My latest creation

[RESET]

Here is a pic just to show what you can do with a torch other than light fireworks. The other 4 are going to be painted black.
http://www.pyrouniverse.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10118/HPIM0311s.jpg

Whada guys think?

[NYSHOOTER]

nice job on the wood aging. to bad you didn't make 4 rows of 6 tubes. would have made a nice even 2 dozen ( since almost every shell kit is in 6,12 or 24 packs)

[RESET]

I only bought 100 tubes so I have 5 20 shot racks. 1 for the "showcase" that I mentioned in another thread and 4 for my finale.

[Bmiller]

Reset, Nice Racks!!, I can remember saying that "about somthing else"
I burned mine last year but painted them last week, just built an 18 shot 20 degree, a 22 shot straight and a 50 shot table out of HDPE and my back is sore just looking at them.
Thinking about building a 20 degree "crisscross" and looking for help carrying them to the shoot site.
Nice Work, keep it up.

[razorback]

Good Job!

[leeca]

to bad you didn't make 4 rows of 6 tubes. would have made a nice even 2 dozen ( since almost every shell kit is in 6,12 or 24 packs)
That is a very fine rack you made up, But I do have to agree with NYSHOOTER.:)
If / when I get around to making a fan rack, I will most likely incorporate both design ideas.



How much does it weigh?
..http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/spezial/jasons_smilie/thinking2.gif

[DennyMo]

How much does it weigh?
..http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/spezial/jasons_smilie/thinking2.gif
Enough that it won't tip over... ;)

I'm really impressed by the artistry some of you guys put into your racks. Me? I just schlock something together - sufficiently over-engineered of course.

[area323]

Just Thought I post mine too:D

[nubs]

how did you figure out the spacing on the fan rack?
did you just cut a 20 inch base and prop each at enough of an angle to take up the predetermined space??
can you connect 3 of these together for a larger rack??
mmmm...large racks!!!

[Deweycoon]

how did you figure out the spacing on the fan rack?
did you just cut a 20 inch base and prop each at enough of an angle to take up the predetermined space??
can you connect 3 of these together for a larger rack??
mmmm...large racks!!!

Do you meen like this:
http://www.pyroreview.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/4179/sort/2/cat/520/page/2
http://www.pyroreview.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/3203/sort/2/cat/520/page/3

[ken150]

Just Thought I post mine too:D


What is the width of the boards on the end of your rack. Have they been cut to fit, or are they bought that way.

[area323]

The way I built the rack is to set your base (where the tubes sit on).

And start placing as many tubes as you can at an angle (put spacers between the tubes at the top and none at the bottom).

Then slide the sides of the rack up til it hits tubes. Cut boards and screw them in square. There is a pic in the gallery of a fan rack put together piece by piece. It helped me get an idea of what to expect.

This rack only cost me about $6.00 to build.

[area323]

One more thing,

You can put 3,5 or 10 together. Just depends on how much weght you can carry.

[skole]

Nubs Here is a link to the old forum I posted last year on how to build a spread rack from an existing straight rack. Its easier than it sounds.

http://www.pyrouniverse.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=982&highlight=

[skole]

What is the width of the boards on the end of your rack. Have they been cut to fit, or are they bought that way.
Ken150

Lowes sells boards cut to 2X3. They are almost a perfect fit to SDR11 tubes. I use them for all of my racks. Feel free to PM me or post here if you need any help.

Shane

[nubs]

that is a great how-to...i wish i'd known about the precut 2 inch boards... i had to rip my 2x4's down to size...... thanks for the ideas

[RESET]

How much does it weigh?
..http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/spezial/jasons_smilie/thinking2.gif

With the tubes it weighs 31 lbs

[RESET]

Area323, what are the purple things? I assume they are there to help the tubes fit a little tighter, but, what the heck are they?

[ken150]

Ken150

Lowes sells boards cut to 2X3. They are almost a perfect fit to SDR11 tubes. I use them for all of my racks. Feel free to PM me or post here if you need any help.

Shane


Thanks shane I will be checking out lows again. Lows is the place I get all my rack building materials. One question, where can i find the 2x3's you told me about. I thought I knew where all the wood was in the store but i must have missed these.

[area323]

the purple and silver are pieces of silicon tubing that resist high heat. Are mainly used to wedge in the tubes. I did not want to use pieces of wood shims.

