High-Power Tube Couplers From LOC Precision
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Tube couplers are hollow cylinders that are used to join two high-power tubes together so you can make longer rockets. In other words, you can take two shorter tubes, and make a really long one by slipping a tube coupler inside them where the ends meet.
The LOC-Precision tube couplers are heavy duty! They are thick-walled paper tubes that will can take the pounding of high power rocket motors.
Made from ordinary kraft paper, they are lighter in weight than couplers made from other exotic materials like Blue Tube or fiberglass.
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Order Your LOC Tube Couplers Right Here!
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Part Name
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P/N
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Qty/
pack
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Price
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Place Order
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I.D.
(inch)
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O.D.
(inch)
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Length
(inch)
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Wt. (g)
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Material
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Tube Coupler
38mm
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13156
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1
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$1.85
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TC-1.52
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1.398
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1.520
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4.0
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9.3
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Kraft Paper
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Tube Coupler
54mm
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13158
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1
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$2.05
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TC-2.14
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2.017
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2.138
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6.0
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29.1
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Kraft Paper
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Tube Coupler
2.56"
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13160
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1
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$2.85
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TC-2.56
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2.479
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2.555
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6.0
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23.5
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Kraft Paper
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Tube Coupler
75mm
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13162
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1
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$3.75
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TC-3.00
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2.88
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2.990
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6.0
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37.8
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Kraft Paper
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13164
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1
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TC-3.90
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Kraft Paper
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13166
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1
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$8.25
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TC-5.38
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5.272
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5.372
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11.0
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111.4
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Kraft Paper
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1
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$11.45
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TC-7.51
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7.398
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7.508
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15.0
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248.0
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Kraft Paper
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These couplers will fit the standard size high power tubes, such as those by LOC and the Blue Tubes. We know that it an be confusing to get the right size parts for your project, so if you need any help, please don't hesitate to give us a call. We'll be happy to help make your project a huge success. |
Need something a little smaller and lighter for low or mid-power rockets? Visit our body tubes and couplers pages.
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Easy To Glue, And Cheaper Than Other Couplers
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On thing you'll like about these couplers is that you can use ordinary wood glue when joining tubes together. That's right, because they are paper, wood glue or white glue works just fine. Think about how this will keep down the cost of your project and speed up the assembly time.
Is ordinary wood glue strong enough for high power rockets? That is a great question. But think of how the tubes are constructed in the first place. They are made from long strips of paper that are spiral wrapped to make a tube. Each layer of paper is simply glued down to the layer beneath it.
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If you use wood glue to join kraft-paper tubes, you aren't doing anything different than what was used to originally make the tube by the manufacturer. The joint will be just as strong as the tube itself.
But in case you're wondering, you can use epoxy on these tubes too. It does work. And if you're using these LOC couplers to join two Blue Tubes together, then we would recommend an epoxy adhesive.
Another use for tube couplers is to make electronics bays. These couplers, because they fit so well in the LOC size tubes are perfect if you want to build one from scratch.
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"Stiffy" Internal Liners For Couplers
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"Stiffy" internal liners are tubes are used to greatly increase the strength of the LOC hi-power tube coupers (shown above). They are used mostly on tubes where exceptionally high strength is needed, such as rockets that are intended for supersonic flights.
They are also used to make bulkhead stops insided of electronics bays on high power rockets.
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These couplers are triple thick compared to the coupler tubes they fit into. Additionally, they are specifically created using rough paper so that glue and epoxy will both grip them tight and form a indestructible bond.
Use the chart below to order the "Stiffy" liner tubes for your next project.
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"Stiffy Couplers"
Internal liners for the LOC couplers (above) to make them stiffer
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Part Name
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P/N
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Qty/
pack
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Price
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Place Order
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I.D.
(inch)
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O.D.
