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Kevlar® Shock Cord

The shock cord is what is used to tie the nose cone to the body of the rocket, so that it can come off the rocket, but not get lost. You only want to track one thing coming down to the ground, right?

We carry cord made from Kevlar®, which is stronger than steel, but flexible and heat resistant. So, it can easily take the scorching heat of the rocket engine ejection charge. We recommend the shock cord in your rocket be a minimum of three times the length of the model. Longer is better, as that will help prevent zippering, which is a tearing of the tube by the cord cutting into the paper. A long cord allows the nose cone to slow down and prevent it from cutting the tube.
The Kevlar thread and cotton string are useful for parachute suspension lines. The cotton string is thick like carpet thread (Estes style string), and is great for when you're working with younger kids. Thin string can be harder for children to easily handle.

The Kevlar thread is great for competition style parachutes where weight is critical. It is the thinnest of all our materials, and is very strong.

 Elastic Shock Cord

Type Description P/N Approx.
Diameter
(inch)		 Weight per foot Price per foot Place Order Now
Heavy Cotton String Used for suspension lines on plastic parachutes. You can look in all the fabric stores, and you won't find anything close to the heavy gauge of this string. If you're just making simple parachutes, we recommend this over the kevlar® because it is much cheaper. Natural white color. 30320 .025"
(1/40 in)		 -- $0.07
Kevlar® Thread This is lightweight thread that almost looks like cotton (not braided), but it is made of KEVLAR®; so it is much stronger and fireproof. But it is not stiff. Works great for lightweight suspension lines on plastic parachutes, or as a shock cord on smaller competition rockets. This thread has been dyed a burgundy color. (25 feet minimum qty.) 30322 .015"
(1/64 in)		 -- $0.12
Twisted Kevlar® Cord Twisted cord, specially coated to prevent fraying. Somewhat stiffer than our braided 100# Kevlar. Strength approximately the same as our 100# Kevlar.
Recommended for A,B,C size model rockets		  30324 .063"
(1/16 in)		 -- $0.30
Kevlar® Cord 100# 100 lb test strength braided cord
Recommended for A,B,C size model rockets		  30325 .063"
(1/16 in)		 .1g $0.31
Kevlar® Cord 300# 300 lb test strength braided cord
Recommended for E,F,G size mid-power rockets		 30326 .100"
(1/10 in)		 .33g $0.49
Kevlar® Cord 1500# 1500 lb test strength braided cord (not tubular, but it does have a hollow core).
Recommended for high-power rockets		 30327 .230"
(slightly under
1/4 in)		 2.57g $0.92
Elastic Shock Cord 45lb test strength, 100% stretch (stretches to twice its length). Polyester or Nylon braided cover over latex rubber compound. 30328 1/8" -- $0.36

Other Optional Accessories For You To Consider:

Shock Cord Protectors

While not required, this would be a nice upgrade to most high power rockets. A shock cord protector prevents the shock cord from getting too scorched by the ejection charge.

 shock cord protector

Nomex Wadding

While not required, this would be a useful addition to this kit. If you don't use a heat shield, you'll have to use disposable wadding to protect the parachute from the heat of the ejection charge. And for a large diameter kit like this, it will take a lot of disposable wadding.

Nomex Wadding

Do you want tips for making dazzling rockets from your parts?
Video Book Collection Having Apogee's quality parts to work with is only one piece of the puzzle in making a stunning rocket. Now you need techniques and skills for assembling them into an eye-popping model. Our video books can show you the procedures and methods the experts use when they build rockets. Don't you want your rockets to be the center of attention?
Check out our video book collection (click here).

Actual Customer Comment:
"Ordering a rocket with Apogee was a great experience. Your website is wonderful and your customer service seems to be even better. Your passion for rocketry and your customers is evident. I appreciate doing business with a fine company such as yours. Thanks!" -- Rick Harrison


This page last updated on: 7/22/11 1px Site Map 1px Contact Us 1px Website Issues?