Introduction: How to Make a Rocket
WARNING: This is very dangerous to make. This instructable is for educational purposes only. Use with caution. I take no responsibility for any injuries that happen when making rockets. Use for outside purposes only. Wear safety glasses. Only light off rockets in a controlled situation and stand a safe distance away when the rocket goes off.
Step 1: Materials Needed
Potassium Nitrate(KNO3)
Sugar
Mortar and Pestle
Paper
Tape
Glue
Skillet
Rust
Pen
Straight Wooden Stick
Clay
Engine Plug
Step 2: Step 1
Cut out strip of paper, glue one side of it, and wrap it around a pen so that it sticks to one side and makes a cylinder.
Step 3: Step 2
Stop up one end of the rocket engine with either clay or a engine plug.
Step 4: Step 3
Measure out proper ratio of oxidizer(KNO3) and fuel(sugar). Recommended ratio is 65:35 oxidizer to fuel.
Step 5: Step 4
Grind up KNO3(saltpeter) til it is as fine as possible.
Step 6: Step 5
Measure out a gram of rust. Add sugar, saltpeter, and rust together and mix it up.
Step 7: Step 6
Pour mixture into skillet and heat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until it is a dark brown goop.
Step 8: Step 7
Poor the goop into a rocket engine, pack it down, and let it harden.
Step 9: Step 8
Drill a hole into the rocket to create a nozzle for it.
Step 10: Step 9
Tape the rocket engine to a wooden stick and it is ready to be fired.
14 Comments
8 years ago
but I Have question from where we got the potassium nitrate ?
9 years ago
also baecker03 you can get KNO3 by getting stump remover
9 years ago
Where and how do u get patassum nitrate?
Reply 9 years ago
it can be found in a hardware store. am I wrong, you can't use model rockets in the UK?
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
You can use pre-made motors, but making the fuel itself breaks anti-terrorism laws.
Judging by the sudden rush of rocket-fuel instructables, it looks like a class are all posting their work. Could you do me a favour, and ask the class teacher or group leader to contact me?
They can reply to any of my comments on these projects, but it would probably be better if they send me a PM.
Reply 9 years ago
one of the first instructables I came across was for a 4' rocket that used 5 1lb fuel pellets and instructions pn how to make them
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Five pounds of fuel??
Have you got a link for that?
Can I just be clear - I'm not saying this project should not be here.
What I am saying is that readers should check the local law before following it, and make sure they follow it safely, without blowing off a few fingers (as happened to a UK student when it wa still legal to make rocket fuel in schools).
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
It looks like I may have miss read it was so supprised at what I'd come across it took 5 charges and he only mixed 1lb at a time I took that as being 5 of 1lb charges found it by searching my history from about time I joined the site
sugar rocket/ rocket powered shopping cart by jmontello1
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Oh, that's cool - I don't know how I missed seeing that.
(See how that author uses a mandrel to form the combustion cavity as the fuel is molded, rather than drilling it out?)
That's another illegal project in the UK, though; we are not allowed to have any metal on the outside of the case, even decorative foils.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
I can't find it. I didn't save it sorry
It came up in a search for something unconected I was looking for a lathe cross slide at the time and it came up as a turning project for the nozzel and went on to how to cast the fuel slugs
Reply 9 years ago
you can buy estees rocket motors on the UK you need an explosives licence of some description to build your own
9 years ago
what needs to happen, is more common sense and less banning. mixing solid rocket fuel shouldn't be illegal.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
It's the UK's anti-terrorism laws, which were written quickly, and badly, after 9/11.
For instance, if a stranger stops and asks you for directions to a tourist attraction, which they later attack, you are guilty of "supplying information of use to terrorists".
9 years ago on Introduction
Aside from the legal issues (this project breaks enough UK anti-terrorism laws to earn you time in the Big House), using a power drill to make the nozzle is incredibly dangerous - the spinning bit can easily generate enough heat to ignite the engine while you are holding it and staring down the business end.