Visco Fuse Bottle Rockets

This instructable will show you how to make your own bottle rockets using Visco fuse as propellant. Visco can be purchased at many online stores. I buy mine from the local firework wholesale shop. I am not taking any credit for this design, I have just modified it. The changes I've made have been mostly weight reduction. I have made changes to the bamboo skewer, the crimping method, the crimper spacer, and the amount of computer paper used. In my first test, I noticed that the rocket did not shoot straight up but off to the side. This could have been due to a few different reasons but when I reduced the overall weight and crimped it a certain way, it seemed to fix it. This was also posted at skylighter.com as well and originated from a book written by Lancaster.

***Just a quick side note: I do not take any responsibility for your actions while constructing this firework, or any others presented to you, by myself. ***

Step 1: Gather the Required Materials

You will need:
(1) Hot Glue Gun
(1) Drill with 1/8 inch bit
(1) 1 in X 3 in strip of masking tape
(1) Glue Stick
(1) 2.5 in length of Visco Fuse
(6) 1 in lengths of Visco Fuse
(1) 1.75 in X 5 in strip of computer printer paper
(1) Ballpoint pen **Make sure it has a slightly rounded end
(1) Length of twine or string
(1) Bamboo Skewer
(1) Pair of scissors

Optional:
Various powdered metals, such as Zinc, Aluminum, or Titanium

Comments

[suberk]

Very good idea.

[BCSTechie]

I've got some fuse, (+100) which burns REALLY fast, like 1 sec/ft fast. Will this still work? Or will it just blow up the paper casing due to the extreme pressure? Has anyone tried this with this kind of fuse?

[Dandeman321]

Hrm, yeah, that may blow up. Might as well try! If it does you just have a nice firecracker.

[bjc4073]

greatness! mine do circles and i love it

[Toga_Dan]

Is the crimp a restricted nozzle?

[Dandeman321]

Yup! It provides the directed lifting thrust needed for the rocket to launch. Once it's flying, the nozzle will burn away but the burning fuse is enough to keep it in motion.

[toezar00]

Cool....Very Cool

[thebutler]

thank you so much this is awesome i made one and it works awesomely and i love it

[Dandeman321]

Glad to hear it!

[Dguy42]

could you use 3mm chinese visco that burns at a rate of 28second per foot

[Dandeman321]

Yeah that sounds like it would work. Light a test piece and put it on a hard surface. If it starts shooting around and moving quickly then you're good to go. If it just sits there and burns without movement, it probably wont work.

[Dguy42]

what kind of fuse would u recomend

[Dandeman321]

I just used the kind that the local firework store carried. Any type of fast burning cannon fuse should work. I don't have specific details on what type I used. It just came in a clear package labeled cannon fuse.

[Dguy42]

thanks, i just ordered some from cannonfuse.com.... Lets hope it works

[airgunguy123]

could you make it from cannon fuse

[Dandeman321]

Yeah, I believe cannon fuse is the same as visco. For a quick test, take an inch or two of your cannon fuse, lay it on the ground, and light it. If it starts spinning around and going all over the place, it should produce enough thrust to be used for these rockets.

[airsoftdominator999]

could you also use flying fish fuse for the 1 inch pieces? i want to make these with color but i dont wanna use metals

[Dandeman321]

I'm not entirely sure... I've never used any flying fish fuse so I don't know if it would work. It looks similar to visco so the thickness would be about the same but I don't know how much thrust it will put out. Give it a go! That's a good idea!

[airsoftdominator999]

well, it said on the site that it put out a TON of thrust, so i think it should be fine, maybe even better.

[Dandeman321]

K cool! Give it a go! Let me know how to works!

[tomass1996]

does anyone know wher to buy this that will ship to new zealand??

[C1hrisin123]

Thats A UK SITE
http://www.wirelessfireworks.co.uk/fuse.htm
AND YOU CAN GET THE CHEMICALS FROM
http://www.inoxia.co.uk/

[lockpick]

I'm not allowed to buy stuff off the internet so where can I buy disco fuse in the bay are?

[firefighter1333]

lol, you're not allowed? and wtf?! DISCO fuse?

[lockpick]

Yeah I'm not allowed. My parents are really strict about what I do I proabably should find a beter hiding place for those F rocket motors in my closet. And curse the typo god about the disco.

[thorpenny]

muhahahaha...

[fireball9919]

What is the thickness in the fuse that your using? does it matter??

[Dandeman321]

I believe it's just 1/8 inch fuse. Smaller or larger ones would probably work I would assume.

[fireball9919]

all right thanks a bunch :)

[qwertyman10]

You know, this looks like a good idea. The only problem is that I havent been able to find fuse of any kind anywhere, and ive needed it a lot. Is this just like the standard green fuse on firecrackers? and where can you get it?

[fireball9919]

hey these guys got everything. and its pretty cheap too http://www.mojopyrotechnics.com/

[projectguy]

Get fuse from pyrocreations also

[flamethrower1010]

 Go to cannonfuse.com and get the economy flying fish fuse ($5 per 63ft) and some Chinese visco fuse ($5-5.50 per 63ft)- so far the flying fish fuse has worked better for me, it burns faster. shipping is not too bad only $7 compared to skylighter with $20 fuse and $15 shipping fees. 

[Colonel88]

can u use match heads? Or can you use the powder from pop cap guns?

[Jared8989]

no and no. just go to cannonfuse.com and get whichever fuse u like. with shipping it will probably cost under $20

[Dandeman321]

I don't think either of those would work. The matchheads burn too slow and the powder from pop cap guns is an explosive.

[meat sack]

wer can i buy fuse

[Dandeman321]

Cannonfuse.com

[smashbob]

r u sure u didn't mean an 1/8 inch of tape instead of a 1/4 inch. cuz that's a lot of tape for a little thing like a bottle rocket, and it doesn't look like the end product is even 1/2 an inch wide.

[Dandeman321]

What step are you talking about? I haven't worked with these in years.