DIY Rocket Launch Pad and Ignitors

what’s up guys today is the last day to

what’s up guys today is the last day to get your king around them t-shirt now if

get your king around them t-shirt now if

get your king around them t-shirt now if you don’t want one no big deal but if

you don’t want one no big deal but if

you don’t want one no big deal but if you do now is your last opportunity to

you do now is your last opportunity to

you do now is your last opportunity to drop down click the link in the

drop down click the link in the

drop down click the link in the description and get yours before time

description and get yours before time

description and get yours before time runs out hey guys welcome back I’m Nate

runs out hey guys welcome back I’m Nate

runs out hey guys welcome back I’m Nate thank you for joining me today on the

thank you for joining me today on the

thank you for joining me today on the king of random in our last couple videos

king of random in our last couple videos

king of random in our last couple videos we’ve shown you how to take zinc powder

we’ve shown you how to take zinc powder

we’ve shown you how to take zinc powder and sulphur and make a simple rocket

and sulphur and make a simple rocket

and sulphur and make a simple rocket fuel and how to make a small rocket out

fuel and how to make a small rocket out

fuel and how to make a small rocket out of a ballpoint pen today we’re gonna

of a ballpoint pen today we’re gonna

of a ballpoint pen today we’re gonna show you how to build the launch pad and

show you how to build the launch pad and

show you how to build the launch pad and the electric igniters that we used to

the electric igniters that we used to

the electric igniters that we used to fire off those rockets let’s start by

fire off those rockets let’s start by

fire off those rockets let’s start by building our launch pad the materials

building our launch pad the materials

building our launch pad the materials for this are very simple I have here a 5

for this are very simple I have here a 5

for this are very simple I have here a 5 by 1 board a coat hanger and four screws

by 1 board a coat hanger and four screws

by 1 board a coat hanger and four screws we’re also going to be using some wood

we’re also going to be using some wood

we’re also going to be using some wood glue a staple gun and a drill let’s

glue a staple gun and a drill let’s

glue a staple gun and a drill let’s start by cutting a square piece off of

start by cutting a square piece off of

start by cutting a square piece off of our board you don’t have to use this

our board you don’t have to use this

our board you don’t have to use this same size anything over about 4 inches

same size anything over about 4 inches

same size anything over about 4 inches by 4 inches will work before I take the

by 4 inches will work before I take the

by 4 inches will work before I take the measurements to make my square I want to

measurements to make my square I want to

measurements to make my square I want to be sure that I have a clean straight

be sure that I have a clean straight

be sure that I have a clean straight edge on my board before I call this a 5

edge on my board before I call this a 5

edge on my board before I call this a 5 by 1 inch board but that’s actually the

by 1 inch board but that’s actually the

by 1 inch board but that’s actually the size of the plank before it’s milled

size of the plank before it’s milled

size of the plank before it’s milled down the actual width of this board

down the actual width of this board

down the actual width of this board appears to be about 4 and 7/16 so we’ll

appears to be about 4 and 7/16 so we’ll

appears to be about 4 and 7/16 so we’ll measure that size and cut the board out

measure that size and cut the board out

measure that size and cut the board out of the square

of the square

of the square [Music]

