When it comes to crafting materials that are wise to keep around the house, PVC pipes are near the top of the list. These plastic tubes and fittings can be the basis of a number of different projects and crafts that kids will enjoy. One such project is creating a PVC soda bottle rocket launcher. This craft is not only fun for kids and parents, it is also educational, which makes it a great option for a day off or summer evening. With a few basic materials and some patience, you too can create your very own PVC soda bottle rocket launcher.
Materials Needed
- - 5-6 feet of 1/2” PVC piping (like this one)
- - (2) 1/2” PVC end caps (try ours)
- - 1/2” PVC tee (here)
- - 1/2” PVC elbow (found here)
- - (2) 1/2” male adaptors (like these)
- - Tire valve (removed from an old tube or purchased at an auto parts store)
- - PVC cement (here)
- - Electrical Tape
- - Barge cement or other adhesive meant for rubber
- - 2 liter or 1/2 liter bottles
- - Tire pump (floor pump) or air compressor
- - Drill
How to Build the Coolest Rocket Launcher
Step 1: First things first: finish preparing your materials. Cut your PVC piping into 4 pieces. The largest piece should be 2-3’, two smaller pieces should be 1’ each, and the smallest piece should be 4-8” long. Exact lengths don’t matter, so don’t stress too much about getting these measurements precise.
Step 2: Next, grab your drill and use it to drill a hole in the center of one of the end caps, large enough for the valve to be threaded through the hole. Make sure the diameter of your valve fits into the end cap, then apply barge cement to both the inside of the end cap and the outside of the valve. Thread the valve stem through the hole in the end cap from inside out, pulling it tight. Set this aside for a few minutes, giving the barge cement time to dry.
Step 3: While your end cap is drying, start to assemble your launcher. First, use your PVC cement to glue the pieces of 1’ pipe to either slip side of the ½” tee. Still using PVC cement, glue the second end cap onto the other end of one of the 1’ pipe sections. Glue the end cap with the valve on to the other end of the other section of 1’ pipe once it is dry. Make sure you press the end caps as far onto the pipe as you can to ensure a good connection. Now you should have one long section of your launcher, with the tee in the middle, two sections of pipe, and an end cap on each side.
Step 4: Next, screw one of your male adaptors onto the threaded end of the tee. After this is complete, glue the longest section of pipe (2-3’) onto the slip side of the male adaptor using PVC cement. Make sure you are pressing the pipe as far into the male adaptor as it will go before the PVC cement sets.
Step 5: Still using PVC cement, secure the elbow joint to the free end of your longest piece of pipe. Before the PVC cement is able to dry, make sure to check that the elbow joint being used is pointing straight up. Otherwise your rocket will not launch into the air correctly.
Step 6: With PVC cement, glue the shortest section of piping (4-8”) into the section of the elbow joint pointing up.
Step 7: Glue the other male adaptor onto the short section of pipe using PVC cement.
Step 8: Finally, wrap some electrical tape around the threaded end of the male adaptor. Two or so wraps around the outside of the thread should be enough. This will help to provide friction needed to keep the bottle on the launcher as pressure builds. The electrical tape will get bunched up as the launcher is used over and over again, so it may need to be replaced from time to time.
Launch Your Rocket into Space
1. To put your launcher to use, first attach either a bike pump (floor type bike pumps work best) or air compressor to the end of the tire valve sticking out of the launcher.
2. Fill your 2 liter or ½ liter bottles about ⅓ of the way full of water, invert it and place it on top of the male adaptor. Twist the bottle onto the adaptor in order to get a secure seal.
3. Next, back away from the bottle and start pumping the bike pump or turn on your air compressor.
4. Wait for your rocket to take off! Be warned, the water in the soda bottle flies everywhere, so make sure everyone standing close is okay with getting wet. Also make sure this craft is always done under adult supervision. The bottles do fly off the launcher at a high speed, so make sure no one is in the flight path of the rocket.
Perfect Craft to Do with Your Kid
Creating a PVC soda bottle rocket launcher is a great family project. The assembly of the launcher helps kids learn how to follow instructions, and the end result is a fun activity for them.
This is also a great learning experience. During the activity you can ask your child questions about the project. For example, how high they think the rocket will go, and what happens if you put more or less water in the rocket.
Another great aspect of this project is its customizability. Kids can spend time decorating the soda bottle rockets with paints and other craft materials. Consider adding foam fins to the sides of the bottle to make it look more like a rocket, but be careful adding anything pointed to the top, because the rocket will be falling from a great height, and someone could get hurt. Make sure to always do this activity outside for the safety and wellbeing of everyone around. Finally, have fun!