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Cloud vs Vortex?

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 3:13 pm
by Spuddin
ok im sure this is a repeat question and yes i have looked at the wiki and lots of posts about these 2 types but i would like to hear it from someone that has made both guns. which one has more power if u was using the same amount of psi. im thinking the vortex does but i want to build one that shoots the hardest.
i already have a airless spray gun handle (aluminum) and was thinking of using a good sized co2 bottle with a regulator. am i getting close? thx in advance for the help.

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 4:56 pm
by jrrdw
17 onlookers and no replys, hmmmmm. I'll say this, from what i've read, the vortex block style has a higher rate of fire, can that be translated into more powerfull, maby. I know you ask for members who built both, i've built none, yet. I'm planing on building sniper rifles for airsoft, but i'm gonna build small piston pneumatics, thats going to have more power, but only one shot at a time. It really depends on what your after, you said power! Piston valves will give you way more power then a cloud or vortex. I hope that helps/sways your thoughts.

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 5:15 pm
by jackssmirkingrevenge
There's no real difference in performance between a normal vortex and a cloud - though if incorporated with a spring-loaded plunger in the inline configuration, this will perform better than a cloud but is a little more complex.

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 5:45 pm
by noname
Cloud:
Pros
Cheap
Extremely simple

Cons
Stops feeding and requires shaking every now and then
Doesn't feed the last few
Eats up air like a shop vac

Vortex (this is going by my desgin of an inline block):
Pros
Higher ROF
More Power
Fun to make!
Feeds consistently
Feeds the last few

Cons
A little harder to make
A little more expensive if you want a nice gun
Eats up air like a slightly smaller shop vac

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 6:17 pm
by benstern
Actually I believe that clouds have a higher rate of fire.

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 10:08 pm
by noname
Ever made both types, with exactly the same volume? :wink:

Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 7:32 am
by Spuddin
every comment helps, thx guys. looks like i need to plan a hobby budget. if i can gather up enough stuff i will make both. im looking forward to making the inline vortex with spring plunger. i have a couple old bb guns i will use the barrels out of. i love the cloud to cause its so simple.

www.freewebs.com/spuddin

Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 7:39 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
you could always make a ball-vavle strafer, simple and 100% efficient :)

Image

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Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 12:38 pm
by jimmy101
I've made both, but only chronied the vortex.

Image
ROF of ~60 RPS (3600 RPM), muzzle velocity of 335 FPS. (From <a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~jimsluka/Jim ... l">here</a>.)

Really don't see a lot of difference between the two. The cloud had a chamber about 1/2 the size of the vortex but shooting at cans I don't see any difference.

The cloud is a lot easier to make and is probably more amendable to modifications designed to improve some aspect of the performance (ROF, muzzle velocity, air consumption...). Heck, with a cloud you would just build a new gun, for a vortex you would need to either retrofit an existing gun or build a new vortex.

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 5:08 pm
by veginator
is that the only type of strafer, or are there more?