I run a free summertime activity program for kids as part of my job in the city where I live. So I've got a lot of fun little projects up my sleeves, and I'm always on the lookout for more. One of the more popular summertime activities in my repertoire is homemade stomp rockets. Stomp rockets are great because they are both creative and physical.
There are many versions of paper stomp rockets and launchers out there. They all work essentially the same way: air is forced through a PVC contraption which launches a lightweight paper rocket up into the air. This particular launcher design is a combination of a handful of ideas I've seen, along with a few of my own additions.
I have a basic rocket design that I drew up that uses a single sheet of paper, which I've included in step 6 as a PDF.
Read on, and then go have some fun. (And hey, if you like this you should try out my Paper Stomp Jets!)
There are many versions of paper stomp rockets and launchers out there. They all work essentially the same way: air is forced through a PVC contraption which launches a lightweight paper rocket up into the air. This particular launcher design is a combination of a handful of ideas I've seen, along with a few of my own additions.
I have a basic rocket design that I drew up that uses a single sheet of paper, which I've included in step 6 as a PDF.
Read on, and then go have some fun. (And hey, if you like this you should try out my Paper Stomp Jets!)
Step 1: Materials
This launcher design produces no waste, and should cost around $10.
For one launcher, you will need:
For one launcher, you will need:
- One 10-foot length of 1/2-inch PVC
- One 1/2" 90-degree elbow (all fittings are of the slip variety)
- One 1/2" four-way fitting
- Two 1/2" end caps
- One 1" coupling
- One 1" by 1/2" bushing
- One 2-liter soda bottle cap
- Lots of 2-liter soda bottles
- PVC cement
- Hot glue
- White glue
- Cotton balls
- Tape
- Sheets of 8 1/2" by 11" paper
- Lots of copies of the attached PDF rocket template
Step 2: Cut the PVC
From your 10-foot length of PVC, cut the following pieces:
- One 40" piece
- One 18" piece
- One 5" piece
- Two 12" pieces
- Three 11" pieces
Step 3: Buld basic launcher assembly
The photos should provide enough detail on how to construct the basic launcher assembly. Use PVC cement to put it all together.
The 12-inch pieces are the side supports that make the base. The 18-inch piece is the riser from which the rockets will launch. I used my palm sander to quickly knock off the sharp edge of the launch-end of the 18-inch piece of PVC.
The 1" coupling and the 1" by 1/2" bushing go together to make the bottle end of the launcher.
The 12-inch pieces are the side supports that make the base. The 18-inch piece is the riser from which the rockets will launch. I used my palm sander to quickly knock off the sharp edge of the launch-end of the 18-inch piece of PVC.
The 1" coupling and the 1" by 1/2" bushing go together to make the bottle end of the launcher.
Step 4: Make the bottle-end of the launcher
2-liter bottles make great bladders for stomp rocket launchers because they're readily available and they're pretty durable. This set-up is especially nice because it allows you to quickly replace bottles when they've been completely worn out or cracked.
Begin by drilling a hole through a 2-liter bottle cap. This is easiest to do while the cap is screwed onto an old bottle.
I prefer to use hot glue to glue the bottle cap into the opening of the 1" coupling. Hot glue is quick, fills the gap between the bottle cap and coupling nicely, and it's only semi-permanent.
When the bottle cap itself begins to wear out and the threads are stripped, you can just grab it with a pair of pliers and yank it out to replace it with a new one.
Begin by drilling a hole through a 2-liter bottle cap. This is easiest to do while the cap is screwed onto an old bottle.
I prefer to use hot glue to glue the bottle cap into the opening of the 1" coupling. Hot glue is quick, fills the gap between the bottle cap and coupling nicely, and it's only semi-permanent.
When the bottle cap itself begins to wear out and the threads are stripped, you can just grab it with a pair of pliers and yank it out to replace it with a new one.
Step 5: Make rocket forming tubes
The three 11-inch pieces of PVC will be used to make three separate rocket forming tubes. These will help you make perfect rockets every time. It's nice to have a few on hand so more than one person can be working on a rocket at the same time.
You want the forming tubes to be slightly bigger than the tube that the rockets get launched from. This is accomplished by gluing a sheet of 8 1/2" by 11" paper around each forming tube. I used white glue and glued each sheet directly to the tube, and then to itself after rolling it on tight.
A piece of tape (I used electrical tape) was wrapped around one end of each paper-covered tube. This is to aid in the construction of the rocket, as detailed in the next step.
You want the forming tubes to be slightly bigger than the tube that the rockets get launched from. This is accomplished by gluing a sheet of 8 1/2" by 11" paper around each forming tube. I used white glue and glued each sheet directly to the tube, and then to itself after rolling it on tight.
A piece of tape (I used electrical tape) was wrapped around one end of each paper-covered tube. This is to aid in the construction of the rocket, as detailed in the next step.
Step 6: Make some rockets
Print out and make plenty of copies of the attached PDF rocket template.
There are basic building instructions on the rocket template. Decorate and cut out areas as directed.
Roll the rocket body section onto forming tube, with the bottom of rocket (where the fin placement lines are located) just above the tape at the end of the forming tube. This creates an open space at the top of the tube, where the cotton balls will go.
Tape the body tube together, but NOT to the forming tube. Fold the fins and tape them in place on the fin placement lines. Place two cotton balls into the open area at the top of the paper tube, and cover with a couple of pieces of tape. Remove rocket from forming tube.
