How To Build The Simplest Water Bottle Rocket Launcher

Learn how to build your own water bottle rocket launcher using this very simple launcher mechanism. Shoot rockets over 200 feet!
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WARNING: These projects can be dangerous, posing risks of personal injury, or property damage, and in some cases, death. There may be the possibly other risks of which I am not fully aware. Use of video content and or website information is at your own risk.

Parts for this launcher build include: (All PVC is schedule 40)
6' of 1/2" Schedule 40 pvc pipe (it is sold in 10' lengths)
1 1/4" x 1/2" Bushing
1 1/4" Coupling
1 1/4" x 1" Bushing
1/2" elbows 2
1/2" caps 4
1/2" t's 3
.453 rim hole tubeless tire valve (auto parts store)
Small bottle pvc cement
1/8" steel rod 24" long
2 liter soda bottle
TOOLS
Drill
5/32 drill bit
3/32 drill bit
9/16" drill bit
Knife
Wire Cutters
PVC Cutter or hacksaw

This water bottle rocket launcher can be used for Boy Scout Rocket activities, dad project or just made as a simple home made toy!

[debcookscsurentalpropertie]

Thank you for this! I made this with my daughter. The science project SUCKED since she was at home learning, but this video was beyond useful. (My son, who had done the same project, was helpful - when paid with cash.) She needed to launch a water/air powered rocket 40 meters for an "A". This videographer's rocket is very similar to the one that we made. The things I learned - the launch tube needs o-rings - squishy ones, a dremel tool is beyond useful for carving plastic, a landscape stake can replace the metal rod, it's the length of the 2 liter bottles seems to be the "size" difference. For the rocket - fizzy soda bottles are made from thicker plastic, hot glue - even when applied with cold water inside the bottle doesn't make a very strong fin attachment; our fins fell off after 2 launches. Packaging tape worked well, duct tape was better but heavier. We went through 3 rockets before finding success, no fault of the launcher. Our final, successful launch - 56 meters - had the 4 fins slightly angled - same angle for all 4 fins to create a spinning motion, a plastic cone shaped from a school folder and adhered with packaging tape, launcher was angled about 45 degrees, slightly more than 30oz of water, bike pump at 30 psi. The thing does leak water, but with the squishy o-rings, it's not pouring out and actually makes a whining noise when the pressure builds. Since I know nothing of pvc fittings, it took us about 7 trips to home depot. I messed up the hole drilling for the launch bushing, so I recommend buying extras of that part. It was also difficult to find the parts and we traveled all over to find them. I had to have the husband drill for me, and I lost his 3/32 drill bit before he started the process. Besides the parts needed for the launcher, I bought a 9/16" drill bit (hard to find) and an $$ dremel tool kit. Both tools were super useful.

[Dirtmonkey]

I love your projects! So cool to see how you do this!

[BrianWood]

Why not use the pvc cement to attach the valve to the drilled out endcap?

[empanadero_]

Please add a 12’ pvc to the description. I cut all mine into 6’

[taylorriley]

hey cool video i plan to make one, i was wondering what is the point of the 3 extra lengths of pipe that you cap off... are these to help it pressurize smoother, or are they just for stability of the whole contraption?

[merlin]

Awesome video! Thanks for taking the time and posting this:)

[AimeeJoshJensen]

So we tried making this and the 1/2 inch pvc pipe that the bottle slide down on is too thick. It makes for a tight fit, and without lubing up the pipe with vaseline, it won't shoot off. How does yours slide on and off so easily?

[empanadero_]

I’m having the same problem as others, it leaks out and maxes at 20 psi for a good 100 ft launch. Going to come back and comment once I find a solution!

[yichunshen]

Thank you for your detailed demonstration! One Question: What is the "1/2" t's " in the supply list? (the "t's"???)

Edit: "t's" stands for T-shape Conduit.

[JosephTibbittsKaysvilleUtah]

Where is the best place to purchase all these items on your parts list? Will a Home Depot or Lowes have everything like the coupling and bushings?

[davidxiao]

How long does it take the PVC cement to dry?

[BrooksLively]

Hi! Thanks for the tutorial! Our first attempt we used a diet Dr Pepper 2 liter bottle and it leaked like crazy and it made launching quite hectic. After reading the comments for the video we tried out a Diet Coke bottle and it worked great. No leaking. It totally changed the experience. Thanks!

[mahanare]

This is amazing, I tried it and it came out OK, couple of observations.

1. How do we avoid water leaks from the bottle? Looks like whole of the PVC structure is filled with water leaked from the bottle and also the cap hole holding the tirevalue too. still to make the steel rod stopper to work properly but, it does pump air and able to push a bit up the bottle into air.

[anyyoyo]

Thanks so much for sharing your creativity!  Very well done.

[THEREALSINNER]

I'm about to start my build, how do you keep the water from coming out from the launching mec. When the bottle is installed for launching?

[jkoz]

What is the air valve for and what kind did you use?

[bryangundrum]

So built it like the video but it leaks so bad you can fire it? What step did I miss?

[BryanRopar]

If you modify the launcher for small 12oz bottles making it only as big as it needs to be the bottles fill with air in seconds with very few pumps, you don't need to add water, they hold allot more pressure, and the bottles traveler faster due to less air resistance.

[robmacaluso]

is there another link to the instructions? the one posted is not working.

[ZzSKORPIONzZ]

With what tools you file the pipe to assemble the pieces ???