SpudFiles

I've been lurking around on this forum for awhile, time for an introduction.

My name is Clayton "Ranger" Moore, I'm 16 and a sophmore in highschool, I live in LaPorte Texas.My Nickname is "Ranger" (figure that one out )

I have always been fascinated with potato guns, specifically pneumatic guns due there simplicity and reliability. I have built 5 air guns, all out of 3/4" PVC with 3/4" PVC ball valves as their trigger. Simple but effective I built 3 for my friends and 2 for myself

Here are mine

The AR-1 (Air Rifle MK1)
Range: 100 yards @ 120 psi
Accuracy: good enough


And the PP-2 (Pneumatic Pistol MK2)
Range: 25 yards
Accuracy:


The rifle is not working at the moment becuase I took the schrader valve off because it was leaking. The schrader valve came from a old bike tire, I cut it off and removed the rubber with a wire wheel on the grinder. I got a 1/4" hose barb and cut off the barb then soldered in the schrader valve.

Does anyone know of any oil that I can put on the valve to make it work better? I have tried alot of oil and have'nt found the right one yet.

This is nothing compared to some of the stuff that I have seen on the forum, but its a start.


I painted the guns camo (green basecoat and black stripes)



As you can see I made another gun, it can be found here:http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/viewtop ... tml#290675

The simplest ones can be the best ones. Not always though
Nice guns, my first was a 1/2" ball valve cannon, it was awsome. Painting always makes the gun look 10x better.
Also, most people would say get rid of the tape and go with hose clamps, but I think it looks kinda cool.

hmm, that "pistol" should be made into a "carbine", because your chamber is huge and your barrel is small. so i would recommend making your barrel a we bit bigger

Does anyone know of any oil that I can put on the valve to make it work better? I have tried alot of oil and haven't found the right one yet.

umm, i have never used any oil on mine.

i also used the same method for attaching the valve to my gun. just one thing, how hot are you letting your valve get?? if it gets TOO how then it will stop working. i would recommend getting a valve core removal tool, and some new valve cores, and just replace the workings of the valve if its leaking.

For the valve oil, try 3-in-1. It works wonders on metal valves, dunno about PVC.

There are zip ties under the tape. I'm not letting the valve get too hot, although it did get warm while I was breaking it in.

The pistol I just threw together with scraps from all my previous guns, it should have a longer barrel but that was the longest piece I had.

How are you holding the first gun and firing it without bending over sideways?

Welcome to Spudfiles, Ranger.

I hold the short grip ( the one farthest from the valve) with my right hand and turn the valve with my left. When I built the rifle the chamber only extended a little bit past the first grip, it didnt work too good. I added an extension to it as an after thought.

I would like to get a spring and attach it to the valve handle so I can put a trigger on the first grip, but right now the valve is just too hard to turn.

The first one is the coolest ball valve gun I've seen for a while...

I would like to get a spring and attach it to the valve handle so I can put a trigger on the first grip, but right now the valve is just too hard to turn.

What I would do is remove the ball valve and either replace it with a sprinkler valve with a blowgun going to the rear grip, or a piston valve piloted by a similar setup. It will make it more comfortable to shoot, more consistent, and therefore a better gun.

My first couple of air cannons were ballvalve actuated. The first one I built with a sprinkler valve changed my life. Once I built a piston valve, everything else became less significant.

Gaderelguitarist wrote:

I would like to get a spring and attach it to the valve handle so I can put a trigger on the first grip, but right now the valve is just too hard to turn.

What I would do is remove the ball valve and either replace it with a sprinkler valve with a blowgun going to the rear grip, or a piston valve piloted by a similar setup. It will make it more comfortable to shoot, more consistent, and therefore a better gun.

My first couple of air cannons were ballvalve actuated. The first one I built with a sprinkler valve changed my life. Once I built a piston valve, everything else became less significant.

Less significant??
Well i agree with you about what ranger should so, how ever maybe a new build?? I still have my first ballvalve cannon, good to see where i have come from...

Less significant??

As in more juvenile. I'm at the stage now where I haven't built a cannon in a while simply because I have no need of improving on what I have. I have a reliable, powerful piston air cannon. I doubt I'll ever go back and use any of my older guns.

Bad form, I know.

Gaderelguitarist wrote:

Less significant??

As in more juvenile. I'm at the stage now where I haven't built a cannon in a while simply because I have no need of improving on what I have. I have a reliable, powerful piston air cannon. I doubt I'll ever go back and use any of my older guns.

Bad form, I know.

i dont plan on using my ball valve cannon too much, its just there for fun

Try vegetable oil on the schrader valve. You can use KY Jelly on the ball valve to make it easier to turn, use a long stick to apply it.

Welcome to Spudfiles.

jrrdw wrote:Try vegetable oil on the schrader valve. You can use KY Jelly on the ball valve to make it easier to turn, use a long stick to apply it.

Welcome to Spudfiles.

lol , come on you knew it was coming