Rocketry Materials

I'll be comparing different materials to use for rocket body tubes (airframes). Most rocketeers will favor one more than another. When switching from LPR rockets to MPR and HPR rockets, knowledge of airframe materials is essential.

I'll be comparing 1 foot of 4in tubing as far as price goes.

Cardboard:
Cardboard is the most widely used airframe material in MPR and HPR rocketry. Cardboard Airframes are very similar to airframes used low power rockets, just thicker. The most common Manufacturer of cardboard tubes is LOC Precision and most online vendors stock cardboard tubes, usually from LOC. Cardboard tubes are the cheapest tubes available but has the tendency to "crimp" or "crumple" after a hard landing. Not much will be left after a lawn dart.
Cardboard tubes are also difficult to finish, having deep spirals that need to be filled.
Price: $3.69 
Availability: 9/10
Heat Resistance: 5/10
Durability: 3/10
Finishing: 4/10
Weight: 3/10

Picture from Apogee Componets

Phenolic:
Phenolic is similar to cardboard and the two are often confused. Phenolic is more brittle and tends to "shatter" instead of "crumple". It is more stiff then cardboard tubes and harder to cut. It took me twice the time to slot as compared a cardboard tubes. The most common manufacturer of phenolic tubes is Public Missiles Limited (PML). Phenolic tubes are even harder to finish then cardboard tubes, having even deeper spirals. Phenolic is my choice for motor mounts because of it's heat resistance and because it doesnt buckle like cardboard.
Price: $6.17
Availability: 6/10
Heat Resistance: 6/10
Durability: 3/10
Finishing:3/10
Weight: 5/10

Fiberglass
Fiberglass is becoming more and more popular as an airframe material. Strength is very good. Most fiberglass tubes will survive lawn-darts, premature ejections and almost everything that phenolic tubes or cardboard tubes cant handle. The major minus is the price, Fiberglass is one of the most expensive materials to use. Fiberglass is very easy to finish because it has no spirals to fill. Fiberglass is also very heavy. Several manufactures make fiberglass tubes like Madcow Rocketry and Performance rocketry, sold at Rocketry warehouse.
Price: $22
Availability: 4/10
Heat Resistance: 8/10
Durability: 8/10
Finishing: 7/10
Weight: 8/10

Blue Tube 2.0:
Blue Tube is a good mix of pluses and minuses of each airframe. Blue tube is much more durable then cardboard and much cheaper then fiberglass. Blue tube rockets are durable and are very forgiving on rough landings, light blue tube rockets easily survive lawn darts and other recovery system failures. Blue tube is made of a fish-paper like material used by the military. The only drawback is, blue tube is heavy ans has spirals that need filling.
Price: $10
Avalibility: 4/10
Heat Resistance: 6/10
Durability: 7/10
Finishing:3/10
Weight: 6.5/10

Blue Tube

Quantum (QT): 
Quantum tube in a category all by itself, it is not a composite like Fiberglass and Carbon fiber but not a paper like cardboard, phenolic, or blue tube. Quantum tubing is a plastic tubing meant for high durability and easy finishing. It has a smooth texture and is very easy to achieve a good finish. The only manufacturer that produces QT is Public Missiles Limited PML. QT is not a good airframe for high heat applications, such as minimum diameter rockets. Quantum Tube expands and contracts with temperature.
Price:$7.50
Availability: 3/10
Heat Resistance: 2/10
Durability: 6/10
Finishing: 7/10
Weight: 5/10

Carbon Fiber:
Carbon fiber is the highest quality airframe material money can buy, although it takes quite a bit of money. Carbon fiber is the most expensive airframe, costing more then double the amount of fiberglass (around $200 for a 4x48" airframe). Carbon fiber is practically unbreakable. It is used mostly on large minimum diameter rockets breaking mach 2 or more although some small rockets are built out of CF because that's awesome.
Price: $48
Availability: 3/10
Heat Resistance: 10/10
Durability: 10
Finishing: 7/10
Weight: 7/10

An all CF rocket

Fiberglassed Phenolic:
'Glassed phenolic is a great mix between Phenolic and Fiberglass. It's strong, light and cheaper then fiberglass. Several Manufactures sell glassed airframes. Some of them are: Public Missiles, What's Up Hobbies, and Giant Leap Rocketry. Many times the builders will fiberglass the tubes themselves, this is a cost saving alternative to buying the tubes pre-glassed. Fiberglass cloth is wetted-out with epoxy and wrapped around the tube. Doing it yourself is much cheaper the buying a pre glassed one:
Price: $17.50 / $8 (self wrapped)
Availability: 3/10
Hear Resistance: 6/10
Durability: 7/10
Finishing: 3/10
Weight: 5/10  

VernK's fiberglassing set up.