Make your own water bottle rocket launcher! - Part 2 of 3

Summary

This instructional video script outlines the process of building a water bottle rocket launcher. It details each step, from preparing the PVC components with primer and cement, creating a bulge for the water bottle seal, to assembling the launch rail and constructing the trigger mechanism with wire ties and duct tape. The script also covers the creation of a spring mechanism using a cut two-liter bottle and a band clamp, ensuring the rocket is held securely until launch. Finally, it describes the firing mechanism assembly, using nylon string and a coupling, to release the rocket for flight.

Takeaways

• 🔧 Start by threading the valve stem through a half-inch hole in the end cap using pliers and a rag to avoid marring.
• 🚀 Ensure the valve is well seated within the end cap to hold the pressure needed for launching the rocket.
• 🛠️ Assemble the launcher base using PVC cement, primer, and end caps, ensuring proper ventilation and cleanliness.
• 🔗 Attach the end caps and tees to create the main launch rail and support structure, taking care to avoid glue blockages.
• 🔥 Use a heat source to create a bulge in the long piece of PVC for a water bottle seal, being cautious in a well-ventilated area.
• 📏 Measure and mark the PVC at 10 inches to form the launch rail, ensuring it's straight and properly aligned.
• 🔨 Attach the tees and other PVC components to build the complete launch platform, maintaining a vertical orientation for stability.
• 🔗 Create a trigger mechanism using wire ties, duct tape, and zip ties to secure the bottle and control the launch.
• ⚙️ Use a band clamp and a cut two-liter bottle as a spring to hold the rocket in place until launch.
• 🎯 Construct a firing mechanism with a nylon string and a drilled coupling to pull the trigger and release the rocket.

Q & A

What is the first step in assembling the valve sim through the half-inch hole?

The first step is to insert the valve sim from the inside of the end cap to the outside, then pull it through using pliers and a rag to avoid marring.

Why is it important to use a rag when pulling the valve sim through?

Using a rag prevents marring or scratching the valve sim while pulling it through the hole, ensuring a smooth and damage-free process.

How do you ensure the valve sim is properly seated within the end cap?

After pulling the valve sim through, you should see a little rim pop out. Continue pulling until it is well seated within the end cap to hold the pressure needed for launching the rocket.

What is the purpose of using PVC cement and primer when building the launcher?

PVC cement and primer are used to bond the PVC pipes and fittings together, creating a secure and airtight connection that is essential for the proper functioning of the rocket launcher.

Why is it recommended to apply PVC primer and cement in a well-ventilated area or outside?

PVC primer has a strong odor and can create a mess, so applying it in a well-ventilated area or outside prevents inhalation of fumes and keeps the workspace clean.

How do you create a slight bulge in the long piece of PVC for the water bottle seal?

You heat the entire circumference of the PVC at the 10-inch mark using a candle or heat gun until it becomes warm and pliable, then apply pressure to create a slight bulge while it cools.

What is the purpose of the bulge in the PVC pipe?

The bulge in the PVC pipe is where the water bottle seals against when launching, ensuring an airtight seal for the pressure to build up and launch the rocket.

How do you attach the trigger mechanism to the launch rail?

You use wire ties to attach a piece of duct tape with six medium zip ties spaced evenly across it to the flange of the bottle when it's on the launch rail.

What is the function of the spring in the water bottle rocket launcher?

The spring acts as a release mechanism, holding the rocket onto the launch rail until the firing mechanism is pulled, at which point it releases the rocket to launch.

How do you create the firing mechanism for the rocket launcher?

You drill a small hole in a 1.25-inch coupling, thread nylon string through it, and tie it off. This assembly is placed over the launch rail and zip ties, and the string is threaded down through two holes to create the pull mechanism for launching.

What is the final step to fire the rocket using the launcher?

