SpudFiles

This is my first launcher to build myself. I've helped build my girlfriend's brother's launcher and shot it with him. He used a ball valve, and I don't think that was the best choice. I've done a lot of reading and I've narrowed it down to either a sprinkler valve or a piston valve. I think a sprinkler valve would be simpler, but not as effective. I don't plan on building too many more of these, so should I suck it up and build a piston for max efficiency now or just settle with a sprinkler valve for the sake of simplicity?

If I do go with a sprinkler valve, would replacing it with a piston valve down the road be a reasonable option? I don't want to use a sprinkler valve and be ready for a piston valve the next day and have to rebuild my entire launcher.

Piston valve all day, every day. Get yourself some brass fittings and some high pressure!

It sounds like u don't plan on building a collection. With only one launcher to concentrate on I'd build it with quality standard parts for easier upgrades and repairs down the road. And for the experience I'd do the sprinkler valve first then upgrade to the piston. "Make it last forever", Kieth Sweat. But that's just my opinion.