SpudFiles

This is my first cannon. Originally I had a bigger barrel on it to shoot spuds but I wasn't getting much distance so I put a smaller marble cannon on and it works a treat. I haven't modded my sprinkler valve I have kept the solenoid on it. Its activated by 2x 9 volt batters going through a safely switch then a momentary trigger switch. The air is pumped into the chamber through my air compressor fitting and is able to be isolated by the shut off ball valve. It gets up to about 100-110 psi and shoots a marble through just about anything haha.

Let me know what you think of it and give me some suggestions on how it could be improved.

Thanks

The tape really detracts from this gun....kind of overwhelming really.

Yes I know but all the fittings are all different colors so I wanted to make the gun all the one color but it didn't turn out the way I wanted to. And now I cant be bothered taking it off.

spudgun wrote:Yes I know but all the fittings are all different colors so I wanted to make the gun all the one color

They make spray paint for just this very application.

Besides the fact the the gun is some what "ugly" it seems good. the only thing is its kinda low pressure...how about trying out like 200++ psi

My compressor cuts out at about 110. Is there anything I can do to make it go higher or is it just the compressor?

john bunsenburner wrote:Besides the fact the the gun is some what "ugly" it seems good. the only thing is its kinda low pressure...how about trying out like 200++ psi

Because the valve probably wouldn't handle that kind of pressure.

spudgun wrote:My compressor cuts out at about 110. Is there anything I can do to make it go higher or is it just the compressor?

Once you fill it with the compressor, you can pump it up even more with a shock pump. You could buy one of those, or you can search the forums on the many how-tos on them. Just make sure not to exceed the limits of the pipe / valve.

my next project is to make a stirrup pump. i wonder if i can get it higher than 150 psi. my compresssure cuts off at 80psi

Have you considered modding the valve so it works pneumatically?
Besides dropping the need for electrical circuits, it increases the power of the gun by alot.
No need to increase pressures yet, and you will still achieve better performance!

How does modding the valve make it more powerful. This kind is hard to mod.

spudgun wrote:How does modding the valve make it more powerful. This kind is hard to mod.

faster opening times

Electric solenoid valve -> very small pilot hole -> slow pilot volume venting -> slow opening times -> poor performance

Modded valve -> big pilot valve -> fast pilot volume venting -> fast opening times -> good performance

Black tape is ok

As above though, take the time and effort to mod the valve, you'll be impressed with the difference