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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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Velocity
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Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:55 am

Yeah, I have had a similar experience involving big cannons. I finally finished my piston-valved Americannon, and it was shooting fine for a while. Suddenly, however, after one shot the washer, screw, and neoprene sealing face had shot off. Luckily I found them, and replaced them. The same thing happened on the next shot. I realized that the bolt for the screw was the wrong size, and now the hole when the screw was supposed to screw into on the piston was stripped.

I tried to drill out the stripped screw hole and put in a larger screw, but I did it at an angle, and ruined it.

I bought new parts for the piston, but I messed up. The two endcaps which made up the piston did not glue together flushly, and I did not want to use it for fear of it "catching" on something.

Yet again I tried, and failed. When I failed on my third try, it was the worst feeling ever. The hardware store was all out of the parts I needed. I was seriously considering just smashing up the valve and quitting spudguns...forever.

I decided to give it one more try (after some inspirational words from my mother :D ). I managed to fix the drilled out hole on the first piston, and it worked fine from there.

While I may have gotten lucky, the point it often you will need to buy new spudgun parts if you keep screwing up on the same thing. You just gotta stick in there.
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schmanman
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Sat Dec 23, 2006 12:30 pm

yeah, I felt this way after the tee, pipe leading to the air chamber, and reducers on one of the chambers cracked on the swat gun. I considered giving it up, and I am glad I didn't.
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Sat Dec 23, 2006 2:51 pm

I've been seriously slacking on pics. Here you go:

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Image (tee for handle)

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notice how nice of a job the holesaw did on the tee. It took down the stop really well in my drill press. Too bad I fudged up the other socket..
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frankrede
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Sat Dec 23, 2006 3:46 pm

I like your modified T's how did you do it?The stoppers took me for ever to sand out.
On mine I used a dremel.
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PVC Arsenal 17
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Sat Dec 23, 2006 4:03 pm

I used a 4 1/2" holesaw.
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schmanman
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Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:48 pm

very very VERY nice. :D

keep up the good quality work. nice job on those tees.
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MisterSteve124
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Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:08 pm

wait so are those the new ones you got or the ones that are messed up?
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Sat Dec 23, 2006 11:29 pm

those are the messud up ones. Look at the close up of the one socket.
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MisterSteve124
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Sun Dec 24, 2006 11:54 am

well if the hole is too big you could try taking some pvc cement and rubbing it on the socket to try and get it in the grooves and then sand it down if you need it. It could save you from getting new ones
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killagorrila99
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Thu Dec 28, 2006 12:21 am

When do you think this will be finished? I really like the look of it...
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sgehring
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Thu Dec 28, 2006 12:50 am

So did you use the 4 1/2 hole saw and then take it back like you planned? I like the handle. Thati s simliar to what I did on the Maulernator to make the "bolt' that I load the golf ball through on the breechload. Good job. Glad you didn't give up.
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SpudStuff
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Thu Dec 28, 2006 12:58 am

You atre going to fill that with a schrader valve? You need WAY more flow then that, especially without an o-ring.
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Velocity
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Thu Dec 28, 2006 1:28 am

SpudStuff wrote:You atre going to fill that with a schrader valve? You need WAY more flow then that, especially without an o-ring.
Eh... I don't think so. The Americannon (similar to the Omega, only a bit larger chamber) is filled through a 1/8" schrader connected to a 1/8x1/4" bushing connected to a 1/4" check valve connected to a 1/4" female quick disconnect, and this entire assembly is attached to a 1/4" male quick disconnect which is a ttached to the 3/4" QEV that pilots it (whew!)

The 1/8" schrader and 1/4" check valve really slow down flow (I can tell when I am pumping the bike pump), but it still fills fine. My advice: Pump like crazy till it reaches 20 PSI, then it should be sealed fine (perhaps lower; mine seals at around 10 PSI, possibly lower)
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Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:33 pm

I still have an open 1/4" port still on that brass cross. I might put in a ball valve with a quick connect to fill it off the compressor.

And yes, I used the 4 1/2" hole saw. It worked great too, I was surprised. I've decided not to glue the reducing tees around the chamber pipe. It would be a pain in my ass and seeing how tight they are as it is, the shouldn't move around much.
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Sat Jan 06, 2007 1:48 pm

Rmich... just making sure I didn't forget, you said 1 inch of piston travel right? Will more be better or no?
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