How to empty a tube of shave cream...?

[wildwing9825]

Hello All,

I was just browsing a thread about shaving cream packaging and saw this in a reply by 82R100.

What you need is a tube key.

- Chris

I have been wondering for a while how to get ALL of the shaving cream out of a tube like this. I don't want to empty the tube all at once into another container, but I would like to be sure that all of it comes out eventually and that it looks good in the process (little bit of OCD creeping in here...).

What other methods do you guys have to be sure you get every last luxurious drop?

Thanks,
~Ben H.

 

[82R100]

I suppose you could field dress it.

 

[wildwing9825]

I suppose you could field dress it.

I actually had thought of that one already.

How about I change the question to:

"What other products can you/do you use to empty your tubes?"

Thanks
~Ben

 

[Tom C]

 

[strat1117]

C&E sells the tube keys for about $3 (I forget the exact price). Pick up a few and put them on all of your metal tubes. They are reusable, so you never have to buy them again unless you lose one, or buy more shaving cream in metal tubes. Obviously, they don't work on the plastic ones.

Good luck.

 

[BoldSpice]

I'm a cheap kinda guy. Whenever I finish a plastic tube of cream (e.g. Real Shaving Company), I cut the end off with scissors and stick a finger inside. Well, there's maybe enough for a couple of shaves there!

 

[brg]

I use this technique with aluminum tubes:

Use the tube as you would normally do by squeezing the cream. When you get a flat area about the width of a plastic DE container do this: Align the side of the container with the top of the tube and fold down the tube. This should get you a nice 90º fold, just press it down to complete folding that area.
Then you keep using the tube and when a new flat area of roughly the same size is formed, fold over. You don't need the DE container because now you can fold over using the last fold as a guide.

I have use up tubes folded like this and while it may not fully satisfy your OCD, at least the tube is neatly folded and doesn't end up looking like an accordion .

 

[wildwing9825]

I think it's a little out of my price range...

C&E sells the tube keys for about $3 (I forget the exact price).

Thanks for the info!

I have use up tubes folded like this and while it may not fully satisfy your OCD, at least the tube is neatly folded and doesn't end up looking like an accordion .

I'll probably go this route as well. The accordion look may be rather appealing to me, now that I think about it. I'm a music person, so the more instruments around, the better!

 

[DSB]

You could use a soup can. Same idea as the steam roller, but more counter friendly.

 

[wildwing9825]

Since I'm just starting out, I think I'll just concentrate on technique. I'll worry about this "Important" stuff later.

Plus. It'll be a while before my proraso is empty enough try any of this because of Tabactober...

Thanks for the ideas!
~Ben

 

[lamina]

A poultry scissor...one cut parallel to cap at the end of tube near the roll tube, then another one perpendicular to cap in the middle of tube or a T cut, wide open the metal as wings, bring your brush inside to swept even the round corners!!

 

[Emmett]

I use these things, which I found at the grocery store. Maybe not so classy as a metal tube key, but works the same.

 

[Chuckaluck]

 

[TheGrooveking]

Sally's Beauty Supply sells a few tools in this regard.

http://www.sallybeauty.com/Color-Tube-Key/SBS-702114,default,pd.html#

I can't find the picture/link right now, but Sally's is where I picked up my tube press. It is an aluminum frame with two ridged rollers. You put the end of the tube between the two rollers, press the frame together and turn the key, it squeezes everything to the nozzle end of the tube and kinks/crimps the tube to keep it that way. Work perfectly, the wife has even noticed me constantly maintaining all of the tubes of toothpaste.

 

[blackbeard360]

Good idea, thanks Wild Wing.

 

[WhosYerBob]

I use binder clips on my tubes. If I want every last drop I use a pair of pliers.

 

[VR6ofpain]

 

[whereisandy]

I found a tube squeeze gizmo at a Harmon Discount store for just over a dollar. It's basically two plastic rollers with notches close to the ends. Small O-rings fit in the notches that hold the two rollers together. You feed the tube between the two rollers and move it up as you use the contents. Works great for toothpaste, shaving cream or whatever else comes in plastic tubes.

I love the C&E tube keys and the ones that Sally Beauty Supply sells but found many of my tubes were plastic and I couldn't use my tube keys on them.

 

[Crawford Montizano]

You can probably find tube keys by checking your local antique stores. You might even find a razor or two as well.

 

[brg]

I use this technique with aluminum tubes:

Use the tube as you would normally do by squeezing the cream. When you get a flat area about the width of a plastic DE container do this: Align the side of the container with the top of the tube and fold down the tube. This should get you a nice 90º fold, just press it down to complete folding that area.
Then you keep using the tube and when a new flat area of roughly the same size is formed, fold over. You don't need the DE container because now you can fold over using the last fold as a guide.

I have use up tubes folded like this and while it may not fully satisfy your OCD, at least the tube is neatly folded and doesn't end up looking like an accordion .

And that's how you turn this huge tube into this: