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Design ideas

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 7:42 pm
by Mortar Fan
Hi everone, I'm new here to Spudfile forums, but look very forward to chatting about these fine pieces of homemade artillery. :)

My name is James, and I live in West Texas. I've been a fan of cannons and mortars for a very long time and just recently started getting into spud guns.

So here is my inquiry for help.

I am looking to build a mortar (short barrel, no wheels ect.) like gun that fires paintballs, golf balls, or something else (minus golf balls) that splats on the ground.

I wish for the mortar to look similar to this (short barrel is what I mean):

Image

I am really wanting to be able to fire it with hairspray or whatever makes the least noise and power, as I live somewhat in town.

Can anybody help me with a design?

I would also like to build a cannon capable of firing the same way that will fire golf balls.

Thanks for any help!

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:17 pm
by SpudStuff
Well...You aren’t going to get much power, distance, or velocity with a barrel that short. You could just build a small combustion with a 3" x 4" chamber and a 1.5" x 24" barrel.

I always recommend you DO NOT use hairspray. It is just about the WORST fuel ever! It is weak and gums up the chamber, Instead I would recommend either, the fluid used in cars (also called starting fluid). You need extremely little for cannon like that. Too much and it will not fire. About 1/2-1 seconds is plenty.

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:30 pm
by experament_u2
just use any deodarent thats not powdery and that should work fine and like spuddstuff said a longer barel will aid u alot 8)

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:14 pm
by MrCrowley
why don't you build a pneumatic? more reliable for paintballing...but we can't discuss shooting people with homemade guns on this forum.

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 11:53 pm
by Mortar Fan
Thanks guys!

No no, I'm not going to shoot anyone. :wink:

But I will see about what SpudStuff said.