Keep your protective gear on at all times to stay safe. It’s best to work on a rubber mat, which will prevent static build up and won’t conduct electricity, which can trigger your propellant.
Don’t use plastic tubes to make your rocket, as this is very dangerous. The material could explode or catch fire.
You don’t want to create several layers of paper because it may tunnel out of your rocket body, since it’s not glued down.
This will help you create a sturdy rocket body out of your paper. Once the glue dries, your paper will be a thick cylinder.
If there is excess glue at the edge of the paper when you finish rolling, wipe it off with a paper towel or a piece of scrap paper.
Pick the cheapest cat litter you can find. It’s actually bentonite clay, which is why it works for this project.
If you’re using a blender, hold it at an angle to speed up the process while also reducing the stress on the blender motor.
It’s okay to have a thick, lumpy paste, so add as little water as you can.
You may want to use a marker to draw a line on your dowel at the 5⁄16 in (0. 79 cm) point so it’s easier to measure this out.
You can buy pure potassium nitrate online. Alternatively, look for potassium nitrate at your local home improvement or gardening store. It’s often sold as stump remover. You may need to refine your potassium nitrate if you bought it as stump remover. If it’s not 100% KNO3, dissolve it in boiling water and strain it through a paper filter. Discard the filter and solids, then boil off remaining water to get mostly pure KNO3. Leave in a hot area or minimum-temperature oven until completely dry. [13] X Research source
While it’s optional, adding 1% dextrin to your mix may help make your propellant more stable. If you decide to add it, reduce your potassium nitrate and powdered sugar measurements by . 5% each. For the mix above, you can just add 1 gram of dextrin to the mix since the measurements are so small.
It’s best to place your mixer in a hole in the ground so that accidental blasts are controlled. Leave the top of the hole open to direct the blast upward. Make sure the rock tumbler is far away from other heat sources. Work in small batches until you’re very experienced in working with propellant. This will reduce the risk of a fire or explosion.
This is an easy way to mimic the action of “ball milling,” which is how pyrotechnicians mix combustibles.
The extra space at the top is for another layer of cat litter paste. This will help you safely launch your rocket.
This provides more surface area for your fuel to burn. You can find a 6D nail at your local hardware store. Any thin nail will work.
Remember, clumpy cat litter paste is okay, so don’t add a lot of water.
You might prefer to glue the stick or skewer onto the rocket base first to make it more stable. However, this isn’t necessary.
If you’re not using the rocket right away, fit a small piece of plastic wrap over the base of your rocket, then use a tiny amount of hot glue or white school glue to seal around the edges. This will keep it airtight. The fuse should go up into the core of the rocket so that it lights the fuel. Additionally, you want a long tail on your fuse to allow you time to move to safety.
It’s best to use an electric ignition to light your rocket so you can stand at a safe distance.
