Time to go shopping - what essential supplies should I get?

The Rocketry Forum

Help Support The Rocketry Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Joshua F Thomas

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2019
Messages
664
Reaction score
342
Hello! Beginner rocket builder here. Have built a single Alpha III, which required no more than a hot glue gun and some time. I'm looking to go bigger, and I'm starting to build a shopping list of things I'll tools and materials I'll want for bigger and better rockets. What can you suggest?

Here's what I have on my list so far:

* Angle Ruler/Measure
* Sandpaper (220/400/600)
* Hobby knife, #11 blade
* Epoxy (Loctite, 5-minute set)
* CYANOACRYLATE glue, thick (for fillets)
* Elmer's Wood Glue


Thanks!
 
Some people swear by super glue, I usually swear at it. I use it for quick repairs, but never for building. Good paper or wood glue works best for low and mid power stuff. I use epoxy on motor mounts as I hate how wood glue can grab.

If you are filling spirals or grain on balsa I would recommend wood filler. I use the water soluble kind like Elmer's.

Are you going to spray paint? Get a book by the Dali Lama which will teach you patience and the ability to accept what happens because you are going to need it!
 
Are you going to spray paint? Get a book by the Dali Lama which will teach you patience and the ability to accept what happens because you are going to need it!

LOL that is so true! I had bought a can of 'neon yellow' paint the other day. It dried with a finish like sandpaper! After all that time filling and sanding :D
 
Everyone develops their personal preferences. I use wood glue and white (Elmers glue all) for most purposes. My preference is 30 min epoxy over 5 minute. I also occasionally use medium and thin CA, but never thick. Medium is good if you want to something to grab quickly, and thin can be used to harden cardboard and balsa in strategic places.
 
Instead of thick CA for fillets on cardboard and wood rockets use Titebond No Run No Drip wood glue, its thicker than regular wood glue and builds better fillets quicker. Thick CA has other uses. Would also recommend thin CA as it wicks into cardboard and wood, hardening the surfaces. Epoxy with thickeners like Cabosil/fumed silica work well for fillets (BSI 15 and 30 mins.
 
Instead of thick CA for fillets on cardboard and wood rockets use Titebond No Run No Drip wood glue, its thicker than regular wood glue and builds better fillets quicker.
Yes yes yes to this advice, although nowadays it is called "Quick and Thick". It's useful to have a bottle of this stuff around *solely* for doing fillets. In addition to building better fillets quicker, it stays where you put it, so you can do a whole rocket's worth of fillets in one shot. Or, at least, one round: I still usually do at least two layers with it.

I wrote a quick little tutorial on how to use it for fillets: https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/doing-fillets-with-titebond-quick-and-thick.148632/
Thick CA has other uses. Would also recommend thin CA as it wicks into cardboard and wood, hardening the surfaces. Epoxy with thickeners like Cabosil/fumed silica work well for fillets (BSI 15 and 30 mins.
Thin CA is very useful but be careful with it.
 
The Estes tandem launch set is a good combination of rockets for a beginner builder, the Amazon and Crossfire ISX, one with plastic fins and one with balsa, a good deal from Hobby Lobby with their 40% discount coupon.
 
Get the book, Handbook of Model Rocketry

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-lis...?ie=UTF8&condition=used&qid=1561340912&sr=8-2

New $17, used $11.

It’s a fun and easy read with pretty much everything you need to know for low through mid power rocketry.

Find a local club and fly with them.

This forum is a great resource, but these two things will pay you back in time and money 100 fold

1) done
2) done

Still looking for feedback, because the internet reaches a much larger audience of experienced people than any book or club does.
 
The Estes tandem launch set is a good combination of rockets for a beginner builder, the Amazon and Crossfire ISX, one with plastic fins and one with balsa, a good deal from Hobby Lobby with their 40% discount coupon.

Yeah, that wasn't actually my question. I'm looking for recommendation on *general supplies and materials* for building rockets.
 
It may be tempting to run out and grab a bunch of stuff.... but long-run, accumulate things slowly over time on an as-needed per-project basis.

By the time your friends and family notice, it will be too late to stage a successful intervention :-D
 
If you, indeed, used a hot glue gun on your Alpha III, I'd recommend making a "shelf queen". The heat of the motor could soften the hot glue to the point of failure.

The other recommendations you've gotten should set you on the right course.
 
If you, indeed, used a hot glue gun on your Alpha III, I'd recommend making a "shelf queen". The heat of the motor could soften the hot glue to the point of failure.

The other recommendations you've gotten should set you on the right course.