[skole]

Thanks shane I will be checking out lows again. Lows is the place I get all my rack building materials. One question, where can i find the 2x3's you told me about. I thought I knew where all the wood was in the store but i must have missed these.

I visit Lowes in three different cities here in Virginia, which ever is convient at the time, Roanoke, Blacksburg, and Harrisonburg. All three have 2X3s. Each one has them in a different location. Usually they are near the 2X4s but there is no pattern to any wood location that I can figure.

If you have not ran across them its probably worth asking one of the guys working in the area. Sorry I cant be more detailed than that.

Shane

[CSenior]

Just adding my lastest creation... :D

[ken150]

I visit Lowes in three different cities here in Virginia, which ever is convient at the time, Roanoke, Blacksburg, and Harrisonburg. All three have 2X3s. Each one has them in a different location. Usually they are near the 2X4s but there is no pattern to any wood location that I can figure.

If you have not ran across them its probably worth asking one of the guys working in the area. Sorry I cant be more detailed than that.

Shane



Thanks dude i will be going to Lows this Wed. After looking at the picture again, the 2x3s on the ends to me look bigger than i think they really are. Thats what has been fooling me, I belive i know where to go and look now.;)

[RESET]

CSenior, That is a very nice rack. I was thinking of something similar for the modules of my 20 shot. I only have a cheap hole saw and I didn't think it would live up to 100 holes. I will definatly go that way next year.

[CSenior]

CSenior, That is a very nice rack. I was thinking of something similar for the modules of my 20 shot. I only have a cheap hole saw and I didn't think it would live up to 100 holes. I will definatly go that way next year.

Thanks! When I designed it I was looking for something light weight but yet strong enough to withstand abuse. My final design (see pic above) satisfies all my requirements. Try to buy a hole saw that has cup depth of an 1-1/2" or greater. This will help greatly in getting out the newly created plugs out of the hole saw with no problems. :)

[Stinkyfeesh]

I am curious how you will keep the tubes from bouncing out of the bottom of the rack when they are being fired?

[CSenior]

I am curious how you will keep the tubes from bouncing out of the bottom of the rack when they are being fired?

If you look closely at the bottom board you will see that there are recessed holes to hold the tubes in place freely. I also test fired 6 Excals to make sure additional support was not needed.

[Stinkyfeesh]

Yeah I see them. But it also looks like there is enough play around the tubes that they can bounce up and out of the recess and point who knows where.

[area323]

Another recent project. A mini 8 shot rack with 15's

[PyroBubba]

Another recent project. A mini 8 shot rack with 15's
You guys come up with some weird designs. Last year, somebody demonstrated that you can build racks from 3/4" plywood, and I copied/adapted that idea to produce nine 8-shot racks.

http://www.pyroreview.com/gallery/data/520/8mortar_rack1.jpg

http://www.pyroreview.com/gallery/data/520/8June05mortars.jpg

- - -
Using 2x4 braces, I then configured these into three 3x8 angle racks.

This simple design is cheap, lightweight, versatile, and easy to build. The only tools I had were a Black-and-Decker saw and a cordless drill. I glued every connection with Liquid Nails before screwing it together with decking screws.

You could adapt this basic design different ways: I plan next year to build fifteen 10-shot racks, then configure them into three 5x10 angle racks.

[RESET]

Yeah I see them. But it also looks like there is enough play around the tubes that they can bounce up and out of the recess and point who knows where.

If someone were worried about bounce out they could use thicker bottom board or a third small board half way up.

Try to buy a hole saw that has cup depth of an 1-1/2" or greater. This will help greatly in getting out the newly created plugs out of the hole saw with no problems.

I have no problem getting the plug out, just stop before you go all the way thru then gently knock the remaining plug out of the piece with a hammer. a little sanding with the dremel and all is good.

[DennyMo]

If you look closely at the bottom board you will see that there are recessed holes to hold the tubes in place freely. I also test fired 6 Excals to make sure additional support was not needed.
I gotta go with stinky on this one. It looks like your bottom board is two boards, one with the recessed holes and one solid? If so, I recommend putting a small spacer between the two boards, maybe scrap pieces of 1x lumber. That should increase your safety margin.

[CSenior]

I gotta go with stinky on this one. It looks like your bottom board is two boards, one with the recessed holes and one solid? If so, I recommend putting a small spacer between the two boards, maybe scrap pieces of 1x lumber. That should increase your safety margin.

Thanks Denny & Stinky! I will definitely add the spacer. :)