A couple of (newbish?) questions

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.
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Xalexalex
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Sun Aug 28, 2011 7:10 am

Hello everyone!
I'm planning on building my first spud cannon. Wanting to do something more advanced than a plain spray-and-pray, I began to do some resarch on the fueling system and materials.

For practical reasons (weight and dimensions) I thought of a simple "valve" attached to the combustion chamber, to be used with a disposable butane cartriged like the following

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In my mind I picture myself "pressing" this cartridge on the valve, which will open due to the pressure from the cartrige, letting the butane in. Much like when you refill a lighter, I guess.
My question is: does a valve like that exist? And if it does, will it substain the pressure from the inside, when the butane ignites?

As for the materials, I got interested in PVD-F (that is polyvinyldene-fluoride), which *in theory* is capable of sustaining greater pressures than PVC, PP or ABS plastics, but I couldn't find any practical info nor a direct experience on this.

I'll be glad if you could share your knowledge with me =)

All the best!
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Crna Legija
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Sun Aug 28, 2011 7:19 am

The valve does exist you could take one from a camping stove that uses them cans, but it would be just like any other spray n pray cannon because you are not metering fuel into the chamber.

The pressure from a spray n pray is about 40-60psi more or less the same in a propane cylinder, so yeah if you can attach it the the cannon good it should hold the pressure.
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Xalexalex
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Sun Aug 28, 2011 7:33 am

Any thoughts on the PVD-F idea?
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saefroch
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Sun Aug 28, 2011 10:32 am

If you want to handle more pressure than pressure-rated PVC or ABS fittings can easily sustain, just use metal. There's no reason to be using plastic.
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Xalexalex
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Sun Aug 28, 2011 11:05 am

Money, maybe? :D
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Sun Aug 28, 2011 11:23 am

Xalexalex wrote:Any thoughts on the PVD-F idea?
If it can take 100 psi without shattering, why not ;)

As to fuelling, here's a self-explanatory thought:
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hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
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Xalexalex
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Sun Aug 28, 2011 11:31 am

I like the idea, but I was looking for something... quicker to use. I'll check the home depot in a couple of days, see what I can find.

Btw, is there an introductions thread here? I couldn't find it anywhere =/
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Sun Aug 28, 2011 11:51 am

[quote="Xalexalex"]I like the idea, but I was looking for something... quicker to use. I'll check the home depot in a couple of days, see what I can find.

Btw, is there an introductions thread here? I couldn't find it anywhere =/[/quote
Yes, I believe its called the "search" button, and the "wiki"!! Welcome to the forum!! :D :D
Go Bruins!!!!
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Sun Aug 28, 2011 11:52 am

Xalexalex wrote:I like the idea, but I was looking for something... quicker to use. I'll check the home depot in a couple of days, see what I can find.
You can cut out the syringe, ball valve and check valve - but then you have no means of correctly dispensing the right amound of gas, so you've made a spray'n'pray.
Btw, is there an introductions thread here? I couldn't find it anywhere =/
You're in it ;)
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
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Technician1002
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Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:06 pm

A simple syringe meter is not hard to make.

A piece of tube will do the job.
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Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:10 pm

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:
Xalexalex wrote:I like the idea, but I was looking for something... quicker to use. I'll check the home depot in a couple of days, see what I can find.
You can cut out the syringe, ball valve and check valve - but then you have no means of correctly dispensing the right amound of gas, so you've made a spray'n'pray.
Btw, is there an introductions thread here? I couldn't find it anywhere =/
You're in it ;)

Use a 3 way valve and a meter pipe. If combined with a fan vent, 5-10 shots per minute should be do-able.
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Xalexalex
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Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:15 pm

I'll check the other threads to get some inspirations =)
Thank you all!
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Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:30 pm

Following up on tech's post.

Other ways to do it;
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all from the wiki http://www.spudfiles.com/spud_wiki/imag ... up_158.jpg

edit: and one not on the wiki:
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editedit: btw, the last one is both a meter and an ignition system.
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Crna Legija
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Mon Aug 29, 2011 2:14 am

Xalexalex wrote:I'll check the other threads to get some inspirations =)
Thank you all!

ahhh finally :D
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