now let’s cut off a strip about one inch

now let’s cut off a strip about one inch wide which will then be cut into four

wide which will then be cut into four

wide which will then be cut into four pieces as feet for our launch pad it

pieces as feet for our launch pad it

pieces as feet for our launch pad it doesn’t have to be exactly an inch I

doesn’t have to be exactly an inch I

doesn’t have to be exactly an inch I ended up cutting mine about 7/8 of an

ended up cutting mine about 7/8 of an

ended up cutting mine about 7/8 of an inch wide

with our four feet cut we’re ready to

with our four feet cut we’re ready to attach them but before we do that really

attach them but before we do that really

attach them but before we do that really quickly I’m gonna draw a couple lines

quickly I’m gonna draw a couple lines

quickly I’m gonna draw a couple lines going across our launch pad base so we

going across our launch pad base so we

going across our launch pad base so we know exactly where the center is now

know exactly where the center is now

know exactly where the center is now using a small dot of wood glue let’s

using a small dot of wood glue let’s

using a small dot of wood glue let’s attach one foot in each corner of the

attach one foot in each corner of the

attach one foot in each corner of the base while the glue on the base is

base while the glue on the base is

base while the glue on the base is drying let’s prep our coat hanger first

drying let’s prep our coat hanger first

drying let’s prep our coat hanger first we want to cut the coat hanger here and

we want to cut the coat hanger here and

we want to cut the coat hanger here and here the long straight part of the

here the long straight part of the

here the long straight part of the hanger wire is going to be the guiding

hanger wire is going to be the guiding

hanger wire is going to be the guiding rod for the rocket and we want to bend

rod for the rocket and we want to bend

rod for the rocket and we want to bend the bottom part into a curve that will

the bottom part into a curve that will

the bottom part into a curve that will fit nicely inside our base

[Music]

[Music] you’ll want the curved base of the wire

you’ll want the curved base of the wire

you’ll want the curved base of the wire to be as perpendicular to the straight

to be as perpendicular to the straight

to be as perpendicular to the straight part of the wire as you can make it this

part of the wire as you can make it this

part of the wire as you can make it this will help your Rockets launch straighter

will help your Rockets launch straighter

will help your Rockets launch straighter now that the glue has dried let’s

now that the glue has dried let’s

now that the glue has dried let’s pre-drill a hole into each foot and

pre-drill a hole into each foot and

pre-drill a hole into each foot and drive a screw into them

drive a screw into them

drive a screw into them [Music]

[Music]

[Music] to be sure our base can sit flush with

to be sure our base can sit flush with

to be sure our base can sit flush with the ground I’m going to countersink each

the ground I’m going to countersink each

the ground I’m going to countersink each of the holes a little bit

now let’s drill a hole for the hanger

now let’s drill a hole for the hanger wire which will act as a guiding rod for

wire which will act as a guiding rod for

wire which will act as a guiding rod for our Rockets we want to drill bit that is

our Rockets we want to drill bit that is

our Rockets we want to drill bit that is slightly larger than our hanger wire so

slightly larger than our hanger wire so

slightly larger than our hanger wire so that it will fit through the hole easily

that it will fit through the hole easily

that it will fit through the hole easily I’m using a 1/8 inch drill bit I’m going

I’m using a 1/8 inch drill bit I’m going

I’m using a 1/8 inch drill bit I’m going to set the hole about a quarter inch off

to set the hole about a quarter inch off

to set the hole about a quarter inch off center so that the rocket can sit in the

center so that the rocket can sit in the

center so that the rocket can sit in the middle of the launchpad let’s quickly

middle of the launchpad let’s quickly

middle of the launchpad let’s quickly sand down the launchpad just to give it

sand down the launchpad just to give it

sand down the launchpad just to give it a nice finished look

a nice finished look

a nice finished look [Music]

