Difference between revisions of "Main Page"

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=== The Spudding Handbook ===
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Provided by the users of [http://www.spudfiles.com SpudFiles]
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This Spudwiki is here for you to learn about the spudgun hobby.
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All of this is totally free so be happy and get on to registering and posting!
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-''PCGUY (Kyle), maker of SpudFiles''
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==What you can learn here==
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Here you can learn all about:
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* [[What_is_a_spudgun%3F|What a spudgun is]] and how it works.
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* The different types of spudgun.
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* How to use and [[Cannon construction|construct]] your spudgun well - [[Safety|safely]] and reliably.
 +
** How to build each type of spudgun, and which might be best for you.
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** The right [[Construction_materials|materials]] to use.
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** The basic rules of shooting, loading and caring for your launcher.
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* How to make basic spudding accessories like breech loaders, and how to fit pressure gauges.
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* What types of [[Common_Fuels_for_Combustion_Spudguns|fuel to use for your combustion spudgun]], as well as the types of [[Ignition_source|ignition]].
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* What [[Pneumatic_cannon|valves]] you can use for your pneumatics.
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* There is advice on good and bad types of [[projectile]]s for you to use
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* How [[Legal issues|legal]] your cannon is.
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* And a lot more besides.
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Above all you will be able to find instructions on how to build things that you will love for years to come.
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==What is a spudgun?==
 
[[Image:Cannon.jpg|frame|An Advanced Combustion Cannon]]
 
[[Image:Cannon.jpg|frame|An Advanced Combustion Cannon]]
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''Main article: [[What_is_a_spudgun%3F|What is a spudgun?]]''
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In short, a spudgun is a general term used to describe home-made recreational launching devices. The name is a little misleading, because in fact, many launchers will never launch a potato, but it's a name that's stuck.
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 +
They also go by several other names, commonly also called spud/potato/produce - guns/zookas/huckers/launchers/cannons.
 +
A lot of people commonly just call them "Launchers" or "Cannons".
 +
 +
==Types of spudgun==
 +
 +
So far, hobbyist launchers can be grouped into:
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* A main category of '''pressure''' based launchers.
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* A rare sub-group of '''electromagnetic''' launchers.
  
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The vast majority fall into the former category, as they tend to be more powerful, as well as easier and cheaper to build.
  
=== The Spudding Handbook ===
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'''Pressure''' based launchers can be sorted into two sub groups:
Provided by the users of [http://www.spudfiles.com SpudFiles]
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*'''Pre-compressed air''' powered, where air at greater than atmospheric pressure is used:
----
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** [[Pneumatic cannon]]s
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** [[BB machine gun]]s
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* '''Flammable gas''' powered, where the pressure is generated by the heat from combustion of flammable vapours:
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**[[Combustion cannon]]s
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**[[Hybrid cannon]]s
  
[[What is a spudgun?]]
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The rarer '''electromagnetic''' launchers fall into three sub groups:
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* '''Induction''' (Railguns, Induction coilguns), where the projectile is under a repulsive force.
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* '''Reluctance''' (Most Coil/Gauss guns), where the projectile is under an attractive force.
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* '''Electro-thermal'''/'''Electro-thermal-chemical''', where electrical power is used to generate heated gasses to provide force.
  
'''Types of spudguns:'''
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==Important & Related Links==
* [[Combustion cannon]]s
 
* [[Pneumatic cannon]]s
 
* [[Hybrid cannon]]s
 
* [[BB machine gun]]s
 
  
 
[[Cannon construction]]
 
[[Cannon construction]]
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[[Computer Applications]]
 
[[Computer Applications]]
  
[[IPLA]]
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[[IPLA|International Potato Launching Association]]
  
 
[[Safety]]
 
[[Safety]]
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[[SpudFiles forum guidelines]]
 
[[SpudFiles forum guidelines]]
 
This website is here to teach you about potato guns, also called spudguns, spudzookas, and spud chuckers. So far there are pneumatic, combustion, hybrid, and BB type cannons/launchers. Here you will learn all about spud safety, how to make things like breech loaders and what types of fuel to use in your spud gun (like propane, butane, hairspray, rightguard, etc.). You will learn the good and bad types of ammo to use as well as learn the best types of ignition (like stunguns, flint ignitors, BBQ ignitors, etc.) and how legal your cannon is. You just may learn how to get something totally free. You will learn about ABS and PVC pipe and how to correctly mount a pressure gauge into your cannon. You will learn all about the different kinds of valves and how to use them. (sprinkler valves, diaphragm valves, pistons, etc.) You will learn how to make a hybrid and a pneumatic/combustion cannon. You can even learn about strafers and submachine BB guns! Above all you will be able to find instructions on how to build things that you will love for years to come. All of this is totally free so be happy and get on to registering and posting!
 
