How To Build The Simplest Water Bottle Rocket Launcher
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ต.ค. 2014
- Learn how to build your own water bottle rocket launcher using this very simple launcher mechanism. Shoot rockets over 200 feet!
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Parts for this launcher build include: (All PVC is schedule 40)
6' of 1/2" Schedule 40 pvc pipe (it is sold in 10' lengths)
1 1/4" x 1/2" Bushing
1 1/4" Coupling
1 1/4" x 1" Bushing
1/2" elbows 2
1/2" caps 4
1/2" t's 3
.453 rim hole tubeless tire valve (auto parts store)
Small bottle pvc cement
1/8" steel rod 24" long
2 liter soda bottle
TOOLS
Drill
5/32 drill bit
3/32 drill bit
9/16" drill bit
Knife
Wire Cutters
PVC Cutter or hacksaw
This water bottle rocket launcher can be used for Boy Scout Rocket activities, dad project or just made as a simple home made toy! - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
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Please add a 12’ pvc to the description. I cut all mine into 6’
I love your projects! So cool to see how you do this!
Awesome video! Thanks for taking the time and posting this:)
very helpful ☺☺☺
Thank you so very much! This REALLY helped my favorite 12 year old grandson on his science challenge
Thank you for this! I made this with my daughter. The science project SUCKED since she was at home learning, but this video was beyond useful. (My son, who had done the same project, was helpful - when paid with cash.) She needed to launch a water/air powered rocket 40 meters for an "A". This videographer's rocket is very similar to the one that we made. The things I learned - the launch tube needs o-rings - squishy ones, a dremel tool is beyond useful for carving plastic, a landscape stake can replace the metal rod, it's the length of the 2 liter bottles seems to be the "size" difference. For the rocket - fizzy soda bottles are made from thicker plastic, hot glue - even when applied with cold water inside the bottle doesn't make a very strong fin attachment; our fins fell off after 2 launches. Packaging tape worked well, duct tape was better but heavier. We went through 3 rockets before finding success, no fault of the launcher. Our final, successful launch - 56 meters - had the 4 fins slightly angled - same angle for all 4 fins to create a spinning motion, a plastic cone shaped from a school folder and adhered with packaging tape, launcher was angled about 45 degrees, slightly more than 30oz of water, bike pump at 30 psi. The thing does leak water, but with the squishy o-rings, it's not pouring out and actually makes a whining noise when the pressure builds. Since I know nothing of pvc fittings, it took us about 7 trips to home depot. I messed up the hole drilling for the launch bushing, so I recommend buying extras of that part. It was also difficult to find the parts and we traveled all over to find them. I had to have the husband drill for me, and I lost his 3/32 drill bit before he started the process. Besides the parts needed for the launcher, I bought a 9/16" drill bit (hard to find) and an $$ dremel tool kit. Both tools were super useful.
Why not use the pvc cement to attach the valve to the drilled out endcap?
Thanks so much for sharing your creativity! Very well done.
Kevin Scott Thank you for that and thanks for watching.
With what tools you file the pipe to assemble the pieces ???
Hi! Thanks for the tutorial! Our first attempt we used a diet Dr Pepper 2 liter bottle and it leaked like crazy and it made launching quite hectic. After reading the comments for the video we tried out a Diet Coke bottle and it worked great. No leaking. It totally changed the experience. Thanks!
@@justingiger1228 2-liter bottles aren't standardized, so you'll find slight differences between brands, or even between bottlers in different areas of the country.
What is the air valve for and what kind did you use?
what are the 3 'valves' for along the pvc pipe, how does it generate more pressure/how does it help?
nice
How long does it take the PVC cement to dry?
Thank you for your detailed demonstration! One Question: What is the "1/2" t's " in the supply list? (the "t's"???)
Edit: "t's" stands for T-shape Conduit.
where is the supply list?
ooops, never mind... wrong video for that comment
can you purchase all these things from bunnings?
hey cool video i plan to make one, i was wondering what is the point of the 3 extra lengths of pipe that you cap off... are these to help it pressurize smoother, or are they just for stability of the whole contraption?