just for fun I’m going to use some of

just for fun I’m going to use some of this truck bedliner spray to get a part

this truck bedliner spray to get a part

this truck bedliner spray to get a part of our launchpad a cool textured look

the last step is to fit the wire through

the last step is to fit the wire through the hole and use a staple gun to secure

the hole and use a staple gun to secure

the hole and use a staple gun to secure it in place with the launchpad built

it in place with the launchpad built

it in place with the launchpad built let’s get started on the igniters these

let’s get started on the igniters these

let’s get started on the igniters these are a simple single-use electric starter

are a simple single-use electric starter

are a simple single-use electric starter that works great with this type of fuel

that works great with this type of fuel

that works great with this type of fuel you’ll need the following supplies some

you’ll need the following supplies some

you’ll need the following supplies some Christmas lights the small non led type

Christmas lights the small non led type

Christmas lights the small non led type bulbs some speaker wire wire cutters

bulbs some speaker wire wire cutters

bulbs some speaker wire wire cutters tape and a 9-volt battery let’s start

tape and a 9-volt battery let’s start

tape and a 9-volt battery let’s start with the light bulb first we need to

with the light bulb first we need to

with the light bulb first we need to remove it from the string of lights and

remove it from the string of lights and

remove it from the string of lights and its plastic housing usually you can do

its plastic housing usually you can do

its plastic housing usually you can do this just by pulling on the bulb if this

this just by pulling on the bulb if this

this just by pulling on the bulb if this piece of plastic comes out with your

piece of plastic comes out with your

piece of plastic comes out with your bulb straighten out the copper wires at

bulb straighten out the copper wires at

bulb straighten out the copper wires at the back and just pull it off

the back and just pull it off

the back and just pull it off we need to expose the filament on the

we need to expose the filament on the

we need to expose the filament on the inside so once we’ve removed the bulb

inside so once we’ve removed the bulb

inside so once we’ve removed the bulb from the string we need to break off the

from the string we need to break off the

from the string we need to break off the glass around it over a trash can you

glass around it over a trash can you

glass around it over a trash can you want to use your wire cutters to break

want to use your wire cutters to break

want to use your wire cutters to break the bulb the first step is to break off

the bulb the first step is to break off

the bulb the first step is to break off the small glass ball at the tip of the

the small glass ball at the tip of the

the small glass ball at the tip of the light bulb start at the top and very

light bulb start at the top and very

light bulb start at the top and very carefully break the bulb off using the

carefully break the bulb off using the

carefully break the bulb off using the wire cutters it’s easy to cut through

wire cutters it’s easy to cut through

wire cutters it’s easy to cut through the glass and into the wire you need to

the glass and into the wire you need to

the glass and into the wire you need to make sure you don’t damage any of the

make sure you don’t damage any of the

make sure you don’t damage any of the wires inside if you do accidentally

wires inside if you do accidentally

wires inside if you do accidentally break the tiny filament fill the bulb

break the tiny filament fill the bulb

break the tiny filament fill the bulb away and get a new one in newer lights

away and get a new one in newer lights

away and get a new one in newer lights there will be a very thin wire wrapped

there will be a very thin wire wrapped

there will be a very thin wire wrapped around the bottom of the two copper

around the bottom of the two copper

around the bottom of the two copper posts this helps keep your Christmas

posts this helps keep your Christmas

posts this helps keep your Christmas lights from going out in case the bulb

lights from going out in case the bulb

lights from going out in case the bulb dies we need to carefully remove that

dies we need to carefully remove that

dies we need to carefully remove that wire our bulb is ready now let’s attach

wire our bulb is ready now let’s attach

wire our bulb is ready now let’s attach a length of wire to the back of it cut

a length of wire to the back of it cut

a length of wire to the back of it cut off a length of speaker wire about a

off a length of speaker wire about a

off a length of speaker wire about a foot long put the ends of the wires and

foot long put the ends of the wires and

foot long put the ends of the wires and strip three quarters of an inch from all

strip three quarters of an inch from all

strip three quarters of an inch from all four ends carefully wrap wire around

four ends carefully wrap wire around

four ends carefully wrap wire around each of the two copper leads running

each of the two copper leads running

each of the two copper leads running into the light bulb

into the light bulb

into the light bulb [Music]

[Music]

[Music] use a small piece of tape to wrap around

use a small piece of tape to wrap around

use a small piece of tape to wrap around one connection and then the other this

one connection and then the other this

one connection and then the other this will prevent the two wires from touching

will prevent the two wires from touching

will prevent the two wires from touching each other and interfering with the

each other and interfering with the

each other and interfering with the intended path of the electricity at this

intended path of the electricity at this

intended path of the electricity at this point our electric igniter is actually

point our electric igniter is actually

point our electric igniter is actually ready to use but because we don’t want

ready to use but because we don’t want

ready to use but because we don’t want to be standing quite so close to the

to be standing quite so close to the

to be standing quite so close to the rocket when it goes off we can attach a

rocket when it goes off we can attach a

rocket when it goes off we can attach a longer length of speaker wire to the

longer length of speaker wire to the

longer length of speaker wire to the back

[Music]