The final step is to put the bottle over the launch rail, pull down on the firing mechanism to seat the rocket, and pressurize it. Then, pull the string to release the rocket.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Building the Rocket Launcher Base

The first paragraph outlines the initial steps for constructing a rocket launcher using PVC pipes. It begins with threading a valve sim through a half-inch hole in an end cap, using pliers and a rag to avoid damage. The process of applying PVC primer and cement to join the pipes is explained, emphasizing the need for a well-ventilated area due to the primer's strong odor. The primer dries quickly, and cement is applied sparingly but evenly. The construction involves attaching end caps to pipes, ensuring the valve stem is not obstructed, and creating T-sections by gluing additional pipes. The paragraph concludes with instructions on creating a slight bulge in a long piece of PVC for the water bottle seal, using a heat source like a candle to soften and shape the PVC.

05:00

🛠️ Assembling the Launcher and Trigger Mechanism

Paragraph two details the assembly of the rocket launcher's structure and the trigger mechanism. It starts with ensuring the launch rail is vertical, which can be aided by a square for accuracy. The paragraph then describes the process of attaching a tee to the launch rail and checking the seal with a water bottle. The construction continues with creating a trigger mechanism using wire ties, duct tape, a permanent marker, and zip ties. A scrap piece of PVC is used as a reference to measure and mark the circumference of the pipe. The zip ties are then aligned and attached to the launch rail, and a band clamp is used to secure the bottle in place. The paragraph also covers the preparation of a spring mechanism from a cut two-liter bottle, marking and cutting the necessary shapes for the spring to fit and function properly.

10:00

⚙️ Completing the Launcher and Firing Mechanism

The final paragraph focuses on the completion of the rocket launcher and the firing mechanism. It begins with cutting out circles from a two-liter bottle to create a spring holder and a flap for the band clamp. The spring is then fitted onto the launch rail, and a band clamp is used to secure it in place. The firing mechanism involves drilling a hole in a one and a quarter inch coupling, threading nylon string through it, and attaching it over the zip ties on the launch rail. The string is threaded through holes in the coupling and tied off to create a pull mechanism for launching the rocket. The paragraph concludes with instructions on how to load the rocket onto the launch rail, pressurize it, and fire it using the string. The video script also encourages viewers to engage with the content creators on social media and to ask questions or share their experiences.

Keywords

💡Valve Sim

A 'Valve Sim' refers to a valve simulator, which in the context of the video, is a device or mechanism used to control the flow of a substance, such as air or water, within a system. In the script, it is mentioned as an essential component for launching a rocket, indicating that it plays a crucial role in managing the pressure within the rocket's system. The Valve Sim is inserted through a half-inch hole, which suggests that it is a small but vital part of the overall assembly.

💡End Cap

An 'End Cap' is a fitting used to seal the end of a pipe or tube. In the video's context, it is used to secure the Valve Sim in place within the rocket launcher's structure. The script describes a process where the Valve Sim is pulled through from the inside to the outside of the end cap, indicating that it is a critical step in assembling the launcher, as it ensures the valve is properly seated and can hold the necessary pressure.

💡PVC Cement

PVC Cement is an adhesive used to bond polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes and fittings together. The script mentions the use of PVC cement as part of the assembly process for the rocket launcher. It is applied to the primer-coated surfaces of the PVC parts to ensure a strong and airtight connection. The mention of the need for ventilation and the potential mess associated with its use highlights the practical considerations when working with this material.

💡Bulge

In the script, 'Bulge' refers to a deliberate deformation in the PVC pipe, created by heating it and then applying pressure while it cools. This bulge is crucial as it forms a seal against the water bottle that serves as the rocket. The process of creating the bulge is described as requiring patience and careful manipulation to ensure it is neither too tight nor too loose, which illustrates the precision needed in the construction of the launcher.

💡Launch Rail

The 'Launch Rail' is a component of the rocket launcher that guides and supports the rocket during launch. The script describes the process of attaching a tee to the launch rail and ensuring it is vertical, which is essential for a successful launch. The term 'launch rail' is indicative of the structural element that provides stability and direction to the rocket as it is propelled upwards.