Air chamber and to create "legs" so the system is free standing
You have no idea how much stress you just saved this mom! thanks
Amy Boehme Awesome!. Glad it helped!
I'm about to start my build, how do you keep the water from coming out from the launching mec. When the bottle is installed for launching?
THEREALSINNER247 A little water will spill out as you tip it over. Just put a little more in the bottle in the first place. thanks for watching.
I would suggest using purple PVC primer whenever you glue PVC together. Especially in a pressurized system.
Good call. Thanks
I’m having the same problem as others, it leaks out and maxes at 20 psi for a good 100 ft launch. Going to come back and comment once I find a solution!
Did you find a solution?
@@drstamas I found that 7up bottles work very well
it was good it flys vary high
+Johanna Lozano Awesome!
u most think have to design how the bottle doesn't leak, but it is very good simple desaign.
is there another link to the instructions? the one posted is not working.
This is amazing, I tried it and it came out OK, couple of observations.
1. How do we avoid water leaks from the bottle? Looks like whole of the PVC structure is filled with water leaked from the bottle and also the cap hole holding the tirevalue too. still to make the steel rod stopper to work properly but, it does pump air and able to push a bit up the bottle into air.
Mine leaked at the bottle once the system was under pressure. I resolved this using o-rings. Can't tell you exactly which size I used unfortunately. Just pulled one from the "sink repair" drawer
Can you tell me the complete parts list?
Where is the best place to purchase all these items on your parts list? Will a Home Depot or Lowes have everything like the coupling and bushings?
I'm in Canada, Lowe's and home depot here only have 1/2", 3/4", and 1" fittings. I had to go to a plumbing supply store to get the bushings for the launch mechanism
Saw one similar at a science fair. Can you use just air and no water? They had just air
NGC197679 if you can manage to avoid the air leaking, then yea just air works, the water make the rocket go higher though.
If you modify the launcher for small 12oz bottles making it only as big as it needs to be the bottles fill with air in seconds with very few pumps, you don't need to add water, they hold allot more pressure, and the bottles traveler faster due to less air resistance.
Quick interesting eye opening lesson example on pressure and why 12oz bottles can hold more pressure then 2L bottles the same thickness. I tried to get the numbers as close as I could while making it easy to visualize (bottles have more area of course) put .5 PSI (pounds per square inch) on an area that's 2 Inches (") X 2" and you have 2 pounds (lbs) of force now put .5 PSI on an area that's 10" X 10" and you have 50lbs of force- better yet 120PSI (Coke or Pepsi shaken up and baked in the hot afternoon sun) on 10"X 10" that's 12,000lbs of force- scary stuff!! -- and people wonder why natural gas explosions are so devastating even a small amount of pressure pushing on all walls compares to a head on train crash!!
So we tried making this and the 1/2 inch pvc pipe that the bottle slide down on is too thick. It makes for a tight fit, and without lubing up the pipe with vaseline, it won't shoot off. How does yours slide on and off so easily?
Aimee Jensen Hi, I would try a different bottle. The pipe size is universal so it should not vary but the bottles do vary. Some of the bottles I have used will leak more than others because of this variation. Worst case scenerio you could go to a different store to buy a different manufactures pipe and test one that will fit better, cut off your launch tube about 1 inch up and install a coupling and the new pipe. But I would bet that getting a different bottle will fix it. Good Luck!
iCreatables We tried a different bottle and it worked. Thank you!!
Awesome!
So built it like the video but it leaks so bad you can fire it? What step did I miss?
+Bryan Gundrum Hi,
Some bottles have larger mouths than others. Try a different brand of bottle or just add more water at the start and pump fast.:)
ok found it :)
how much pvp pipe did you buy? iCreatables
Knights Forge & Gold A 10' piece. The launder in the video uses about 6' of pipe.
is it okay to use metal bushing?
