About Me

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I have been a Cub Scout Den Leader since 9/04, Cubmaster since 2/07. I have also been a Boy Scout Troop Committee Member and Merit Badge Counselor since 2/08, changing to an Assistant Scoutmaster in June of 2011. Since spring of 2010, I have also been the Lighthouse District Cub Scout Program director, in charge of planning district-wide events. I have three boys -- Peter is a First Class Boy Scout, Nathan is a Tenderfoot, and Nick is working toward the Webelos rank. If you like this blog, please be nice and click a link.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Soda bottle rockets



Most people are familiar with model rockets, but here I have made a "rocket" out of an ordinary 2-liter soda bottle, and the "launch pad" is constructed out of PVC pipe. The "fuel" is air and water.

To make the launch pad, I used a 5' length of 1/2" PVC water pipe. I cut two 11" lengths which were glued into a slip/threaded T connector. One end was capped, while the other end was capped with a cap where a hole was drilled and a universal valve stem was inserted through the hole.

A threaded connector was screwed into the T connector, and I glued a 32" length of pipe into that. A 90 degree elbow connector was glued onto the open end, and the remaining 6" length of pipe was inserted into the elbow. At the end of the 6" piece, another male threaded connector was glued on, and the threads were wrapped a few times with electrical tape, just enough to make a tight seal when the 2-liter bottle is placed over the top. Test fit a soda bottle over the end to see if you have the right amount of tape.

To launch the rocket, a soda bottle is filled about 1/3 full of water. (Too much water will make the rocket too heavy to go high, while not enough water will prevent it from building up enough pressure.) Invert the bottle and quickly put it over the taped end, twisting it in the direction of the tape to ensure a good seal. (If you twist it the opposite way of the tape, you could cause the tape to loosen up and come off.) Use a bicycle pump attached to the valve to pump air into the system until enough pressure is built up and the rocket launches into the air. By using an automatic friction release, we won't end up putting so much air into the system that the bottle might explode before launch.

I spent about $3 at Lowe's on the PVC pipe and components, and an additional $3 at an auto parts store for a pair of valve stems. I had to purchase more PVC glue for about $4 because I had run out. (I still had a bottle of PVC cleaner.)

So, the total cost in materials was about $10. My kids spent the entire afternoon launching soda bottles into the air, so it was well worth it.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

How to make a birdfeeder



This is a fairly easy project for making a birdfeeder from a plastic milk jug or juice bottle. This can be used toward Tiger elective 32, Wolf achievement 5e, Wolf elective 13, Bear achievement 5b, or the Webelos Craftsman activity pin (which could also be helpful for completing the Naturalist activity pin).

To make this, you will need a plastic milk jug or juice bottle (with the cap!), a drill, a utility knife (or a hobby knife or good scissors), a hot glue gun, a 5/8" dowel (approximately 12" long, depending on the size of the jug or bottle), and waterproof rope. Optionally, you will need permanent markers or waterproof paints to decorate the birdfeeder once you are done.

First, thoroughly clean the jug and soak it in hot water to remove any labels. Then dry it off.

Next, use the drill to make a small hole in one of the side panels. Use your knife or scissors to cut out an opening so the birds can get in and out. Make sure the bottom of the opening is high enough so that there will be room at the bottom of the jug for plenty of food. Otherwise, you will have to refill the birdfeeder frequently. Depending on the shape of the jug, make a second opening on either the adjacent side or the opposite side.

Drill a 5/8" hole below each of the openings, then slide the wooden dowel through. Use the hot glue gun to seal around the edges where the dowel pokes through the jug.

Drill two holes at the top of the jug, big enough for the rope to fit through. Feed the rope through the holes.

Optionally, you can decorate the birdfeeder with some bright colors to help attract the birds. At the very least, you should paint the wooden perch to help protect it from the weather.

Hang the birdfeeder about 4' to 6' above the ground. Try to pick a place that birds would consider "safe". Hopefully, birds will spot your birdfeeder, and you should have regular visitors after a few days.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

No-mess model rocket painting



If your son is like mine, painting a model rocket can be a messy proposition. If he holds the rocket with one hand while he paints with the other, he will inevitably get paint all over his hands.

To keep his hands from getting messy, you will need a metal coat hanger. These can be found at dollar stores in packs of 10 or 12. Take the triangular portion of the coat hanger and pull the neck away from the long, straight end, thus turning the triangle into a square. Beck the neck at a 90 degree angle, perpindicular to the square. Straighten out the neck and bend it into a zig-zag shape.

Your son can now slide the launch lug (the part that looks like a small piece from a drinking straw) over the open end of the hangar, and the entire assembly can be set down on a table. You should still lay out some newspapers to catch drips, but at least the paint won't be all over his hands!