Estes Ignitor shelf life?

[KurtH]

Hello,

I was going through my old range box from my first go round in rocketry int he 80s, and I found 3 packages of ignitors in the Grey package. These date from either 1989 or as late as 1995 (when I got back in the hobby briefly). Any way are these ignitors still any good? two of the packages are sealed. They have been in a basement since the 90s but it was climate controlled.

Thanks for any insight!

-K

 

[Donaldsrockets]

Ignitors should have an indefinite shelf life, especially in a sealed package.

Estes BP motors can too as long as the storage conditions are consistent.

With an Estes ignitor as long as the bridge wire is intact, the ignitor will show continuity and should work with no issues.

 

[MarkII]

The chromium content in the nichrome bridge wire protects it from corrosion. Real old school Estes igniters (I used to use them) that consisted of nothing BUT nichrome wire will last forever!

 

[Gillard]

It does depend on how they are stored.
I have purchased packs of old ignitors + motors (from the 80's) where the ignitor had corroded through at the bridge and they would not ignite. (The motors however were fine)

 

[ghrocketman]

About a week to 50 years depending on how they are stored.

 

[n3tjm]

I never had luck with the old pink packages that came with the red tip igniters. Other than that, Estes igniters last forever if you store them right,

 

[tquigg]

I never had luck with the old pink packages that came with the red tip igniters. Other than that, Estes igniters last forever if you store them right,

I always had a problem with the Estes igniters that had the copper colored wires.

 

[Donaldsrockets]

I always had a problem with the Estes igniters that had the copper colored wires.

I remember when I had one of those. It didn't show continuity so I thought my controller batteries were too low and I almost gave up and went home.

Then just as I was packing up, it hit me to try another ignitor so I did and it worked.

Other than that, I haven't really had too many problems with them. One time I got 3 launches using the same ignitor before it finally burned in half.

As long as the bridge wire is still intact, the ignitor will still work but subsequent ignitions might take just a hair longer as the coating burns off after the first firing.

 

[Micromeister]

Totally depends on how they have been handled and/or stored.
I've had bad iginters out of brand new packages but regularly use igniters that go as far back in the hobby as I do (mid 60's) LOL!!!

 

[luke strawwalker]

Hello,

I was going through my old range box from my first go round in rocketry int he 80s, and I found 3 packages of ignitors in the Grey package. These date from either 1989 or as late as 1995 (when I got back in the hobby briefly). Any way are these ignitors still any good? two of the packages are sealed. They have been in a basement since the 90s but it was climate controlled.

Thanks for any insight!

-K

Same thing when I got my motor storage box from Grandma's awhile back-- engines and ignitors from the 80's...

A lot of my ignitors were still in the sealed plastic baggies. These were the grey and black baggies with the horizontal stripes on them that each stripe below the last was narrower and narrower... and I even had a few older baggies that were the white plastic with the red printing on them.

Some of them were good, some weren't. I noticed a few baggies had stuff 'rattling around' in them, and when I opened them up, I found that the ignitors had pretty well crumbled and the wires were rusted all to pieces. NOW THESE *WERE* SEALED BAGGIES, so the only explanation I have is that there was enough moisture inside the baggie (maybe from the pyrogen?) to cause the corrosion. Some of these were the old red pyrogen ignitors too, which may be more corrosive.

Some of the other baggies were just fine-- opened the ignitors and you could tell they were old because of slight oxidation on the pyrogen (looks dull with whitish spots/residue on them) and slight corrosion where the wires emerged from the pyrogen head, but everything was intact.

I'd say "open 'em up" and check the continuity using your controller in a safe place... if the continuity is good on them, odds are they'll work.

If the pyrogen is cracked or busted or the wires are corroded to heck, I'd just toss them and get some Quest Q2G2's or more antiquated Solar Ignitors...

Later and Good luck!
OL JR

 

[spacecadet]

If they show any sign of corrosion don't bother. I had a duff pack the other year and my vendor replaced them without question- they were new stock.

 

[SMR]

I found 3 packages of ignitors in the Grey package. These date from either 1989 or as late as 1995 (when I got back in the hobby briefly). Any way are these ignitors still any good?

No penalty for trying them.

 

[Bazookadale]

I never had luck with the old pink packages that came with the red tip igniters. Other than that, Estes igniters last forever if you store them right,

The red tipped igniters were junk when they were new, that's why Estes went away from them

 

[Micromeister]

I used to fly a lot of Clusters using estes igniters. They were fine until about the mid 80's when estes started cutting back on the pyrogen. somewhere around that same time I started noticing a greater number of BAD OUT of the Package igniters. Those that look perfectly fine on the outside ie pyrogen perfectly solid and sound, but when tested had no continuity at all.
At that point I started testing each and every igniter before and after installation in the motors to ensure good igniter continuity before they were ever put on a launcher. I've can't recall the last misfire i've had since starting the practice.
Below its the little pocket continuity tester i've been using. Very simple to make and super quick to use. The second photo is of a new even smaller AAA battery continuity tester that I've been using Same basic wiring in a smaller custom styrene plastic holder. Fits easily in any pocket.

 

[ghrocketman]

Agree with n3tjm; the late 70's/early 80's Estes solar igniters that had the reddish-orange pyrogen tip were junk.
Not sure what that stuff was, but it always flaked off the tips, was harder to ignite, and often fizzled without igniting the motor. Total rubbish.

 

[Cluster King]

Why not test fire some?

I gave away all my Estes ignitors to teachers. I use only Quest ignitors, especially clusters. And for really big clusters they have 8", virtually eliminating clip whips.

Tsolo

 

[KurtH]

I did test fire some. It was fun, I took 3 ignitors from an open 15 year old pack because I needed to test my clip whip. As soon as the solder cooled I took it out side, and at about 2:45 in the morning I lit up 3 ignitors in the back yard. This proved the ignitors were good, and that my soldering skills are satisfactory. :roll: