Written for people who aren't rocket engineers, "Amateur Rocket Motor Construction" teaches the reader how to make real solid fuel rocket motors with simple tools and easy-to-find materials. Richly illustrated with more than 600 photos and drawings, this incredible 8-1/2 x 11, 528 page book contains everything you need to know to make 5 homemade rocket fuel formulas and 54 proven and tested rocket motor designs.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
By Dr. John Steinberg, 2004 President of the Pyrotechnics Guild International
As President of the Pyrotechnics Guild International and as an avid rocket enthusiast myself, it gives me great pleasure to provide a glowing review of this exemplary text. Superlatives are truly in order. While my personal interests lie more along the lines of pyrotechnic rocketry, this book, focused on amateur rocketry, nevertheless was a pleasure to read.
The book is exhaustive in its scope and well organized. The reader may explore amateur rocket motor construction in as little or as great depth as desired. It is by far the best book on the subject I have read.
Sleeter's book begins with an historical review of the subject and a discussion of the work done both in remoter history and by our more modern predecessors. A political and philosophical discussion of issues related to this hobby in the modern era in the United States is included. This reviewer finds himself in wholehearted concurrence with the author's perspective. A sober and balanced review of both safety and the necessary legal requirements is presented in detail. Safety is foremost in the author's presentation throughout the text, in all aspects of testing, compounding, and firing of motors.
The second chapter discusses the basics of rocket motor tubes and types, their classification, and nozzles. Both core-burners and end-burners are discussed. A thorough discussion of rocket tooling follows in the next chapter. While many enthusiasts will not be machinists, the depth of the discussion extends to tool manufacture and machining in the next two chapters. The book is accompanied by superb illustrations throughout which make the understanding of the technical aspects of machining accessible to all readers.
Chapters Six and Seven provide information on chemicals used and the preparation of these chemicals for use in rocket motor fuel compositions. Sources and types of chemicals are given. The discussion of charcoal types, particle sizes, and uses for rocket motor fuels is as good as any I have read. Tube construction and purchase are each presented in detail in Chapter Eight.
Chapter Nine details the basic fuel compositions and variations on these major themes. Burn rate adjustment, use of binders, mixing and preparation are presented in a logical and coherent fashion, again, well illustrated as may be seen in every section of this excellent book.
Chapter Ten provides, in seventy odd pages or so, the best-illustrated and most lucidly written description of rocket motor assembly and construction available to the hobbyist. All pertinent aspects are reviewed in detail. Nozzle formation, use of tooling, containment devices, spindles, and accessory tools are provided. Problems the novice is likely to experience are addressed, and solutions to these common dilemmas are offered. Two stage motors are reviewed, as is the concept of the "passfire" and other ignition techniques.
Chapters Eleven through Fifteen discuss in superbly illustrated detail the construction, design, and performance characteristics of motors for each of the basic fuel types. The technical detail and engineering perspective in these chapters make this book a superb reference text for those interested in the details of power characteristics and the influence of these factors on flight performance.
Chapter Sixteen provides an historical perspective on the rockets that the author initially made, which used damp fuel and were dried after assembly. Currently, the author uses dry compositions, which are rammed or pressed to form the grain.
In keeping with the encyclopedic range and depth of the information presented, Chapter Seventeen illustrates the preparation of various types of electric igniters for use in rocketry.
As reliable and predictable flight is critically dependent on reproducible motor performance, the author devotes Chapter Eighteen to a detailed discussion of test equipment and data recording. Well-written text and profuse illustrations make this technical material every bit as accessible and useful as the more basic material in earlier chapters.
The final chapter, much to this reviewer's delight, not only discusses the basics of rocket flight and launching, but also, in two short pages, provides the clearest discussion of rocket aerodynamic stability that I am aware of. While I have seen numerous physics oriented discussions of the center of pressure and the center of gravity, this text and the accompanying illustrations provide the most useful presentation of this material for those who seek to make rockets that begin to fly in a stable manner and remain stable throughout their entire flight. Even after ten years of making and flying rockets, this reviewer gained a better understanding of this simple, yet often all too hard to grasp subject. The transition of these two points as fuel is consumed, a non-wind tunnel approach to easily determining the center of pressure, and a discussion of the ideal spatial relation between the CP and CG were the final treat at the end of this consummately well-written text.
