Paper Tube Rocket

by sparky2012 in Outside > Rockets

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Paper Tube Rocket

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What is easy to make, fun to shoot, and takes only 10 minutes of your time? Pneumatic Paper Rockets!

These take only 5-10 minutes to make, but provide a lot of fun. All you need is an index card, tissue, and tape. To launch you need a bike pump with a nozzle shaped like this >. This nozzle = and this one --- wont work.

Here is a video of it in action



Thanks to KelliShaver's Instructable for inspiration.

Materials

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You will need:

Tape (masking, duct, etc)
Glue
1 index card
1 straw
1 tissue
1 bicycle pump (Optional)

Create the Body

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Wrap the paper around the straw. Wrap it just loose enough for the straw to slip out.

Tape

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Wrap tape all around the barrel, then let the straw fall out.

Attach Fins

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Cut 3 pieces of tape (picture 1)

Then fold them (picture 2)

And cut (picture 3)

Then attach it to the barrel (picture 4)

Repeat for all 3 pieces of tape.

Cover Top

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Your rocket should now look like picture 1.

Put a piece of tape over the top, so it looks like picture 2.

Create Inner Weight

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Take a piece of tissue (picture 1), and crumple it into a small ball (picture 2). Now insert the tissue into the straw (picture 3). Take some glue (hot glue or Elmer's glue), and put a little spot on the top of the tissue (picture 4). Now stick the straw all the way into the barrel (picture 5).

WARNING: HOT GLUE IS HOT! IT CAN BURN, SO BE CAREFUL.

Attach Outer Weight

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Take another piece of tissue, and crumple it up. put this on a piece of tape, as shown in picture 1. Then put this on the top of the barrel (picture 2). You might want to seal it with some more tape. Picture 3 shows the rocket thus far.

Finishing the Rocket

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Now, you just have to wait until the glue dries. Then you can pull the straw out. If it does not come out, just blow in the straw.

Launching

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You can use the straw or the pump to launch it.

When using the straw, push it in the barrel until it is secure. Then blow hard until it pops. If you can't blow it out, then loosen the straw a little more.

When using the pump, then push the barrel onto the nozzle. Aim the nozzle (away from people) and then pump as hard as you can. I've gotten it to go 20ft with the pump.

Remember, always be safe (wear goggles and launch it away from people), and enjoy!

Post how far you've gotten it to go in the comments.