Brand new rail

[HyperSonic]

I was wondering if anybody treats their brand new rail with something to make it easier to clean in the future? Something to make the burnt AP come off with less effort.

Also, on the same thought, which propellant types will make the rail harder to clean?

 

[jd2cylman]

Smokey motors are bad and Sparky motors are especially bad for rails. Make sure the rails are anodized.

 

[cwbullet]

Sugar motors are vile.

 

[jd2cylman]

Sugar motors are vile.

Don't lick the rails???

 

[HyperSonic]

I do have a sweet tooth!!

 

[cwbullet]

Sugar motors are vile.

Funny. Our large launchpad had a huge CATO on it at our May launch. It was literally coated with caramelized sugar. It has made me think about forbidding sugar motors on it or demanding that folks clean it. I had a trail of fire ants into my trailer for almost 4 weeks.

 

[Handeman]

Our aluminum 1010 rails sit out in the field from October to April. We fly sparkies, smokies, etc. The rails get cleaned with WD-40 and green meanie scrubbing pads in September before going out to the field. We provide a can of WD-40 and green meanies if anyone want to clean a rail before using it but very few ever do. The rails are 11 years old and work just as well today as they did new, they just don't look new any longer.

 

[HyperSonic]

I will coat the new rails with WD-40 and hope it makes clean up easier. I love the sound of a big (M) sparky!

 

[MClark]

Don't lick the rails???

You may have come up with a new rocketry term
"Rail Licker"

M

 

[HyperSonic]

Who wants to volunteer to be RLO at next launch.

 

[tfish]

I wipe a lite coat of 'dish soap' on them with a rag...an old backpacking trick when cooking over an open fire....seems to work.

So, earlier today I took a short piece of 1515 rail and applied soap to half of it. In a couple of days I'll burn some delay grain under it and see if it works or not..I'll video the results.

Tony

 

[rcktnut]

Silicone spray works for me.

 

[ep29030]

I also vote for coating rails and blast deflectors with WD-40 prior to use. Makes stuff come off much easier after the event.

 

[ep29030]

In addition, after you clean them apply a coat of WD-40 to prevent any corrosion.

 

[cwbullet]

I will coat the new rails with WD-40 and hope it makes clean up easier. I love the sound of a big (M) sparky!

My combat experience makes me a little jumpy around sparky launches plus I can't stand the fire risk.

Sparkies are tough on rails. There are many pit marks on the older rails from these motors. I am not sure WD 40 will prevent them.

Also, our field is a sod farm and I have to pray for on fires at every launch that we do not have a fire. We have extinguishers but we are one launch from losing the field.

 

[rharshberger]

We have found with Sparkies, use the same end of the rail each time, then as that end gets to badly pitted I chop off the bottom foot or so of the rail once they have been chopped a second time we purchase a new one and move the now 6' rail to the MPR pads.

My combat experience makes me a little jumpy around sparky launches plus I can't stand the fire risk.

Sparkies are tough on rails. There are many pit marks on the older rails from these motors. I am not sure WD 40 will prevent them.

Also, our field is a sod farm and I have to pray for on fires at every launch that we do not have a fire. We have extinguishers but we are one launch from losing the field.

 

[Nytrunner]

We have found with Sparkies, use the same end of the rail each time, then as that end gets to badly pitted I chop off the bottom foot or so of the rail once they have been chopped a second time we purchase a new one and move the now 6' rail to the MPR pads.

Will indexing the rail so the rear slot is now the guide slot help extend some life?

 

[Theory]

Our aluminum 1010 rails sit out in the field from October to April. We fly sparkies, smokies, etc. The rails get cleaned with WD-40 and green meanie scrubbing pads in September before going out to the field. We provide a can of WD-40 and green meanies if anyone want to clean a rail before using it but very few ever do. The rails are 11 years old and work just as well today as they did new, they just don't look new any longer.

having flown off these rails i can attest to this statement. ...and i am one of the ones who rarely cleans the rail. if she slides down ok when loading we are good to go.

 

[kyle]

Funny. Our large launchpad had a huge CATO on it at our May launch. It was literally coated with caramelized sugar. It has made me think about forbidding sugar motors on it or demanding that folks clean it. I had a trail of fire ants into my trailer for almost 4 weeks.

To me that makes perfect sense. They chose to attempt to fly a non-standard motor, which to me means they accept responsibility for cleaning if there is, as SpaceX would call it, an anomaly in the launch.

Basic manners, if you make a mess you clean it up. If you make a mess and won't clean it up, you are no longer welcome.

 

[Knuckledragger]

My Crew Chief use to swear that spraying the gun port on our F-15 with PAM before a training mission made it easier to keep lead splatter from sticking. Who knew aerosol cooking oil could stand up to 300+ mph winds

 

[Andrew_ASC]

I had a trail of fire ants into my trailer for almost 4 weeks.

LOL

 

[cwbullet]

Have any of you tried Boeshield?

 

[Crumb fire]

Since I weld, I use this: https://www.americantorchtip.com/blog/mig-anti-spatter-coatings-how-to

Steeve

 

[cwbullet]

Since I weld, I use this: https://www.americantorchtip.com/blog/mig-anti-spatter-coatings-how-to

Steeve

Does this leave a residue?

 

[rharshberger]

With the mounting system we use the rail can be indexed to always use the best slot (not changeable without tools), and once a section is badly pitted on all 4 slots its off to the chop shop.

Will indexing the rail so the rear slot is now the guide slot help extend some life?

 

[Crumb fire]

Yes unfortunetly. Gotta wipe it after a launch day. And the more you wait (days) the more it get sticky. But nothing stick to the rail, and it leave the rail clean even after sparkies. The worse part for every spray, is to clean the slots. Maybe you could try to 3d print a shaped dowel that could clean each slot. I bought rail covers to protect all the sides and rear slots I don't use. It also help identify our pads.



On my side, at the end of season, I clean them with a cup brush installed on a cordless drill and a spray can of thinner based cleaner.


They don't get shinny and "like new" but they serve another year.