Launch pads from Menard's

I was in Menard's in my local town yesterday and saw some Xmas tree stands for artificial trees. A thought occured to me and I made it reality. These stands fold flat for storage/transport and hold a 1 and 1/4 inch shaft. Well I bought two of these and two 1" diameter galvanized threaded pipes with end caps from the plumbing dept. I have several drill chucks (Jacobs) for making PVC launch pads (as posted on ROL) these allow any size rod to

1/2". I drilled a hole in the threaded cap, fastened the bolt for the chuck to it throught the cap and screwed the cap onto the pipe and slipped the pipe into the Xmas tree stand. Add a rod of the correct size and blast plate and BINGO one moderate duty launch pad and about 10 minutes of assembly time. To transport pull out pipe (if you wish) and fold legs and your on the go. The stand also comes with cross struts that stakes may be fastened to after you put stakes into ground. This pad should work with model, mid power and lightweight high power rockets. Just one of those brainstorms that leaves one hell of a puddle.
Reply to
nitram578
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Just further proof almost anything can be modified and used in a rocketry related manner.

; )

Randy

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Reply to
<randyolb

OOPS, mod 1 takke another threaded cap and put on bottom of pipe (after through stand) after you drill a hole through it and put a large spike into the gound to hold it. This will anchor it to the ground very well. Thought this up today, tried it and it works A # 1 primo good!

Reply to
nitram578

That tree stand sounds like a really good idea. I have a few questions:

1) What's the brand name? 2) How wide is the span on the legs? 3) How much did it cost? 4) Does it look like this one?
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Or this one?
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-- Bob Cox

Reply to
Bob Cox

Bob, It looks like the second one. It was supposed to be $9.95 however at checkout came to $7.45 each. Not sure of the brand name or spread of legs approx 15-18 inches maybe a little more. Go look at them and open a box. (one of their people opened one for me.) If you like buy it and go to the plumbing section to get the threaded pipe etc. Sorry couldn't be more help than this.

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Reply to
nitram578

Menard's # is 287-3422 for the replacement artificial. Another one I thought could work is a Heavy-Duty for 5" trunk and 8' tall #287-1402 with holds drilled into base legs for spike stakes to ground or even bigger #

285-7659 for 7" diameter and 12' tall. Expect these to go on close outs XMAS eve or immediately after XMAS.

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Reply to
nitram578

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