💡Zip Ties

Zip ties, also known as cable ties, are used in the video to secure components of the rocket launcher. Specifically, they are used to attach a trigger mechanism to the launch rail. The script details how they are positioned and tightened to hold the rocket in place until launch. This use of zip ties demonstrates a practical and cost-effective method for creating a secure and functional part of the launcher.

💡Duct Tape

Duct tape is a versatile adhesive tape that is used in the video to wrap around the zip ties and the launch rail, creating a secure and stable connection. The script mentions using duct tape to hold the zip ties in place, which is a common DIY solution for quick fixes and temporary bonding. Its mention in the context of the rocket launcher assembly underscores its utility in a variety of applications, including hobby projects.

💡Trigger Mechanism

The 'Trigger Mechanism' is a part of the rocket launcher that initiates the launch sequence. In the script, it is described as being made using wire ties, duct tape, and a piece of PVC. The mechanism is designed to hold the rocket in place until the string is pulled, releasing the rocket and allowing it to launch. The term 'trigger mechanism' is indicative of the action-oriented component that is central to the functioning of the launcher.

💡Band Clamp

A 'Band Clamp' is a type of clamp used to secure and hold items in place. In the video, it is used to fasten the spring in the trigger mechanism of the rocket launcher. The script describes loosening the band clamp to slide it onto the launch rail and then tightening it to secure the spring. This step is crucial for the proper functioning of the launcher's release mechanism, ensuring that the rocket is held firmly until it is ready to be launched.

💡Firing Mechanism

The 'Firing Mechanism' is the system used to initiate the launch of the rocket. In the script, it involves threading a nylon string through a hole in a coupling and tying it off. This mechanism is pulled to release the rocket from the launcher. The term 'firing mechanism' is central to the operation of the launcher, as it is the user's direct interface for launching the rocket, making it a key part of the assembly process described in the video.

Highlights

Guide to installing the valve stem through the half-inch hole with tips on using pliers and a rag for a secure fit.

Explaining the importance of PVC cement and purple primer for assembling the launcher, with a step-by-step guide on their application.

Detailed instructions for creating a bulge in the long PVC pipe to ensure a tight seal for the water bottle, including safety tips for heating the pipe.

Instructions on how to check the bottle's seal with the launcher before finalizing the build.

Guide on attaching a tee to the launch rail with precision, using a square to keep the structure vertical.

Explanation of adding a valve stem tee and ensuring the two tees are flat and square to maintain balance during launch.

Step-by-step process for building a trigger mechanism using zip ties, duct tape, and PVC pipe.

Instructions on how to use a two-liter bottle as a reference and seal for the zip ties and duct tape around the launcher.

Guide to creating a spring for the launch mechanism by cutting a two-liter bottle and tracing circles to form the spring and flange.

Instructions for installing the spring mechanism over the launch rail, with tips on adjusting for zip tie fit.

Guide for creating the firing mechanism by attaching a coupling and threading nylon string through drilled holes.

Explanation of how the firing mechanism works by pulling the string to release the rocket from the launcher.

Final steps to prepare the launcher for firing, including attaching the bike pump to pressurize the rocket.

Overview of safety precautions and tips for maintaining a proper seal while launching the rocket.

Conclusion with instructions on how to fire the rocket, engage with the community, and follow the creator on social media for more content.

