[bigblue17]

i discovered this reaction is a good replacement for model rocket fuel because you can caramelize the sugar and mix it with the KNO3 and then poor it into a mold for the rocket engine and it solidifies quite nicely, but then my friend told me that when it is in that form it becomes a federally controlled substance (i would assume because it creates a whole hell of a lot of smoke and that gives it pressure bomb/smokebomb implications or something along those lines) but i was wondering if any of you know if what my friend told me is true, and if you don't know would you happen to know where i would be able to find out said question? thank you for your time and help.

[billnotgatez]

Are you a member of NAR (National Association of Rocketry)?

http://www.nar.org/

[bigblue17]

nope i've never heard of em, but ill check out there site and see if they have any info on the topic, thanks for the link.

[bigblue17]

i looked every where i could on the site but no where did i find any thing about home made motors, theres a section on approved motors but thats about it

[billnotgatez]

The NAR has a ban on making home made rocket engines, especially for competition. They have recently taken on ATF (Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) and sort of won in court involving perchlorates. So they have a mixed attitude towards amateur rocket engines. It is possible they have a discussion of what is legal and what is not. But, this proves that there are mixed opinions on what is under the control of the ATF. I have seen various sites in the amateur science field that would not encourage illegal activity to give information about saltpeter sugar motors. Having said this I would not amass 500 pounds of saltpeter and 500 pounds of sugar and then contact the ATF and say go to hell I got this stuff. One would guess that a few ounces of sugar and saltpeter combined would not be in the purview of the ATF. There is another rocketry organization called Tripoli Rocketry Association, (TRA). They are more into high power launches. I think they allow some building of rocket engines although many of their members have AFT licenses. In any case both NAR and TRA would be more up to date on ATF rules.

Check out

http://www.tripoli.org/

http://www.mdrocketry.org/Launches/redglare2/
http://www.aia-aerospace.org/aianews/features/team_america/
 
I wanted to also mention that although policing agencies of the Federal Government and State Government may not have an interest in your saltpeter sugar project, other entities might. For instance insurance agencies for a school, local ordinances, and general busy bodies who would cause political difficulties.

[bigblue17]

ah, well i don't really plan on joining the NAR, so no real worries there, my main concern is say somehow i get caught with a saltpeter and caramelized sugar mixture if there would be any legal repercussions.

PS thanks for your help and time

[billnotgatez]

Although you could write to either organization I mentioned it would take some time. I am sending out feelers to rocketry people I know and they will probably give me the answer sooner.

[bigblue17]

well thank you very much, you have to be one of the most help full people i have met in a long time

[billnotgatez]

I think I am getting closer to getting an answer to the legal question.

In the mean time here is the precautions taken by someone who has done this process.

During the entire casting operation, as a safety precaution, I would wear protective clothes. These included long leather welder's gloves, leather welder's arm protection and apron, and complete face protection, consisting of an arc welder's head and face shield. (of course, I only used the clear glass in the viewing port, not the darkened glass!). Other sensible precautions were also taken, such as having a fire extinguisher available (although it may not extinguish burning propellant) and keeping anything at all flammable away from the casting operation. I always had a large pail of water nearby (water can extinguish burning propellant by means of heat absorption).