Waxing the tower guides does work and it eliminates any residue left on the rocket... providing everyone waxes theirs. This is something I did way back when and got good results... when the only choice for oil was from my Dad's motor oil can that he kept on the workbench. I don't know if WD40 was around then. Teflon sprays, depending on which you use, can leave a moist residue like WD40. I found one that dries and doesn't rub off. Kent of GLR recommends teflon sprays for their rails, and that's how I was introduced to it. I have a can that I use on my GLR rail. But you know, John (Denverdoc), the more I think about your hockey table idea, the more I think it might be possible. Do we have tanks of nitrous oxide that we can use to feed the lines? 🙂 I saw that John Wilkes has a well-made wooden tower at MHM. John, don't you wax the guides? Don't have to answer if it's proprietary. Warren, it's just something to think about. If everyone else launches from the same tower, under the same conditions, then it doesn't matter so much.

The "wooden beast" of a tower that I use has no special prep whatsoever.... other than a millenia of charring, it is just wood.

JW

You DO know that Cavemen used to char the tips of their spears to harden the wood and make them slide into the animal easier... That tower is almost old enough to qualify. Heck, if we were ever trapped at the North Site with no food or water, we could use that tower to kill an antelope... heck, just think of the survival possibilities...

Warren

The sad thing is that I very nearly used this tower for firewood a few years ago. It weighs something like 3 metric tons, is too long for the truck bed, and until you doused it with a gallon of adhesive and clamped it back together it was pretty rickety. Now it seems to be stronger than ever.

That tower was built for an Aerobee project years ago. I was told -- though I never verified -- that the real Aerobees flew in a wooden tower, and this tower is a scale version of an actual Aerobee tower. I didn't have much to do with building it. I will say that it is pretty much a work of art, and I'm glad it never made it to the fire pit. I've personally flown out of it perhaps 50 times, including my L blast to 23K. It is the only tower in the club that has nearly 8' of rails...

well come on guys, as much as we are altitude nuts, lets breakdown and spend 100 bucks or 200 to get it right. Seems to me we need 10 feet of something which will accomodate 29-75mm rockets. I'll toss in 50. Hell my own ssss tower cost twice that and end up with more dust than residue.
J

THE Tower I drool over is here http://www.towerlauncher.com/ . This thing will handle from 38mm to 300mm diameter birds, is 99" long (8'), handles both three and four fin rockets and I believe he makes 4' extensions for it. While I can't find a price on his website, it has got to be over $1000, I doubt the club is going to pop for one.

Warren

I inquired on that tower years ago. IIRC it was $1800 back then. Really. Zowie.

If the dues were raised a little, could we afford one then?

I've never brought it up with the rest of the executive committee, but I would assume that a number equal to 50% or more of the club's current treasury for a single piece of launch equipment used primarily by no more than 1/2 dozen people currently wouldn't fly. We have the small bicycle tower that belongs to the club which works fine for stuff up to 54mm although it is adjustable larger and we have a 7' adjustable tower that can take extensions and fits birds from 38mm up to 5". That's at my house waiting for some welding to be done and hasn't been actively in use for over two years. I'm doing my best to have it ready for Oktoberfest.

Warren

Dude, you need a vacation. Step away from the welder... get ready for the river. Well, my Alfred E. Newman is done. It's four inches longer than my gut says it should be, but the sim loves it. The fin span is one inch longer than my gut says it should be, but the sim loves it. Both add drag... yes, but the sim loves it; each gave me more altitude. This is the year, for me anyway, where the sim rules, and I'll give it a shot. If it's wrong, then my gut will rule from this year forward. Got a ding in the leading edge of a fin, so I gotta fly this thing before it self-destructs. 😀

I leave Saturday morning...

Warren

Have a great and safe trip, my friend. Hope you got someone to take over the site while you're gone. If not, shut the puppy down, and let it ride. See ya when you get back.

Anyone who wants to use my wooden tower is welcome to it. It is a big, wooden beast that was constructed using something like 24,672 board feet of lumber 😯 It is a wonderful tower that has served me well. It is 8' tall, and I have launched 29mm up through 3" rockets using this tower. Next year, I'm going to fly a 4" N from this tower (at BALLS). My L shot to 23K flew out of this tower. Like the Energizer Bunny, it keeps going and going and going...

Mark C. built this tower years ago and gave it to me when he left the hobby. Warren glued/clamped it (thanks!!!). I am the "keeper" of the tower as it doesn't fit the trailer and it needs mucho TLC. It is in my garage. Anyone who needs it may use it provided they promise to treat it right.

Warren, the little bicycle tower is in the trailer, correct? I want to make sure it is available while you are gone just in case we launch?

Indeed the little bicycle tower is in the trailer... however, with you bigger bicycle tower, I don't know why you'd want to fly out of it. Your tower is much tighter...

Warren

The bigger bicycle tower doesn't go down to 24mm-sized airframes. In fact, it may not even go down to 38mm. It is pretty much a 54mm and up tower. So everyone knows, it is only about 5'9" tall. That one is also available for use by anyone who wants or needs it.

It is a great tower, but I've found that I gravitate to either the little bike tower or the big wooden one.

JW