[Music] to activate your igniter touch the other

to activate your igniter touch the other

to activate your igniter touch the other ends of your longer wire to the positive

ends of your longer wire to the positive

ends of your longer wire to the positive and negative terminals of a fresh 9-volt

and negative terminals of a fresh 9-volt

and negative terminals of a fresh 9-volt battery

battery

battery now that our launch pad and igniters are

now that our launch pad and igniters are

now that our launch pad and igniters are complete let’s grab some rockets and

complete let’s grab some rockets and

complete let’s grab some rockets and fire them off in our test launches

fire them off in our test launches

fire them off in our test launches yesterday a couple of the Rockets turned

yesterday a couple of the Rockets turned

yesterday a couple of the Rockets turned sideways shortly after ignition when

sideways shortly after ignition when

sideways shortly after ignition when watching the video in slow motion I

watching the video in slow motion I

watching the video in slow motion I noticed that there is a small jet of

noticed that there is a small jet of

noticed that there is a small jet of flame coming out the side of the pen

flame coming out the side of the pen

flame coming out the side of the pen these pens usually have a very small

these pens usually have a very small

these pens usually have a very small hole in them which lets the pressure

hole in them which lets the pressure

hole in them which lets the pressure equalized and the ink flow better but

equalized and the ink flow better but

equalized and the ink flow better but that’s not good for rocketry some of the

that’s not good for rocketry some of the

that’s not good for rocketry some of the fuel was burning sideways out of the pen

