Fin alignment jig?

Other than the one from Estes, is there any guide available to help make sure my fins go on straight?

There are many, in many different styles. Check out Apogee. Also do a search for the Guillotine jig and some recent offerings by ?? Qualman or something like that in the vendors forum.

I mostly use guides I built myself. See thread in Techniques about "perfect fin gluing guide."

GOOD LUCK.

I hate when I dont get fins on visually perfectly to my standard. Some folks can do it by eye. Not me!

majordude said:

Other than the one from Estes, is there any guide available to help make sure my fins go on straight?

Click to expand...

Check out payloadbay.com for their offerings. You can make a template of any size, just put in your measurements, generate your template and print it out. Spray or tape these to flat stock and carefully cut out your body tube dia and the fin thickness. Take your time.You need to make 2 alignment jigs ( I use foamboard) and use them front and rear. Draw a line on your body tube with a piece of angle aluminium (or door jamb-Estes-style) and line things up. I've got a wetsaw I cut a slot in at the apex of angle stock and taped to shim down to small G-10 thicknesses for comp or MD birds that works pretty well but you need to watch it isn't canted and then tape it to the body tube. Fins slide or drop in thru the slot and tacked into place, the angle removed and the fins filleted. Ted Macklin also has a great fin alignment jig (see 'Guillotine Fin Jig' on the web) and he will send you plans to make your own or you can buy a prefabricated unit from Apogee. Tell him Dave sent you. This will do a lot of different body sizes all the way up to 4". Good flights, sir!

fyrwrxz said:

Ted Macklin also has a great fin alignment jig (see 'Guillotine Fin Jig' on the web) and he will send you plans to make your own or you can buy a prefabricated unit from Apogee. Tell him Dave sent you. This will do a lot of different body sizes all the way up to 4". Good flights, sir!

Click to expand...

Hmmm. Ted's sounds better because I think Apogee's only goes to 3".

majordude said:

Hmmm. Ted's sounds better because I think Apogee's only goes to 3".

Click to expand...

Apogee has two different models. They have a larger model that supports from 1.75" up to 6.125".
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Building_Supplies/Tools/Large_Guillotine_Fin_Jig
The standard size model supports from a BT5 (13mm) to BT80 (2.6").
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Building_Supplies/Tools/Guillotine_Fin_Jig

I use the Estes jig. Just get a used "T" motor casing to put in the base. They are a nice snug fit, put them in from the bottom. :2:

To clarify my earlier post, the Qualman guides are described here:

https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?51641-Fin-Guides-from-Qualman-Rocketry

I think they are LPR only at this point but being considered for larger sizes. Worth a look if you are using LPR tubes.

Marc

Randy K said:

Apogee has two different models.

Click to expand...

Ah! I didn't know the larger one existed! Thank you! I might have to get that in a few months!

+1 for Ted's Fin Jig

I bought a set of plans and made my own and it's just magic!



(Click to embiggen)

Krusty

That looks beautiful! NICE CRAFTSMANSHIP!

majordude said:

That looks beautiful! NICE CRAFTSMANSHIP!

Click to expand...

Shh! Don't tell everyone, but I used a laser

Krusty

You have a lazer in your workshop? I'll see you in the next James Bond movie, you evil genius, you.

majordude said:

You have a lazer in your workshop? I'll see you in the next James Bond movie, you evil genius, you.

Click to expand...

I like to think of it as my lair

I bought my laser back at the end of 2010. Wonderful machine - makes lots of pretty things

Krusty

krusty said:

+1 for Ted's Fin Jig

Click to expand...

I agree with that. My brother has one that he bought from Apogee, which he uses for building his larger rockets. It's definitely a great tool for the larger rockets.