In summary, whether your interest in the subject of amateur rocketry is superficial or detailed, historical or practical, whether you wish to engage in this hobby or merely to gain an understanding of it, whether you are an expert machinist and engineer or a person who is all thumbs, this book has something of value for you. I cannot recommend it highly enough. This book by David Sleeter is a most welcome addition to the rocketry literature and should be in every pyrotechnist's and rocketeer's library. I urge you to purchase your copy today.
--Journal of Pyrotechnics, Winter of 2004 issue.
From the Publisher
As the publisher of this book, as of July 2009, all books shipped to both individuals and dealers will be personally signed by the author.
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28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great introduction to solid propellant motors,
By
This review is from: Amateur Rocket Motor Construction: A Complete Guide To The Construction Of Homemade Solid Fuel Rocket Motors (Paperback)
"Amateur Rocket Motor Construction" by David Sleeter (Teleflite Corporation) is an extremely-detailed description of the construction of blackpowder-type rocket motors, from C8 (3/4" diameter, 3 1/4" long) to I65 (2" diameter, 14" long).It's a big book, 500+ pages, beautiful photos, extremely clean and clear drawings (and lots of them). Information on almost every aspect of motor construction including: photos of ingredients (some neat photomicrographs); making tooling without a lathe; machining instructions for those who do have a lathe; where to get and how to extract potassium nitrate; types of paper that can be used for casings and what *not* to use; formulations that use sodium nitrate (sometimes easier to find locally than potassium nitrate); stepwise photos AND drawings of the motor-making procedure. All the tested motors given in the book are coreburners, but detailed information, propellant formula, drawings of tooling, caveats, and detailed construction procedure for endburning motors are provided for the individual who wishes to experiment in that direction. One comment, not a criticism: For the individual who wishes to make large or numerous BP motors, I would strongly suggest Lloyd Sponenburg's book on milling for the amateur pyrotechician (Skylighter and others vend the book, it's about $20). A "sponenmill", properly constructed and loaded with sufficient milling media, will mill large amounts of propellant at a huge time savings. "More education is almost always better than less." For the individual who is interested in stretching his/her mind, "Amateur Rocket Motor Construction" is a must-have. (I would *really* like to see one of those H137 motors taking off...)
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delivers What It Advertizes,
By
This review is from: Amateur Rocket Motor Construction: A Complete Guide To The Construction Of Homemade Solid Fuel Rocket Motors (Paperback)
Excellent, nicely done book which carefully balances the politics, the theory and the practical considerations of making your own rocket motors, from the simple but perishable Sugar based motors to huge high performnce black powder motors. Also includes the ORIGINAL 1983 formulas and methods for those who are currently forking out $135 a shot for THAT collectible volume. I think almost all will agree the revised approach and formulas look more relable and safe. Though they dry faster now, there is some time consuming, but necessary testing employed that assures a consistent product. It CLEARLY shows that the provable safety record in amateur rocket engine assembly AND amateur rocketry at all power levels is far better that has been admitted elesewhere, and the book explains why that is so. This is a safety record not approached by other products like gasoline, lawn mowers, lawn darts & air powered firearms.For those wondering, the skills and hazards involved are not too different from those encountered by an amateur drag racer in his shop, or an amateur steam engine constructor. Access to a machine shop is helpful, but avoidable. Even if you never plan to actually build a motor, this book is still quite interesting and informative.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must have.,
By "pyrorand" (BC.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Amateur Rocket Motor Construction: A Complete Guide To The Construction Of Homemade Solid Fuel Rocket Motors (Paperback)
This is one of the most complete books written on the subject of rocket motor construction. It is easy to read and follow.Everyone from the beginner to the experienced Model Rocket Motor enthusiast will find this book indispensable. Mr. Sleeter will guide you through every step required to get you off the ground. This is a must have for any library. Thanks David great work.
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