Hi all,
I am new to the hobby and to this thread. I did launch commercial kits with B, then C motors.
Now I want to make a small R-candy based motor. I'm using a 1/2" aluminum tubing for the motor body.
I am planning to experiment with nozzles and expect many test burns before it gets to actual launch. Aluminum is good for experimenting - just wash it and it is ready again.
Safety first, so I've practiced cooking *inert* R-candy first, using table salt instead of KNO3. I used a metal rod to push inert fuel into the motor, but melted sucrose freezes fast, so I had to keep the motor hot by blowing a heat gun at it. I won't be able to pack fuel tightly into the motor without using the heat gun, so here are my questions:
1. What's the best way to cast r-candy into an aluminum tubing? The problem is that melted candy freezes up fast - as soon as it enters the tube and long before it reaches the bottom. I know that there should be no air pockets inside the motor, so I want to make sure that the fuel is packed tightly in the motor.
2. Is it safe to keep hot (or melt) R-Candy with a heat gun (I have an orange one from Harbor Freight) ? I want to make sure that the fuel can't ignite from the heat gun. What is the flashpoint of R-Candy?
Thanks all.
I am new to the hobby and to this thread. I did launch commercial kits with B, then C motors.
Now I want to make a small R-candy based motor. I'm using a 1/2" aluminum tubing for the motor body.
I am planning to experiment with nozzles and expect many test burns before it gets to actual launch. Aluminum is good for experimenting - just wash it and it is ready again.
Safety first, so I've practiced cooking *inert* R-candy first, using table salt instead of KNO3. I used a metal rod to push inert fuel into the motor, but melted sucrose freezes fast, so I had to keep the motor hot by blowing a heat gun at it. I won't be able to pack fuel tightly into the motor without using the heat gun, so here are my questions:
1. What's the best way to cast r-candy into an aluminum tubing? The problem is that melted candy freezes up fast - as soon as it enters the tube and long before it reaches the bottom. I know that there should be no air pockets inside the motor, so I want to make sure that the fuel is packed tightly in the motor.
2. Is it safe to keep hot (or melt) R-Candy with a heat gun (I have an orange one from Harbor Freight) ? I want to make sure that the fuel can't ignite from the heat gun. What is the flashpoint of R-Candy?
Thanks all.
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