fuel was burning sideways out of the pen

fuel was burning sideways out of the pen and pushing it as it launched that

and pushing it as it launched that

and pushing it as it launched that pressure was enough to tear the guiding

pressure was enough to tear the guiding

pressure was enough to tear the guiding straw off of the rocket and the whole

straw off of the rocket and the whole

straw off of the rocket and the whole rocket would go sideways to try and fix

rocket would go sideways to try and fix

rocket would go sideways to try and fix this problem I’ve plugged up the hole

this problem I’ve plugged up the hole

this problem I’ve plugged up the hole with a small dot of super glue and

with a small dot of super glue and

with a small dot of super glue and reinforced the connection of the straw

reinforced the connection of the straw

reinforced the connection of the straw to the rocket to start let’s fill our

to the rocket to start let’s fill our

to the rocket to start let’s fill our pen rocket with fuel a small creased

pen rocket with fuel a small creased

pen rocket with fuel a small creased piece of paper is an easy way to pour

piece of paper is an easy way to pour

piece of paper is an easy way to pour fuel into the narrow opening in the

fuel into the narrow opening in the

fuel into the narrow opening in the rocket I like to hold the rocket over

rocket I like to hold the rocket over

rocket I like to hold the rocket over the container that holds the fuel so

the container that holds the fuel so

the container that holds the fuel so that if I spill it’s not lost you want

that if I spill it’s not lost you want

that if I spill it’s not lost you want to fill the body of the pen rocket with

to fill the body of the pen rocket with

to fill the body of the pen rocket with fuel until there’s about half an inch

fuel until there’s about half an inch

fuel until there’s about half an inch empty at the top it’s important that you

empty at the top it’s important that you

empty at the top it’s important that you don’t pack this fuel down too much the

don’t pack this fuel down too much the

don’t pack this fuel down too much the denser it is the slower it burns we want

denser it is the slower it burns we want

denser it is the slower it burns we want a very quick burn so we try to leave it

a very quick burn so we try to leave it

a very quick burn so we try to leave it nice and unpacked inside the pen once

nice and unpacked inside the pen once

nice and unpacked inside the pen once your rocket is full of fuel gently press

your rocket is full of fuel gently press

your rocket is full of fuel gently press the igniter down into the fuel be

the igniter down into the fuel be

the igniter down into the fuel be careful with this because if you’re too

careful with this because if you’re too

careful with this because if you’re too rough you can tear the filament of the

rough you can tear the filament of the

rough you can tear the filament of the light bulb and it won’t ignite next we

light bulb and it won’t ignite next we

light bulb and it won’t ignite next we want to take a small piece of paper

want to take a small piece of paper

want to take a small piece of paper towel or toilet paper and use it to fill

towel or toilet paper and use it to fill

towel or toilet paper and use it to fill in the gap between the wire and the body

in the gap between the wire and the body

in the gap between the wire and the body of the rocket this will keep your fuel

of the rocket this will keep your fuel

of the rocket this will keep your fuel from spilling out around the sides of

from spilling out around the sides of

from spilling out around the sides of the igniter with the pen rocket back

the igniter with the pen rocket back

the igniter with the pen rocket back right side up gently tap it so that the

right side up gently tap it so that the

right side up gently tap it so that the powder fuel settles around the igniter

powder fuel settles around the igniter

powder fuel settles around the igniter run the hanger wire through the guiding

run the hanger wire through the guiding

run the hanger wire through the guiding straw on the rocket and lower it down

straw on the rocket and lower it down

straw on the rocket and lower it down until it rests on the launch pad

let’s twist on our longer piece of wire

let’s twist on our longer piece of wire [Music]

