Now that I am back into rocketry after all of these years, I figured that I would also refine my construction techniques compared to those that I employed as a kid. We all had used a door jamb as a tube marking guide (as per Estes' recommendation) when we were starting out. After that, it was a piece of aluminum angle to mark tubes. While I'm sure that I am not the first person to discover this, I think that I have inadvertently stumbled across the perfect tube marking guide.
As a professional photographer for the past 20+ years, I have also acquired the tools and trappings for the framing and matting of prints. Among these items is a 36" long aluminum straight edge that I picked up in a local Ace Hardware (item #SVE360ACE). Featuring a raised edge that aids in handling and protects fingers, I found that it also serves as a fantastic tube marking guide. The radius of the undercut allows the tube to remain in direct contact with the marking guide -- there are no gaps between the tube and the straight edge. The attached photos show this in use with various body tubes ranging from BT-60 to BT-5. (With the BT-5, some upward finger pressure is required to keep the tube in contact with edge.)
I love it when I have a tool that serves multiple purposes. For $19, this is a great bargain!
As a professional photographer for the past 20+ years, I have also acquired the tools and trappings for the framing and matting of prints. Among these items is a 36" long aluminum straight edge that I picked up in a local Ace Hardware (item #SVE360ACE). Featuring a raised edge that aids in handling and protects fingers, I found that it also serves as a fantastic tube marking guide. The radius of the undercut allows the tube to remain in direct contact with the marking guide -- there are no gaps between the tube and the straight edge. The attached photos show this in use with various body tubes ranging from BT-60 to BT-5. (With the BT-5, some upward finger pressure is required to keep the tube in contact with edge.)
I love it when I have a tool that serves multiple purposes. For $19, this is a great bargain!