There are basic building instructions on the rocket template. Decorate and cut out areas as directed.
Roll the rocket body section onto forming tube, with the bottom of rocket (where the fin placement lines are located) just above the tape at the end of the forming tube. This creates an open space at the top of the tube, where the cotton balls will go.
Tape the body tube together, but NOT to the forming tube. Fold the fins and tape them in place on the fin placement lines. Place two cotton balls into the open area at the top of the paper tube, and cover with a couple of pieces of tape. Remove rocket from forming tube.
stomp rocket template.pdf(612x792) 222 KBStep 7: Launch!
Before you launch your rockets, be sure to explain some safety rules to everyone involved so nobody gets shot in the eye.
After each launch, you will have to refill the bottle with air. I tell the kids to hold the top of the launch tube with their hand and blow through their hand to fill up the bottle. This way germ-passing is somewhat minimized.
I have made a total of six launchers, a couple of which were made with 45-degree-angled risers. These have been especially fun.
Be sure to post a comment and some photos if you make some stomp rockets of your own!
After each launch, you will have to refill the bottle with air. I tell the kids to hold the top of the launch tube with their hand and blow through their hand to fill up the bottle. This way germ-passing is somewhat minimized.
I have made a total of six launchers, a couple of which were made with 45-degree-angled risers. These have been especially fun.
Be sure to post a comment and some photos if you make some stomp rockets of your own!
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I used an inner tube to connect the bottle to the pipe.
The inner tube for a racing bike can fit perfectly around a 1/2" pipe.
I used a small piece of pipe duct tape made the connection even better.
see the picture. no bottle the last bottle i was using was destroyed after a ton of launches...
;)
2.... 3/4" X 1/2" PVC Bushings
1.... 3/4" PVC Coupling
1... 1/2" CPVC Transition Adapter w/ male threads
1... 1/2" CPVC Transition Adapter w/ female threads
(I think I could've just used a 1/2" PVC Coupling in place of the first two items, though. I'll try that on my second one and see how it goes.)
Looks like a good way to do this. Thank you for sharing this.
You could place an L on the end of the straight tube, but turning to the side rather than up. Connect that to a union (available for about $2.50 at Home Depot), then to another L, then the launch tube. The union will allow adjustment of the launch angle. It would also allow the launch tube to fold down for storage.
=====================|to Stomp Bottle |
=================| |
| |
|=====|
| union |
|=====|
| | ==================
| to launch tube
|=======================
The push-fit fittings are airtight, but can be twisted to adjust the angle (yay ballistics!) and the whole thing can be disassembled for storage.
Only thing I'm having trouble with is a good, reliable way of marrying up the whole thing to the bottle cap; there isn't much to grip on to, and nothing seems to stick all that well. Swathes of gaffer tape, with ends tucked in, seem to work reasonably well, but it's hardly elegant...
Fantastic post, Seamster! Thanks for the fun this weekend, and next...
This fellow is using a smaller diameter pipe and has instructions on his web site for using a melted bottle cap to provide a tighter fit to the pipe. I've used this method for a while and it seems to work well. Just be sure to do the cap melting and fitting outdoors just in case the plastic catches fire.
On trying to apply the suggested technique, I made the unexpected (and delightful) discovery that the 22mm PVC Overflow pipe we used for our launcher actually fits very snugly into the open neck of pretty much every 2L drinks bottle I've tried, so I can abandon all fiddling about with lids, candles, gaffer tape and suchlike nonsense. Just chamfer the end of the pipe and push it home. Result... :)
Another tip: Nerf darts stuff nicely down a 1/2" PVC tube, and they shoot as far as a paper rocket. You just have to stuff them all the way into the tube.
>> I had issues of the bottle cap disconnecting from the 1" coupling. So I went to eBay and got a high temp glue gun and surebonder "best stik" glue sticks. (cost all of about $20) Next I loaded up the inside edge of the 1" coupling with glue and then seated the cap in past the edge. It sat in within the coupling by about 1/4" of an inch. I then ran another bead of glue around that.
I used a 3/8" drill bit for the cap.
I attached a simple template I used for fins and nose cone.
Did you make these to play with your own kids, or for something else?
I "teach" an after school club at my daughter's school called "Geek Projects". I've got 5 sixth graders this session. Today we will build the stomp rockets! I'll post the results.
The high-temp glue worked like a champ. I gave one launcher a jump to show the kids how high I could get it to go and the cap did pop out.
I started to wonder if it would work better if drilled out the bottle cap almost completely or is there something about having a smaller diameter hold for the air to go through that gives it so much power. I'm still quite amazed.
>> TIP: Another tip I'll add is that we used 60lb weight paper for constructing our rockets. The nose cones take a beating on landing, especially since we were launching in a paved part of the playground for hard surface sports. I had on hand lots of tape and extra paper for repairs.
>> TIP: try to have at least 2 bottles per kid
>> TIP: make a couple spare "bottle-cap-coupler" parts to have on hand as that is the vulnerable component to this design
A HUGE thanks to Seamster and commentators who made this such a fun Instructable! I'll try and post a link to a video.
Alright, seriously, this is great. I love to see other people try out the things I put on here. It sounds like the kids got a real kick out of it. I've actually seen adults get pretty competitive with these things... I guess they just bring out the kid in us!
I'm glad it worked. This is a great project for scouts.