I wonder it a high temp paint like use for wood stoves or car engines sprayed on the balsa would help?Having built over 100 balsa rockets, with probably 5 times that number of flights, I HAVE had two catch fire, one recently. So yes, it is rare, but it can happen. Fortunately they landed on green fields, but could have been a problem in dry grass or bush.
Make sure your internal balsa surfaces that may get impacted with hot particles are protected. Uncovered balsa is MUCH more flammable than a paper body tube. Mylar tape works, or aluminum foil can be attached with spray adhesive. Even a coat of paint may do the trick.
In both of my cases, I never saw the fire or the smoke, I just noted a black spot, that kept getting bigger, and bigger, and BIGGER, and then finally the light went on that this puppy was on fire. Flames are hard to see on a sunny day. I usually don’t stomp on my rockets after flight (although I have been tempted at times,) these two cases were exceptions.
In the first case, was a club lunch, no way could the peanut gallery have known initially why I was stamping on my rocket about 20 feet past the launch pad. It didn’t help that I was a fairly new member.......
Having built over 100 balsa rockets, with probably 5 times that number of flights, I HAVE had two catch fire, one recently. So yes, it is rare, but it can happen. Fortunately they landed on green fields, but could have been a problem in dry grass or bush.
Make sure your internal balsa surfaces that may get impacted with hot particles are protected. Uncovered balsa is MUCH more flammable than a paper body tube. Mylar tape works, or aluminum foil can be attached with spray adhesive. Even a coat of paint may do the trick.
In both of my cases, I never saw the fire or the smoke, I just noted a black spot, that kept getting bigger, and bigger, and BIGGER, and then finally the light went on that this puppy was on fire. Flames are hard to see on a sunny day. I usually don’t stomp on my rockets after flight (although I have been tempted at times,) these two cases were exceptions.
In the first case, was a club lunch, no way could the peanut gallery have known initially why I was stamping on my rocket about 20 feet past the launch pad. It didn’t help that I was a fairly new member.......
Nice!next bit done today - each fin weighs 7g
My cousin worked for a company that surveyed city water systems about 10 years ago, told me lots of town still had them in use.Your rocket "visually" remind me of old school water pipes that were made from wood... don't know if you've ever seen those before?
I doubt it takes very much, a coat of any nonflammable (when dry) paint or primer or glue would probably do it. Interestingly, Fabri-Tac Glue was recommended as an adhesive to put black powder on Estes new pyrogen free starters. It is strongly flammable when wet. I tried it both with and without powder. It works WITH powder, does nothing without powder. Turns out it is NOT inherently flammable when dry. Makes sense, the legal implications of putting intentionally flammable material on clothing would not be good.Hmm. I wonder why ejection baffles don't catch on fire then? Perhaps it's because they are made from light-ply and the process of gluing the ply's together helps them to be more fire resistant? I read somewhere, maybe here on TRF, that simply coating balsa with wood glue makes it much more fire resistant. I guess that would make sense as it seals up the pores of the balsa.
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/most-effective-baffle-design.159064/page-2#post-2064760
... For the stain, I am thinking a gold oak type color - any thoughts on making it tougher? ...
Possibly the best advice you will ever see on the forum (and surprisingly rarely followed.)Perhaps do some test pieces and see what you like best?
Without fins, it reminds me of those spears they used in Braveheart.little progress
I can't imagine a funner build. All balsa working, awesome!this is a pretty fun build
I can't wait until I see a coat or two of spar varnish on it. It will really the grain. Wood is a wonderful, beautiful material.this is a pretty fun build
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