PVC Launch Pad

[Green Jello]

For the guys who have built this rig:

http://launchpad.hofle.com/

Is there an issue with how tight the launch rods are? Is there wiggle and play in them? If so, how did you solve this? I'm going to build one I think.

[tightwad]

I have added a drill chuck, that I picked up at my local hardware store, to the bottom pvc pipe. The chuck holds the rods tight and there is no wiggling and the rods will not be pulled off by the rocket. I am currently working on a design for my rail. I have had no problems with this design. It is worth the time and money to build.

[Neuport]

I built and use that pad. I like it. Just drill the holes for a snug fit. The rod holes are drilled through both sides of the top horizontal pipe and through one side of the bottom horizontal pipe so that they rest on the inside wall of the bottom pipe. The rods are supported at spaced apart locations so the only slop in the rods is the rod flex itself which is independent of the base.

I put the rod holder in a drill press vise to make sure all the holes were on axis and parallel.

As I recall, for the small diameter rod my drill bit was not long enough so I drilled the top pipe for a tight fit, slipped the rod through until it rested on the lower pipe and then heated the rod with a torch and pushed it through one wall of the lower pipe.

I also got a few of the cheap rubber jawed metal mini clamps from Home Depot and put those on the rods between the two horizontal pipes just in case so if a rocket hung on the rod it wouldn't lift the rod out. The little clamps also help with routing ignition wires.

I have a couple of 1/8 inch rods and a 1/4. You could go up to 3/8, possibly 1/2.

[chrisudy]

Just a metal spring clamp underneath the top PVC piece. Works well!


Chris

[Green Jello]

Just a metal spring clamp underneath the top PVC piece. Works well!


Chris

What paint did you use to paint yours? Plastic spray paint? Does it stick to PVC without sanding? Is it flaking off at all?

[Green Jello]

I constructed mine last night. I just need to dremel out the square holes for the carriage bolts and I'm done. Super easy and a great pad.

[JAL3]

Chrisudy and Green Jello:

We have a gallery for home made launch pads. I would encourage you both to share pics of you pad there.

I remember thinking this was a cool design when I saw it several years ago but I forgot about it until now.

[chrisudy]

What paint did you use to paint yours? Plastic spray paint? Does it stick to PVC without sanding? Is it flaking off at all?

I used Krylon Fusion. PVC was cleaned and roughed up slightly with steel wool before painting. The paint does chip off with rough handling but seems to be sticking pretty well.

Chris

[Green Jello]

I finally finished putting on a basic paint job. Also I molded some 1/2" PVC nubs over the two holes for the launch rods where the blast shield will sit. It will never again look as nice as it does today.

[Disaster_Guy]

Well done

[o1d_dude]

Indeed!

Very nicely done.

[Neuport]

Looks great! I keep mine in a bag from a folding chair. I put the launch rods in a length of 1/2 PVC with end caps pressed on and it all stows in the chair bag.

[JAL3]

What should be taken into account when painting PVC? Is there a special type of primer or paint to use. This looks great.

[Green Jello]

What should be taken into account when painting PVC? Is there a special type of primer or paint to use. This looks great.

It's quite simple, but a bit time consuming. You just need to rough it all up with like 220 grit sandpaper. Then use Krylon Fusion or some other brand of plastic spray paint. It works best if you do many light coats.

[JPVegh]

Wow! Really nice work on the pads.

[Neuport]

Can you explain this a bit more?

Also I molded some 1/2" PVC nubs over the two holes for the launch rods where the blast shield will sit.

[Green Jello]

Oh sure. I took about 1" lengths of 1/2" PVC and rounded one end with a Dremel tool so they wrapped around the crossbar. Then I glued them in place with the PVC cement and painted.

[Neuport]

I see. You cut a saddle in each stub for a pipe-to-pipe saddle joint to space the blast shield away from the top horizontal rod support.

1. Did you do that to protect the horizontal support or for aesthetics?
2. Did you use the saddle joint rather than "T" fittings because you thought of it after the support mechanism was glued up, to save cost, or because it looks less cluttered than the "T" fittings would have? You could have opened up "T" fittings so they would slide over the pipe.

Whatever the reason, it looks nice.

Oh sure. I took about 1" lengths of 1/2" PVC and rounded one end with a Dremel tool so they wrapped around the crossbar. Then I glued them in place with the PVC cement and painted.

[Green Jello]

1. A little bit of both. It seemed like a good idea to create a raised base for the blast shield to sit on and I liked how it looked.
2. I thought of adding them after the whole thing was built, so T fittings wouldn't be possible. But you are right. Reaming out t-fittings so they could slide down the whole pipe would have been easier and more exact.

I see. You cut a saddle in each stub for a pipe-to-pipe saddle joint to space the blast shield away from the top horizontal rod support.

1. Did you do that to protect the horizontal support or for aesthetics?
2. Did you use the saddle joint rather than "T" fittings because you thought of it after the support mechanism was glued up, to save cost, or because it looks less cluttered than the "T" fittings would have? You could have opened up "T" fittings so they would slide over the pipe.

Whatever the reason, it looks nice.