Transcripts

alright one of the first steps you need

to do is get your valve sim through your

half inch hole I do that it's really

easy go to the inside of your end cap to

the outside then you're going to need to

pull it through and that's what the

pliers before it also helps if you have

a rag so you can grab without marring up

here fausto you just want to pull that

force it through it may take a little

work once you get it all the way through

there's a little rim you'll see pop out

and check by continuing to pull and it

should be well seated within the end cap

and that'll now hold the pressure that

you need to launch the rocket so this is

what we'll be building next this is half

of the base of your launcher I'm going

to show you how to build one real quick

if you've never used PVC cement before

basically what you do is put just a

little bit of this purple primer on here

now this stuff smells really bad and so

you want to do it either in a

well-ventilated area or it's best and

easiest to just do it outside because it

can also group and make a bit of a mess

once you go you have the primer on it'll

dry fairly quickly you can have some

cement it doesn't take much but you do

want to coat it all the way around and

then you'll put on one of your end caps

and twist it about a quarter turn and

you'll fill up lock and it'll get to

where you can't even move it fairly

quickly and that'll make the sill and

that's the basis of putting the pipe

together what you want to do is put an

end cap on two pieces

you can see here that one of these

that's my belt stamina doesn't matter

where that piece ends up now because you

don't want the glue to plug your valve

stem tip the PVC downward like this as

it dries so that any extra glue will

drip out rather than in your fitting and

then last glue a tee between these two

pieces as we get over here and put an

additional piece in that key and that's

how you make your 2 t sections alright

the next thing we want to do is put a

slight bulge in our long piece of PVC

this will be what the water bottle seals

against when you go to lunch so what

you're going to do is get out your

candle if you have one or have someone

else hold the lighter for just a few

minutes I'll light my candle here and

again make sure you do this in an area

that's away from anything that's

flammable and also well-ventilated let's

do well then the lady

all right we were having a hard time

keeping our candle lit so I'm going to

have a buddy over the lighter for me and

we'll show you how this is done you want

to be patient and keep rotating this we

heat it up you need the entire

circumference to be warm

DBC pliable we've got the reference line

at 10 inches that we know we're in the

right spot

don't touch the BBC to nearly where your

touch where your heat gun looks like

it's soft enough I'm just gonna take the

put pressure on that while it cools you

can see if that's a slight bulge

[Music]

