» MAKE: NOISE — Discuss this article

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• Too much fun update.
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  I took the new launcher to our Cub Scout den meeting and it quickly turned in to an opportunity to get most of the kids an engineering requirement for one of the badges everyone is working on. The kids all sat around throwing out ideas to improve performance and or durability. I was really surprised by some of the things they came up with. So, I agreed to build their 10 favorite mods in time to test them at the Scout picnic on the 23rd. So far the only idea I've come up with to gauge performance between rockets is to time the interval between launch and impact. I was wondering if you might have any other ideas?
  Thanks in advance, Robert.
  P.S. I refused to make the most popular idea no matter how many times they asked. The idea was to place a very large nail in the nose and you would be amazed at how many "practical" reasons a group of 10 year old's can come up with! I grew up in the age of "Lawn darts", they banned those things for a reason!!

  Posted by Mrwade01 on June 08, 2012 at 02:46:21 Pacific Time

• Too much fun!
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  I cant thank you enough for putting this project out here! I started out building the launcher to entertain my two boys. The sugar rush like symptoms it gave my "inner child" are just a bonus! I build ours using the tire valve and it seems to work very well. I have 2 tips on making the rockets that really make things easier for me. 1) use a spray bottle to mist the card stock lightly before forming the tube and cone but give them a minute to dry before tape. 2) After you have a finished cone that your happy with, use it to form the moist card stock over for the next one. This has really made things go faster for me. Thanks again!!

  Posted by Mrwade01 on June 04, 2012 at 16:46:48 Pacific Time

• Super fun! Maybe try manual valve.
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  We are having so much fun with this project!
  The rainbird electric sprinkler valve was releasing suddenly around 30psi, so replaced it with a manual valve that opens with a 90-degree turn. Works great, and cheaper too! The path for air through electronic valve is circuitous; path through a ball valve is pretty straight!
  Used the tire stem valve idea.
  Building rockets same as everybody. Single layer of cardstock w/ a little overlap; spiraling packing tape. Blast cap held on by 2 layers tape. Fins out of 1/16" balsawood are easier to handle.
  Air compressor with 80 psi (or maybe more) blasts rockets over 250 ft into the air. (measured using a protractor and plumb bob from 250 feet away.)
  
  Thanks for the awesome project! We've been making rockets for a couple months now.

  Posted by Funk79 on March 03, 2011 at 19:02:22 Pacific Time

• Interesting
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  I saw one of these about 20 years ago amde by a science teacher with a sprinkler valve. I decided to one up him and built one with a bigger tank and a frangible valve that opened explosively, sounded somewhat like a shotgun being fired when it went off at 100PSI. Probably not so safe, but it would go high enough to vanish and travel over a block . Legal size printer paper wrapped with 2" shipping tape for burst strength. Fins made of 3x5 cards attached with more 2" tape for less resistance. If you watched the rocket you never saw it leave, if you looked 100 feet above, you could usually catch it's flight.
  
  The faster the valve opens, the faster the rocket leaves. Since I made mine I found there are much better valve designs out there, sprinkler valves not being one of them.
  
  Ira

  Posted by Extrasensory on December 08, 2009 at 15:09:11 Pacific Time

• My launcher mods
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  http://www.flickr.com/photos/cnorrick/sets/72157609725504593/
  
  Here are some photos from my launcher.
  
  My mods include: Rockets made out of USPS Priority Mail Tyvek Envelopes (not yet tested), Nose cone reinforced with expanding foam.
  
  Launcher has a more compact stance with a folding leg for compact storage, trigger disconnects with a RCA Plug, R/C car battery connects with standard Deans Plug, air hookup is a standard air tool Quick Disconnect for air compressor usage, and I made a QD to Schrader valve hose for use with bicycle air pump. I had no idea you could buy a Schrader to 1/4" MPT fitting. My local Ace Hardware had it.
  
  Here is one on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006B07BU/
  
  Here is my $16 sprinkler valve from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004S1V2

  Posted by TheCheatOSX on November 22, 2008 at 21:03:12 Pacific Time

• Rocket Launcher: Time Lapse Build Video
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  We built the rocket launcher last weekend, what a great build. I recorded most of it as a time lapse video, sorry, no day time rocket launches, but an LED throwie mounted to the rocket at night was a hoot! The kids loved running out in the dark to find the glowing rocket on the back lawn.
  
