Custom work - Tube Body Milling Tech index -> Custom Work -> Tube Body Milling

Tube pattern milling is one of my "ultralight" milling styles that can be applied to any of my scratch-built marker body blanks (Shocker, Axe, Automag, etc). The Tube marker bodies are essentially the most-barebones functional body structure that can actually support a working marker. This milling pattern is simplistic yet can be made very elegant with the proper anodizing and accessories.

I use the Tube milling design as a "starting point" when creating more complicated cosmetic designs in CAD. Features can be added to the Tube shape, which is often a major step when creating new cosmetic patterns. The CAD files for most of my Tube bodies are available for download in the ZDS CAD file post.

Tube Shocker:
Tube Shockers aren't the most lightweight Shocker made (there have been some custom-modified bodies done by other machine shops in the past), however this design is meant to be more reliable and to withstand just about any playing condition. A Tube Shocker body with no milled windows weighs in at 182 grams (6.42 ounces).

Tube Shocker body machining
Tube Shocker body machining

Tube Shocker body finished
Tube Shocker body finished
Tube Shocker body finished (picture from M. Troxell)
Tube Shocker body finished (picture from T. McGrath)

Weakened Tube Shocker:
Additional weight can be removed by cutting windows into the marker body. I don't like this design as much because the body's strength and resiliance is reduced with every cut that is made. However, people chasing after the lightest-possible marker body might still be interested.

Tube Shocker body with windows
Tube Shocker body with windows
Tube Shocker body with windows
The body seen above represents the most extreme windows that can be milled into a body. I would never suggest larger windows because the body will be stressed to the brink of failure. Even this example body is quite a bit more fragile than a typical ultralight Shocker so I don't offer this level of milling because the risk of damage is too great. However, the total body weight is now an extremely lightweight 158 grams (5.57 ounces) which is by far the lightest Shocker body ever produced (nearly 25% lighter than the lightest private label Shocker).

Tube Axe classic:
Tube Axe was the basic structure used for Nummech's classic Axe bodies. Initially, I tested the milling pattern on a defective body blank. The results turned out nice, but the Tube Axe design was too similar to the Inception FLE Axe bodies, so I never mass produced the body. There are only two Tube Axe bodies; one body was defective while the other was sold to a local friend of mine who wanted a super lightweight Axe using a combination of aftermarket accessories. That special marker body is shown below.

Tube Axe body finished
Tube Axe body polished for anodizing
Tube Axe body after anodizing (picture from C. Davis)
Tube Axe body after anodizing (picture from C. Davis)
I polished the marker body then sent it off for anodizing at Stained Works Anodizing. The finished marker is a true 1-of-1 which has almost no stock components remaining, other than the transfer plate and some internals. I also performed ultralight milling on the ASA and bolt endcap.

Tube AxePro:
Coming soon!