mad science

How To Build A Rocket (From Scratch)

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Turn random household items into a fully functional hobby rocket, for under $10. In this video you’ll see how to build the “Randomizer” Rocket, from scratch.
Free Sonic Dad Template & PDF:

Some quick links to a few of the materials I used:

[✓] Plastic Champagne glasses:
[✓] Yellow Spray Paint:
[✓] Gas Relief Pills:
[✓] 150 Grit Sandpaper:
[✓] 400 Grit Sandpaper:
[✓] Golf Bag Tube:
[✓] Wrapping paper:
[✓] Epoxy Glue:
[✓] Hot Glue Gun:
[✓] Elastic Braided Cord:
[✓] Scissors:
[✓] Plastic Table Cover:
[✓] Swivel Hooks:
[✓] Rocket Wadding:
[✓] Rocket Engine:

Endcard Links:

Simple Chutes:
Electric Igniters:
Screw-Lock Sugar Rockets:
Randomizer Launch-pad:

Next Video: The Hot Wire Styro-Slicer:
Previous Video: How To Make Fire-Resistant Rocket Wadding (For Pennies):

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WARNING:

This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume responsibility for the results of your actions. Playing with experimental rockets could result in serious injury, property damage and/or legal ramifications. Have fun, but always think ahead, and remember that every project you try is at YOUR OWN RISK.

Music By:

Music by Scott & Brendo “Kitten Air” Instrumental
iTunes:
YouTube: www.youtube.com/scottandbrendo

Project Inspired By: Ritchie Kinmont with (

Project History & More Info:

This project was inspired by my good friend Ritchie Kinmont with

We collaborated together on a design for a rocket that could be powered by the sugar motors I showed you how to make in a previous video ( made with PVC, sugar, kitty litter, and stump remover.

The new “Screw-Lock” version features threaded PVC risers, that allow the motors to quickly be changed, for faster turn-around times, and they have built in ejection charges for popping out the parachute at apogee.

Last year I promised that if there was enough interest, I’d try to develop a rocket that could be used with the sugar motors .. and my goal was to build a version where the sugar motors could screw onto the bottom of the rocket for convenience.

At the beginning of the year, the Sonic Dad team reached looking to do some kind of a collaboration, and the timing was perfect. So I asked Ritchie if he could help me engineer a sugar rocket.

Most rocket clubs won’t let you fly sugar motors, except on special experimental launch days. However, the “Randomizer” rocket can also be used with commercial “Estes” D12-3 and E9-6 black power motors. So if you go with those, there’s a good chance they’ll let you fly your rocket at any club launch.

The rocket can fly over 1,000 feet high, and depending on the winds, can stay in the air for around 5 minutes while it floats back to the ground, so it’s important to be super cautious where, and when, you launch to avoid doing any damage.

This video completes the rocket building series, and I’m really excited to share my passion for building and launching rockets with completely home-made equipment. In my opinion, it’s the best way to learn about how rocketry really works.
#tkor #thekingofrandom

How To Make a Matchbox Rocket Launching Kit

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How to make rockets that shoot over 40 feet, with aluminum foil and a match.

Some quick links to a few of the materials I used:

[✓] Safety Matches:
[✓] Aluminum Foil:
[✓] Tea Light Candles:
[✓] Bamboo Skewers:

Because of the popularity of this project, I’ve put together a detailed 28 page PDF ( with step-by-step instructions, Fun Facts, Helpful Hints, and loaded with pictures. I’m selling them to help compensate for my time. You can get the Project PDF here if you’re interested:

Free template:

Endcard Links:

Paper Plate Speaker:
Fire Piston:
Smoke Flares:
Water Pump:

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WARNING:

Although these rockets are only fueled by one match head, they do get hot enough to burn fingers, and leave scorch marks in carpets. This project should not be attempted without adult supervision, and if done indoors, safety precautions should be in place to mitigate any fire hazards. Misuse, or careless use, may result in property damage. Use of this video content is at your own risk.

Music By: Scott & Brendo (“Fire” – Instrumental)

Project Inspired By:

A video by Marek Hayward I saw over a year ago. ( If you check out the link, please share the love and let Marek know that Grant Thompson sent you. 🙂 Thank you!

Project History & More Info:

After seeing the video by Marek Hayward (which had 10,000 views at the time, and is now over 1,000,000!) I dropped everything I was doing to try this experiment.

Unfortunately I couldn’t get much success with it. The rockets only seemed to work about half the time, and the needle they were launching from would get coated in carbon and tar residues after only a couple of launches, which seriously affected the performance.

In addition, the rockets weren’t balanced, so once they fired, they wouldn’t shoot very straight.

It’s taken me over a year of prototyping and testing, and playing with different ideas to get the result you see in this video. I developed the idea into a full-on matchbox rocket launching kit, which I’m super proud of, and excited to share in the project video.

These rockets shoot consistently between 20-40 feet, and one of the biggest factors to whether the rockets work or fail, depends on how tight the crimp is on the rockets nose. Any rocket that has failed on me has almost always been because the crimp wasn’t done right, or wasn’t tight enough.

The rockets will propel the furthest if they’re launched from a stable base that has little to no give. If there is any give on the launchpad, that will absorb some of the energy and the rocket won’t go as far.

Multiple tests in my house confirmed that if the rockets land on the carpet, they need to be moved within 1-2 seconds, or they will begin to melt into the fabric. The aluminum casings are heated in a flame until they reach the auto-ignition temperature of the match head, so you can expect them to be very hot, and may want to be wearing gloves when you recover the spent rocket casings as well 🙂

This is an awesome and exciting project whether you’re a kid or and adult. It’s impressive to fire a rocket with one match head and see such power, and the smoke trail it leaves in it’s wake is extremely satisfying as well.

I’m giving away the template I made for free, all I ask in return is that you please share this video 🙂 You can get it here:
#tkor #thekingofrandom