WindowLicka Posted June 18, 2016 Posted June 18, 2016 Is there rocket tooling for these mini tubes? Like a spindle, rammers and the rest? I was thinking them being so small I'd just pack'em with rocket fuel and they'd fly fine. They didn't! But,mind you I didn't pack the powder in like I would for a bigger rocket with the intention of forming a rock solid fuel bar. Is this the error of my ways? Or is there a really tiny spindle I need to pay for or make my own? I also got some cases for Saturn missles that are begging to be cut down and used as plastic headings for these tiny bottle rocket tubes. Anyone have any experience putting one of them Saturn missles together?
pyrokid Posted June 18, 2016 Posted June 18, 2016 There is a guy on the west coast that makes 1/4" rocket tools, but they probably run >$125.00/set these days. The performance is extraordinary though. With those tubes, you can get away with hand drilling your nozzle and core. Anything more complex will require some tooling, which can be homemade if you are creative. I bet if your fuel is hot enough you could press only fuel and fly them. With regards to the viability of small whistle engines, I know that up until at least 3/8" in diameter, you can simply press a cylindrical grain of fuel composition in the tube and get them to fly. There were a number of Chinese items on the market until at least 2010 that were constructed in this manner.
chuckufarley Posted June 18, 2016 Posted June 18, 2016 If your interested in small rocket tooling check out calebs store. http://www.woodysrocks.com/store/p6/Bottle_Rocket_Kit.html He's got a bunch of different small size tooling for great prices, and If you needed something custom I'm sure he'd help you out.
Mike Posted June 18, 2016 Posted June 18, 2016 Zmuro here on apc does bottle rocket tools cheap and high quality.
WindowLicka Posted June 18, 2016 Author Posted June 18, 2016 So how does one go about heating up ones fuel? As this seems like the first thing I should try. I don't have any whistle and because I'm mainly going to be hand pressing all the rockets I make,I don't plan on making any. So to my BP,how can I get it "hot" enough to fly these little tubes?
Mike Posted June 18, 2016 Posted June 18, 2016 Use a ball mill and the search function or hand mixed fuel with a nozzle.
ddewees Posted June 18, 2016 Posted June 18, 2016 Like Pyrokid said, it's easy enough to drill your core by hand. They're cheap, easy to make, and can be a lot of fun. Some even go surprising far! He's one made using Seymour's lavender "APCP" propellant. [Video]https://youtu.be/JusH-m3Oaqg 1
OldMarine Posted June 18, 2016 Posted June 18, 2016 That sound was wild. Where can I find that formula?
WindowLicka Posted June 18, 2016 Author Posted June 18, 2016 Nice rocket deewees! Mike - I do use a ball mill and give mini bottle rockets a run through the old ol' search engine. Better yet give mini bottle rocket tooling a go. Maybe then you'll understand why starting this topic was necessary to et a few things answered and also get to know the members here a little better. With every post I make and reply I take, bit by bit I learn a lot. Should I dampen the powder prior to packing it into let's say, a waxed tube? or just ram it as solid as I'm able then drill it by hand? Drill it by hand? I don't see that being very easy to get it done without it crumbling out of the tube. But what the hell do I know about it? I'm gonna give it a try.. Thanks
ddewees Posted June 18, 2016 Posted June 18, 2016 (edited) That sound was wild. Where can I find that formula?Lavender 70% AP15% Resinox (phenolic resin)9% SrN3% MgAl -1003% CuCO3 They need a long core and a small nozzle... press them dry as a fine powder. The tiny ones you can lightly tap, or use your body weight to compress. Edited June 18, 2016 by ddewees
Mike Posted June 19, 2016 Posted June 19, 2016 Pyro rockets are always pressed with dry powder, only the delay comp can be pressed with a slightly wetted powder if no clay bulkhead is used. Yes you could drill the core out, but a tooling will be much cheaper and faster to work with.
ddewees Posted June 19, 2016 Posted June 19, 2016 What I meant was no phlegmatizer is used, or any solvents during the mixing process. Oh, and by the way... TR never presses his rockets dry. What's that tell you?
dagabu Posted June 19, 2016 Posted June 19, 2016 I can make a three rammer set for you if you want. 1/4" I'D tubes by 2" long?
Vildez Posted August 19, 2016 Posted August 19, 2016 Hello I am bran new to the forum and I happened to stumble upon it while frantically searching google on how to make my own bottle rockets. I apologize if this is the wrong place to be posting this. My children got an opportunity the other day to launch some model rockets with their friends families and they came home very excited and begging me to get them everything they need to get into this hobby. The problem is we are a very low income family and I simply can't afford all the necessary equipment to get them started. So this got me thinking and I showed them videos on bottle rockets and I quote "DADDY CAN WE DO THIS PLEASE PLEASE" (they are very young 9, 7 and 4). So my question is what would be the cheapest way to get a set of tools, formula for propellant and how to make my own tubes / fuses or if this is even possible? I know I'm probably way off base here but I really would like to find a way for them to enjoy this and from what I have read so far everyone on the forums seems to be pretty helpful. That being said if anyone could give me some solid advice on how this may be achievable I would greatly appreciate it and I know my kids would too. Tim.
grimreefer24601 Posted August 23, 2016 Posted August 23, 2016 Wolter Pyro makes excellent tools. The also have a bottle rocket kit. I think it may be what you're looking for. http://www.wolterpyrotools.com/?page=cc_catg&cat=rocket
dagabu Posted August 23, 2016 Posted August 23, 2016 I can make a three rammer set for you if you want. 1/4" I'D tubes by 2" long? Caleb can make these, I am no longer making these.
CrossOut Posted September 13, 2016 Posted September 13, 2016 I know WSM was selling bottle rocket tools that used those tubes a few years back you can try pming him to see of he has any left.
Bensmith Posted September 13, 2016 Posted September 13, 2016 www.pyrodirect.com and (soon) www.cannonfuse.com both sell bottle rocket sets that fit 1/4" ID tubes. I know the guy that makes them.... ;-) Aluminum base, stainless spindle and two aluminum rammers. These rockets are insanely easy to build. My preference is to use a small arbor press. Even an el-cheapo one from Harbor Freight works fine.
chuckufarley Posted September 13, 2016 Posted September 13, 2016 Bensmith, Do those little rockets work well with the 1\4" spiral wound tubes that cannonfuse sells? 1
Bensmith Posted September 13, 2016 Posted September 13, 2016 Yes, they are designed to work with 1/4" ID spiral wound tubes. I believe Paul is putting together a kit with tubes, tools and other bits. I just shipped out a batch to Cannon Fuse. Pyro Direct also has them available. Both vendors are great to work with and do a tremendous job supporting the hobby.
dagabu Posted September 14, 2016 Posted September 14, 2016 Is this the one, Ben? http://www.pyrodirect.com/media/ecom/prodlg/101-0001.jpg
Bensmith Posted September 14, 2016 Posted September 14, 2016 Hey Dave, That is an older style I made on manual machines. Here's the new CNC version:
Recommended Posts