we’ve filled our rocket with fuel we

we’ve filled our rocket with fuel we have attached our igniter we’ve attached

have attached our igniter we’ve attached

have attached our igniter we’ve attached our extension wire to our igniter and

our extension wire to our igniter and

our extension wire to our igniter and we’re ready to go with the rocket on the

we’re ready to go with the rocket on the

we’re ready to go with the rocket on the launch pad

launch pad

launch pad three two one hour battery ignition

three two one hour battery ignition

three two one hour battery ignition system worked great but because it’s

system worked great but because it’s

system worked great but because it’s cooler I’m going to use our n64 control

cooler I’m going to use our n64 control

cooler I’m going to use our n64 control launcher that we’ve built in a previous

launcher that we’ve built in a previous

launcher that we’ve built in a previous video three two one ha right here our

video three two one ha right here our

video three two one ha right here our rocket only traveled like eight feet

rocket only traveled like eight feet

rocket only traveled like eight feet away from his launch site that is

away from his launch site that is

away from his launch site that is straight up and down that’s amazing

straight up and down that’s amazing

straight up and down that’s amazing one two three four five five steps away

one two three four five five steps away

one two three four five five steps away that’s how straight down it came this

that’s how straight down it came this

that’s how straight down it came this time

time

time whew it’s all fizzle Ares you’re like

whew it’s all fizzle Ares you’re like

whew it’s all fizzle Ares you’re like hmm I wonder where it landed

hmm I wonder where it landed

hmm I wonder where it landed oh well I guess I’ll never find it pump

oh well I guess I’ll never find it pump

oh well I guess I’ll never find it pump and then it lands these things get

and then it lands these things get

and then it lands these things get pretty good height like I was sure it

pretty good height like I was sure it

pretty good height like I was sure it already landed somewhere and I was like

already landed somewhere and I was like

already landed somewhere and I was like I it’s lost forever nope boom beautiful

I it’s lost forever nope boom beautiful

I it’s lost forever nope boom beautiful it smells like sulfur just a little bit

it smells like sulfur just a little bit

it smells like sulfur just a little bit almost no smell to it really

almost no smell to it really

almost no smell to it really but sulfur is the main smell all right

but sulfur is the main smell all right

but sulfur is the main smell all right winds died down three two one that

winds died down three two one that

winds died down three two one that exploded into pieces all right that was

exploded into pieces all right that was

exploded into pieces all right that was supposed to be a rocket and instead it

supposed to be a rocket and instead it

supposed to be a rocket and instead it shattered everything I saw pieces flying

shattered everything I saw pieces flying

shattered everything I saw pieces flying everywhere this is probably the largest

everywhere this is probably the largest

everywhere this is probably the largest piece and it’s the easiest to find

piece and it’s the easiest to find

piece and it’s the easiest to find because it’s got a bright orange tip

because it’s got a bright orange tip

because it’s got a bright orange tip haven’t had that happen before I’ve done

haven’t had that happen before I’ve done

haven’t had that happen before I’ve done at least 10 of these so far and I’ve

at least 10 of these so far and I’ve

at least 10 of these so far and I’ve talked to someone who’s done like dozens

talked to someone who’s done like dozens

talked to someone who’s done like dozens of them nope haven’t had one explode

of them nope haven’t had one explode

of them nope haven’t had one explode before this one did interesting

[Music]

[Music] there you have it that’s how you can

there you have it that’s how you can

there you have it that’s how you can build a custom rocket launch pad and

build a custom rocket launch pad and

build a custom rocket launch pad and electric igniter this launch pad and

electric igniter this launch pad and

electric igniter this launch pad and igniter work perfectly with our pen

igniter work perfectly with our pen

igniter work perfectly with our pen rockets and our Zink sulfur fuel mixture

rockets and our Zink sulfur fuel mixture

rockets and our Zink sulfur fuel mixture this is a super easy and basic way to

this is a super easy and basic way to

this is a super easy and basic way to get into beginning rocketry you could

get into beginning rocketry you could

get into beginning rocketry you could build the pen the base the igniter and

build the pen the base the igniter and

build the pen the base the igniter and mix up the fuel all in one day it’s been

mix up the fuel all in one day it’s been

mix up the fuel all in one day it’s been a fun few projects and I hope that you

a fun few projects and I hope that you

a fun few projects and I hope that you have a chance to build these and try

have a chance to build these and try

have a chance to build these and try them out yourselves be sure to check

them out yourselves be sure to check

them out yourselves be sure to check your local laws about where you are and

your local laws about where you are and

your local laws about where you are and are not allowed to launch rockets thanks

are not allowed to launch rockets thanks

are not allowed to launch rockets thanks for joining us for this project today

for joining us for this project today

for joining us for this project today and we look forward to the next one talk

and we look forward to the next one talk

and we look forward to the next one talk to you then it looks so good until you

to you then it looks so good until you

to you then it looks so good until you launch one rocket on it

launch one rocket on it

launch one rocket on it our rocket launch pad used to look so

our rocket launch pad used to look so

our rocket launch pad used to look so pretty with its black textured base and

pretty with its black textured base and

pretty with its black textured base and the wood border going around it it still

the wood border going around it it still

the wood border going around it it still it’s really cool because it’s got

it’s really cool because it’s got

it’s really cool because it’s got authentic blast patterns on it but it’s

authentic blast patterns on it but it’s

authentic blast patterns on it but it’s not quite as clean as it was before

not quite as clean as it was before

not quite as clean as it was before I think the rocket may have melted

I think the rocket may have melted

I think the rocket may have melted through some of that paint too beautiful

through some of that paint too beautiful

through some of that paint too beautiful ah so that’s a great failure you’re

ah so that’s a great failure you’re

ah so that’s a great failure you’re gonna have a failure it better be

gonna have a failure it better be

gonna have a failure it better be catastrophic hey guys quick reminder

catastrophic hey guys quick reminder

catastrophic hey guys quick reminder that king of random t-shirts are

that king of random t-shirts are

that king of random t-shirts are available once again just go ahead and

available once again just go ahead and

available once again just go ahead and click the link at the top of the

click the link at the top of the

click the link at the top of the description and it’ll take you to where

description and it’ll take you to where

description and it’ll take you to where you can get one today