valve choice for pneumatic

Show us your pneumatic spud gun! Discuss pneumatic (compressed gas) powered potato guns and related accessories. Valve types, actuation, pipe, materials, fittings, compressors, safety, gas choices, and more.
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pat123
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:44 am

This is the first pneumatic that i have built. i have the gun ready I just have to find a valve. I have a 2 inch by 2 ft chamber and a 1/2in barrel. it is made out of PVC. I was wondering what kind of valve would work well and is cheap.
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spud yeti
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:53 am

Make a piston valve!
Heres how to: http://www.spudfiles.com/spud_wiki/inde ... ston_valve
If youre not that ambitious why not use a modded sprinkler valve. here how to http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/viewtop ... a20db28832
Or else just look under the wiki (top right corner of your page) for the other valves
really good quote/phrase here
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pat123
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:54 am

thanks
I was thinking about a sprinkler valve but i might make a piston
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Modderxtrordanare
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:02 am

Make a Burst Disk valve. :wink:
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iPaintball
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:32 am

Your gun sounds exactly like my first gun! It had the same size chamber and the same bore. My barrel was 5 feet long and I used a modded 3/4" sprinkler valve. It would shoor metal marbles through 3/4" plywood like it was cake. You should make a piston valve for it to increase performance though.
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lukemc
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:35 am

Triggerd burst disk!! my ghetto verion of it was impressive. http://www.spudfiles.com/spud_wiki/inde ... burst_disk
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Jumpin Jehosaphat
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:49 am

For a 1/2" barrel a sprinkler valve is overkill. I would just go with a modded sprinkler valve or a smaller QEV.
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pat123
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:53 am

thanks I am about to go to lowes to get a sprinkler valve. all i need is a sprinkler valve and blowgun right? will lawn genie valves work?
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Jumpin Jehosaphat
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:02 am

It depends, you should get one without a guide rod,
If it looks like it could have a guide rod through the center of it, it probably does.
I personally used an Orbit WaterMaster.

You should also pick up some JB Weld or Epoxy so you can plug up the ports after you remove the solenoid.

Edit: You should also get a 1/4" NPT pipe tap and any sort of pipe nipple you will need to connect the blowgun to the valve.
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praetorian91
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:06 am

Lowe's will have the Orbit Watermaster valves. Heres what you will need:

1. Orbit Watermaster Sprinkler valve (comes in 1" and 3/4")

2. Blowgun

3. Epoxy

4. Teflon tape

5. Connector piece (to connect blowgun to valve)
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Modderxtrordanare
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:13 am

Make sure to open the box and look at the actual valve and not just the picture. It's what I do.

Orbit Watermaster ftw.
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pat123
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:20 am

how will the valve fit onto the pvc is it threaded or should i just prime and glue it
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Modderxtrordanare
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:25 am

pat123 wrote:how will the valve fit onto the pvc is it threaded or should i just prime and glue it
Personally, I would go with threaded ones, and when you thread the connections into it, make sure to liberally apply teflon tape/paste. Then if you make another cannon you can interchange the valve, and not have to buy a new one.


Then again, you can always get it in slip, and primer/glue it in, but then you can't re-use it. (easily)
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pat123
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:33 am

does the valve have threads in it to fit a male adapter on the pvc
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praetorian91
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:57 am

Depends on the one you choose. That means, choose one with female threads on each side, so you can fit a male adapter into it. Its truly not that hard.
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