Monsters of the Potato Gun World (video update 2/3/08)

[jrrdw]

Take it how you want to. One major factor eveyone leaves out of their equizations is muphys law. Like I stated plainly, he hasn't hit that rite mixture yet. What are the chance's he hits that mixture? I don't know, but neither does anybody else.

DYI to state this is just plain childish! -- "RCman, I would just like to assure you that jrrdw, despite his high post count, has very little knowledge in these matters. His post is based on incorrect information and faulty logic, and is no cause for alarm on your part. Your cannon is no more likely to explode than any other spray'n'pray combustion."

"faulty logic" -- Mathmatics, not all ways logical.

Passing on common sense would be more logical at this point in this thread, I hope I've done that for rcman.

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Importent Edit: Before anybody else tells me/rcman that I don't know what I'm talking about, please read 1st post of mine carefully!!!

[rcman50166]

Useing "Gasoline" in chambers this size is the same dam thing as playing with a time bomb! It is the fumes that are igniting not the raw liquid. Rule of thumb when dealing with gas fumes -- One gallon of fumes equals one stick of Dynomite! Your chamber size is at least two gallons!
The only reason you haven't been hurt or killed yet is because you haven't gotten unlucky enough to get the rite optamon mixture yet, and hopfully you wont! I also hope no one else is near you when this explodes!

Remember safty first! For the members who posted here all ready -- PULL YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR ASSES!

We are sapossed to help members by promoting safty first!

rcman, YOU ARE PLAYING WITH A TIME BOMB! IT IS GOING TO EXPLODE, YOU JUST DON'T NO WHEN OR HOW BADLY.

Have you ever seen a stick of Dynomite go off? I have, turst me you can't build enough protection to keep yourself safe.

Welcome to Spudfiles.

Sorry about the shouting, but some one needed to step up!

OK I think the dynamite comparison is equivalent to gasoline in liquid form because I'm definitely still alive. PVC would not be able to handle to intense force of dynamite, if I knew that I would be playing with those forces, I would use schedule 80 PVC. And also I'm using the homemade blast barrier. Those would be able to handle a dynamite blast even without the PVC taking most of the shock. The benches used aren't bolted down so any kinetic energy will be directed in the benches motion. (probably toward me though) I pretty much make dynamite.

[rcman50166]

And what's the ball valve on the back of the General for? I wouldn't call these things monsters, as they could easily be handheld. The 3" barrel is a rather uncommon feature on combustions, as it makes finding ammunition a bit more difficult. If you can put enough power behind it however, 3" is actually a very good barrel size.

The "Sarge" is not so much a monster but the "General" is. It cannot be carried even if you wanted to. It's extremely awkward and heavy. (about 35 lbs) The ball valve on the back is designed to be a power limiter. I want to use ammunition in the future that is over 19.6 Newtons in force. The three inch barrel makes for perfect ammo for most plastic drink bottles. (20 oz soda bottles, smart water bottles, and half liter poland spring bottles etc.)

[Fnord]

jrrdw, I have a cannon that has a 5 gallon air tank as a combustion chamber, and I have successfully used gasoline in it.
I know for a fact that 5 sticks is more than enough to destroy a car, let alone a small steel air tank.
The only real danger to using gasoline is that of persistent chamber fires.

[jrrdw]

jrrdw, I have a cannon that has a 5 gallon air tank as a combustion chamber, and I have successfully used gasoline in it.
I know for a fact that 5 sticks is more than enough to destroy a car, let alone a small steel air tank.
The only real danger to using gasoline is that of persistent chamber fires.

When you hit the rite mixture, you mite remember it, if any part of you can still funtion enough to tell us about it. Read guys, read.

Importent Edit: Before anybody else tells me/rcman that I don't know what I'm talking about, please read 1st post of mine carefully!!!

[SpudFarm]

okay jrrdw you has probably dont gained all information from members since you are wrong now and all other are right. if it is so important for you that he don`t do this just dont watch this topic anymore!