 
-PCGUY (Kyle), maker of SpudFiles
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
  
 
*[http://www.bcvids.com BCVids (aka Utopia), video tutorials (in part by PCGUY)]
 
*[http://www.bcvids.com BCVids (aka Utopia), video tutorials (in part by PCGUY)]
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spud_gun Wikipedia's page on spudguns]
 
*[http://www.bavetta.com/aircannon.html Air Cannon Barrel Length Numerical Analysis]
 
*[http://www.bavetta.com/aircannon.html Air Cannon Barrel Length Numerical Analysis]
 
*[http://www.thehalls-in-bfe.com/GGDT Gas Gun Design Tool, simulation program for pneumatic guns]
 
*[http://www.thehalls-in-bfe.com/GGDT Gas Gun Design Tool, simulation program for pneumatic guns]
*[http://www.spudfiles.com/Other/are_they_legal.php ATF Correspondence concerning spud guns]
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*[http://www.spudfiles.com/Other/are_they_legal.php ATF Correspondence concerning spud gun legality]
*[http://www.spudfiles.com Spud Files (aka The Spud Cannon Database)]
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*[http://www.spudfiles.com SpudFiles forum (aka The Spud Cannon Database)]
 
*[http://www.spudtech.com Great source of spudgun information]
 
*[http://www.spudtech.com Great source of spudgun information]
*[http://www.uksgc.co.uk/forums/  UK Spudgun Community The place for UK Spudgunning]
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*[http://www.uksgc.co.uk/forums/  UK Spudgun Community (UKSGC) - The place for UK Spudgunning]

Revision as of 17:52, 15 February 2008

The Spudding Handbook

Provided by the users of SpudFiles

This Spudwiki is here for you to learn about the spudgun hobby. All of this is totally free so be happy and get on to registering and posting!

-PCGUY (Kyle), maker of SpudFiles

What you can learn here

Here you can learn all about:

  • What a spudgun is and how it works.
  • The different types of spudgun.
  • How to use and construct your spudgun well - safely and reliably.
    • How to build each type of spudgun, and which might be best for you.
    • The right materials to use.
    • The basic rules of shooting, loading and caring for your launcher.
  • How to make basic spudding accessories like breech loaders, and how to fit pressure gauges.
  • What types of fuel to use for your combustion spudgun, as well as the types of ignition.
  • What valves you can use for your pneumatics.
  • There is advice on good and bad types of projectiles for you to use
  • How legal your cannon is.
  • And a lot more besides.

Above all you will be able to find instructions on how to build things that you will love for years to come.

What is a spudgun?

An Advanced Combustion Cannon

Main article: What is a spudgun?

In short, a spudgun is a general term used to describe home-made recreational launching devices. The name is a little misleading, because in fact, many launchers will never launch a potato, but it's a name that's stuck.

They also go by several other names, commonly also called spud/potato/produce - guns/zookas/huckers/launchers/cannons. A lot of people commonly just call them "Launchers" or "Cannons".

Types of spudgun

So far, hobbyist launchers can be grouped into:

  • A main category of pressure based launchers.
  • A rare sub-group of electromagnetic launchers.

The vast majority fall into the former category, as they tend to be more powerful, as well as easier and cheaper to build.

Pressure based launchers can be sorted into two sub groups:

The rarer electromagnetic launchers fall into three sub groups:

  • Induction (Railguns, Induction coilguns), where the projectile is under a repulsive force.
  • Reluctance (Most Coil/Gauss guns), where the projectile is under an attractive force.
  • Electro-thermal/Electro-thermal-chemical, where electrical power is used to generate heated gasses to provide force.

Important & Related Links

Cannon construction

Useful construction links

Launcher configuration

Computer Applications

International Potato Launching Association

Safety

Legal issues

History (A Brief History of Spud Guns)

SpudFiles forum guidelines

External links