That one was my very first rocket and I was in a hurry to get it done for the launch event. Also no one had told me better. :D

It did survive the launch ok! I wasn't planning on using it for many more launches, as nice of a starter as it was.
 
For what it's worth, I'm considering ASP's "That Tube Rocket" as my next rocket.
Yikes, you're going from an 18mm starter rocket to a 29mm mid power bird? Not trying to discourage you but there's a lot of fun and learning that can be had in between. Clustering, staging, gliders, etc, etc.
The That Tube! is also available as a smaller 18mm rocket.https://www.asp-rocketry.com/ecomme...-Version-.cfm?item_id=981&parent=10&navPanel=
If you go with the larger one, ASP recommends to use epoxy for the motor mount and fins. It's not a particularly hard rocket to build, but epoxy glue has a little bit of a learning curve, especially with regards to filleting.
Whatever you decide, don't forget to have fun! Cheers.
 
Clustering, staging sounds interesting; but one of my goals is to use an Arduino (that I already own) as an altitude sensor payload. I need a big enough tube to mount a sled inside it, and the tube rocket will be large enough to accomplish that goal. Once I can see that I can fly it safely, I can start working to modify it for payload.

Also at my last launch event I had a nice long chat with a gentleman who was using a similar-sized tube rocket, so I got a good bit of advice on it.
 
Yikes, you're going from an 18mm starter rocket to a 29mm mid power bird? Not trying to discourage you but there's a lot of fun and learning that can be had in between.
Dude, he already said that was not his question. But, that is some sound advice.
 
Masking tape. Our rocket world would be lost without it.
Smaller projects only require 1/2 or 3/4 inch.

One of the first real tools needed is a simple drill/bits. rockets require tons of holes when you start going into mid and lesser high power.
Av-bays..vent holes...bulkplate holes for eyebolts,tie rods etc etc. I used a simple hand drill for years,before needing a powered one [fiberglass]

You mention altimeters ans sleds..most common hardware for mounting that is 4-40 machine screws and nuts of various lengths most 1/2 and 3/4 in long.

Here's a reference on how to build mid high power rockets, basically everything you want to know. this is the index to it. simply click on what interest you.
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/how-to-build-a-stock-3in-darkstar-cj-step-by-step.55019/
 
Well, I'm at 13 rockets now and this is the first I've heard about using a glue gun. So here's what I mashed up from reading the instructions for all my kits:

- For smaller rockets (A-E motors), white wood glue is good enough for the motor mount.

- For bigger rockets (F and beyond), use epoxy for the motor mount (but you might want to practice with epoxy on the smaller kits).

- For the fins, you can use CA for the contact surfaces to ensure proper alignment, and then add many layers of fillets with either white glue (much easier to work since you can use a finger tip and easily clean your hands after), or epoxy (use a glove because it's harder to wash off).

Finishing is longer than you expect. Filling the spirals with putty, sanding, priming (a few coats), sanding, masking with appropriate tape, spray painting (a few coats), masking again, spray painting another colour (a few coats), applying decals, and applying the clear coat. The entire process involves waiting over night a few times for the glue, primer or paint to dry. This can be fun, as long as you're ready for it.
 
Finishing is longer than you expect. Filling the spirals with putty, sanding, priming (a few coats), sanding, masking with appropriate tape, spray painting (a few coats), masking again, spray painting another colour (a few coats), applying decals, and applying the clear coat. The entire process involves waiting over night a few times for the glue, primer or paint to dry. This can be fun, as long as you're ready for it.
Your general point is spot-on, but I just want to say that if you're using rattle can enamels (e.g.: Rustoleum 2x) then forget over night, you're talking many days of drying lest you risk the dreaded crinkle-coat. My paint jobs often take several weeks, because I'm not willing to risk a too-short drying interval between colors, and then I have to wait for appropriate weather and/or painting opportunities. Lacquers dry much faster and enable much quicker turnaround. I haven't tried them yet.

As with all things, you only to spend as much time as you value. I don't particularly enjoy (!) painting and priming and sanding, but I want my rockets to look as good as possible (within reason) before first flight, so I spend a good bit of time on paint and finish. Others fly without paint, or do quick-and-dirty paint jobs; still others spend hours wet-sanding and polishing their paint until they achieve mirror shine.
 
Masking tape. Our rocket world would be lost without it.
Smaller projects only require 1/2 or 3/4 inch.

One of the first real tools needed is a simple drill/bits. rockets require tons of holes when you start going into mid and lesser high power.
Av-bays..vent holes...bulkplate holes for eyebolts,tie rods etc etc. I used a simple hand drill for years,before needing a powered one [fiberglass]

You mention altimeters ans sleds..most common hardware for mounting that is 4-40 machine screws and nuts of various lengths most 1/2 and 3/4 in long.

