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A nice tutorial how to build a nearly perfect sugar rocket!


MinamotoKobayashi

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Hello dudes, I'm an almost skilled guys in the sugar rocket world, but I'm new to this forum.

I'm landing here because I wish to learn something more about BP and pyrotechnics in general.

I come from Italy, I do not speak english perfectly and I'm a newbye in most fields, so be nice and patient with me :P

First of all I want to offer You my 10 cents about my knowledge as a welcome card: my very personal tutorial

how to build a very powerful and nice-to-see sugar rocket.

This techinque is a result of many many months of trial, error, replace, retry :P

I hope You enjoy my effort!



Two different kinds of paper tubes. I chose the second one because longer, thicker, and parallel wound.


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Here is the nozzle-maker that I have created with the help of a lathe:


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The cardboard tube and the cap:


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Making a sort of threads in the ID of the tube (both sides). In that way the glue will cling much better between the carboard tube and the cap and allow also the quick cement to cling better along the ID walls:


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Inserting the cardboard tube in the nozzle-maker platform:


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40 grams of quick cement:


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Dissolved cement in few water and poured it inside the tube with the help of a funnel:


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Packing the quick cement with a perfect-fit PVC bar:


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After 5 minutes the quick cement is enough hardened to remove the nozzle-maker. On the left the cement after 5 minutes, on the right after 24 hours:


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This is how the hardened cement appears inside:


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65% potassium nitrate, 35% sugar plus 1% red iron oxyde. Every powder was fine powdered with the help of an electric coffee grinder and then

fluffed with the help of a ball mill. Since I will use a small amount of water to minimize the cooking time, this help to dissolve the powders very

quickly, especially when the temperature raise:


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Dissolving the components in distilled water:


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Cooking the mixture at about 150 °C on a thick cast iron pan over an electric plate.

This can prevent dangerous hot spots that can ignite the compound:


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The compound is melted and perfectly dried. Maximum care is needed at this point because the mixture is now extremely flammable.

It is also important that the mixture is not generating smoke with the classic smell of caramelized sugar. If this is happening, it means that the temperature is near 180 °C, that is the point where the sugar decomposes, and this is not so good, because the powder loses part of its performance and can also auto-ignite:


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Dripping the compound inside the cardboard tube and packing it:


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The packed and cold compound:


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Pressing ang gluing the cap with strong epossidic glue:


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Making the head flat with expanded foam:


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Making the head rounded with strong epossidic glue:


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Making an hole in the compound. This is a very delicate step. I have tried a lot of variables before to found the correct diameter and depth of the hole. For this specific project, the hole done in the compound (that must be obiouvsly the same of the rocket nozzle) has a 7mm diameter and it must reach about 1/3 of the compound depth. Other values such as smaller hole diameter or greater hole depth will trasform the rocket in a firecracker:


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The rocket dressed in great gala:


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Wrapping a straw with some turns of aluminum foils. Inside the straw will be inserted the fuse. The straw allow to ignite the compound from the deep and the aluminum avoid a straw perforation that could prematurely ignite the compound:


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The fuse was bent so it can be inserted firmly and will not slip out during its combustion:


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Nozzle glued, straw with fuse inserted. I used a 3mm, 4 cores high quality fuse. Barrell firmly glued over a Samba stick. A little piece of cotton will help to keep everything in place:


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Finally the rocket is finished and ready to be launched:


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Some different evening dresses:




Another creation of mine ... the rocket launcher base:






... and now, the launch:




For an heavy 250 grams sugar rocket the departure is very impressive: ZZIP instead WOOOSSSHHHH ... :D

I think I reached the max limit of the internal pressure. A little bit more pressure and the rocket will be turned in a loud firecracker!

Edited by MinamotoKobayashi
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And this was my second attempt to build a pyro fountain, and was a success !!


As support platform I used a nice orgonic device that I have built some years ago:


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The fountain build method is very similar to the one used for my rockets (Titanium apart).

The traditional 4 cores 3mm fuse was replaced with a nice crackling red fuse.

Also the great gala dress is very similar:


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It is a heavy fountain!


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And here is the video!

Sorry for the bad shooting: my american friend was totally drunk! (as You can hear LOOOL).




This is the nozzle look after the performance.

Not so bad, considering the high temperature/pressure generated!


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I'm very proud for the result of my second attempt!

Edited by MinamotoKobayashi
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That was a really nice Rocket I liked that you added some threads to your tube for your nozzle to grab hold to. I will be trying that in some of my BP Rockets. but very nice work indeed Thanks for the tutorial.
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  • 5 months later...

How did you make the cardboard engine tube? (or where did you buy?)

 

I will try to follow your craftsmanship and let you know how it goes (although I do not have a lathe).

 

Any ideas on thrust or altitude? How does this compare to store-bought?

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  • 2 months later...

Hi guys! I’m very new to rocketry, and I was just wondering about how dense the sugar rocket is? Thanks! (The one with the rust powder)

And how many newtons does it put out?

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  • 2 months later...

Man, that is some BEAUTIFUL craftsmanship. Really really fine, great looking finishes on all elements. Unfortunately, the videos don't appear to be available any more.

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  • 5 months later...
  • 3 weeks later...

nice tutorial. but can i use a PVC pipe instead of a cardboard tube?

 

For the rocket motor? I would not suggest it. In addition to a failed rocket becoming a lot of shrapnel, it also is more likely to look bad to anyone around who doesn't know what is going on and may or may not have law enforcement contacts. (Why look bad, even if legal, when you don't have to)

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The problem with PVC is that it becomes flexible with even low heat and is not suitable to contain pressure while heated above 150 F. Paper is cheaper, you just glue up your own tubes, they do not deteriorate under heat as quickly and do not allow for expansion until over pressured and just dump all the energy at once.

 

Paper also allows for near instant fragmentation energy dumping, meaning that even from a few feet away, the paper will often shed so much of its initial energy that penetration through the skin is rare.

 

I have been within 3 feet of a 3# whistle that CATO'd on the rack and I had all sorts of paper fragments on my shirt but no injury.

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  • 3 months later...
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