[NRV Rocketry] Rocketry hardware source

[Charles Albright]

Hello,

At the risk of reinventing the wheel, and/or telling all of you something 
you already know, I wanted to mention that I finally got around to visiting 
the Fastenal store in Christiansburg. It turns out to be a great place to 
buy some of the hard-to-find hardware needed to build and launch high-power 
rockets, items not carried at Lowe's or Home Depot. The sales guy there, Rob 
Abbott, is very friendly and easy to talk to.

I went there because I needed some small flat-head 4-40 machine screws that 
I could find nowhere else. While there I saw sizes and types of eye-bolts 
(both open and closed) also not available elsewhere. They also sell the 
T-slot bars we use to build rail launchers.

Based on what I saw in the store, and what is on their website 
(fastenal.com), they would be able to supply all the materials needed to 
build a tower launcher should that ever become desireable. Incidentally, you 
might enjoy some beautiful pictures of the Qu8k (pronounced "quake') project 
showing the rocket, the launch, and quite a few shots showing details of the 
tower they designed for the rocket. Be patient - these are high-definition 
photographs that take time to load. The site is:

http://ddeville.com/derek/Qu8k.html

The Fastenal store is located at 5 Midway Plaza Drive. Driving north on 
Business 460 (N.Franklin St.), they are on the left side just after you pass 
Corning Glass, adjacent to (actually across Midway Plaza Dr from) the BP 
station. Phone number is: (540) 382-3208.

Charley