Water Rocket Forum

Has anyone found a supplier in the UK that stocks T8 FTC tubing or something similiar im trying to make a mark 3 stager from aircommand website any help with this would be greatfully recieved

Dan B

I had same broblem with that but in our solar panel lamp foot where was aluminium pipe and I use it try find yours some where

danb wrote:Has anyone found a supplier in the UK that stocks T8 FTC tubing or something similiar im trying to make a mark 3 stager from aircommand website any help with this would be greatfully recieved

Dan B

Hi Dan,

The T8 FTC is not a critical component of the stager. It was just a convenient size because it fits over the cap and holds the springs aligned. You might be able to roll your own from a straight section of a PET bottle. Just cut a longer length in circumference from the bottle then roll a tighter tube using bottle caps at either end as a guide and where it overlaps just glue it together. Since it does not seal any pressurised components, pretty much any PU glue you can get in the UK should be able to do the job. The main thing to remember is to make sure that the ends of the resulting tube are cut square so the Gardena coupling sits properly on it.

Alternatively you may be able to find similar sized PVC tubing, though its likely to be heavier.

- George

thanks George for the help much appreciated i wll try it

Dan B

Just in case anyone is still looking for FTC in the UK, there is a company called covershield, their website is covershield.co.uk. I have bought from them a year or so ago and they dont have a minimum quantity, also very helpful on the phone. The FTCs are quite thick walled so hold plenty of pressure - I have T8s and T12s, can measure the wall thickness if anyone is interested.

Hello,
How thick is that ftc and how much pressure can it hold. How much pressure would 0.020" ftc hold do you think

Regards,
Mathew

Hi, just put the micrometer on it - wall thickness of both T8 and T12 is 0.8mm which is about 0.03". I think it will stand a lot of pressure, certainly no proble at 200psi which is the max ive had it to before the bulkhead blew out (and probably went higher than any rocket I've launched!

I have had one piece of T12 in use for over 2 years now, just keep gluing different ends on, the FTC never seems to suffer.

160psi wrote:Hi, just put the micrometer on it - wall thickness of both T8 and T12 is 0.8mm which is about 0.03". I think it will stand a lot of pressure, certainly no proble at 200psi which is the max ive had it to before the bulkhead blew out (and probably went higher than any rocket I've launched!

I have had one piece of T12 in use for over 2 years now, just keep gluing different ends on, the FTC never seems to suffer.

That must be some high quality plastic yours use. We get ours at Home Depot and they ones they sell usually fail at 190PSI. Where do you get yours?