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Going to build my first Cannon. A little help please ?

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:34 am
by dizzee
Hi,
Hopefully soon I am going to build my first Cannon, I live in the uk, parts are relatively cheep due to my Friend is a plumber.

I would like to build a Combustion Cannon. I'm not a mini Cannon fan . Where i work ,theres a 4ft piece of 4-4.5 inch left over wastage pipe for a toilet i could use. Would this be ok ? I have also found 10 ft piece of 2.5 inch plain white pvc..

Shall i buy all new pipe of run with this for my first cannon.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:21 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
Combustions typically don't generate a lot of pressure so they can use piping which is rated for less pressure than pneumatics. If the wall thickness is sufficient I would be comfortable using it.

As you're in the UK you might want to check out the UKSGC as you'll be able to find more pertinent information particular to supplies available on the British isles ;)

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:36 am
by MaxuS the 2nd
Which part of the Uk are you from, I'm from a place near Norwich in Norfolk.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:14 am
by starman
The 2.5" can launch tennis balls quite nicely.

Sched 40 pvc will be fine but stay away from the 4" stuff if it is cellular core. Also, don't use it if it is the thin walled "SD" pipe.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 2:55 pm
by dizzee
I am from Kent Maxus.. I would like a pneumatics Cannon in the future, since at work we have a very large compressor. But for my first Cannon i want to keep it easy since i haven't got my head round the valves and pistons yet..

All i could think off is to take a air brake tank off a arctic lorry, since there put under quite abit of pressure. A ball valve in between the tank and the barrel and fill it up to the rated pressure.

For the combustion ill buy all new piping, just so i know its safe.
for a 2.5 inch barrel whats the best setup for the combustion chamber ? 4" or 5 "

I was thinking around 10 "long for the 4 inch chamber and 8 inches for the 5 inch chamber

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 4:36 pm
by SpudFarm
fat short chamber is best.