62mm racks and spacing

[tmwjr]

I am finally moving into 62mm preloads and am going to start putting racks together. With HDPE racks I haven't used spacers. I've seen racks for the 62mm shells with and without spacers between the mortars. Are spacers recommended for the 62mm shells?

[Robbro097]

This will b my 1st year with the 62mm i wont b using any spacers but will b matching each individually so if it blows rack i wont shoot the rest as well as PLENTY of distance from audience or structures. Your the one making them so its up to you but thats my thought process as to how i made my decision

[Jay_]

I don’t use spacers on mine. They are not necessary in my opinion.

[PyroJoeNEPA]

You said at first "62mm PRELOADS"--that would be a 2 1/2" cardboard tube--one shot. Then you said 62mm SHELLS--so I am assuming you are talking about 2 1/2" [62mm] class B shells. We have MANY [dozens of] racks of 2 1/2" guns--none of which have spacers and have never had any issues with them.

[tmwjr]

My apologies. I am referencing the dominator 1.4 pro products specifically. I am trying to balance safety with portability, storage, and ease of construction. With safety being first of course. I just worry about the cardboard.

I'm new on the forum and appreciate your help.

[Kenny East]

Spacers for a preload rack would probably make it look more professional... Add a bit more strength, and more weight. As long as you can get to the match ports, and the bottom of the tube is flat against a board or similar... Should be fine. They are made to shoot once, I've never seen any problems with them if they are supported at the bottom.

I have see them blow the bottom out of not against something.

[PYRODAN]

I use the Dominator single shots. My racks don't have spacers.I am at work, I will attach some pictures later.

[PYRODAN]

http://www.pyrotalk.com/bulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=3780&stc=1http://www.pyrotalk.com/bulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=3781&stc=1
Here are some pictures.

[tmwjr]

Awesome, thank you for your service and for the pictures. That helps a lot. I am going to do something very similar. I ripped some 1x4s today and am hoping to put some fan racks together tomorrow. Thank you!

[Kenny East]

http://www.pyrotalk.com/bulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=3780&stc=1http://www.pyrotalk.com/bulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=3781&stc=1
Here are some pictures.

Love the handles! They look great

[tmwjr]

Thanks for the advice. I got a 20 and 30 finished up today. I have to put some handles on them another day. I went with rows of 10 with a divider in the middle.

[joed2323]

Do you guys have no issues fusing the 62mm?

I had no issues when dominator had the side ports that had that black powder, very easy to run fuse into the side of the older 62mm shells.

The newer version has the plug on the bottom and I have not tried jamming fuse through the bottom for ignition?


I was told it would not work so I never tried. I can't imagine it not taking fire from fuse when an igniter on the bottom of the 62mm is pretty much the same principal.

I would love to fuse up 62mm so I do not need to fire a case individually


What speed of fuse are you guys using for a slight delay between shots, "perfect fuse"

[tmwjr]

Here's a video of someone building a rack for this and another of him testing the rack. Seems to work fine.

https://youtu.be/3v0GfYaDJjw

https://youtu.be/dKsvv3LfJig

[joed2323]

Here's a video of someone building a rack for this and another of him testing the rack. Seems to work fine.

https://youtu.be/3v0GfYaDJjw

https://youtu.be/dKsvv3LfJig

Yes I've seen these videos, but the video is of 62mm with the side ports that have the exposed black powder on the side when you remove the plug

[tmwjr]

I'm pretty sure he is just sticking a few pieces of grey visco into the bottom port and running another piece across the bottom. I'm almost positive those are the bottom ports. The one video shows sticking the visco into the bottom port.

[Kenny East]

Haven't had the bottom port ones yet, though I'm about 99% sure you could still fuse them in the bottom port. Can't think of a reason why it wouldn't work.

[displayfireworks1]

You guys are looking good on the racks. Always great when people post pictures of their projects

[TNtwister]

The main thing to consider is that the 62mm WILL BLOW OUT THE BOTTOM WHEN THEY MALFUNCTION. I've seen them mishandled so many times and they lose the lift charge.

I built a ton of single row racks that are sized for 62MM, but also SHORT like 10 inches. That way I can also use them for cake tubes and use various size planks and scrap to shim the rack width inside. Love shooting the 9, 10 and 12 shot cakes this way.

[joed2323]

The main thing to consider is that the 62mm WILL BLOW OUT THE BOTTOM WHEN THEY MALFUNCTION. I've seen them mishandled so many times and they lose the lift charge.

I've actually had this happen to me with them blowing out on the side near the bottom.

So you are saying this is due to mishandling that causes the blowout or from fusing them, or just (it happens kinda thing)

[PYRODAN]

Thanks all. My sizing was based on the number of singles in a case. That rack holds one case. I have the ones with the port in the bottom and have had no issues with them going off. I am firing electrically though and have no experience trying to fuse them up.http://www.pyrotalk.com/bulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=3796&stc=1

[PYRODAN]

Thanks for the advice. I got a 20 and 30 finished up today. I have to put some handles on them another day. I went with rows of 10 with a divider in the middle.

Nice job. Handles make moving much easier.

[sethof]

Do you put the cap back after inserting the match?

[PYRODAN]

The ones with the port on the bottom yes. There is a slice in the port extension for the wire. You can put the rubber cap over the port and it keeps the ignition device of your choice in place. I have some spent tubes. I will check if they still have the caps on them and post some pictures. The ones with the ports on the side I just cover with tape.

[davids31]

My first rack were 6 x 5 30 shot racks and they were ridiculously heavy. Needless to say, I built 2 x 10 20 shot racks with no spacers and burned the old ones.

[PYRODAN]

Sorry it took a while, but here are some pictures.http://www.pyrotalk.com/bulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=4008&stc=1

[PYRODAN]

http://www.pyrotalk.com/bulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=4010&stc=1
OK, 2 more

[displayfireworks1]

That picture in post #25 looks like a pulley for a Whipple Supercharger. LOL

[sethof]

http://www.pyrotalk.com/bulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=4010&stc=1
OK, 2 more

Thanks for the images

[PYRODAN]

Always glad to help where I can!

[PyroJoeNEPA]

If I recall correctly--over in the Cobra Users group--someone mentioned that those plastic caps on the bottom of the one shots can double as a cover for the antenna jack on the cobra modules.

[joed2323]

Seems like there is a few guys who choose to fuse these instead of showcase them.

Would "perfect fuse" speed be too fast to showcase them. So the breaks wouldnt be stepping on each other? I'd rather not do a test with a few and waste if someone already knows what speed fuse works best.

I know what fuse to use to get them up in the air as fast as possible but I'm looking for a duration that gives each shell atleast 2-3 seconds in the air by themselves