Favorite size Mortar Rack

[kgb]

Ok guys alot of you have been shooting your shells out of racks for quite some time.This year was my first year with racks and I loved it.I currently have 2 20 shot racks and a 36 shot rack which used to be a 48 shot rack.I want to build 2 more racks both of them being either 48 or 52 shot racks.I think I like racks that are big but not too big. I'm going to buy around 100 more tubes from pyrogear and make 2 racks out of it. If you guys had a 100 tubes how many racks would you make out of it?

[ThunderKing]

id do 20 shot racks

[danmagicman]

IMO, if you have ample shoot space there is no need for fan racks with the exception of shells with tails and quick finale shoots.

Shooting off a fan rack of shells with tails is a beautiful display, however, it's a lot less effort to set up 3 20 shot racks 10-15 feet from each other and you can get the same desired effect.

Additionally, fan racks really are best for a finale or a fast shoot of shells, not good if you are doing shots that are going every few seconds, it looks kinda funny when the shots don't go in the same spot.

Storing non-fan racks takes up a lot less space as well.

Can't go wrong with racks of 20. If you use metal spikes you can angle them as you please into the ground, too.

The only downside of having many racks is the need to syncronize them all, so you will need a few cue's to light them up.

[URBNFLX]

I like my small 12 shot folding racks. They are relatively lightweight and they store easily(I stack them up in my pyro shed).:D

[St1dinoh]

i'd make em in 12's

most shell kits these days come in some multiple of 6. by making a 12 in a line, or a double row of 24 they tend to make the math less complicated.

personally i like doing 2x6 boxes. thats 12 tubes in a short row, with eye hooks on the ends. they are light, and take up less space in storage. another nice thing is you can thread 2 boxes up on a single piece of rebar to carry them. so you can carry 4 boxes at a time.

and if you get the urge to try out a new kit....all you need is one box and you can shoot all 12.

[lamrith]

On show dayI build 18shot racks. My frames are 6 tubes each and I build them into \ | / fan racks for a total of 18 tubes. This is a Std config used by the 1.3g company I have shot with. decent shot density but still able to be carried.

[pyrology]

With 100 tubes I think I would make (2) 18 shot fan racks for finale with about 10 degrees between each fan (\|/). For shooting 3 at a time in six sets, with delay from .5 up to 3 secs between sets. Makes for a nice ~40' spacing between bursts.

Then either go with a a few milk crates or a bunch of 6 shooters with the rest.

[kgb]

I've found that milk crate style racks are my least favorite.They tend to shoot too quickly.I would rather have 3 rows of 10 than 5 rows of 6 anyday.I'm still debating on whether or not I should build at least 1 fan rack.Time is running out I only have around 350 days to decide.:D

[pyrology]

I've found that milk crate style racks are my least favorite.They tend to shoot too quickly.

It all depends on how you fuse them as to how fast they go. A little (less than 1/2 inch) of visco (not fast) between each shell will slow it down to where it is not a sky puke.

So then do 1 6 shooter for testing, a couple of fans of 18, and straight racks of 10-12 for the rest. If you can't tell I really like my 18 shot fan - I'd reccomend it. If you want less racks do 2 rows of 10 (side by side) in each straight set, for a 20 shooter that is the length of a 10 shot.

[Switchfoot55]

Also, when ordering from Pyrogear, 24x12" tubes the shipping is $12and some change. When you order 25x12" tubes the shipping jumps to $19and some change. $7 for the shipping on the extra tube!? The same jump in shipping is with the 15" tubes also, but I dont know at what point or number of tubes. If you are can, though, it is generally cheaper (shipping) to make one big order. I can only afford 24 at a time, right now.


I was wondering the same thing until i got my shipment. I do believe the shipment goes up after 24 due to the size of the box. They pack 24 in one box. ANY more, even 1, and they have to use a larger shipment container. MOST shipping companies make you pay by the size of the parcel (dimensions). I mean, i might be wrong, but i think that's why shipping costs jump from 24 to 25.

I was wondering the same thing about ordering though. Cheaper to buy like 200 all together, or in increments of 24 (or 25)? Gotta get more tubes!!!


I made my first rack this year. 24 shot rack, but it was built with 4 rows of 6 like Lamrith was talking about. But instead of putting 3 together, i used 4. I'm currently working on switching those up for my first finale rack. 4 rows of 6 that will all be fanned out. I can use each row individually, or just screw them togehter and have 1 24 shot fan rack. (design is based off Deweycoon's design...lol, i'm not that inventive).

But i would agree. My next 100 or so tubes will probably go into 20 shot racks. I plan on increasing my tube count from 24 to hopefully upwards of 250ish by next 4th...so i'll have plenty of tubes to be creative with.

[St1dinoh]

for the record......120 tubes is 10 12 shot racks......if you are shooting for the 100 or more discount thats a good # to order.

