Rail Button Question

[modrocket]

It's been awhile since I ordered any rail buttons and I really don't have much experience with them, save one rocket that I built years ago. However, I really like using a rail and I would like to know what you all are recommending these days. They would be for my PML Quasar that I'm building. I definitely want something that would be compatible with the rail that is used at Winnsboro.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Jared]

You can order your buttons from railbuttons.com. You want to get the buttons compatible with a 1010 rail. The ones at railbuttons.com that you want are the series 1000. Nylon is cheaper and usually just fine for most rockets but heavier ones may require a harder plastic which is when you want the Delrin buttons. Delrin is more expensive though. The buttons I got from them are a 3 piece button with a screw to attach it to the airframe. I have ordered buttons from somewhere before that were one piece but I don't remember where (possibly LOC Precision...?).

Maybe Whitney will chime in with his infinite wisdom in this area.... YO WHITNEY!!!

[Swampworks]

I bought a handful from railbuttons.com a year or so ago and they were all one piece. I think at that time, they were out of nylon buttons. Now I see they appear to be out of delrin.

[bayourat]

http://railbuttons.com I bought a couple of dozen rail buttons from them. They are the least expensive. I use the delrin buttons $.075 and Phil. Pan. Head, 8/32 x 1/2 black oxide screws from http://mcmaster.com box of 100 (life time supply) . They have been sold out of the Delrin buttons for a long time now. Rumor has it that Barry from LOC has bought all of them and is selling them for $2.65 a pair . I am sure the nylon ones would work just fine but from what I've heard you may need to replace them more often then the Delrin buttons. I've only ever had to replace one that was tore off. I've never had one wear out. As always YMMV.

The nylon ones are only $.025. You can't beat that deal.

[Jared]

http://railbuttons.com I bought a couple of dozen rail buttons from them. They are the least expensive. I use the delrin buttons $.075 and Phil. Pan. Head, 8/32 x 1/2 black oxide screws from http://mcmaster.com box of 100 (life time supply) . They have been sold out of the Delrin buttons for a long time now. Rumor has it that Barry from LOC has bought all of them and is selling them for $2.65 a pair . I am sure the nylon ones would work just fine but from what I've heard you may need to replace them more often then the Delrin buttons. I've only ever had to replace one that was tore off. I've never had one wear out. As always YMMV.

The nylon ones are only $.025. You can't beat that deal.

Thar he is!!!

[bayourat]

Did you get the buttons?

[modrocket]

Thanks for all the suggestions. The railbuttons.com website seems to always be out of the delrin buttons; however, I noticed that several other companies have them, Giant Leap included. I was even thinking about their ACME rail guides. These looked kind of cool.

[Jared]

Thanks for all the suggestions. The railbuttons.com website seems to always be out of the delrin buttons; however, I noticed that several other companies have them, Giant Leap included. I was even thinking about their ACME rail guides. These looked kind of cool.

A note on rail guides: They have to be very straight or they will bind in the rail. They also wear the rail much more than the buttons. Also, they have to be epoxied to the airframe which means if they get damaged, replacement may be more involved. I have never used the rail guides so just take that as my opinion. Buttons are more forgiving (and easier to replace, cheaper) and rail guides are more aerodynamic (and look better). It's solely up to you which one to use. In the end, both serve one purpose.