  Rocket Launcher Video

  Posted by shawnwaite on November 21, 2008 at 06:43:41 Pacific Time

• 
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  I built on this weekend. It worked really well! Great design. The rockets seem to get pretty beat up. I was plating with the idea of making them from actual model rocket tubes with balsa fins and all that, They would be considerably heavier I imagine and may not fly as far but they would last longer.... I having trouble finding prefab tubes that will fit the 13/16 inch launch tube (.812 inches). and I am trying to think of a good material to perhaps line tubes with to make them fit. Suggestions?

  Posted by r05c03 on November 18, 2008 at 11:26:01 Pacific Time

• Awesome fun project
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  Nice work. This is one of my favorite recent make projects. I took a bunch of photos and movies of our launches:
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/8278630@N08/sets/72157608421577488/
  
  and alot during assembly:
  
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/8278630@N08/sets/72157608405904819/
  
  I used a lawn genie 54005 valve bought off off ebay for about $15 and an old drill battery. Works like a charm and the kids love launching it and chasing it down.
  
  Kudos for sharing a great project.

  Posted by swinz on November 11, 2008 at 05:34:56 Pacific Time

• Not getting rapid pressure release
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  I have built the rocket launcher but am not getting effective release of the pressure. There are no leaks in the system but when I release the solenoid the release of pressure is slow resulting in the rocket lifting off a couple of feet and the air releasing over a period of a couple of seconds. I am using a RainBird CPF-075 with a 7 volt battery with 3000 mAmps.
  
  Any suggestions?

  Posted by digsculpt on November 09, 2008 at 18:00:45 Pacific Time

• Great afternoon project
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  My daughter and I built the launcher and two rockets yesterday, and fired it this morning with excellent success.
  
  Years ago I made a potato cannon using 4" PVC for the combustion chamber (tank), and 1-1/2" for the barrel. The rocket launcher was a good way to recycle the old cannon -- I only had to buy a few new PVC pieces to make it.
  
  The valve I found looks identical to what's in the article, but was 12V. It cost $13.
  
  One difference to mine was I drilled a 1/4" hole in the side of the main tank, then cut the valve stem (Presta) from an innertube and glued that on the inside of the tank with RTV silicone. I used a threaded Presta valve, which has a small ring to thread on the outside and hold it tight to the tank. My bike pump attaches directly to the tank w/no intermediate hose.
  
  This was a fun project, and we will enjoy using it. My daughter was thrilled with it today!

  Posted by AustinMTB on November 02, 2008 at 12:09:34 Pacific Time

• Pretty awesome.
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  Although I have made the exact same design before with some slightly less peaceful intentions. Some slight design differences and you have an airgun that will shoot a ball bearing through multiple sheets of plywood. Or if your less violent, send a weighted glowstick about 300 yards. So watch out with this stuff.
  
  What I did learn in my airgun projects was that if you remove the solenoid and fill the hole for the solenoid on the sprinkler valve with JB weld and drill a hold in the top of the valve you can attach an air hose with nozzle on it and trigger the sprinkler valve without batteries. Not as high tech but at least you don't have to waste 9volts batteries.
  
  PS, sprinkler valves hold up to about 120psi, have fun with that, PVC will hold far more.

  Posted by Finchypoo on October 06, 2008 at 17:14:48 Pacific Time

• Awesome Rocket Launcher
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  I actually did a different design! I built mine a day before this article came out. It' has been soooooo much fun.
  
  I order to spiff mine up a bit I took an altoids tin and made a ignition switch with a safety switch too! It looks really fancy since the altoids tin is very old school looking. I've been documenting everything as well at www.mad-laboratory.com
  
  I've been able to launch my rockets for 7 seconds
  
  which equates to about
  
  76 mph
  
  and about
  
  197 feet
  
  in the air.
  
  This is a great project to talk about projectile motion too. Thanks!
  
  

  Posted by madlaboratory on October 02, 2008 at 16:01:05 Pacific Time

• Compliments on an excellent project
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  I built the launcher last weekend and we threw a rocket party at a local park which was a great hit. As other's have mentioned, the launcher drew in others who got a chance to play with it. Fantastic project guys-- kudos to everyone involved.
  
  The flickr photoset

  Posted by Dan_neff on September 28, 2008 at 21:00:04 Pacific Time

• Tire Valves and Bike Valves
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  for my sins, I have a LARGE number of Presta-valve equipped bicycle tubes lying around my garage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presta_valve).
  