[kgb]

I think if your going to make a fan rack it's probably best to have an odd number of rows like 3 or 5.That way 1 row is straight up and you have either 1 or 2 angled rows on either side.

[MrX8503]

Funny Switchfoot i'm in the same boat as you. I also made my first 24shot rack and plan to upgrade to more tubes, but not as much as you. I'm planning on adding on 100 more tubes which comes out to $200. I wouldnt be able to afford $400 worth of tubes.

I also used dewey's design where its a spreader rather than a fan. I've noticed that when i shot it off that some of the shells came towards the audience and away from the audience which was cool.

I've also noticed that almost everyone's angle rack, the tubes are angled but the bases werent flushed flat with the tube. I think this contributes to mortar plug failure. So i built some angled bases for the angled tubes, still questionable if it actually helps the mortar plug brace the lift charge.

EDIT: I didnt know that little shipping trick. I just kept adding tubes until the shipping went up and just went back down 1. So it would cost me the same shipping if i got 105 tubes compared to 100.

St1dinoh is right. 120 is a good amount to order. Same shipping as 107 tubes.

[pyrology]

I've also noticed that almost everyone's angle rack, the tubes are angled but the bases werent flushed flat with the tube. I think this contributes to mortar plug failure. So i built some angled bases for the angled tubes, still questionable if it actually helps the mortar plug brace the lift charge.


FWIW: Point is spot on. I used 3x6 fan with 1x3's in a |_| setup with 2 side rails all screwed together (predrilled too). The plugs rest direcly on the base of the U and they are hooked to 2x4 and 1x3 as the side braces to set the angles. After a 3 shoots I've blown the base out of 2 out of the 3 sets teh last 2 times. I would reccomend using 2x4 ripped down for the base at least. It was not a problem as the base was on the ground, but it still could have been. I think you are spot on about plug stress.

I aslo wonder about CA mines stressing the plugs harder than shells. Any thoughts on that one - /Bueller/?

[A_pyro_rush]

I would think that if you are building a large rack say 48 tubes or more a large factor to consider is weight of the thing. My 21 shot fan rack I built earlier this year is heavier than I expected it would be.A guestamate would be around 35-40lbs at least. I have a 25lb scale in the garage and it tipped it before I let go.

[Rikerz]

Out of all my racks, I like my widespread 5 x 10s the best. Hands down. Shoot them across for a sky full of fun!

[BigDave]

I am planning to make 8 shot straight racks with spacers between each tube.

I figure flat bottoms will support the tubes more, spacers will make them safer in case of a blowout, and I can set them us straight or in fans of 3-5 by how I arrange them by bolting them to a pair of 2x4's or a plywood strip on each end with pre-drilled holes.

The bottom bracket and spacers will only cover the first 1.5 inch (same as plug depth) and the second bracket will start about 8 inches up giving it enough to hold it in from bounce, but space for a burst from a bad lift charge to expand without blowing the rack too badly.

I'll break the racks for transport so the weight won't be too much.

What do you think?

[RPS]

I have two designs, an 18 shot angled rack and some 20 shot verticals. The verticals are good for a slower rate of fire, such as a slower section of a show to allow people to appreciate individual shells/effects, but for finales angles are a must! If you fuse my 20 shot vertical and 18 shot angle to both fire very quickly, the angle will easily be more impressive because it fills more sky. Both racks are a bit heavy but nothing to worry about really. I think anything less and you just need more racks, ending up with more weight and more to build!

I'm actually hoping to make at least one 56 shot rack with 8 rows of 7 angles, then use shells with tails and fuse in a Z pattern for a finale. It'll be heavy, but spectacular! Another advantage of fans instead of spreading out groups of vertical racks is you don't need extra wiring/long fuses/multiple people lighting because it is all from one spot.

[MrX8503]

FWIW: Point is spot on. I used 3x6 fan with 1x3's in a |_| setup with 2 side rails all screwed together (predrilled too). The plugs rest direcly on the base of the U and they are hooked to 2x4 and 1x3 as the side braces to set the angles. After a 3 shoots I've blown the base out of 2 out of the 3 sets teh last 2 times. I would reccomend using 2x4 ripped down for the base at least. It was not a problem as the base was on the ground, but it still could have been. I think you are spot on about plug stress.

I aslo wonder about CA mines stressing the plugs harder than shells. Any thoughts on that one - /Bueller/?

If i understand your |_| design its pretty similar to mine, except for my base i used a 2x3 piece of wood with liquid nails and screws and so far the bases have been intact. All my bases whether angled or not, i use 2" boards only.

[Deweycoon]

20 shot vertical racks. They're easy to fuse, easy to stack and they are light enough that you can carry one in each hand.
For the end of the show angle racks are a must for me....no overlap of effects no matter how fast you fuse the rack.