I bought everythin' needed t' build this pad from Payless Cashways for $14.67. Arrr! Blimey! If you can scrounge a piece o' chain link endpost and some 1/2" electrical conduit, you can built it for less than $8. One o' t' real advantages o' this pad is that t' launch rods and legs store inside t' main tube for shipment. Arrr! Blimey! This makes it very portable, matey, as well as protects your launch rods durin' shipment.

Ingredients:

2-3/8" x 5'6" chain link endpost....$5.64
Two 2-3/8" chain link endcaps........$3.68
1/2" x 10' electrical conduit cut into 4 pieces.....$1.54
Four 1/2" EMT connectors........$.46
1/8" x 4' weldin' rod.....$1.12
3/16" x 4' weldin' rod.....$1.23
Two 10/24" wingnuts and bolts.....$.50

Total for this project: $14.67

Tools needed: Hacksaw, hand drill, me bucko, screwdriver, me hearties, and dremel.(or metal file). 

Construction:

T' key t' buildin' this project be t' EMT 1

2" conduit connectors. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! These have a screw already mounted in them. They hold t' ends o' t' conduit. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! At 19 cents a piece, they are a bargain. Blimey! In t' picture above, ya bilge rat, me hearties, you can see all t' places you will need t' drill holes. Arrr! This next picture shows where they will be put.:

T' small hole in t' endcap will take t' wingnut. T' end view shows where t' two EMT connectors will go. Blimey! I just took me largest drill and drilled them out. I then took a dremel and hogged out t' holes till t' EMT connectors fit. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! T' connectors have a threaded end, ya bilge rat, and a nut which holds it in t' hole. Even though we're talkin' about a curved surface and a flat pipe, it holds really well. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Note t' L slot which is cut in both ends o' t' chain-link end post. You need t' cut this slot in both ends if t' pipe. Both slots need t' run in t' same direction. Arrr! Avast! These slots will allow t' end caps t' hold onto t' pipe. Arrr! T' wingnut fits in t' slot, and t' shape o' t' slot allows t' pipe t' be turned anywhere up t' 30 degrees from vertical. Blimey! Ahoy! You just slide t' endcap on, linin' up t' win' nut bolt into t' slot, and turn t' pipe until it is at t' desired angle, matey, then tighten t' wingnut. Avast! T' cut t' slots, I drilled a hole at t' bend, and a hole at t' end o' t' channel. Arrr! Begad! I then cut it out with a hacksaw.

I cut me chain link endpost section t' 3'6". his was before I knew that weldin' rod comes in 4' lengths. Avast, me proud beauty! Because t' rods and legs store inside t' tube, matey, arrr, I had t' cut 6" off each rod. If you use Estes, ya bilge rat, rods, arrr, which break down into two section, your pad can be a sort as t' legs. Avast, me proud beauty! My legs are 2-1/2' long. Arrr! This is a 10' piece o' conduit cut into four equal lengths. Begad! Since t' conduit costs $1.54 per 10' piece, I figured this would be a good length.

I drilled t' holes for t' rods all t' way through t' pipe. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I then found some small clamps in me junk box (not shown) t' hold t' rods above and below t' pipe. Well, blow me down! And thar it is. Ahoy! T' whole thin' assembles in about a minute, and all parts store inside t' main pipe. Begad! It is heavy, but it will hold HPR birds with no problem. And it is cheap.

I would love t' hear from visitors o' any useful modifications or other cool cheap pad designs o' their own. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I will use this section o' me site t' present these designs t' rocketeers everywhere.