building a rack

[chronie]

I want to use these types of mortors in my tubes.
http://www.fireworks.com/images/products/G-055AB.jpg

But i dont know where to start. I see people talking about all sorts of tubes and stuff. I am totally lost. I am making a 20shot mortor rack, but i dont know anything about the tubes. Like can i make them myself? If you could help me that would be great.

[Chris]

Check out this thread on the old forum http://www.pyrouniverse.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2264&sid=9a96c263ec97931aaa77bc654714ac6d
Basically what I did was get a cardboard box and put the cardboard tubes into the box however i wanted then I took some expanding foam and sprayed in the box with the tubes to hold the tubes in place. I used the racks for my 05' 4th of Julyu show and they worked good. I plan on making more of the racks for my 06' 4th of July show.

[chronie]

all the pictures are gone from your posts? And i have one more question has anyone built this http://www.pyrouniverse.com/firingsystems/20-cue.htm or this http://www.pyrouniverse.com/firingsystems/jeff.htm yet. Because i have no experience in electical. And i look at those and they look really cool, but i dont get any of it.

[JoeRatman]

The 20 cue firing system you mention was made by Colin, who is one the web master and admin here. Here is a link to someone who just finished making a slightly modified version of that one. http://www.pyrouniverse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=262

Here is someone who just finished a system based on one of my designs, which is a bit more complex.
http://www.pyrouniverse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=233

If you have questions about firing system, you can post your questions on that forum or feel free to PM me. The theory behind firing systems is not rocket science. It is basically a two wires with a switch and battery one end and a igniter attached to a firework on the other.

[johnny_boomboom]

Chronie,

Here are a couple ideas for you that are pretty easy to build...
basic 'Poormans Motar rack" if you have the tubes you got with the kits... you can use a piece or 3/4" plywood 2'X4' should be good. Use some 1-1/2" Decking screws and secure all for corners of the tube bases to the Plywood. That's how I started out... Or you can follow the directions for some of the racks on the Pyro U site...
Also... Colin should be getting his fiberglass motars in... so you can purchease from him..
As for a firing box... you can build a 10 or 20 shot pretty easily without much electrical experience. you will need to make a trip to radio shack... you can follow the plans on the regular site or you can PM me for instructions on how to build my simple box...

Link to picutre of box... (http://www.pyroreview.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/3262/sort/2/cat/520/page/1)

Link to insides of the box... (http://www.pyroreview.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/3256/sort/2/cat/520/page/1)

[Bl@ckMarket]

Chronie, As far as the tubes go, I would not recommend using paper tubes over and over again. Play it safe and get HDPE SR-11 tubes will fit those Shells you posted (I believe they are 1.75). Read up on tubes here http://www.pyrouniverse.com/bprojects/prep.htm You can order from Collin to support the site or Pyrogear who are sponsors also. You can also read more about building your own racks on the PyroUniverse homepage or you can buy them already made from Pyrogear also. Hope that helps.

[PyroBubba]

I want to use these types of mortors in my tubes. ...
But i dont know where to start. I see people talking about all sorts of tubes and stuff. I am totally lost. I am making a 20shot mortor rack, but i dont know anything about the tubes. Like can i make them myself? If you could help me that would be great.
1. When people talk about "tubes" for mortar racks, they usually mean HDPE, although fiberglass tubes are sometimes used. I built my racks using 12" plugged HDPE tubes from PyroGear.net -- they cost less than $2 per tube, shipped.

2. It is possible to make your own tubes, if you can get SDR-11 HDPE piping and cut your own plugs. But unless you're doing this on a very large scale (100+ tubes), it makes a lot more sense to order the pre-plugged tubes.

3. NEVER NEVER NEVER use PVC pipes for mortars!

4. Given the standard "black box" shells you say you want to use, 12" HDPE tubes will do fine. But if you want to use multiple-break shells (doubles, triples, etc.) or larger canisters (Excals, etc.), you should consider ordering 15" tubes.