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Rod Mount Options
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Mounts A difficult part about
building your own launch pad is selecting a device to
hold the launch rod. Actually, its not difficult
if you can open your wallet up wide. Here are several options:
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- Keyless Drill Chuck: The most
conveinent device is the keyless drill chuck.
Brad uses one, but Rick didn't go this route,
because 3/8" Keyless Drill chucks go for
about eighteen bucks. 1/2" for $40.
Maybe you're lucky and you have an old drill you
can scavage one from. Brad found his at a garage sale.
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A Keyless Drill Chuck ~$17
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- Keyed Drill Chuck: A bit less
convienient than the Keyless model, As you need
to keep the key handy and it limits your mounting
options. Still, these go for $12, if you
don't have one in the junk drawer
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A Keyed Drill Chuck ~$12
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- Straight Sil-Cock: This is a
piece of plumbing hardware you would use to put a
valve in a water or gas line. I have
tried these at several club launches and found
this approach wanting. Specifically the
aperture is much bigger than the rod, so you can
have trouble getting the rod straight, or tight.
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Sil-Cock
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- Tap Wrench: Very much like a drill
chuck the tap wrench looked like a low cost
option. The problem with the Tap Wrenches
is that each size has a very limited range of bit
diameter, and I couldn't find one that
would hold from 1/8 to 3/8 rods
- Other Options: There are I suppose
limitless approaches, but beyond the
aforementioned, I know none with mentioning.
If you feel differently, email us and we
might include it.
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Tap Wrench: ~$7-$12 |
- Bit Brace Chuck: Rick kept looking
for solution until he found a Bit Brace at
Menard's. A bit brace is a hand powered
drill for large bits, and is still used where
electric tools are dangerous to use, or power is
unavailable. They are also unbelievably
cheap. The one he bought at Menard's only
set himback $6. Granted, the fit is not as
precise as the drill chucks, but not enough to
inhibit performance.
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 Bit Brace: ~ $6
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It was a happy coincidence that Brad found a 1/2" keyless drill chuck at a garage sale across
the street while he was building the Brad Pad. He attached it to the pad legs, underneath
the blast plate, to protect it from the motor exaust. It's worked out pretty well.
A key feature Rick Rack is the Bit Brace chuck and how it is mounted. Rick took a
square piece of pressure treated 2x4 and drilled a 1.5" hole
in the center of it. He then epoxied the knurled chuck housing
into the block with a enough clearance on the top so that the
chuck teeth can close all way with out coming out the top of the
block. to get this clearance, 1/2" spacers were added between
the wood block and the blast deflector. Pliers are currently used to tighten the chuck, but
there are plans to weld on a handle.
Go to to Parts List page.
Return to Launch Pad page.
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