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[Rip Rap]

I bought the materials for my small rocket tooling from B & Q:
10mm aluminium rod (about ?5 - can't remember)
4mm aluminium rod (?2 approx).
I cut a 100mm length from the 10mm rod to use for ramming (I used a lathe to drill a 4.5mm diam. hole, 65mm length down the centre).
I cut a 20mm length of the 10mm. This is mounted in a wooden base, leaving 10mm standing proud. This is the charging "nipple" that the case sits over. I have drilled a 4mm hole down the centre of this. I then glue a length of the 4mm aluminium rod into this hole. This is the spindle for the core of the rocket. The core wants to be 6 x the ID of the rocket case in length - ie 6 x 10mm = 60mm (that is 60mm in length from the top of the nipple).
The rest of the 10mm rod I use as a former to roll my rocket cases.
I use heavy wooden mallet for ramming my rocket comp. (75% kno3, 15% C, 10% S + 10% extra C).
Always ram in small increments (I use a piece of 10mm ID x 10mm length aluminium pipe stuck to a wooden spatula as a measured scoop).
Ensure there is 1.3 x ID of your case, in depth of comp. above the spindle ( the delay to your header) ie with a 10mm ID = 13mm. This helps to stop blow throughs
& is the right delay to your effect.
Using these dimensions I (touch wood) have good, fast, reliable, consistent rockets.
I hope this info. helps any beginners.