Bruce,

You should really talk to 2 people. One is Nate L. out of Boulder (he flew the K500 on 6/3) and the other is Brad M. of Tripoli Colorado. Both have flown sugar before and can give you a great starting point! I you need any sorbitol I think I've got 25lbs from when I used to do sugar motors.

Edward

you need any sorbitol I think I've got 25lbs from when I used to do sugar motors.

Edward, I'll take you up on that. PM your price, and we can make the exchange at Oktoberfest, or any earlier launch if you're there. Thanks!

P.S. And, I'll get my LEUP before I move forward with mixing, casting, and testing.

Hey Bruce, just saw this post.

We had a bit of an ignition problem with the K500 because we were using erythritol, a much more energetic, but far slower burning sugar than any of the others.
I've still got a good 10 lbs of it left though, isp's are a good 30-40 points higher than any other sugar I've worked with. let me know if you want to get together sometime and melt some sticks!

Nate, let's wait for warmer weather. 😉

Just got all my PVC and fittings today.

Getting closer to making sugar propellant.
Sorbitol/PN/Iron Oxide Red.

Recieved My chemicals a few months ago from Skylighter Inc.

Also recieved five EMK kits from RCS today. pretty nice.

Not making a motor yet. Need to make a few small batches first
to get in the grooooove.

Almost have everything needed.

Starting to get a fun feeling in my belly.

I did talk to a some people at a couple launches. They gave Me
many pointers. The most common was temperature, temperature.
When making, use the right temperature. And. Follow the instructions.

Yes, heating temp is imperative--I remember doing this back in the mid-60's on a disgarded electic skillet from my Mom who warned to not blow myself up, or my Dad's garage--neither happened, though I am skeptical of the current "deep fry" the stuff--whatever works though, but so are the ingredients. Mike, did you buy the KNO3 where I recommended? If so, it's the best I've ever come across in... doing the math in my head, may take a while... okay, 47 years. Very hot, as hot as KClO3 or KClO4 or NH4ClO4, but not as "powerful," all said and done. What you're dealing will not explode unless contained, just burn very hot. There are limits to every oxidizer or fuel. Just be safe and have fun! 😉

Perhaps one of the most incredible CATOS I've ever seen was at BALLS a couple of years ago. The name of the rocket was "Black Sugar" and it had a very (VERY) large motor. Patty N. got some photos of it. It was quite spectactular...

It was quite spectactular...

Yeah, that, too. Right combination is as hot as anything we fly. 😯

I have one of the small deep fry pots from Walmart. Works amazing. With the sorbitol you just have to mix it in, and keep the temp correct and it will melt nicely. I've never added RIO because it already burned very fast. I always got it nice and melted and then I let it sit there for about 1/2 hour to make sure it got a good heat soak - that way everything was melted. Then I mixed, vacuumed and poured. Loved it 🙂

Edward

Did My first test batch last week.

Was really surprised. It burns real well.

Will be doing two motors today. Will be test firing them
sunday at work.

I will not be doing delay in the motors. Keeping it simple.
Will use electronics for deploy.

Lots of fun.

Sugar motors are a great place to start! That is where I started. I've done those and AP and even though AP is easier from a process point of view not much can beat the nice thick smoke of sugar!

Edward

O.K. so I see how old this thread was when it started, but I am new to the club and the web site. I also have a strong interest in working with sugar motors and would love to spend some time talking with some of you sugar folks at an upcoming launch.

I am just getting back into rocketry after several years break, and need some pointers with current reloadable motor casings. I figure I will get the hang of the motor cases with factory loads then start static testing my own sugar loads. Does any body here have ideas on which brand casings are the easiest to work with for research and home made loads? Any of you sugar users going to be at the August launch?

http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f131/mshinn2001/

Here are some pictures of My last tests. A 1" X 9" motor
and a 1" X 6" motor. I was real happy with the 9" but got
no pictures. The 6" went very well also.

I use PVC and Durhams Water Putty nozzles. I will be building
a rocket shortly that will hold the PVC motors. It will be electronic
deploy. Hope to fly this winter.

I also purchased some EMK™ Experimental Motor Kits™
from www.rocketmotorparts.com. have not tried them yet.

I may not be much help because I am still learning but I
will be at the August launch in an ugly green 1970 dodge truck.

At this point any one to bounce some ideas off of will be of tremendous help. My name is Tom Martin, and I will be in a rusted out burgandy Jeep. Have you been able to test any on a load cell? I am also in the works on designing an electronic tracking beacon, and perhaps a logging altimeter system that will control recovery. Lots to learn and lots to build and test.