Here's a reference on how to build mid high power rockets, basically everything you want to know. this is the index to it. simply click on what interest you.
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/how-to-build-a-stock-3in-darkstar-cj-step-by-step.55019/

Much thanks!
 
Sandpaper, many grits. I use 36 grit all the way down to 2000 grit. Dremel tools are GREAT, with various bits. Ruler, I like the clear flexible ones from Hobby Lobby. A piece of aluminum angle for marking straight lines on body tubes. Masking tape, again many sizes or to be had. A drill of some sort. Drill bits. Exacto knives and blades. Screw drivers, allen wrenches, pliers, sharpie markers, paper towels, nitrile gloves,alcohol for cleaning, not drinking. If you are going to use spray cans, don't need much more than a place to do it. But if you are going to get into spray equipment, you will need compressor, hose, spray gun, air dryer, fresh air supply for your self. Strainers, tack cloths, cleaning items. And all of these can be personal choices, and you do not have to have them to build with, but they do make things easier. Good luck.
 
Find a local club and join it. The single best thing I have ever done in rocketry. If the club meets to build stuff you can share tips and tools.
 
Hello! Beginner rocket builder here... What can you suggest?
* Angle Ruler/Measure
* Sandpaper (220/400/600)
* Hobby knife, #11 blade
* Epoxy (Loctite, 5-minute set)
* CYANOACRYLATE glue, thick (for fillets)
* Elmer's Wood Glue
Some of this is repetition of what others have stated, but I can't help myself.

Sandpaper: add 320 grit to your list. You can add lots more, as David said, but 220, 320, and 400 are the workhorses, at least for me, with only occasional use of 80 and 600, and far rarer use of anything higher. If I used more plywood fins I'm sure I'd use more 80 and 120.

5 minute epoxy is fine of you like to work fast, but I far prefer longer.

Thick CA has it's uses, but absolutely not for fillets. Among other reasons, when you try to smooth the fillet you'll glue your finger to the rocket. Also, I think you'd have a really hard time building it up thick enough. And this from a guy who often likes small fillets made with regular wood glue. (Incidentally, I and many like TiteBond, but Elmers is fine I'm sure.) Where I've most made use of it is in attaching fins when I have to align them by hand. With two or three drops on the root, I can align and hold the fin steady long enough for a quick (but weak) hold. The the wood glue fillets give the joint its real strength.

And speaking of attaching fins, the above method is not what I prefer. Get some sort of fin alignment jig. I love this one, but for any motor mount larger than 24 mm you'd have to make your own adapters.

Extra blades for the hobby knife, and a few shapes may be handy. Some jobs you can use slightly worn blades for, others want brand new, or darn close to it. (I've been known to resharpen mine, but that's because I already have the sharpening equipment and plenty of practice with it.)

Razor saw.

Boxes for accumulated parts, including balsa "scrap" big enough to still be useful.

A waste basket for your build area, as keeping the bench reasonably clean is a really good idea. You can inaugurate it with your hot glue gun.

A cutting mat.

Acetone for cleaning. But beware, it will attack more things than alcohol, such as the white markings on the cutting mat. (Learned that one the hard way, I did.)

These are a few of my favorite things. That is, the tools I use most, or miss the most when I don't have. I don't disagree with dhbarr about accumulating things gradually, as needed.

Thin CA is very useful but be careful with it.
Oh my Figure of Speech, yes! The stuff seems to be less viscous (i.e flows easier and quicker) than water. Darn useful, and a little scary. Sometimes I've used it on my fin roots, after the two or three drops of thick and before the fillets, and more than once I've stuck my fingers to body tubes. And (as others have said) it's good for stiffening and strengthening balsa, paper, cardboard, and the like.

Advice done, conversation commencing. About the Arduino altimeter, is that because you want to build your own altimeter? There are many good and reasonably priced altimeters on the market; if you want to build you own then by all means go for it. If not, just buy one.
 
Great googly-moogly, I forgot to mention my workhorse snap-off knives: 9mm and 18mm. Love these things. I still use my Xactos on occasion when a particular-shaped blade is called for, but the vast majority of my cutting these days is done with snap-offs. A sharp blade is always seconds away, and they're so cheap that you don't think twice.
 
That's a nice idea. All of my cutting for the last year or so has been done with my Swiss army knife, as my X-actos are still hidden away in a box somewhere. But I have two snap offs around the house so - duh - I should be using those.
 
You can buy or build yourself a fin jig to keep yours fins on straight while drying. I wish I’d known enough to get one when I first started.
 
Back
Top