It’s been some years since this video was posted but since I’ve already built this I was hopeful someone could help:
It leaks up at the launch mechanism it spills up out of the launch pin holes. What’s interesting is that this leak gets worse when the air is being added.
I’ve triple checked the video to see if I built right. I’ve went to each connection to reseal.
I’ve used two different 2 liter bottles.
My students already built their rockets and is just waiting for me to get the launch pad right.
Any advice to troubleshoot would be nice. Thank you.
you can use heat from a candle (or heat gun) to soften the 1/2 inch pvc launch tube and push it together to make it swell slightly in one spot. The bottle will seat firmly and air tight on the swelling. It's a bit more difficult to get the spacing right for the retaining pin with this (requires more precision) but you can use ordinary hose washers at the bottom to shim and get a tighter fit, if necessary. Using this method I have pressurized rockets up to 100 psi. It does leak a bit at that pressure but you are talking losing 1 psi every 5 minutes or so and it doesn't interfere with the launch.
I built a rocket launcher using your directions. They're great. Thank YOU!
My launcher leaks around the bottle opening when pumping. Any suggestion? What brand soda bottle have you used?
Holly Howe We did not keep track of the brands but there is a difference in the mouth opening. Try out a few different ones. We fill the larger mouthed bottles up a bit more and pump it up fast.
+iCreatables
Try the zip tie, hose clamp, and 1-1/4" coupling method. It involves heating the pipe by rotating it above a candle to create a slight bulge (by pushing the ends towards each other) to create a tight seal for the bottle to sit on, then using square ended zip ties (held together by duct tape mounted in place by a hose clamp) and an Inch and a quarter coupling to hold them onto the neck of the bottle to keep it in place, and to launch the bottle you slide the coupling down (agents the force of a spring that kept it in place) the zip ties that were kept in place by the coupling then slide off the neck of the bottle and it launches. I built mine for tiny 12oz bottles and made it only as big as it need to be- all I need is 5 pumps for a decent launch- no water, they can hold more pressure, and they go faster due to less air
resistance. I also built a handgun version of this since I have a large yard- I use it to shoot fishing line over trees so I can hang my Longwire Antennas very high.
+iCreatables
I did however create another issue with my air rocket 12oz bottle launcher. During launching when there is a micro pinhole gap between the bottle and the pipe the air rushing through the pinhole gap reaches speeds like 10 times faster then the speed of sound not only making the loud pop but putting hairline cracks in the lip of the bottle from the shockwave that's created and bottles can only be used a handful of times. This is also the same reason you hear a loud pop when you pop a balloon or have a tire blow out- just look up Paul Menard tire explosion.
I can reach 185PSI with the small 12oz bottles before the bulged area of the pipe starts to leak- 200PSI might be possible.
What asre the measurements for the 6 foot pvc pipe, where should it be cut?
+Matt Sosa 6 inch pieces works well for the longer connections and 2" for the shorter ones. Thanks for watching.
+iCreatables where do you became so viral?
+iCreatables how many longer connections and shorter connections are needed?
when my rocket begins to get pressurized it leaks air and water can I fix this
same
You need closer tolderances of the launch pin to the lip of bottle
How many presure did you use to reache the 200 feet?
60 to 80.. Be careful with higher pressures.
thank you, i need to reach 300 feet,so what would you suggest for my project?
HOw much PSI
the water would come out from the gap of the water bottle neck. it don't hold any pressure when i fill it with air. its not air tight enough why is that?
How did u prevent the water from leaking out?
The launch tube inside the bottle extends above the water level, therefore the water doesn't leak out.
Indeed you need some sort of rubber seal to stop the water from being pressed out while charging. The central pipe is just a guide.
I added a washer but I can’t get above 20 psi before it starts leaking.
how much pipe do we need for this???
The materials list is in the description.
Where is the list with all the parts you need to buy
won't the water in the bottle may fill the launcher?
