Building the original Juice-Can Rocket


[Each picture is linked to a large-scale JPEG file]
Here is the raw material for our "Juice-Can" motor: a 32 oz juice can.  These are hard to find, but in 1964 they were in every home. A large juice can
You can see in this photo the seam that runs the length of the can.  This seam makes the motor much less stronger thant the modern deep-drawn soup can. Inside of Juice Can
Hear I am forming a dome in the end of the can, like my father did, using a wooden tool padded with a towel.  I am pounind the can on the tool end. Forming the end of the can
The reult is a dome on the end of the can that is ready to hold the pressure. Resulting domed end
Here is the finished motor.  Note that the nozzle is a 1/2 inch copper tube soldered into the bottom can before the two cans are soldered together.  A flange on the tube, inside the motor,  helps make the solder joint stronger. Finished Juice Can motor
updated 30-AUG-2007