So some people make their own stuff, and put it in various containers - boxes (solid lumps), bags (small pieces and thicker pastes) jars (wet lumps, gels and thicker liquids) and bottles (liquids), etc.

But one form-factor in common commercial use is missing - the sealable tube, used for small-portion pastes such as toothpaste, paints for artists, and various culinary flavours.

Such tubes are filled from the 'rear' end, which is then sealed.

I propose the sale of open-base tubes and associated screw-caps, in various sizes, both food-grade and not.

To seal the base of the tube there are at least two options:
1) Heat seal, using a special heated clamp machine, for relatively larger-scale use
2) An attachable clamp with a locking catch, for occasional use. (This can also be useful in 'rolling up' the tube from the base to extract the last dollop of contents.)

note - I couldn't find a better category.
-- Loris, Apr 13 2022

Guaranteed to break the ice at airport security checkpoints [+]
-- 21 Quest, Apr 13 2022


They don't have this already? Surely they have this already. [+] unless they have this already.
-- doctorremulac3, Apr 13 2022


//They don't have this already? Surely they have this already. [+] unless they have this already.//

Yes, damn.[1] Added search term 'squeezy', found: "Coghlans Squeeze Tubes"

[marked-for-deletion] known to exist

[1] Or actually, it's good.
-- Loris, Apr 13 2022


Yes I bought some very expensive oil paint, and a bundle of empty metal squeezy tubes from the artists paint supplier, so I could split the paint up and share it with my friends.

Unfortunately they only sold the empty tubes in bulk packs of 50,000* and so I have 49,998* empty squeezy tubes still sitting in a box in the back of the cupboard.

* slight exaggeration
-- pocmloc, Apr 13 2022


//[marked-for-deletion] known to exist//

Well, unless the discussion around the idea gets interesting, then you should be granted a pardon. This isn't the patent office.

I'd say leave it up and see how the annotations go.
-- doctorremulac3, Apr 13 2022


I still gave it a bun because it is a very good idea. It’s not really widely known to exist just because one company has some for sale.
-- xandram, Apr 13 2022


All the "re-fillable" tubes I've seen (er, both of them...) are quite large. A small version would be very useful, for just a weekend away, or small volumes (like wasabi or something, of tiny usage).
-- neutrinos_shadow, Apr 13 2022


Worst pickup line in awhile...

"Hey babe, wanna get yer tubes filled?"
-- RayfordSteele, Apr 13 2022



random, halfbakery