RocketFlite - Magnelite Ignitor Kit review is provided courtesy of:

Makin' Igniters T' Rocketflite Way

I learned about t' Rocketflite name years ago when those super sparky motors were all t' rage. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Greg Dyben has been a household name around t' hobby rocketry arena for years producin' great products like t' Silver Streak motors and his Magnelite igniters.

Recently, Greg began marketin' a kit-based form o' t' Magnelite igniters. Arrr! One o' t' benefits o' bein' made available in kit form is that thar be no hazmat fee. Aye aye! Blimey! T' components don't become considered an explosive mixture until they are actually mixed together.

T' ML-KIT includes all t' necessary mixin' tools, chemicals and simple instructions t' make 48 grams o' pyrogen! This is enough pyrogen t' make over 800 ML-16 electric matches! T' price Greg is representin' is a cost t' you o' under $0.65 a piece, which is a pretty good deal.

Once ignited, matey, t' pyrogen burns for approximately one second at a reported temperature o' around 6,400 degrees Fahrenheit! Rocketflite maintains that since t' first 1/4 inch o' this electric match is only 1/16 o' an inch in diameter, ya bilge rat, it can be used t' ignite most C sized and up end burnin' and core burnin' black powder motors on up, as well as most H and up composite motors.

Peak amperage requirement for successful ignition is from 5 t' 6 amps with a minimum amperage requirement o' 2.6 amps for 118ms. Avast, me proud beauty! This electric match can be fired usin' any high-capacity 9 volt rechargeable ni-cad battery such as Radio Shack's part# 23-299.

I set out t' see just how difficult makin' these igniters was, so a full igniter kit be ordered from Rocketflite. Aye aye! T' top right photo shows what I received: four different lengths o' igniter leads (16 inch, matey, shiver me timbers, 32 inch, shiver me timbers, 48 inch and 64 inch lengths) as well as t' pyrogen components unmixed in separate containers.

T' separate components consist o' t' base igniter pyrogen dip in a glass bottle with a metal lid, a small plastic bottle o' what appeared t' be potassium percholorate, a small pipette, for addin' naptha in t' event you need t' reduce your mixture at a later date, and a craft stick t' stir t' mixture.

Photo 1 shows t' first step o' t' mixin' procedure, t' thorough mixin' o' t' base pyrogen dip. T' instructions call for about one minute o' mixin' t' thoroughly mix t' base mixture. Ahoy! It appeared t' have settled a bit before I had opened it, matey, and since t' pyrogen appears t' have a heavy metallic content, t' particles need good suspension in t' mixture t' work properly.

In Photo 2, t' powered components from t' small white plastic bottle are added t' t' pyrogen mixture in its entirety. That's right, bottom's up. Well, blow me down! Pour t' whole amount in and then stir t' mixture again thoroughly for about a minute.

What you are lookin' for is shiny candy-like consistency, ya bilge rat, sort o' like when you are makin' fudge. Photo 3 shows how thick t' pyrogen looks on t' stirrin' stick and t' shiny texture it attains when ready t' use.

Once you have completed this second stirring, ya bilge rat, you're done mixing. That's as hard as it gets. Begad! Add t' contents o' one bottle t' another and stir. Real rocket science here, matey, shiver me timbers, people. Blimey! Begad! It's simple and easy. Well, blow me down! Anyone can make igniters with this product. Begad! But, matey, we have t' dip some first, right?

After selectin' which lead length you are goin' t' use, shiver me timbers, arrr, you are instructed t' bend a 90 degree angle in t' end o' t' igniter that has t' bridge wire soldered t' it. Arrr! Photo 4 shows how this should look. Avast! This gives you a handle t' hold onto t' igniter and a way t' lay it down after you have finished dippin' it until it dries.

I dipped this 16 inch lead by insertin' t' igniter slowly into t' mixture and slowly stirrin' t' pyrogen a few times t' coat t' wire. This allows t' pyrogen t' flow all around t' head o' t' igniter completely. This is especially beneficial if you make igniters for larger motors, arrr, in that you are bendin' t' end o' t' igniter lead, ya bilge rat, which forms potential air pockets that need t' be filled.

