why wont it work?!

Boom! The classic potato gun harnesses the combustion of flammable vapor. Show us your combustion spud gun and discuss fuels, ratios, safety, ignition systems, tools, and more.
ecko
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Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:07 pm

ok, im using a single bbq igniter, so i can see a spark and everything, but when i spray in the fuel and close it it wont even do anything...wtf am i doing wrong?
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Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:09 pm

1. Is the fuel flamable :lol:
2. Is there to much or to little fuel
ecko
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Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:12 pm

im using hairspray (i know i know..it gums up the chamber, i dont care it is a first gun, i can always clean the barel) and the hairspray is flamable, how much should i put in?
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jrrdw
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Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:40 pm

Count 1 1,000, 2 2,000, thats it, if it don't shoot the first time keep clicking. What color is the spark when you seen it? Orange is ok, blue is best. If it's not blue, try closeing the gap a little.
mindtrickonu
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Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:48 pm

if there is too much fuel in the chamber ... open up the cap on the end and blow into it really hard ... close the cap ... then try firing it again ... repeat until it fires ... or just get a fan .... um theres also prolly too little fuel as was said above
Tshylea
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Mon Dec 04, 2006 8:18 pm

There is probably too much fuel. If there was too little it would fire, just not very well. Its really surprising how little fuel you need.
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CS
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Mon Dec 04, 2006 8:44 pm

Is this hairspray your using aerosol based? Like is its operation of dispensing its contents similar to that of a spray paint can? Although it may be something a bit more 'in depth', if you will.

-Is your projectile loaded while attempting to ignite the fuel?
-Do you vent the chamber between both failed, and successful shots? [Taking off the cap wont do anything, you have to get some air flow in there. Be it via fan, blowing in there, or whatever means you have]
-If your answering 'yes' to all these questions, the problem is no doubt that its your fuel mixture. A mechanism to mix the fuel will help the success rate of the combustion initiate. From there, you have to just try tinkering with different fuel amounts.
ecko
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Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:07 pm

yes to all pimpmann, and the spark is blue, i tried 4 seconds one time. The wierd thign is one time it didnt work, and i left it out and fired it in my house...and that time it worked lol.
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MikeNice
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Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:27 pm

Seriously Ecko, go get a can of Tag body spray. Save yourself the frustration. Everything about Tag is flammable. My chambers are 4x18 and I use about a 2.5 second blast with a spud loaded. BBQ ignitor. Boom. To get consistant (any) shots you've got to start with a good fuel and fuel air mixture.
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jjjd
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Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:53 pm

or use a can of butane and add an arosol tip to it
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MikeNice
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Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:21 pm

I hadn't heard of that one before jjjd . . . I'm going to have to give that one a run !! Would you say it works better than Tag / old Right Guard? That's pretty much all I use. Occasionally I've used 91% isopropyl sprayed in a fine mist into the chamber, which works pretty good, but I stick to old faithful Tag.
ecko
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Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:37 pm

its expensive though.
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MikeNice
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Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:39 pm

neither the Tag OR and 91% alcohol are expensive, doubt the butane really is either . . . .
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Tue Dec 05, 2006 5:02 pm

Well it depends on what u consider expensive. To me tag axe or any of that stuff cost a fortune.
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MikeNice
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Tue Dec 05, 2006 5:23 pm

a couple bux is expensive bluetooth? how do you buy spudgun parts or potatos or an ignition system? Getting off topic by playing devils advocate here. Bottom line, if you want your gun to work well start by using decent fuel.
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