new here, pics of first gun

[badkitty]

hello all i just got into this , "HOBBY" if u wanna call it that. my friend came over friday we were watching tv and just totally bored. he just blurted out " hey lets make a potato gun" so thats where it started. With a few minutes of info digging on internet, i got some basic plans. now i have my first gun.

as you will see by the pics, i used a BBQ igniter, wired with 14ga solid core copper wire. I made the handle from a peice of 2x4 and sanded down. I know its super simple. My choice of fuel is the Ols Spice High Endurance body deo spray. I used starter fluid(too slow burning and kind of poofs no matter how much or little i use) ,hair spray(too messy and gummed up contact after 10shots), i tried propane(blue plumbers torch and the yellow mapp gas) they both work but again tempermental. the body spray works every time. I've even let it sit for 30mins ,sealed, and came out and it fired on first try.

oh and the duct tape thing, is 2 socks rolled up. Its what im using for now. I can fire at my garage door and some boxes. When i shoot in the air it stays up there 11seconds before hitting the ground.

Again i know there are better ways to do these and more complex ways, as i've seen on advancedspuds.com , i will get to those later. Are there any other good sites ?

[screamingflea]

Nice first gun, I like the handle and sock idea, you can make similair ammo from sawdust, duct tape, and a quarter. Any who, next time you build one I would recomend a smaller diameter barrel, that looks like a 2" so go with 1.5 probably. Anywho, good job, and I really do like that handle, pretty nifty.

[alex bennett]

yea its a nice gun, what you can do to it to make it better is to take something and cut angles at the tip of the barrel, so it makes a cutting edge. Just try to imagine a knife blade, bent into a circle while looking down at the barrel and you will get it. it lets you shove potatos in it w/ ease. Try denatured alcohol as a propelent, can find it at hardware store near the acetone, get a good spray bottle, make sure it mists it good.

[Blackspire]

File the INSIDE of the barrel and the outside, so that you get a very sharp edge. It will shove more potato into the barrel for a better seal and a lot more fun. It is however quite the chore to get a potato in the first time.

[badkitty]

ya i planned on using potato, but for now im just firing it in my garage in the evening. Im going to make another gun, but make it have interchangeable barrel for different ammo.


I have denatured alcohol and put in a good mister, but gun wont fire. Either with a small amount or moderate. Chamber is 14 1/2inches. Is my BBQ ignitor hot enuff to ignite the D Alcohol?

[rna_duelers]

Most probably the the alcohol isnt getting vapourised enough in the mister because the BBQ ignitor should work try different fuels then worry about your ignition.

[nicholai]

propane and mapp gas work best when metered and have a chamber completly exhausted of all burnt O2, thus the chamber fan and meter pipe




this cannon fires at 400 mph every time as long as i give it at least 15-30 seconds to air out with the fan.

the handle & bbq ignition, meter pipe, regulator, etc




fan controller with the onboard tank holder, notice the hose? it prevents liquid propane from entering the meter pipe. Liquid propane does not burn, only propane gas. If your tank is onboard and horizontal you may be loading liquid propane into your meter pipe, make sure that the tank outlet is pointed upright, or use an elbow and a hose that will settle liquid propane when pressurizing your meter pipe.

[brumby]

I love the handle

here are the sites that I find useful and will help you out.

http://www.spudtech.com
http://www.advancedspuds.com
http://www.burntlatke.com