Does Composite Warehouse Still Exist?

[Frederocket]

Nope, was not a Russian rocket!

Sorry about that. Was looking at his avatar. Correction made.

 

[OzHybrid]

So who else do you guys use that supplies quality product at a reasonable price. Asking for a friend.

 

[AndrewGil]

So who else do you guys use that supplies quality product at a reasonable price. Asking for a friend.

Wildman

 

[David Schwantz]

Wildman for glass. LOC for paper.

 

[sharkbait]

So who else do you guys use that supplies quality product at a reasonable price. Asking for a friend.

Depends on what you’re looking for. Giant Leap and Hawk Mountain used to have very high Quality tube but no more. Mach 1 has very nice tube but only up to 4”. Mac Performance has nice tube, it’s canvas phenolic but again 4” max. PML used to offer nice glass wrapped phenolic but since being bought out by Loc, I din’t think that’s an option any longer. That pretty much leaves Wildman, especially if you want anything bigger than 4”

 

[PayLoad]

TRF should start charging a fee for every post about composite warehouse, plus a whopper of a fee to those who start new threads about it. It seems like every week we have the same discussion.....

 

[John Kemker]

TRF should start charging a fee for every post about composite warehouse, plus a whopper of a fee to those who start new threads about it. It seems like every week we have the same discussion.....

The site would be self-supporting AND make a profit without having to include ads or charge for memberships!

Hey! Could charge for memberships that DON'T see CW threads, too!

 

[dr wogz]

at least the 'Red Arrow' & 'Shirley' threads have died out..

 

[DAllen]

Wildman for glass. LOC for paper.

Don't forget canvas phenolic...MAC Performance (I love that stuff)

 

[CalebJ]

at least the 'Red Arrow' & 'Shirley' threads have died out..

I'm semi-familiar with the Red Arrow threads. Shirley?

 

[smstachwick]

Not the first time this topic has come up, won’t be the last. Here’s my take:


https://www.rocketryforum.com/threa...in-11-months-and-counting.175437/post-2336365

 

[dr wogz]

I'm semi-familiar with the Red Arrow threads. Shirley?

Sorry, that should have been "Sheri"

Sheri of "Sheri's Hot rockets". Same scenario, but very easy to look at (her rockets were nice too )

 

[jd2cylman]

I'm semi-familiar with the Red Arrow threads. Shirley?

Don't call me Shirley...
Shirley you can't be serious...

 

[AlexBruccoleri]

Depends on what you’re looking for. Giant Leap and Hawk Mountain used to have very high Quality tube but no more. Mach 1 has very nice tube but only up to 4”. Mac Performance has nice tube, it’s canvas phenolic but again 4” max. PML used to offer nice glass wrapped phenolic but since being bought out by Loc, I din’t think that’s an option any longer. That pretty much leaves Wildman, especially if you want anything bigger than 4”

I am not sure this is correct. Giant Leap sells up to 4 inch and I emailed Hawk Mountain a few months ago. They no longer sell kits but said they sell tubing. I am not sure what sizes they still sell. LOC still sells the fiberglass-wrapped tubing. I asked about it and the new owners confirmed they still do it. It is a custom service though.

Regarding Composite Warehouse. They sell unique and beautiful kits/components. I have successfully purchased from them and it did take awhile, but what I wanted was worth the wait. (I can only comment on my own experience.)

I am not looking to wade into a vendor fight, other than to say the above vendors are all actively selling fiberglass components or kits. Call them and see what is available.

 

[sharkbait]

I am not sure this is correct. Giant Leap sells up to 4 inch and I emailed Hawk Mountain a few months ago. They no longer sell kits but said they sell tubing. I am not sure what sizes they still sell. LOC still sells the fiberglass-wrapped tubing. I asked about it and the new owners confirmed they still do it. It is a custom service though.

Regarding Composite Warehouse. They sell unique and beautiful kits/components. I have successfully purchased from them and it did take awhile, but what I wanted was worth the wait. (I can only comment on my own experience.)

I am not looking to wade into a vendor fight, other than to say the above vendors are all actively selling fiberglass components or kits. Call them and see what is available.

