2.64" fin jig

Building my first 2.64" rocket. I would love a guillotine jig but that's not gonna happen. I could rig something up to assist me but I was wondering if anyone has just opened up a cheap BT-80 jig to a BTH-80.

Payload Bay fin guides, print on paper, glue to foam board and cut out. I have used them on rockets up to 7.5" diameter.

https://www.payloadbay.com/page-Tools.html

Hey that's great thank you!

you could also build one of these in less then an hour. I wanted the guillotine too but found this and it works amazing.

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/homemade-fin-alignment-guide-version-2.9859/

Jay Dub 4009 said:

you could also build one of these in less then an hour. I wanted the guillotine too but found this and it works amazing.

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/homemade-fin-alignment-guide-version-2.9859/

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Built 3 of those for my kids to use, took about an hour, however those are dependant on having the proper tools.

I would have to have someone cut the wood pieces for me. I'm a metal fabricator with Zero wood tools.
Then I'd have to convince my minimalist GF that it's a piece of art that adds value to my life, when not in use lol.

Cardboard/ foamboard jigs will fit in my rocket box.

FlyingMonkey said:

I would have to have someone cut the wood pieces for me. I'm a metal fabricator with Zero wood tools.
Then I'd have to convince my minimalist GF that it's a piece of art that adds value to my life, when not in use lol.

Cardboard/ foamboard jigs will fit in my rocket box.

Click to expand...

Get a new GF, minimalism has very little place in rocketry...unless swapping fiberglass parts for carbon fiber parts counts...[emoji854]

rharshberger said:

Get a new GF, minimalism has very little place in rocketry...unless swapping fiberglass parts for carbon fiber parts counts...[emoji854]

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I tried to pass the TV and cleaning supplies off as "her hobbies" but that didn't go so well.

How about a 3d print jig? Do you have a friend with a printer? If not you can order them printed on the site. Or I'll even send you one. I've designed several, and there are lots of others on Thingiverse... and they're down for maintenance right now or I'd put a link. I'll edit this in the morning when they're back online.

Edit... How about one of these (mine):
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4016383
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3931371

or one of these, (not mine):
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3866693
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2424931

Alan R said:

How about a 3d print jig? Do you have a friend with a printer? If not you can order them printed on the site. Or I'll even send you one. I've designed several, and there are lots of others on Thingiverse... and they're down for maintenance right now or I'd put a link. I'll edit this in the morning when they're back online.

Edit... How about one of these (mine):
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4016383
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3931371

or one of these, (not mine):
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3866693
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2424931

Click to expand...

Great stuff can be found on Thingiverse.

FlyingMonkey said:

Building my first 2.64" rocket. I would love a guillotine jig but that's not gonna happen. I could rig something up to assist me but I was wondering if anyone has just opened up a cheap BT-80 jig to a BTH-80.View attachment 399661

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I did this very thing with the Apogee fin guide you show. I had to sand the body tube hole to fit over 2.6" fiberglass tube from Madcow. The fin slots were a bit wide for 1/8" fiberglass fins, so I added some equal layers of tape to the fins.

I like these simple guides where you install all the fins at the same time, rather than the elaborate jigs that do one fin at a time. Seems like a better way to ensure 120 or 90 degree alignments.

this 3d print jig ensures degree alignment by holding all fins present. only the current vertical one gets glued though.
as you can see here, I also ensure the motor mount is set into the bt straight. all fins go in dry fit when gluing the centering rings.
last couple of kits i had the rings were a bit loose. this ensures the mounts are set straight as possible.
Important because the rear ring is not glued until after all fins are epoxied to the motor mount.

I ended up doing the foam board route. I always have foam board around for the kid's projects.

Now I just need to find time for this build!