you need to hold that and try to keep

the PVC as straight as possible and

exact tools that bowls will become

permanent you only need it to be ever so

slight because the diameter of the PVC

is already nearly perfect to seal

against the bottom to the SX holes will

become rigid again that's how you get

the silk here we have our long section

of pipe we just showed you how to put

the bulge in it now that we've done that

and we want to continue building our

launch platform you want to make sure

that the end from which you measure 10

inches is upward and then we're gonna

glue it down to this 13 that we have and

that's our main launch rail all right

the next step now is to glue one of our

tees to our LAN trail now I forgot to

mention earlier but while you're getting

this bulge in your launch rail you may

want to grab your bottle and check that

it makes a good seal

we've done that and it looks good so now

we're ready to glue it here now what

we're gonna do is use our square to help

us get this perfectly vertical or nearly

so it doesn't have to be exact

in fact if you want you can put a slight

angle in it to have your rocket launch a

little bit farther down range but I'm

gonna do mine vertical today so I'm real

quickly gonna add some in and because it

dries fairly fast I'm going to have to

that on rotated a quarter turn and then

hold it vertical while it dries I'm

going to go ahead and do that you want a

nice flat surface and you can see this

vertical as you can see we're pretty

close definitely closing on so now we'll

let that dry for just a second and then

we'll add on our second key all right

now we want to put in our tea that has

the valve stem in it and attach it to

our launch rail now if you have a

preference make sure that you turn this

to whichever side you want it on it

really doesn't matter at this point

now you want to do this on a flat

surface so that your two tees are nice

and flat and square give that an extra

minute to dry while we move on to some

of the other steps right the next step

is to make your trigger mechanism the

way we're gonna do that is use these

wire ties to grab on to this flange of

the bottle when it's on blonde trail now

this is just a scrap piece of PVC I have

you can use your lawn trail or any other

piece of 1/2 inch PVC for this next step

we're just gonna use it as a reference

you also need some duct tape permanent

marker 6 medium zip ties and it's

helpful to have a ruler so what we're

gonna do first is take a piece long

enough it'll fit around the tube at

least once we're just gonna wrap that

all the way around and lay it back on

itself and then we're just gonna mark

with our permanent marker where those

two where that end meets the rest of the

tape then we'll pull that off and that's

our reference for the a circumference

pipe then we'll set that aside what we

want to do is use these zip ties and

we're gonna lay them

large end facing up from the table and

we're gonna put one right at our mark

and you want to go most the way down the

zip tie

now we'll clip this at the end and you

want a good 5 inches or so here and then

what you want to do is put a second one

at the other end and you can use this

ruler they help you keep them aligned

well so that they all fit against the

flange evenly and you're gonna try to

just space these evenly all six of them

across the duct tape next step before we

put our zip ties on the launch row we're

gonna take this band clamp use your

flat-head screwdriver to loosen it all

the way so you can slide it down on your

launch rail then we're gonna take our

two-liter bottle it will eventually use

as a rocket and slide it over now you

want to seat it on the Bulge don't force

it on farther than it needs to go just

push it down until it feels like it's a

good seal and we're gonna use that as a

reference height will now take your zip

ties what you've lined up with the

roller on your duct tape and we're gonna

wrap those around we're gonna slide

those down until they just sit right on

that lip that flange on the bottle and

then once you get it where it sits just

right you'll wrap your duct tape around

and stick it with a launch rail right

there and you want to take your extra

two-liter bottle and we're gonna use

this as a spring for our launch

mechanism what you want to do is if you

have a box cutter it helps to get a slit

started with that and once that's once

you've cut into the bottle you go and

cut it around

we're gonna go ahead and use our sharpie

or other permanent marker with our one

and a quarter inch couple and we're

gonna take this and put it roughly in

the center and what you want to do is

trace the inside of that onto your

screen then we're gonna take a spare

piece of pipe or you can turn your

rocket-launcher upside down and use it

and we're gonna trace on the other end

the outside of your one half-inch pipe

then on the small circle we want to

trace another extra eighth inch or so

around that cuz it's gonna need to fit

over the zip ties as well

and then lastly draw a line down the

center so now we're gonna cut out our

circles start with the top one as you

can see I put a slit in it by doing this

that will help us get our scissors in

and you're just gonna cut this out and

there we go we have the big hole done

now the smaller hole we don't want to

cut out the entire circle we want to do

is cut it into semi circles but we're

gonna leave a little portion in the

middle so that our flap hangs down

now you'll see that there's a flap and

that'll hold our spring in place in the

band clamp I'll go ahead and cut the

other side here so the next step is to

take our spring and slide it over our

launch rail

now if these zip ties won't fit through

this hole you can widen it a little bit

and we'll go ahead and slide it down and

then what we want to do is pull our

spring down and then we're gonna fasten

our band clamp over these flat these

little flaps that we've left hanging

down from our spring

thus fitting which is the release

mechanism will slip over top and this

spring will keep it up in a safe

position holding the rocket onto the

launch rail until we pull it down so

I'll go ahead and and fasten this band

clamp so now to make our firing

mechanism we take that one and a quarter

inch coupling and drill a small hole now

I've drilled a 1/8 inch hole it's really

easy to do with PVC cause it's so soft

and then you're gonna take your nylon

string and thread it through that hole

and tie it off now it likes to fray so

it helps to warm the end with a match or

a lighter just to seal it off once you

get that tight on there good we're gonna

put it over our launch rail over the zip

ties and you'll see that it sits on this

spring now and then take your string and

thread it down through both holes and it

should fit through both of them easily

because they were able to fit over the

you're gonna thread that down through

both holes and then that will be what we

pull on to launch the rocket now what I

typically do is just run it under one

side of the PVC and then you can see

that if you stand to this side of the

rocket and pull your firing mechanism

releases now that the launchers done to

fire rockets simply put your bottle over

the launch rail pull down on your firing

mechanism so you get the rocket seated

and the zip ties are over the flange and

your spring should hold it up firmly

against the rocket to keep it from

firing while you pressurize up put the

bike bike bump up to your bow stem and

then you're ready to fire just by

pulling the string and you'll see that

it's really easy to do but we've enjoyed

having you and showing you how to build

a water bottle rocket launcher please

check us out on Facebook and Twitter and

feel free to post any questions you

might have to our Facebook account or in

the comments below

glad to have you with us and we'll see

you next time

you