, I can recommend this product.

I bought this tube to carry my scientific posters. The posters are 3 feet by 6 feet. This is just about the limit for this tube. The "locking" mechanism that keeps the tube extended is not stable and can unlock easily. I had a poster become unfastened in the tube and had to destroy the poster to remove it. The tube itself is light.

direct to the point: very unreliable. It doesn't stay at the adjusted point. it either retracts or falls apart when you are carry it. The tube cap doesn't fit tight either and falls off frequently. I bought it to carry my poster to a conference. I had to readjust it more than 10 times on my way to the airport and in the airport. the cap would also fall off every 5 minutes or so. I was so mad but needed the tube to protect the poster on the plane so had to bear with it, but I threw it out as soon as the plane landed. I bought another poster tube (another brand, about the same price) afterwards that works fine.

This document tube is of inferior quality compared with some other products on the market. While the adjustable length feature is nice, the tube doesn't stay locked at the desired size and often the two halves completely separate. Tape is required at the joint to hold the two pieces together.

This poster tube is essentially a cheaper version of better made telescoping tubes of similar length and diameter. The plastic wall is a bit flimsy (lighter weight), but the real problem is the mechanism for telescoping the tube out; it is based on friction between the two segments, resulting in a rather difficult adjustment that does not hold it's lengh well. I purchased another tube from Artarama that is superior in these specifics

I purchased two of these tubes for me and a colleague. We both had the straps break in the airport the first time we used them. VERY CHEAP!! Spend more and get a quality item.

Got this because it's light and adjustable. The poster made it to an international conference with no problems. The adjusting mechanism can become undone if you're not careful. I would not say it's super loose. But if you're not careful it could come undone. It also depends on how loose you have the shoulder strap too. To be extra safe I used a little bit of blue painters tape, it matched the blue on the tube close enough that it didn't look like I added tape around it. And because I used painters tape it came off easily at the end of the trip.

It's an O.K. tube compared to the other ones I have had. It's good that the carrying belt is not attached to the cap, thus making it easy to load and unload. However, as a previous reviewer mentioned, the biggest design flaw is that the two halves could detach readily. This problem and the very un-German weak material makes it unreliable to be checked in when flying. Its lightness makes it carrying-worthy though.

This is a nice product, very well made. Unlike some brands, it locks into place at a given length so that your posters won't get smashed. The 3.5 inches is good if you want to carry 3 or more posters wrapped inside of each other or if your poster is laminated and therefore harder to roll tightly.

It can be a durable companion for your trips. It is not an indestructible tube, so don't throw it along with your luggage. However, it will survive careless traveler in the cabin (the ones who push their luggage in those small upper compartments). Mine did it! It will protect your valuable document from light, weather, and other risks of a long trip.