Found Black 4” Coupler

[hball55]

Need a black 4” coupler for my nosecone. Vendors don’t seem to carry any. It can be as short as 6” length.

 

[rfjustin]

 

[Bat-mite]

Madcow has a 4" X 8" black FWFG coupler for $28.60 in stock.

 

[hball55]

Madcow has a 4" X 8" black FWFG coupler for $28.60 in stock.

Thanks, but they don’t. I posted this need after they contacted me that they don’t have black. I cancelled my order.

 

[COrocket]

Have you checked composite warehouse?

 

[manixFan]

I'm sure you've thought of this, but just in case: If you can't find coupler stock but have black body tube, you can just cut a piece of it lengthwise to decrease its diameter. (Picking a saw with the right kerf width will get you pretty close, then just sand it until it closes at the right size.) Strength should not be an issue if you use a bulkhead on both ends and glue it into the nose cone. You could even run a strip of fiberglass down the seam, on the inside of the tube. I've done that with a custom sized nose cone I had made and it worked well, although it was only a 38mm nosecone.

Good luck,


Tony

 

[beeblebrox]

Just curious, why does the coupler need to be black, since it wont be visible when the rocket flies... Or you could just paint an AeroTech coupler. (They are thicker and stronger than LOC couplers)

 

[hball55]

Have you checked composite warehouse?
[/QUO

Just curious, why does the coupler need to be black, since it wont be visible when the rocket flies... Or you could just paint an AeroTech coupler. (They are thicker and stronger than LOC couplers)

Because every time I take the nosecone off to prep the rocket, that unmatched color will just strike a sour note with me. I am willing to compromise, sometimes, but mismatching parts just grates on me.

As for CW, I’m sure I will eventually get the one owed to me, but it’s been forgotten before and with Black Friday orders on his new 2.6” kit, which looks awesome, it will keep him busy for some time to come. When it comes, I will have a spare to use on some other project.

 

[hball55]

View attachment 489360

I am curious, what was there about my post that didn’t give enough info? Color -Black, material - fiberglass, diameter - 4” and length 6”.

 

[rfjustin]

I am curious, what was there about my post that didn’t give enough info? Color -Black, material - fiberglass, diameter - 4” and length 6”.

While my response was rather cheeky in nature, the name of your thread is "Wanted Black 4” Coupler" and while one could assume you meant fiberglass, the name of the thread alone does not indicate fiberglass. Nor does the body of your post: "Need a black 4” coupler for my nosecone. Vendors don’t seem to carry any. It can be as short as 6” length." That does not make reference to fiberglass. My point was there was not enough detail in the original post in order for someone to help. It was not until subsequent posts that it was made clear what you were looking for and also other details like you had already been in contact with Composite Warehouse. Not trying to beat a dead horse, just saying more info on the front end might help others help you faster.

Best,

 

[Rocket86]

You could also get a natural color coupler and paint it with black sandable automotive primer. Sandable primer doesn't get sticky even when it's hot and gives a nice finish for sliding. Spray it on and let it get fully dry, then lightly sand it smooth. Slide the parts together and apart a few times to burnish it and you're done. The idea isn't to make it a perfect black paint job, so there may be little patches from the high spots that show through but it will be mostly black. I do it on all couplers, fiberglass and cardboard, and have a nice consistent fit even with temperature changes.


This is a 3" CW coupler and the fit is better with the primer than without it.

 

[rfjustin]

You could also get a natural color coupler and paint it with black sandable automotive primer. Sandable primer doesn't get sticky even when it's hot and gives a nice finish for sliding. Spray it on and let it get fully dry, then lightly sand it smooth. Slide the parts together and apart a few times to burnish it and you're done. The idea isn't to make it a perfect black paint job, so there may be little patches from the high spots that show through but it will be mostly black. I do it on all couplers, fiberglass and cardboard, and have a nice consistent fit even with temperature changes.

View attachment 489596
This is a 3" CW coupler and the fit is better with the primer than without it.

Never had the need to do that, but I like it!

 

[troj]

Have you reached out to Wildman? I know he's offered a lot of black tubing in the past, and I seem to recall even when his tubing was red, at least some couplers were black.

Who knows? He may have a chunk stashed in a corner, somewhere

 

[hball55]

While my response was rather cheeky in nature, the name of your thread is "Wanted Black 4” Coupler" and while one could assume you meant fiberglass, the name of the thread alone does not indicate fiberglass. Nor does the body of your post: "Need a black 4” coupler for my nosecone. Vendors don’t seem to carry any. It can be as short as 6” length." That does not make reference to fiberglass. My point was there was not enough detail in the original post in order for someone to help. It was not until subsequent posts that it was made clear what you were looking for and also other details like you had already been in contact with Composite Warehouse. Not trying to beat a dead horse, just saying more info on the front end might help others help you faster.

Best,

LOL, you’re right about me leaving out fiberglass in my original post.



Have you reached out to Wildman? I know he's offered a lot of black tubing in the past, and I seem to recall even when his tubing was red, at least some couplers were black.

Who knows? He may have a chunk stashed in a corner, somewhere
[/QUOTE]

Yes Kevin, I have tried Wildman, Robert DeHate, Madcow, and Curtis at Composite Warehouse. It was Curtis who originally failed to ship the coupler with the nosecone. He said he’d ship one out, but he forgot. I reminded him and he said he was out of black fiberglass couplers at the moment, but will ship one when he gets them. The wait for that could be short or could take a while. I don’t want to use a different color, or use a cardboard or phenolic coupler, nor do I want to paint a coupler. Since LUNAR is claiming to have their first launch in two years in December, I thought I would try this forum.

 

[hball55]

By the way, I have received one PM from a member who has a 4” x 12” black fiberglass Wildman coupler. I am waiting for him to get back with the shipping cost. So, this thread will, with luck, soon be completed.

 

[hball55]

COUPLER FOUND

 

[Curtis Turner]

As I stated, I sent one out on the 10th and you received it yesterday.

Tracking Summary

Delivered, Front Door/Porch

 

[rfjustin]

COUPLER FOUND "Coupler delivered by Composite Warehouse"

Fixed that for ya....

Gotta give credit where credit is due in our small community.

 

[hball55]

Fixed that for ya....

Gotta give credit where credit is due in our small community.

You’re right . . . Thanks Curtis.