[BProckets] homemade rocket body material sources and techniques - "sugar" question

[Michael Williams]

Not necessarily, as long as the grains are kept locked up in an
airtight container you will be fine.  I use a rubbermaid type box with
a good sealing lid then I throw  a cup or so of Damp-Rid in the bottom
to absorb any humidity that might have been present.  Actually I've
never had much of a problem the the hydroscopic nature of a sugar
motor as the Texas panhandle is a pretty arid environment usually.

Michael Williams
PotRocs Amarillo


On Fri, 5 Nov 2004 10:58:41 -0500, Dan Durachko <dandurachko at psu.edu> wrote:
> I'll determine this on my own eventually but am I correct in my current
> understanding that *all* so-called "sugar" formulations have quite limited
> post-production shelf life?
> 
> Also, what are the theoretical and/or practical Isp's for BP vs sugar?
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bprockets-bounces at amateurrocketry.com
> [mailto:bprockets-bounces at amateurrocketry.com] On Behalf Of donnie long
> Sent: Friday, November 05, 2004 10:39 AM
> To: Black Powder rockets discussion list
> Subject: Re: [BProckets] homemade rocket body material sources and
> techniques
> 
> Rocketryonline.com, rocketreviews.com, good place to
> start, riknakka.net or put in sugar rocket engines.  I
> started out over 10 years ago with bp but switched to
> sugar engine's, easier, cheaper, more power.  donnie
> --- Dan Durachko <DanDurachko at psu.edu> wrote:
> 
> > All:
> >
> >
> >
> > I haven't actually built a rocket in over twenty
> > years and have just
> > recently zeroed in on my first BP engine a la
> > Sleeter's book.  In
> > anticipation of getting the book I'd been savings
> > all sorts of tubes and
> > have a box of balsa sheeting scraps for fins from my
> > other hobby pursuits.
> > Also, I've only built Estes kits as a youth.
> >
> >
> >
> > Questions:
> >
> >
> >
> > 1)       What are good web or book resources for
> > constructing rocket bodies?
> >
> > 2)       At what point need I be concerned about
> > high g forces on launch
> > shredding my rockets and is this ultimately an
> > empirical determination?
> >
> > 3)       What techniques are used to prep
> > paper/cardboard tubes for final
> > painting?  (Some of my salvaged tubes have rather
> > unattractive grooves in
> > them due to their spiral wound nature.  I may wish
> > to fill them in and paint
> > over them sometime.)
> >
> > 4)       What are the currently favored types of
> > wadding to protect the
> > chute, etc.?
> >
> > 5)       What are some sources of nosecones?  (I'll
> > ultimately make some on
> > my own from balsa and fiberglass and things like
> > those eggs pantyhose come
> > in but assume there are lots of sources I haven't
> > yet thought of.)
> >
> > 6)       Is there a quick and dirty way to calculate
> > how much delay I should
> > build into my engines for a particular design so
> > that I don't pop the chute
> > WAY too early or WAY too late?
> >
> > 7)       Feel free to chime in with any other
> > guidelines you may think I
> > should be made aware of.  (Shock cord info, fin
> > geometry, etc.)
> >
> > 8)       Oh yeah, I remember seeing some stuff
> > awhile back about guys
> > stripping down and hacking into digital disposable
> > cameras for high altitude
> > stills.  Any cutting edge references to that sort of
> > aerial photography
> > would be much appreciated as well.
> >
> >
> >
> > Whew . . . that should do for a start!
> >
> >
> >
> > Later,
> >
> >
> >
> > Dan
> >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> >
> 
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