How to make a model rocket engine
Introduction: What this guide will teach you is how to make a model rocket engine with the fuel I showed you how to make in my previous guide. These model rocket engines have amazing power for their size and are very cheap to make.
How to make rocket fuel guide can be found here: http://www.sythe.org/showthread.php?t=408353
Hazards:
Spontaneous combustion-
Burns
Fire Hazard
Mild toxic gasses
Safety equipment:
- Fire extinguisher
- Safety Goggles
- Fire Proof Gloves
Tools, Equipment and other “Stuff†:
- Mallet (plastic)
- Wooden Dowel 15mm Diameter 20 cm long
- 16mm diameter(inside) PVC pipe- 15cm long
- 3mm drill bit
- Cordless multi speed drill 12V
- 100 grams of kitty litter ( or clay powder)
- 200 grams of rocket fuel ( freshly made)
- 30cm ruler
The actual process for making these is very simple and can be perfected with practice.
- Put on the gloves and goggles
- Place the PVC pipe upright on a flat concrete surface.
- Pour some of the clay into the PVC pipe until it is 2cm thick inside the pipe.
- Place the dowel into the pipe and hold it firmly to the ground, hit it with the hammer to compress the clay. Do this until the clay at the bottom is rock hard.
- Make a mark on the outside of the pipe of where the clay comes up to.
- Then make a mark 2-3cm above that.
- Put the rocket fuel mixture “Jubbo†into the tube until it hits the mark you made. Use the hammer and the dowel again to compact it well add more until it reaches the mark.
- Do this every 3 centimeters until the mixture is 3 cm from the top of the tube.
- This is where it gets complicated. You need to make a plug with the clay and a strong one I might add. To do this it’s the same as the bottom, just fill it to the top with clay. Get the hammer and dowel and hit it as hard as you can. Do this until it is plugged right through to very top rim.
- Let it set for 2-3 hours in a cool and dry place, (don’t put it in the microwave)
- Place it on a flat surface once again and get the drill with the 3mm drill bit.
- in the middle of the top plug, begin to drill a hole in the exact centre of the plug. Drill until you have reached the plug at the bottom. DO NOT GO THROUGH THE BOTTOM! It is essential that you drill straight for this. It is important that you only drill a few centimeters at a time and remove the drill bit to let it cool. If it gets too hot it can ignite the rocket fuel.
- The final step is to cover the open end with aluminum foil to stop moisture from getting in.
- Cut out a 3 centimeter square piece of aluminum foil and place it over the pipe, fold the edges around and keep it in place with some tape.
Diagram:
Conclusion: Thanks for reading the guide I will hopefully be able to get a video of how to make this in the coming weeks, also keep an eye out for my guide on how to use the rocket motors and build them into 2 types of simple rockets. A reminder that safety is very important with this as it is high danger.
