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retired1 wrote:

TheSquaad wrote:I’d just build it on a testing wall. I made a version where the hook is about 14.8 cm above the bottom of a standing wall, so I can literally just build on top of a table and against the wall.

If you mean that the boom would touch the table--If I were the ES, I would disqualify your boom.

I assume you are talking about using the table only as a temporary support to maintain a 90 degree angle of the compression beams to the wall. Of course this would only work assuming the vertical wall is at a 90 degree angle to the table. (Notice I did not say perfectly vertical, as if the table were not level, the wall should not perfectly vertical, but 90 degrees to the table.)

What are some ideas to make my boom stronger near the base or at the base? My booms have always ripped where the base is and everything else is intact.

DarthBuilder wrote:What are some ideas to make my boom stronger near the base or at the base? My booms have always ripped where the base is and everything else is intact.

Do you currently have your tension members parallel to the compression members? From what I am planning to do, I'd make the base width small but still keeping enough space for the hook to rest on a horizontal member, almost so it looks like a "V" at the end. Also, what kind of glue are you using for the base?

Does anyone know of a way to test the tensile strength of a piece of wood (without using any high-end machinery)? From what I have been doing so far, I have been putting force on a scale and trying to imitate that force on the tension sticks, though I believe that it is nowhere near accurate.

Carrot wrote:

DarthBuilder wrote:What are some ideas to make my boom stronger near the base or at the base? My booms have always ripped where the base is and everything else is intact.

Do you currently have your tension members parallel to the compression members? From what I am planning to do, I'd make the base width small but still keeping enough space for the hook to rest on a horizontal member, almost so it looks like a "V" at the end. Also, what kind of glue are you using for the base?

Yeah everything seems to be in place. I use Bob Smith CA glue (purple bottle)

DarthBuilder wrote:

Carrot wrote:

DarthBuilder wrote:What are some ideas to make my boom stronger near the base or at the base? My booms have always ripped where the base is and everything else is intact.

Do you currently have your tension members parallel to the compression members? From what I am planning to do, I'd make the base width small but still keeping enough space for the hook to rest on a horizontal member, almost so it looks like a "V" at the end. Also, what kind of glue are you using for the base?

Yeah everything seems to be in place. I use Bob Smith CA glue (purple bottle)

I would recommend using a stronger glue just for the base, like a wood gorilla glue for example.

How far is where the base would be from the testing wall? My coach hasn’t set up the testing wall and hook so it still looks like a tower or bridge tester and we don’t have practice until saturday. I’m trying to figure out the dimensions of the base and tension members.

sorry for double posting but how tall does the testing wall have to be to be legal?

Per rule 5. a. i. It must be a minimum of 40 cm wide and 30 cm tall.
Per 5.a.iii The hook should be approximately 5.0 cm below the top.

Do not make things more difficult than necessary. Read the rules at least a couple of times.
I highlighted the critical items on my copy of the rules to reduce search time.

Any idea on how thick the base should be? I'm currently accounting for a 1 cm base.