+Piolo Pablo Some water does go into the launch tube. But that is ok. It is a sprinkler valve and once you put air pressure into the system the air will fill up any space that there is not water.
Beware using this for over a year causes wear and tear on the PVC and it can explode I had it happen to me
Did it actually explode into pieces and hurt someone? I hope everyone was ok.
@@kellyst4 little late to ask dude 😂
We can use the small area not ground please reply me my science fair is baby for tomorrow please
How long is the pipe in the bottle because I am doing this for my science Fair.
+Sonic Blast 12 inches. Good luck!
Exactly what kind of bushings are they. There are different kinds and you never specified in the list.
Slip bushings. I believe that is the only unique identifier in the name that would have helped me. As many have mentioned, no threads, but the dimensions were enough to find what you need at The Home Depot.
what is the name of the piece that the tire valve goes on?
also, what is the "t's" part? fittings?
+Silent Assassin The valve goes into a cap and the T is called a "T"
+iCreatables I need the launcher to launch at a 45* angle, so is it ok if i were to glue on a 45* angle elbow instead of a 90* angle?
+e²_837 It is just air moving through the pipes so the angle is not critical.
+iCreatables For the launcher mechanism, I accidentally drilled the holes a bit low, and the bottle doesn't line up so the pin can go through. If I remove the tiny lip of the bushing on the inside, would it affect anything? Or if I were to make the holes larger so it can go above the lip of the bottle.
Thanks for the speedy responses BTW
what are the things need for this?
About how much did it cost?
About $20.00
如何can I know how many gas Inside the bottle?
+ka kit kong About 60 psi.
thx
lol not simplest. Not even close. But great project though!
Perhaps it is much easier by using cable ties.
2022..I made a portable version.
whats the material? I cant find it in the comments. someone please help me!
It is made with pvc pipe. There is a materials list in the comments.
iCreatables slip or threaded
No!
if you are looking for the supply list. Hit the down arrow for more information about the video and scroll down and too
you'll find it.
After building this launcher myself, I have some tips for anyone planning on building this:
-It isn't specified in the parts description, but use unthreaded PVC
-Purple primer and cement worked well
-Use tent stakes to hold the launcher in place when launching
-If the pipes are tight, using a rubber mallet after the primer and cement to push them together firmly
-Bottles with a smooth side work well, I used a Pepsi bottle
-Consider rounding out the top of the launching tube with a dremel to make sliding on the bottle easier
-Foot pumps make pumping easy
-If the bottle is leaking once you pressurize the system, wrap 2-4 small fragments of packaging tape around the stem of the launcher where the bottle's rim is located once secured inside the bushing. Every part of the pipe that the bottle's rim goes over should have the tape to act as a seal. There will still be a little bit of water leaking out, but after passing 20psi the leaking should stop
Can you clarify what you mean by adding the tape? As in put tape on the outside of the bushing between the coupler and the top? I.E. the area with the drilled holes? Or the inside of the bushing?
.
H6
Why is there nothing about sealing the bottle to the launch tube so the water and air don't immediately leak out as soon as pressure is added? I cannot understand why the rocket in the video works as-is, or how other people have gotten this to work, if built exactly as shown.
Clearly, other people here have had the same problem we encountered. Now I've found other plans showing an O-ring used to seal the neck of the bottle, but once this launcher is glued together it is impossible to add the O-ring inside the large bushing later on. Such a waste.
+Carl Gruesz It depends on the bottle and the pipe sizes. We have been to events with hundreds of bottles and there are some that fit great and some that do not. But even the ones that do not fit well you can fill the bottle up with some extra water and then pump quickly and launch the rocket when it is about half full.
It is never a perfect fit and all bottles would eventually lose pressure. But as you can see from the video it does work.
Thanks for watching.
“It is not intended to be used for air pressure.” This is probably the largest understatement on all of TH-cam.
People should not build this.
By far NOT the simplest method!!!!
this is so boring
what are the things need for this?