[mark.f]

Take it how you want to. One major factor eveyone leaves out of their equizations is muphys law. Like I stated plainly, he hasn't hit that mixture yet. What are the chance's he hits that mixture? I don't know, but neither does anybody else.

"That mixture" would be 14.7% gasoline vapours to air, which would yield about the same heat of reaction as if he were to use propane, which has been used for years with great success. Any less, he will decrease power. Any more, he will decrease power.

Murphy's Law does apply. Eventually, he's going to spill gas on his skin and it's gonna burn like a b**** after a while. As for exploding chambers with equivalent destructive power of a stick of dynamite... that won't happen.

[SpudFarm]

yeah and those chamber arent explosive they just hold the pressure to a point and then they burst it is in my eyes just as dangarous to run around with a 150psi PVC chamber and suddenly you fall then boom its a risk in all cannons! you dont have fun 100% safe

edit: can`t this be up to the shooter and not us desroying his topic with this shit? i think he be glad if someone can comment the cannon and not the danger he is alredy aware of?!

[noob of noobs]

okay jrrdw you has probably dont gained all information from members since you are wrong now and all other are right. if it is so important for you that he don`t do this just dont watch this topic anymore!

That would be a very fine point, except we all know how much bad publicity spudgunning gets. When one person gets blinded by shooting a frog into their face, the hobby suffers, and we suffer. Even thought the person might not mind having a gun blow up, the government has a problem, and then we've got a problem. Spudgunning doesn't need any more bad publicity, and if this gasoline cannon were to blow up, we'd also be responsible for this trajedy since we gave him the "ok."
I really have no idea as to what all this talk about Newtons and triangle markings is about, but I do know this: If you screw up, you and every other hobbyist will be in deep sh-t.
Just keep that in mind. Happy spuddin
P.S. And also, propane is pretty cheap if you build your own regulator.

[SpudUke5]

Noob of Noobs makes a very good point. We will be the ones in trouble if something happens, and dont say that it will never, because that is not true. It can happen at ne time. Also, due to media sensationalism in how they are inaccurate with information, we will only be discriminated more by the evil suffocating hand of the inconsiderate media.

Also, gas prices are so much higher now. 3 dollars a gallon compared to 3 propane tank that will give you more shots and is more powerful according to the posts above. You could also be using that gas for your car or lawnmower instead of this, which will save you money.

[Novacastrian]

Hell, i only asked what he used as fuel.....

[rcman50166]

yeah and those chamber arent explosive they just hold the pressure to a point and then they burst it is in my eyes just as dangarous to run around with a 150psi PVC chamber and suddenly you fall then boom its a risk in all cannons! you dont have fun 100% safe

edit: can`t this be up to the shooter and not us desroying his topic with this crap? i think he be glad if someone can comment the cannon and not the danger he is alredy aware of?!

lol It's ok i find all opinions and arguments interesting. I take all points into account.

[mark.f]

So... he should just conform to your "safety standards" just because there's a slight chance of the cannon failing? Also, keep in mind that the chances of the cannon failing are exactly the same or less than if he were to switch to propane. If the cannon fails, it won't be because of the gasoline, so what are you implying by your above statements? Should we all drop spudgunning and take up basket-weaving so that nobody gets bad publicity?

I think it's rather silly that one mention of fueling with gasoline gets such a huge response from people claiming it's dangerous... with NO facts to back that up.

It's a normal PVC combustion cannon, and ya'll are screaming about it like it's the devil himself. Grow up. It's attitudes similar to you guy's about gasoline which is precisely why science is dying as a study in the U.S.

So... end of story, (in my opinion, although I'm sure there'll be more arguments below). Nice cannon, rcman, although I'd have to say your claim of "Monsters of the Spudding World" is a little far stretched. Not trying to put you down, though. Is all that stuff on the cannon wire, though? It looks a little out of place.

[SpudFarm]

nobody are 100% safe around a homemade cannon and thats the fact!

[noob of noobs]

Appologies for my doubt about gasoline. My parents are still concerned that I'm moving towards propane, and I guess some of that paranoia is rubbing off.
Regardless of it's fueling, they're really nice cannons. Got any damage pics?