(inch)
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Length
(inch)
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Wt. (g)
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Material
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2.14" Stiffy
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13170
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1
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$4.45
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STC-2.14
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1.755
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2.000
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6.0
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41.7
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Kraft Paper
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2.56" Stiffy
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13171
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1
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$4.85
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STC-2.56
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2.245
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2.478
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6.0
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50.2
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Kraft Paper
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3.00" Stiffy
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13172
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1
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$5.25
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STC-3.00
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2.625
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2.878
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6.0
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60.8
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Kraft Paper
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13173
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1
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STC-3.90
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Kraft Paper
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13174
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1
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$9.95
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STC-5.38
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4.980
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5.240
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11.0
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220.7
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Kraft Paper
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1
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$15.50
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STC-7.51
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6.995
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7.375
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15.0
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676
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Kraft Paper
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Other items that people have found useful:
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High Power Nose Cones
These are high power nose cones that fit both the LOC kraft-paper tubes, as well as the Blue Tubes. The tubes are made out of Polyproplyene plastic, which makes them very durable so they'll take the abuse of any high power motor you care to put behind them.
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Large Diameter Paper Airframe Tubes
These tubes from LOC Precision are perfect if you are just getting started in high power rocketry and are on a budget. Made from paper, they are easy to cut, sand, glue, and paint. They will allow you to experiment with your own designs and construction techniques without putting you in debt.
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Blue Tubes - While they cost a bit more than the LOC paper tubes listed above, the Blue Tubes are more durable and can take rougher handling and hard landings. Used by the military in tank ammunition, this material is abrasive resistant and will not crack. They are great for high power rockets where durability is more important than cost.
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Blue Couplers - To go along with the Blue Tubes, here are the couplers that can join them together to make longer rockets. These will also fit the standard size LOC tubes, and those other high power manufacturers that make the tubes to standard sizes.
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Fiberglass Body Tubes - Quite a bit stronger than paper or the Blue Tube. And it is also the easiest to finish and paint because it has such a hard and smooth surface.
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Motor Mount Adapters - These adapters allow you to put a 29mm diameter motor into a rocket that has a 38mm motor mount tube. This is a great way to save money by putting a smaller motor in a big rocket.
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Rail Buttons
Rail Buttons are used in place of launch lugs on larger rockets. The reason is that big rockets need a stiffer launcher so they don't sway around in breezy conditions. A launch rail is much stiffer than a circular rod, and therefore are used on big rockets so they launch safely and higher into the sky.
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Aero Pack Engine Retainers
Want to hold in your rocket engines securely without using tape or other unsightly metods? Then they Aero Pack retention system may be what you're looking for. There is a retainer available for all the common high power tube sizes that we carry (LOC, Blue Tube, and Fiberglass), as well as for the mid and high-power rocket kits on this web site.
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Madcow Rocketry's Engine Retainers
These engine retainers hold reloadable rocket motors securely in the model so they can't be kicked out by a strong ejection charge. These are much less expensive than other engine retainers, and can be retrofitted onto rockets that are already constructed and ready to fly. They also work great on flat-bottom rockets where the engine tube is flush with the centering ring.
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High-Power Capable Parachutes
SkyAngle parachutes were designed and constructed specifically to handle the extra stress of high power rockets. Because of the extra weight of the bigger rockets, they have more than their share of parachute malfunctions. The SkyAngle parachutes are more durable, and bring your big rockets down slower.
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Sky Angle Parachute Deployment Bags
A deployment bag is a device to help ensure that parachute inflates properly and in the correct order. It forces the lines to completely stretch out first, and then the canopy is released so that it can properly inflate. It also minimizes the loads on the suspension lines to prevent tears, and it gives additional protection from the heat of the ejection charges. If you're doing high power rockets, you really need this extra insurance to make your project a success.
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Modern High Power Rocketry 2
The most extensive book ever written about "how to build LARGE high power rockets." Recommended for all modelers getting ready to take a jump to those bigger and more powerful rocket engines. It takes you step-by-step in the process of how to prepare for Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 high power certification.
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"I gotta have it! I did not receive the newsletters you sent in October. I just went to your site to get them. Either you accidentally removed me from your list or my server has decided to block you. I signed up again for the newsletters and would you please send me the address that you use for mailing me the newsletters and I will put it on their safe senders list. Thank you..." -- Larry Emmons Sr.
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Shipping and Handling Fees:
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To estimate the shipping charges, please see our shipping information page. This page also explains how items are shipped, as well as offering you additional shipping options.
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