easy as $hit igniters for model rockets

Hate it when you buy those cheap rockets (possibly for my rocket launcher...) , and half the igniters aren't good? well heres the easiest igniter out here!!

the pictures are all off of google cuz my camera broke and it will be a bit before i get a new one.....

Step 1: Watcha need?

cotton (optional)

launch pad detonator thingy...

wire (optional)

Comments

[ToddisI]

so the motor will ignite without flamable substence on the end of the igniter?

[garmtn]

Read the other comments that follow. I can tell u, useing "road flair" material, or paper match heads, sounds the simplest. You must use a extender for "nichrome". Couple of the others suggest solder, or 30 guage wire. Experiment! Many times b 4 using in a motor.

[xXLab_ManXx]

Thats My Property

[bschran]

Honestly though.... wouldn't it be just about as cost effective... and less time consuming to just buy the darn things? I mean I am all for the DIY aspect... but for something like this I would most likely buy them.

[Tobor 2.0]

I don't understand what you mean when you say,"cut about 1 1/2 inches of wire from something else or your launch pad and reconnect the wires by twistin' em back together." I know it's the whole step but could you explain it a little beter?

[sgt.paper]

how do we make the pyro tecknic flamy stuff

[andrew_29]

for the pyro tecknic stuff crush mach heads with a hammer (paper matches work best) collect the dust in a film canister and add a little water mix it all together so you have a red paste. put it on you wire and wait for it to dry

[instructa-fan]

not needed, but if i knew how, i would definitely add it... sorry

[nateralph]

or even better, just shove a sparkler in the back of the engine...though it would completly defeat the purpose of this whole instructable

[nateralph]

would tungsten wire from an incandescent lightbulb work for the pyrotechnic wire?

[PyromaniacDaniel]

The wire used for the pyrotechnic wire is called Nichrome. It has a high resistivity such that when current passes through it it heats up. Tungsten also has a high resistivity but I would think that it would also be more fragile. If you could get it in the engine intact and some heat sensitive pyro chemical then it would do the trick. do be careful. if you connect tungsten filaments up to the wall ac outside of the light bulb it will violently explode.

[lessgravity]

Safety is always my biggest comcern. This process will work in only a few rocket motors and will insure a high failure rate . There is fine art to these igniters and readers should research the subject properly and be aware of the safety codes of NAR prior to attempting igniting even the smallest impulse motor.

[bth8]

i got a question. could you just hook some leads 2 steel wool, slap on a switch, and hook it up 2 a (9v)battery???

[instructa-fan]

I suppose that would work, but only if you could cram it in that tiny hole, and even if you do, you don't think it would just short on the outside where it will most likely inevitably touch and not even get to the steel wool inside?

[theosullis]

Youre welcome this is the first time anyone thanked me! But I have not been here long.

[theosullis]

Or to make it easy just scrape of the stuff on the top of some matches with scissors.

[instructa-fan]

then ad a few drops of h20, slather it on, let it dry, and presto! thanks for the inspiration osullis

[theosullis]

If u need pyrotechnic stuff to go on top of the igniter just use black powder or open up an emergency flare and pull out the stuff I am not responsible for anything even though I doubt anything will happen to you!

[drake1]

I have that rockit

[instructa-fan]

RE u the school commy too?

[Aerospaceman]

Nichrome wire (NiCr) is a highly brittle and high resistance wire that ignites with a low voltage (9V) and amperage. The fine gauge wire can be bent in half, and each exposed end can be soldered to a slightly heavier gauge (30 AWG) wire. Then you can make a paste of potassium perchlorate, sulphur (both very fine), and about half a gram of high grade epoxy (not the lumpy stuff) mixed together. You should get about 4-5 igniters. Place each nichrome wire tip on a piece of cut sandwich bag around a square inch or so, enough so you can fold it over. You’ll mix (use a popsicle stick) the potassium perchlorate and the epoxy adding sulphur till it’s almost a yellowish color. Then mix until it’s like a firm paste. Take the mixture and apply about 2-3mm (small amount) to each igniter wire tip. Fold the plastic sandwich bag over each tip and let cure overnight. Don’t forget that the igniter should be able to fit inside the rocket motor throat. After curing for about 24 hours, the igniter should be good for use. NOTE: If you use ordinary nichrome wire folded over you may experience a high failure rate. Reason being, the igniter may not touch the fuel grains and simply burn out. This means you have to pull the igniter and do it all over again. NOTE: observe all safety regulations involving chemicals, storage and their use. Observe all safety regulations involving model or amateur rockets.

[microman171]

How do you solder NiChrome?? I have never been abl to manage that. What I do is Twis it round wire and then twist the wire round and cover the wire in solder. the solder doesnt hold the nichrome but the wire cant unravle and that holds it.