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Distorted Rocket Tubes from pressing - Usable?


ClayDog

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I am playing with my 1# rocket tooling from Wolter. Super cool tools, they do really nice work! I did figure out pretty quick that no matter what tube I use, I will need the external tube support from Wolter as well (ordered today).

 

A couple rockets came off the arbor press a bit distorted from the internal pressure. Anyone think they are useable? Will prob light one tonight with no header, see what happens. They kinda ugly, I hope they fly.

 

CD

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Not likely! Once distorted, there's almost always a void between powder and tube wall... which usually means a CATO, although not always right at launch.

 

But, it does depend upon how MUCH they've been distorted. Only testing will tell.

 

Lloyd

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Depends what kind of rocket you are making and what tubes you have.

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If you are hand ramming them you need to lighten up on the hammer blows. I pound my nozzle mix pretty hard to make it expand into the tube wall a bit then lighten up a bit on my fuel. I habitually use 8 medium whacks with my 3 lb mallet for the fuel and 10 for the clay. I haven't deformed a hand rammed tube in a while even in my thinner walled ones. If you are using a press? You are going to ruin every tube without a support. DAMHIK

 

Edit: Reread your original post and see that you aren't ramming. You definitely need a support but in the interim try ramming some. 3/4" rockets hand ram very well.

Edited by OldMarine
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If its crimped,wrinkled, banana shaped or came out of the press shorter than it went in.. its best to assume it`ll cato even if it doesnt ;) Supports help constrain the od but dont do much to prevent the tube wall being crushed internally.

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As Lloyd & Col predicted....fail.

And yeah OM, I have hammer rammed a few. Enough to know I needed a press! They do work well that way though.

Thx all. Waiting on support sleeve now.

CD

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