alternatives for wadding

It is not available in all locations or even in all regions of the USA, but the product you want is Cocoon brand cellulose insulation (which is used by "blowing" it into walls and into attics). It is made from shredded newspaper and other papers with lots of flameproofing chemical added.

In So Cal only Lowes carries it and even then only 1 out of 5 Lowes locations carries it.

For large diameter models, use a square or two of conventional wadding or flameproof crepe paper to prevent the ejection charge from blowing straight through the middle of the loose cellulose insulation.

-Fred "we have nichrome" Shecter NAR 20117

It's fireproof cellulose "blow-in" insulation.

-dave w

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I used to whine that nobody in my neighborhood carries it, but it's no longer true. Our Home Depot now carries cellulous insulation. It's light, very effective, and cheap as borscht! I can buy a trunkload (or boot-load for our British colleagues :-) ) of the stuff there for about Cdn $10 (that's about USD $8 right now).

Barring that, another alternative is to use crepe paper party streamer material. In Canada and the U.S. it's flame resistant (by law).

Dwayne Surdu-Miller SAROS #001

You can also use a teflon tape pompom - nice because its reuseable and doesn't end up on the field.

Some of the commercial vendors also have Nomex fabric squares which are permanently attached to the shock cord and resist both the heat and the blast. Pretty nice. Expensive and heavy are the drawbacks.

I like the Teflon pom-pom. So far I've only used it on one of my rockets, but that's because I'm lazy and don't feel like cutting up and tying all that Teflon plumbing tape. Heh.

I think a Loc nomex blank is cheaper then lots of teflon tape.

A roll of plumber's tape (520") can be had for about 50 cents. That's about what you need for a pompom, plus a few inches of Kevlar thread to tie it together.

What's a a Loc nomex blank cost? BTW, what's a "blank"?

Lets see Giant Leap Kevlar Pad 2.6" Airframe $6.98 up to 7.5" $9.98.

LOC Nomex Pad for 1.6" Airframe $4.16 up to an 8" Airframe $12.60 Thrustline Aerospace Nomex Pad 4"X4" 4 pack $5.85 6"X6" 2pack $6.75 Pratt Hobbies Nomex Pad Small for BT-55 $1.98 To X-Large for 7" Tube $7.98 search for Nomex

Totally reusable, simple to use, and not very heavy. Just my 2cents.

Thanks for those links.

Wasn't sure if your comment: "Totally reusable, simple to use, and not very heavy" was meant to apply to the Nomex only, given that it is also applicable to the teflon pompoms as well.

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And there is Giant Leap rocketry kevlar pad $6.98 small to $13.99 for twenty inches

John Bonnett IMC USNR Ret. Craftmaster CT-10 (ex YP-659)