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Spark strips from metal foil adhesive tape

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 8:53 am
by Biopyro
So I've recently been less interesting in record-breakingly powerful cannons and more interested in reliable, safe cannons which I can take to BBQs and easily allow others to use and understand. It's therefore important to me that the cannons are easily maintained and very easy to use.

I had some foil tape left over from some work I was doing, and figured that it would be a good, no-nonsense multispark strip which could easily be replaced. I'm really pleased with it.

I have a BBQ igniter which is relatively low current so won't erode the tape. If I were using a stun gun, I'd probably want to use copper.

I can easily add more or less gaps if needed. I have curled up the edges of each gap so there is no tracking across the chamber wall.


You'll probably have seen the tape I'm talking abut before:
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Something I never appreciated the usefulness of before is the ability to stick my hand into the chamber without risking damage to things. It makes it really easy to clean or recover lost ammo.


Any thoughts? I figured that if one wanted a central strip, this could easily be wrapped around nylon threaded rod, or anything else which is not conductive.

The cannons have no shortage of power!

Pictures:

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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:58 am
by mark.f
I can't believe it. I made a spark strip from a sliver of PVC and foil tape last night (for a coaxial).

I'm suprised I haven't seen it before. If my chamber wasn't hard to reach into I would have stuck the tape straight to the chamber wall.

Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:59 pm
by jrrdw
This totally backs up the phrase: "Keep it simple, stupid!".

Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:41 pm
by Zeus
Copper foil tape is also available at leadlighting supply shops, it's usually pretty cheap, about $10 for a roll, and that's in expensive-land.

Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:04 pm
by D_Hall
Out of curiousity... What is leadlighting (and thus, a leadlighting shop)?

Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:47 pm
by Zeus
Linky

Basically stained glass held together with H section lead. You see it everywhere, especially churches and cabinet doors.