How to pump up a large cannon in the field?

Show us your pneumatic spud gun! Discuss pneumatic (compressed gas) powered potato guns and related accessories. Valve types, actuation, pipe, materials, fittings, compressors, safety, gas choices, and more.
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jmccalip
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Sun May 03, 2009 10:42 pm

Yes I searched.


4" chamber x7ft.

I have a 33g compressor in the garage, but that doesn't do much good else where

I thought maybe C02, but that would cause the PVC to become brittle. Maybe a MF1050 Tsunami compressor, rated at 2.5CFM, and it can run off 12v. But still, these tiny pumps aren't meant for constant use.

How can I shoot this cannon with only my car as a power source?
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mark.f
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Sun May 03, 2009 10:51 pm

Basically, the only practical items, in my opinion, would be a large HP source (SCBA, bulk CO<sub>2</sub>, etc.), or a gas-powered compressor. Paintball CO<sub>2</sub> would get old really quick.

If you're not worried about ROF or work involved, you could always use a manual pump.
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jackssmirkingrevenge
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Sun May 03, 2009 10:53 pm

A good track pump like this will give you a hell of a work-out, sure beats paying for a gym.
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jmccalip
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Sun May 03, 2009 10:55 pm

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:A good track pump like this will give you a hell of a work-out, sure beats paying for a gym.
:lol: Good one. Unfortunately, I'm already skinny enough. I guess I could do one shot and call it a day. LOL
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Gippeto
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Sun May 03, 2009 11:16 pm

Regulated propane???

Just don't smoke. :wink:
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jmccalip
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Sun May 03, 2009 11:27 pm

Gippeto wrote:Regulated propane???

Just don't smoke. :wink:
Umm, having a pressurized bomb might be too much of a risk.


What about regulated HPA? I'm not familiar with this, but isn't it gas only form?


What gases do NOT come out of the 'tap' freezing?[/url]
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jackssmirkingrevenge
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Sun May 03, 2009 11:37 pm

jmccalip wrote:What about regulated HPA? I'm not familiar with this, but isn't it gas only form?
If you're prepared to fork out for a bottle and you have filling facilities nearby, HPA is a good option.
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SubsonicSpud
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Mon May 04, 2009 12:06 am

Small petrol engine driven workshop Compressor is an option.

Another option is a modified car airconditioning compressor mounted on the engine of you're car, as done on 4X4's for onboard air systems. :twisted:

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Mon May 04, 2009 12:10 am

Well, this is sort of impractical but it would work without freezing your chamber. Get a bunch of dry ice and a pressure tank and drop it in with some water. Then connect a hose to that tank and fill your gun with it. The gas won't be freezing through the line, only the bottom of the storage tank will be cold.
Or just get a good, heavier duty portable compressor.
These portability issues are what turned me off from pneumatics really.
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jackssmirkingrevenge
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Mon May 04, 2009 12:23 am

SubsonicSpud wrote:Small petrol engine driven workshop Compressor is an option.

Another option is a modified car airconditioning compressor mounted on the engine of you're car, as done on 4X4's for onboard air systems. :twisted:
Plenty of online advicehow to do this cheaply, otherwise you can buy a portable unit for not a lot of $$$ that clamps straight to your car battery and is of much better quality that the cheap-o lighter socket models that burn out all too easily.
Last edited by jackssmirkingrevenge on Mon May 04, 2009 12:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Gippeto
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Mon May 04, 2009 12:24 am

My understanding is that the propellent portion of "green gas" used for airsoft is nothing but propane.

It's only flammable when mixed with air (O2) in the correct (or nearly so) ratios. :) Overly rich mixtures simply do not go boom.

Just ask the "combustion guys". :wink:
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Mon May 04, 2009 12:43 am

I agree with gippeto - for a spudgun made from PVC propane seems like the easiest and cheapest option... just remember to fire it outdoors and you should be fine...
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iemand
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Mon May 04, 2009 3:42 am

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:A good track pump like this will give you a hell of a work-out, sure beats paying for a gym.
I got that pump, and its a nice one, but when you want to go above 6-8 bar(87-116psi) its getting quite hard to pump. I can only go above that kind of pressure with that pump, when I pull the handle up for like 5 inch and push it down as fast as I can.(not higher then 5 inch). Or else it feels like I'm going to bend/break the rod...Or just going to let me do a nice faceplant :lol:
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inonickname
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Mon May 04, 2009 4:05 am

You've got a few options.

Bottled or liquefied gasses.
-Propane
-CO2
-HPA/nitrogen
-Cylinders for applications like welding

Small compressor. ore suited to high pressure, or mount a large compressor in vehicle.

Manual- a track pump as mentioned before is best.
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Mon May 04, 2009 12:21 pm

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:
jmccalip wrote:What about regulated HPA? I'm not familiar with this, but isn't it gas only form?
If you're prepared to fork out for a bottle and you have filling facilities nearby, HPA is a good option.
If you do use HPA, don't forget to do the math. Some tanks are 80 cubic feet at atm pressure. Do the math to figure out just how much air you need.

For my field use, I use a high volume hand pump and prefer to shoot the small tank cannon. When we have a big bunch of guys around, they can rotate pumping while building anticipation. Gotta watch the smokers, they tend to be beat at 20-30 PSI while athletes take it on up to 80 PSI.

Some smaller nailer compressors will run on a larger inverter. My Prius has a 1,000 Watt inverter and will run a little compressor or a fridge compressor. Other options are a gas generator or gas compressor.

For the larger launcher I am building, something other than a hand pump will be required, so I am looking into the options.

Don't use a emergency jump kit with battery and compressor. They are OK for topping up a soft tire but worthless for repeated cannon shots.
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Small compressor I am considering to run off the car inverter.
Small compressor I am considering to run off the car inverter.
00000110321-CampbellHausfeldPortableAirCompressorFP2020-large.jpeg (20.75 KiB) Viewed 4019 times
Inverter in my car
Inverter in my car
xantrex-power-inverter-xpower-1000-sm.jpg (9.71 KiB) Viewed 4019 times
Hand pump
Hand pump
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