Daniel Carlson
Active Member
Been questioning this.
No, tape won't burn, and it works, but it non-adjustable and if you remove it you might have to deal with stickie on the rod. Normally a spent motor casing is good to just leave there all the time, and if you have a clothespin you can use it to prop some rockets higher up on the rod.THANKS, kiririn. Yeah, those Estes Instructions recommend wrapping tape around the rod. Won't it burn?
If it's exposed to the flame it will scorch. Same for clothespins.THANKS, kiririn. Yeah, those Estes Instructions recommend wrapping tape around the rod. Won't it burn?
Not my hands, found the pic on the internet.One of us is stoned, 'cause your hands are soooo big...
Been questioning this.
Here you go. Top clothespin serves as a rocket stand off, bottom clothes pin keeps the ignitors off the metal deflector and the lead weight from pulling on the igniter and plug.
View attachment 486417
Engine casing with slightly widened nozzle to slip over launch rod and act as a stand off.
View attachment 486418
Or use a beer can.
I sandpaper the rods before launches, then WD-40 and wipe off.Just an aside, but you REALLY need to take some steel wool to that launch rod there. Then oil it. I use a gun cleaner like CLR on my launch rods every other launch or so.
I generally use spent motors as standoffs though I do have a couple3D printed tubes that fit over the launch rods for this purpose too. I love the clothespin idea but I'm not going to buy a bag of clothespins just for the 2 I'd need. Other heat resistant clamps should work, though.
Yep. I also stopped using metal blast deflector plates and haven't blown a fuse in my launch controller since. No matter how many times you tell the kids to "push the button and let it up right away", they'll always push the button and hold it down while they watch the rocket go. I thought about adding a pulse-generator and power FET to the launch controller, but that seemed a bit too much overkill.Avoid stuff that is conductive to avoid shorting out the alligator clips.
I had a ceramic blast deflector shaped like half an egg. Got it from Odd'l Rockets, I believe a similar one was also sold by the old MPC before. Slipped over the rod and doubled as a standoff.
It was destroyed when an AT reload CATO'd.
It was the best deflector I ever had. No longer available.
I suppose I could also use a flower pot.You can find the image of those in a google search, but as you said, no longer available. But couldn't one just take a ceramic bowl and drill a hole in it? Like a ceramic crucible dish (which are like $7 on Amazon)?
See, this is one thing I love about this forum. A flower pot is an EXCELLENT idea and it already has a hole in it!I suppose I could also use a flower pot.
Have a few mini pots lying around the house.
Not a new idea, I've seen pics of inverted pots on the launch line.See, this is one thing I love about this forum. A flower pot is an EXCELLENT idea and it already has a hole in it!
5/32", of course. That's what I get for posting before I've had my coffee.My favorite method: I've got an assortment of aluminum tubes with an ID of 9/32" and varying lengths. Slide one (or stack them) over the launch rod; they limit how far down the launch lug can go. The only drawback is you have to remember to get them back.
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