CSG24-EI
Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 11:10 pm
Ok here is my gun. Couldn't get my digital camera working so these are all cell phone pics. This gun features a 24 inch long 4 inch diameter chamber, reduced to a 2 inch screw on barrel fitting. The ignition system is a 12kV battery powered BBQ Ignitor which I salvaged off of my neighbors BBQ (did not steal it, his wife burned the thing down). Off of the back of the ignitor block there are 2 pairs of lead which lead to 2 spark gaps inside the chamber.
The spark gaps consist of a set of 2 inch x #8 round head machine screws (you can pick up a set of 5 which include the nuts at Fred Myers for like 1.25 USD) drilled into the single layer (I already know don't gripe) space 2 1/4 inch apart along the perimeter of the barrel using a 5/32 drill bit which brings the tips of the gap to around 1/2 inch apart. This is perfect because it is just a hair smaller than the screws so you actually have to thread the screw into the chamber helping seal it better. I then took the nuts and installed them on the inside of the chamber.
During the wiring process I installed red collar U connectors onto the leads coming from the ignitor pack and inserted them between the head of the screw and the chamber, upon which I tightened the heck out of everything. The schrader valve was picked up at Les Schwab for free (just ask the guy how much they cost and he walked me out to the installation bay and tossed me one) and drilled into the single layer (again I know don't gripe) with a 3/8 inch drill bit and installed. This was nice because the valve assembly has a nice rubber seal on the base and comes with the washer, nut, anf valve cap.
The front handle was actually a long time coming, typically i just held the thing by the reducer, which sucks. The handle itself is a giant 5 inch caribeaner I picked up from Harbor Frieght for .99 USD. I like it because it have a nice foam grib on the one side. I then too 2 hose clamps of appropriate size and crossed them over the clasp of the caribeaner. It works perfectly as far and not moving but I do need to get a smaller hose clamp to use as a lock for the clasp so it doest open when weight is exerted against the handle.
The rear "handle"/ignition block holder is just some 3/4 inch pvc with a couple elbows and two "T's" that I cut the top of the "T" off and hose clamped down. Originally one of the 90's have a piezo electric BBQ ignitor in it and was built to look like a .50 cal handle.
The propane meter for this is a bacis Benzo torch from Home Depot (not one with electric ignition just a basic one). I removed the angle from the torch head and went to ACE Hardware and found an adapter to go from the torch to a 1/4 inch NPT fitting. From there I went to a female female adapter to a 1/4 inch NPT 2 foot long hose, with and air chuck on the end. I just go the thing figured out tonight. If you open the valve on the tank and pressurize the hose and then close the valve it is more than enough to fire. Some more fine tuning will be in store but for now it works fine.
Anyway, thats the CSG24-EI. Hope you guys like it. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Update: I just went out and got a brushless chamber fan at Office Depot. It is an Antec 3 speed 80mm Blue LED deal. Specs are 80mm x 80mm x 25.4mm 12VDC 1500, 200, 2600 RPM range 20, 26, 34 CFM respectivly. Got a switch and battery connectors from Radio Shack and housed everything in the end cap until I get a ball valve for it. I did have to file down the corners of the housing to fint into the chamber but that took like 20 seconds with my angle grinder.
The spark gaps consist of a set of 2 inch x #8 round head machine screws (you can pick up a set of 5 which include the nuts at Fred Myers for like 1.25 USD) drilled into the single layer (I already know don't gripe) space 2 1/4 inch apart along the perimeter of the barrel using a 5/32 drill bit which brings the tips of the gap to around 1/2 inch apart. This is perfect because it is just a hair smaller than the screws so you actually have to thread the screw into the chamber helping seal it better. I then took the nuts and installed them on the inside of the chamber.
During the wiring process I installed red collar U connectors onto the leads coming from the ignitor pack and inserted them between the head of the screw and the chamber, upon which I tightened the heck out of everything. The schrader valve was picked up at Les Schwab for free (just ask the guy how much they cost and he walked me out to the installation bay and tossed me one) and drilled into the single layer (again I know don't gripe) with a 3/8 inch drill bit and installed. This was nice because the valve assembly has a nice rubber seal on the base and comes with the washer, nut, anf valve cap.
The front handle was actually a long time coming, typically i just held the thing by the reducer, which sucks. The handle itself is a giant 5 inch caribeaner I picked up from Harbor Frieght for .99 USD. I like it because it have a nice foam grib on the one side. I then too 2 hose clamps of appropriate size and crossed them over the clasp of the caribeaner. It works perfectly as far and not moving but I do need to get a smaller hose clamp to use as a lock for the clasp so it doest open when weight is exerted against the handle.
The rear "handle"/ignition block holder is just some 3/4 inch pvc with a couple elbows and two "T's" that I cut the top of the "T" off and hose clamped down. Originally one of the 90's have a piezo electric BBQ ignitor in it and was built to look like a .50 cal handle.
The propane meter for this is a bacis Benzo torch from Home Depot (not one with electric ignition just a basic one). I removed the angle from the torch head and went to ACE Hardware and found an adapter to go from the torch to a 1/4 inch NPT fitting. From there I went to a female female adapter to a 1/4 inch NPT 2 foot long hose, with and air chuck on the end. I just go the thing figured out tonight. If you open the valve on the tank and pressurize the hose and then close the valve it is more than enough to fire. Some more fine tuning will be in store but for now it works fine.
Anyway, thats the CSG24-EI. Hope you guys like it. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Update: I just went out and got a brushless chamber fan at Office Depot. It is an Antec 3 speed 80mm Blue LED deal. Specs are 80mm x 80mm x 25.4mm 12VDC 1500, 200, 2600 RPM range 20, 26, 34 CFM respectivly. Got a switch and battery connectors from Radio Shack and housed everything in the end cap until I get a ball valve for it. I did have to file down the corners of the housing to fint into the chamber but that took like 20 seconds with my angle grinder.
is this your first?