  The nice thing about the presta valve is that after you've hacked it off the tube with a dremel, it's a great fit for the vinyl tubing. I have a mixture of threaded and threadless prestas: I used one of the threaded ones, and the threading made it easy to screw into the tubing.

  Posted by davehk on September 28, 2008 at 11:35:26 Pacific Time

• Hmm... a leak I can't get rid of
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  Hey - everything's fine EXCEPT that I have a wee hiss on the chamber/reservoir side of the screw coupling to the sprinkler valve. I can't actually tighten it any more. Have teflon tape in the threads.
  
  I can still pump it up to 70 PST and it'll hold that for about 30 seconds and then gradually start draining.
  
  Any advice on how I can get rid of the slighty cosmetic/slightly power-draining hiss? Is there a sealant I Can use? Or am I doomed to dissamble the thing?
  
  -- dhk

  Posted by davehk on September 27, 2008 at 18:40:54 Pacific Time

• Completed
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  Made this over last weekend. I couldn't find the right parts for 2" pipe so I used 1.5" and made it a bit longer to keep the volume the same. Had a great time with my 5 year old and about 10 kids from the neighborhood shooting off rockets. Thanks for the great project!

  Posted by ericfrancis on September 26, 2008 at 22:32:48 Pacific Time

• Testing the Sprinkler Valve
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  First, thanks for such a cool and accessible project!
  
  Second, anybody know if the sprinkler valve needs to be under pressure to activate? I did a quick test with an 18v power tool battery, and the solenoid clicks, but it doesn't seem to open the valve. Granted I'm not putting any serious pressure through it, just blowing through my mouth.
  
  For what it's worth, I'm using the Lawn Genie 54048, that I ordered from Home Depot: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100051032&N=1149+90401&marketID=401&locStoreNum=8125
  
  Any tips or suggestions are appreciated!
  

  Posted by sbattersby on September 25, 2008 at 09:20:58 Pacific Time

• Great Project
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  I just built the launcher this weekend. Whilst browsing parts in my local indepdenent hardware store (Jackson's Hardware in San Rafael, CA) with my son I bumped into another father son, looking for parts for the launcher as well. We had to hit two hardware stores to find all of the parts but was successful in the end. Make sure to mummy your rockets in masking or duct tape and my first two were obliterated into confetti by the launcher. The second two streaked skyward. Lots of fun. Now, I'm going to work on a more durable rocket. Really fun! Thanks, Make, for the great mag and project. Make, I'd suggest hitting local hardware stores as Jackson's was very interested in carrying the magazine after they saw to customers in 15 minutes buying stuff from them for the project.

  Posted by agiedt on September 22, 2008 at 12:09:47 Pacific Time

• Build complete
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  Hey Rick. Thanks for the excellent article. Even by Make's high standards, I thought it was simply top-notch - especially the easy availability of materials. Sometimes I want to build something from the 'zine, but just can't find all the parts (or one part is massively expensive). Not so in the case of the launcher.
  
  I just finished my build and am going to test it out with the brood this sunny CA afternoon. Maybe next weekend we'll paint it up for a bonus round.

  Posted by djimmnir on September 20, 2008 at 14:59:36 Pacific Time

• How would this paper work?
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  http://www.rei.com/product/693238
  
  I'm wondering if a Tyvek type paper would hold up better. I hope to put the launcher together soon and maybe give it a test.

  Posted by ericfrancis on September 18, 2008 at 21:29:07 Pacific Time

• A very similar project, but no bike pump!
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  We made a paper rocket launcher very similar to this, but we have it powered by an air compressor. Perhaps that was too dangerous to put in a magazine? It works great though, and the kids have a lot of fun with no pumping! Instead of the tire air valve, we used a male air compressor fitting. Then we hook up a hose directly to the fitting, and launch away. The air compress maintains the PSI. Have fun! Be safe!

  Posted by Daedal on September 12, 2008 at 15:03:35 Pacific Time

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  I just finished building the air powered rocket, and must say it worked perfectly. I did not even put in 75 psi and it still wen about 200 feet. I think I tried like 40psi just to test the system. Very cool!

  Posted by infraray on September 10, 2008 at 18:09:06 Pacific Time

• Paper rocket heaven
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  I was so happy to see this article in Make 15. The paper rocket that is downloadable here seems to be a basic 13mm paper rocket. If that is the case then almost any 13mm paper rocket could be converted for this. Check out the many free downloadable paper rockets available at this site.
  The Ultimate Paper Rocket Guide
  

  Posted by lessgravity on September 03, 2008 at 10:43:24 Pacific Time