56 replies to this topic

[Jerronimo]

Hey Adam,

Yes, it took some time to figure out but now they go perfect each and every time .
Yesterday night I fired another three, they really worked great and had a nice round burst.
But I think I need a larger burstcharge so I get a bigger spread.

Sticks are no problem for me I saw them myself
I just use cheap pinewood.

Greetz,

Jerronimo

Edited by Jerronimo, 27 September 2003 - 09:38 AM.

[PanMaster]

are rockets supposed to go bang like firecrackers? all the ones i made that travelled any distance all went with a very loud bang followed by bright orange flames that flash outwards
rockets seem to be just bangers with a particular direction of explosion

[adamw]

Er, no

There seems to be some major flaw with them it seems. Too fast, not pressed right, cracks in the grain etc etc.

[Jerronimo]

Yeh I know been there, but when you get them right they are great fun.

I know , this hobby can be pretty frustrating but you just have to "hang in there" and eventually the hard work pays of.

Why don't you try the one that I listed above?

Or are you more interested in shells.

Edited by Jerronimo, 29 September 2003 - 02:39 PM.

[Rhodri]

Hi Jeronimo

A quick question for you.

How do you prepare your KN03/sucrose mix? Do you carefully 'melt' then pour into the PVC casings or do you simply mill the two as damp powders?

Any tips if you follow the 'melt' method?

Thanks

[PanMaster]

don't do it in the kitchen!

[Jerronimo]

Hi Jeronimo

A quick question for you.

How do you prepare your KN03/sucrose mix? Do you carefully 'melt' then pour into the PVC casings or do you simply mill the two as damp powders?

Any tips if you follow the 'melt' method?

Thanks

Hey Rhodri,

Yes I tried the molten kno3/sucrose mix but after melting the sugar it become's
even more hygroscopic.

There is an other method by the way, make an saturated kno3/sucrose solution in water, then gently heat (this is important)to evaporate the water.
After almost all the water is gone you will end up with a white dough like matter.
Now it is important to handle quickly because it wil solidify very fast.(this is I think one big disadvantage).

The great advantage of this method: the end product will be much less hygroscopic
in fact it will remain bonedry for a very long time. .

At the moment I use a plain powdered version of the kno3/sucrose formula, it works good but today I noticed some rockets I made yesterday did not perform very good they had the same weight of payload but just didn't go up. .

Back to the drawingboard I'm afraid.

[Rhodri]

Thanks for the reply. Interesting mixing procedures.

I must admit that I really like the smell of sugar based motors. It's surprising to see that quite a few of the commercial pyro. rockets leave that 'caramel' smell too.

Yeah, the hygroscopic nature of any carbohydrate poses a problem for pyro.

I did have a link for a really good rocket page - Robert Nakia I think.

I'm sure the link is already on this forum somewhere.

This guy makes some amazing rockets, with much scientific research, and explains all on his site.

VERY good reading if you haven't already seen it.

Anyone know the link off the top of their head?

[Jerronimo]

Here it is:richard nakka's homepage

There is also some interesting information regarding sorbitol fueled rockets.
I have yet to try this formula but the big advantage is that this fuel doesn't seem to be hygroscopic! and the "pot life" is much longer.

I think I'll give it a go, but first I have to find a source for sorbitol .

[Rhodri]

That's it! Well done.....it's SUCH a cool site.



Mmmm...sorbitol - not too sure where to get that one. I'll have a search.

Do you find 65/35 the best mix? Have you tried adding a few % of Al or Ti for added effect?

Maybe you've avoided this because the metals will erode the nozzle far more quickly?

Edited by Rhodri, 30 September 2003 - 11:29 AM.

[Jerronimo]

No I haven't tried mixing different kind's of metalpowder's because I don't have any yet .

When searching the forum I found this suplier:tiranti have you already ordered from them? and if, are these powders/fillings any good?they certainly are cheap

Also,some Fe2O3 will speed up the burning process in an sucrose/kno3 mixture.

By the way I found a sorbitol source her in holland,it's an onlinebeer brewing suplies shop.
they also sell other usefull stuf: dextrin and in some places sodiumbenzonat(great for flash and wistle).

Are you from England?then you could try and find one there(no problem I think England is much bigger).

I hope this help's you.

[Jerronimo]

oops

Edited by Jerronimo, 30 September 2003 - 01:20 PM.

[Pyromaster2003]

iv found that Tiranti's Al is very impressive.

[Jerronimo]

Thanks pyromaster, I think I will order some soon and make some nice white stars .

[phildunford]

[iv found that Tiranti's Al is very impressive.]

OK, so i'm dumb - what am I doing wrong with Tiranti aluminium...

With perc and sulphur I get a feeble sort of burn and with Pot Chlorate I can't even get it to catch... Havn't tried it as a spark producer but for stars or flash I'm getting nowhere - know it's not 'dark pyro' but would have thought I would have got something.