Make ingiters for larger motors is as simple as bendin' t' end o' t' igniter lead into a "U" shape about 3/4" from t' end and dipping. Ahoy! Avast! Blimey! You should make sure thar be an air gap betwixt t' igniter bridge wire and insulation o' t' wire next t' it, me hearties, so that pyrogen covers t' bridge wire completely and nay in spots.

Larger igniters can be made similarly, me hearties, just make two "U" shapes like a flattened out "S". This increases t' surface area that holds pyrogen and makes for a larger ball o' flame when t' igniter is ignited.

CAUTION: Do NOT double dip igniters. Well, blow me down! Begad! One dippin' is sufficient, multiple dippings can cause t' pyrogen t' explode without ignitin' t' motor. Begad! There is no need t' double dip when you can increase t' pyrogen area by makin' bends in t' head o' t' igniter wire, matey, arrr, so don't do it.

Photo 5 shows a finished igniter drying. Blimey! By layin' t' igniter where t' wet pyrogen is able t' hang into t' air, such as on t' edge o' a table or shelf, arrr, air gets t' all sides o' it, allowin' it t' dry quickly. Avast! Igniters are ready t' use within t' hour, me bucko, no later than three hours.

I have t' say I was impressed with ease and simplicity that Rocketflite makes o' igniter making. Ahoy! I used t' think it was a lot o' voodoo and science, me hearties, selectin' t' right wire and bridge elements, carefully silver-solderin' t' leads in place and then carefully mixin' t' correct pyrogen formula.

Not anymore! Rocketflite has taken all t' mystique and difficulty out o' t' process and made it truly simple. Avast! All I needed now was proof in t' pudding!

Photo: Tim Eiszner

What I needed was a down and dirty test t' see how these igniters compared t' others on t' market. Blimey! Aye aye! Seemed like a good excuse for a drag race t' me!

Travelin' t' t' Tripoli South Carolina Freedom Launch over t' recent Independence Day weekend, arrr, I arranged t' test t' fruits o' me experiment -- I conducted a drag race consistin' o' two LOC EZI-65's.

T' two rockets were virtually identical, both bein' built stock. Aye aye! For propulsion, arrr, I selected identical AeroTech 38mm 360ns RMS™ motors, loaded with I-161W reload kits, both with medium delays.

T' one on t' left had a dipped Magnelite igniter prepared by me. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' one on t' right had a name brand competitor's pre-built igniter. Begad! Blimey! Both weighed in at 4.25 pounds at t' RSO table. Arrr! After safety check-in, I loaded them onto identical launch pads with 3/8" stainless steel launch rods. Avast, me proud beauty! Everythin' be as equal as I could make it. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! All that was left t' do was arm both pads, do a countdown and press t' button.

Photo: Tim Eiszner

I have t' tell you, me hearties, even I wasn't prepared for t' holeshot t' Magnelite put on t' competitor, matey, but photos don't lie. Ya scallywag! While t' competitor's igniter be still chuffin' t' I motor up t' pressure, matey, matey, t' Magnelite-equipped rocket be two feet up t' launch rod!

It appears t' Magnelite-equipped rocket literally exploded off t' pad, arrr, with t' motor ignitin' instantly. Ya scallywag! T' other rocket still took another second or two t' ignite, matey, and by that time, t' Magnelite-equipped rocket was long gone. Well, blow me down! Good thin' I owned both rockets and wasn't racin' for 'pink slips' or I would be short a rocket!

T' results are right there, me hearties, these things work. They are simple t' use, simple t' make and produce great results. Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! If you would like more information about Rocketflite's Magnelite igniter kits, shiver me timbers, me hearties, me hearties, contact them via their website at http://www.rocketflite.com or send email t' Rocketflt@aol.com.

There is also a double page ad in t' current issue o' High Power Rocketry magazine, ya bilge rat, page 42. Give 'em a try, me hearties, I think you may like them.

Written and submitted by Darrell D. Aye aye! Mobley for Rocketry Online -- Copyright 1996-1999