Looking for 1010 rail, looking for sources

[Bill S]

I'm looking for some 1010 rail, a 4 foot piece. I am not setting up a launch pad (I belong to clubs that have those already); just want to use it to align rail buttons on rockets I am building.

I've looked at MSC (doesnt' carry them), Grainger (none in the area), and 8020.com (shipping was $30 on a $22 rail). No other industrial supply places in the area have them, nor do Lowes, Home Depot, etc.

Trying to get one on the cheap, hard as that is these days. Ideas?

 

[waltr]

I have bought 1010 rails from McMaster-Carr but shipping cost is like Granger.

 

[Titan II]

May I suggest 1" aluminum angle available cheap at Lowes or HD. I also use 1.5" on large diameter rockets.

 

[Crazyrocket]

I use a .5" x .5" aluminum angle (which is available at the box stores). I would think using 1010 rail for alignment would be difficult. Typically I only use 2 buttons so alignment is not critical. If using 3 buttons, much more so.

 

[crossfire]

The 80/20 company is the place to go. Amazon has some smaller lengths to.

 

[mh9162013]

80/20 has a selling page (or someone is selling 80/20 products) on Amazon.com. You might find lower prices on there, I know I did (I was thinking about buying some direct from 80/20 and it's cheaper for me to do so on Amazon.com).

 

[Spitfire222]

I'll add in my vote to simply use aluminum angle from your local home center to make a straight line on the body tube, and drill the holes using a brad-point bit. In my experience, the fit between the rail buttons and the rail itself is loose enough that lining things up by hand/by eye is sufficient. Overall, a much easier process than using an actual rail to line them up. Good luck!

 

[Bill S]

Thanks guys. Maybe I'll look at aluminum angle if I can find some locally. Again, I wasn't planning to use the rod to launch, so a cheaper option would be preferred.

 

[FredA]

Wanna be cheap - use a door jam to help draw the line.

 

[tsmith1315]

Thanks guys. Maybe I'll look at aluminum angle if I can find some locally. Again, I wasn't planning to use the rod to launch, so a cheaper option would be preferred.

Try this link:

https://www.govets.com/faztek-226-cxg-5ja86.html

I bought a 6' rail from them last year.

Shipping was really free, it was shipped from a Grainger warehouse, and it was delivered in a day.

 

[Bill S]

Wanna be cheap - use a door jam to help draw the line.

I have been using the door jamb method to do lower powered/smaller rocket for a while now. To the point where the wife is getting annoyed at the residual pencil marks.

My purpose for the rail was actually to confirm that the rocket would slide up and down an actual launch rail smoothly, but I may be overthinking the whole thing, hence my willingness to try the aluminum angle method.

 

[jmasterj]

I may be overthinking the whole thing, hence my willingness to try the aluminum angle method.

You'll be fine with aluminum angle as others have said. There's plenty of play with rail buttons. Even the linear rail lugs usually have a slot in the middle that fits my aluminum angle.

 

[Grog6]

The stuff is actually called 80/20, and 8020.com is the guys that invented it. 1010 is 1 inch square. You can buy from them if you want to pay full price, but Zoro is a discount supplier, who seems to carry everything.

https://www.zoro.com/search?q=80/20 1010

 

[Ez2cDave]

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l2632&_nkw=80%2F20+1010&_sacat=11804&LH_TitleDesc=0&_odkw=8020+1010&_osacat=0

 

[Dane Ronnow]

I'll add in my vote to simply use aluminum angle from your local home center to make a straight line on the body tube

Same here. Every home improvement store carries it. Around $6 for 3 feet. And it's edges are a lot closer to absolute parallel than most door jambs I've seen..

 

[cls]

My purpose for the rail was actually to confirm that the rocket would slide up and down an actual launch rail smoothly, but I may be overthinking the whole thing,

you are not overthinking this: lining up the buttons longitudinally along the airframe is not as important as getting the button screw holes in straight. side to side, leaning forward ir aft, those will bind on the rail. much better to check at home and be able to fix it without go fever!

so maybe a 3 foot piece is enough to check button alignment. but 6 foot is more fun and I'm sure you'll use it

 

[John Kemker]

zoro.com has 1010 for good prices

 

[tsmith1315]

6 foot is more fun and I'm sure you'll use it

Shipping is usually significant, if not more than a single rail.

6' of 80/20 brand for $35.76, shipped:
https://www.govets.com/index.php/80-20-226-cxg-2rcp8.html

4' Faztek for $21.75, shipped:
https://www.govets.com/faztek-226-cxg-5cxu7.html

8' Faztek for $39.42, shipped:
https://www.govets.com/faztek-226-cxg-5cxu9.html

Their site can be tricky to search and their communication was a little screwy last year (too much communication in my case), but their prices are great.

 

[mh9162013]

Shipping is usually significant, if not more than a single rail.

6' of 80/20 brand for $35.76, shipped:
https://www.govets.com/index.php/80-20-226-cxg-2rcp8.html

4' Faztek for $21.75, shipped:
https://www.govets.com/faztek-226-cxg-5cxu7.html

8' Faztek for $39.42, shipped:
https://www.govets.com/faztek-226-cxg-5cxu9.html

Their site can be tricky to search and their communication was a little screwy last year (too much communication in my case), but their prices are great.

Those are amazing prices, thanks!

 

[jbr]

walmart

 

[nelie61]

Try a local machine shop or company that does trailer hitches in your area. The outfit close to me has tons of scrap and pieces and someone close to you may have what may be looking for

 

[Duncan.Byers]

I'm looking for some 1010 rail, a 4 foot piece. I am not setting up a launch pad (I belong to clubs that have those already); just want to use it to align rail buttons on rockets I am building.

I've looked at MSC (doesnt' carry them), Grainger (none in the area), and 8020.com (shipping was $30 on a $22 rail). No other industrial supply places in the area have them, nor do Lowes, Home Depot, etc.

Trying to get one on the cheap, hard as that is these days. Ideas?

You might try looking for shorter rails and using couplers to join 2 or more of them. Shipping rates rise dramatically over certain lengths. For example, shipping over 30" using USPS adds $15.00 to the shipping cost. It might make it economical to get the rails in shorter sections.

 

[Bill S]

I decided to skip worrying about rails. So this thread can be deleted.

 

[Ez2cDave]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/383893636719



Dave F.