You are correct Alex, it takes some digging on Giant Leaps site to finally find the airframes ( the components tab shows nothing) but if you dig through it Kent still does offer glass but only 38mm available and still has the K-frame (kevlar) but only 6” available

I did speak with Alan as I had heard he was ill and shut down, but he up and running with glass from 29mm to 6” his tubes are top shelf.

 

[AlexBruccoleri]

You are correct Alex, it takes some digging on Giant Leaps site to finally find the airframes ( the components tab shows nothing) but if you dig through it Kent still does offer glass but only 38mm available and still has the K-frame (kevlar) but only 6” available

I did speak with Alan as I had heard he was ill and shut down, but he up and running with glass from 29mm to 6” his tubes are top shelf.

For Giant Leap, you need to change the length. The site says 30 and 60" available in the other sizes. Not sure what they actually have. Just going by the site.

 

[gamewood]

Placed an order back in August (2022) and still have not received it despite several contacts that basically resulted in my being told the order was ready to ship. Finally asked for a refund, but that hasn't happened either.

Just wondering if the situation improved for any body? Ordered in August 22. Now no answer on the phone.

 

[rfjustin]

 

[Banzai88]

Ken Allen said recently that he was going up to visit Curtis sometime soon, said that he didn't hold out much hope of getting anything other than maybe some rings and (possibly) some nose cones since Curtis has essentially decided to focus 99.99% of his efforts on his commercial (read=non-rocketry) customers.

Good luck, and I have z.e.r.o. idea why you folks keep doing this to yourselves.

 

[gamewood]

Ken Allen said recently that he was going up to visit Curtis sometime soon, said that he didn't hold out much hope of getting anything other than maybe some rings and (possibly) some nose cones since Curtis has essentially decided to focus 99.99% of his efforts on his commercial (read=non-rocketry) customers.

Good luck, and I have z.e.r.o. idea why you folks keep doing this to yourselves.

This was last year Sir. Thanks

 

[Banzai88]

This was last year Sir. Thanks

I understand that.....and if Kenny can't get anything from Curtis, and he has said that he has gotten nothing from him in quite some time.........well, then you can probably bet that the answer is NO, it hasn't gotten any better.

August of 22 was 9 months ago, AND you get no answer on the phone or a call back? Many would say that you're 6 months past due to be calling your bank and initiating a dispute.

Good luck, and please let us know how it turns out.

 

[gamewood]

Looked up there address from the business PA filing. Nothing on thatcountey road other than houses.

 

[AlexBruccoleri]

I was able to buy some kits and later some tubes from CW a few months ago. I recommend calling and also try chatting as well.

 

[crossfire]

Looked up there address from the business PA filing. Nothing on thatcountey road other than houses.

His shop is very full of equipment. Your not going to cut CRs make tubes and nose cone cut fins from your house. At one time he had about 10 machines in his shop.

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

From everything I’ve heard on this forum, and from anecdotes I’ve heard from personal rocketry friends who fly with my clubs, Curtis sounds about as reliable as as a crackhead. Maybe the name of the business should be Composite Crackhouse.

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

Looked up there address from the business PA filing. Nothing on thatcountey road other than houses.

Do any of the houses look like crackhouses or meth labs? That’s probably where you should start looking. Ask Skinny Pete if he knows where Curtis is crashing these days.

 

[Exactimator]

Good luck, and I have z.e.r.o. idea why you folks keep doing this to yourselves.

I've noticed there's a solid "that may happen to everyone else but it won't happen to ME" attitude among rocketeers.

 

[crossfire]

I never had any issues ordering from Curtis years ago.

 

[CalebJ]

I never had any issues ordering from Curtis years ago.

How is that helpful for all the people that did?

 

[FredA]

I've visited Curtis at his house in Johnstown a couple of times many years ago.
Just a country house with a barn-like garage that masquerades as his shop.

All the old cast stuff (NC's and FC's) were done in the basement of the house and all the fiberglass tubes in the shop.
Never seen a place so covered in fiberglass dust....itched just walking in there.....WIP everywhere with just a little walkway through the shop.