Soda Bottle Water Rocket

In a couple of hours (or less) you could make this water rocket! Water rockets use water and pressurized air to launch a soda bottle(s) 100's of feet into the air. This instructable will NOT cover the launcher. I hope to later come back and write up an instructable for a launcher. There are many websites with water rocket plans (and launchers) part of the fun is to experiment and come up with your own designs. Feel free to modify, improve, experiment with this instructable and post your results in the comments. The original inspiration for this rocket was from the magazine called "MAKE Magazine" (makezine.com). Issue #5 has full instructions also.

Step 1 Materials

List O Materials...

> 2 Soda Bottles (empty)
- Note: There are slight differences in the openings of the bottle depending on the soda brand. Pepsi is just a tad smaller than Coke. -
This Instructable is set up for 2 liter sized bottles - feel free to adjust for any size though.

> 1 sharp knife (kids get your parents help here!) I prefer X-acto brand for cutting foam core.

> 1 Large sheet of Foam Core (I prefer Black, but any color will do). Foam Core can be found at almost any arts and crafts supply store. To learn more about foam core try wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foamcore

> 5 Min Epoxy (This stuff is nasty! Do not inhale, and use in a well ventilated area. Do NOT get it on your skin or eyes, or hair, etc... read all safety warnings before using.) Feel free to experiment with other glues. This can usually be found at any hardware store - kids, ask your parents for help with this glue.

> 2 (or more) Markers - I used Sharpies, one black and one Silver

> Clear Shipping Tape - It's thicker than regular scotch tape and about 2" wide.

> 2 (or more) cans of spray paint - Pick your own favorite colors!

Comments

[cyberviper42]

I would recommend not using a dark color for your rocket. Black is probably the worst because it will absorb the sun's heat and potentially warp the rocket enough to make it fail according to murphy's law.

[cyenobite]

with respect cyber, I'm not sure what you're talking about :) I chose black because it made it easy to spot while up in the air (also when it landed in the field). The amount of "heat" from the sun won't warp anything on this rocket. It didn't get that hot (and we launched this on one of the hottest days in August!) - but of course, feel free to paint your rocket in whatever color combination you like! :)

[cyberviper42]

I'm just re-iterating warnings that I've seen and heard. While black is a good color for watching fly, I'd rather play it safe, but that's just me. When I do pyro model rockets, We never paint our rockets dark colors because it makes them incredibly hard to find on the ground.

If your rockets are only going to 100' or so, there's no real need to have good recovery colors, but if you go higher, you'll probably want to consider an orange or white paint scheme.

I've had some blue/green/red pyro rockets go over 3000' and never see them again, It really just depends on what you are doing when you want to consider your painting.

[licialorraine]

how would you adda a parachute to this?

[cyenobite]

You could add a parachute... I chose not to. Where I taped the upper bottle to the lower bottle, you could just not tape it, then using strings and a sheet of plastic (perhaps and old plastic bag) attach the parachute inside the upper portion. It can be done, but I'd rather just take it to an open field and let it rip :)

[rocket21]

HOW MANY LITERS OF BOTTLE DID YOU USE

[cyenobite]

This instructable is set up for using 2 - 2Liter Soda bottles. You can also try smaller (or larger) sized bottles, you would just have to adjust the fin sizes to match your bottles.

[BluePhenox]

would hot glue work for the fins? Because I don't want to have my fins breaking off.

[J19]

you should use epoxy it on gets a couple of degrees hotter but not as hot as a hot glue gun and it holds better because it gets hard not rubbery like some hot glues

[danieljw]

i yoused hot glue to glue pens to gether and the pens melted so be careful.

[dmcclellan]

hot glue could weaken the plastic. Use very low temp glue and be careful not to melt holes into the bottle.

[tigon134]

YES........... :D

[thats mr sonic to you]

yes it would when i made my rocket it worked

[cyenobite]

You can try it - but in my opinion Epoxy is a much stronger bond than hot glue. Also, if you're using the "foam core" the hot glue might melt the foam. I thought of using it too - it's defintely easier than Epoxy - but I went with the Epoxy because like you, I didn't want the fins breaking off. My rocket survived a crash into a tree, and several nose dive landings.
Good luck. If you do go with the hot glue instead, post back here as to how it worked for you.

[ilpug]

hot glue wont damage foam core too much. i use it on it all the time. i plan to make this rocket that way.

[bexx76]

Love the design. I changed it up a bit due to lack of some of the items. For the fins I used manila folders. I glued together 2 folders to make them thicker. Didn't have epoxy so hot glue had to be used. It didn't ruin the bottle at all since I had a low temp hot glue gun. When launching, I put 8 cm. of water and used 70 psi. It flew high, fast and was airborne for 6.2 seconds.

The manila folders worked well for the fins but hot glue, not so good. The fins blew off in mid-air! So, I will definitely use epoxy next time around for a firmer hold.

Thanks for the instructions for this design! Got 2nd place in my science class.

[cyenobite]

Grats bexx76 on winning second place! I'm glad to hear you changed things up a bit and that the entire thing was a learning process for you!
Best,
C

[lseetoh]

Do you have any instructions of making the launcher for this rocket model ?
Is it alright if I use 1.25litre bottle ?
Where do I insert my air pressure? how much pressure do i need?
How much water do I need to add in?
Please reply asap thanks!

[crazyhman]

Can you use duct tape for the fins?

[yanksguy]

Try hot glue.

[crazyhman]

EVERYONE STEP BACK AND GAZE AT THIS ALMIGHTY COMMENT!!!!



can you add spin somehow?



AMAZING!!!!

[yanksguy]

Tilt the fins slightly in the same direction. About 5 degrees on the vertical will do.

[crusty knight]

Go to a sporting goods store and purchase an arrow. Shape the rocket fins like the fletching (feathers) and your rocket will spin like a rifled bullet.

[crazyhman]

thanks, but I already made one, I used a really thick cardboard (still light) and angled them slightly,

Thanks anyway!

[neeley]

how do you mace a launch pad

[yanksguy]

Swing really hard.

[ejojo]

Hey I've a bottle rocket design competition coming up.
Can I use this idea? I'm a novice in design stuff. I've to hit the target at 15 to 20m away.Will it work?
Reply soon plz!
Thank you!

[cyenobite]

Hi Ejojo, I'm not sure I understand your competition of "hitting a target 15-20m away". This design might work for that, but it may take a lot of practice launches - the rocket I don't think is accurate enough to be able to hit a target, there are so many factors involved (wind, pressure, amount of water, etc...) - but feel free to modify this design as you want. Good Luck!

[ejojo]

Oh okay thanks for replying!
I think I'm going to make this rocket and try....
And oh I'm honestly just trying myself for this competition.Designing has never been my brain's love.That's why I'm afraid =(

[deqwer]

how much pressure can this bottle handle?100psi?

[cyenobite]

I already answered that below - use your browser's "find" command and search for the word "pressure" or just scroll down until you see it.

[teenuvibhav]

Can i display it for school science project

[cyenobite]

I hope by "it" you mean a water rocket that you built yourself! :)
And don't just post my instructable as your project.

[skuxx deluxx]

MAX WAS HERE

[skuxx deluxx]

making at school is there any way to make better?

[skuxx deluxx]

Sweet paint job!!!

[jrodriguez4]

Is the fin in the single fin file actual size?

[cyenobite]

If you're talking about the PDF file, yes, it is actual size. Though you can modify it however you see fit. Good Luck!

[left4dead+left4dead2]

yo

[adog8987]

how long does it last