My First Spud Gun

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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nicholai
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Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:28 pm

yeah a lot of people make their first pneumatic cannon using DWV parts, its not as safe as using NSF-PW fittings but it wont injure you if you take the proper precautions.

1: Dont overpressurize the cannon, a fitting popping off at low pressre is not as dangerous. Since it LOOKS like ABS (solid black pipe) not PVW (white pipe) its not rated for pressure, the benefit from ABS is that the pipe will not typically shatter like PVC so if it does get hit under high pressure it typically rips lengthwise with the pipe/fittings, where PVC will shatter.

2: Probably should fire it from a distance, make a little project box from parts at radio shack : three 9v batteries w/ clips, a pushbutton switch and a long cord, or pneumatically modify the valve and add a long hose and ball valve at the end to fire it.

3: IF you do have to drill and tap a fitting into air chamber do it over a fitting where the fitting and pipe overlap, this will give the threads more plastic to grip, also use teflon tape on the threads.

So before any of these dink heads chew you out for using DWV they or I should explain to you why NSF-PW parts are safer. NSF-DWV parts are intended for draining water from your toilet, sink, or shower and are not intended or rated to hold any pressure. NSF-PW parts have a tighter fit and have a longer depth to hold more pipe surface.

The design of the two fittings look different in apperance
NSF-PW fittings typically look streamlined, no pipe stops are visible on the outside (they are on the inside)
NSF-DWV fittings have a shorter area to grip the pipe and the pipe stops are visible from the outside and inside of the fitting.

The cannon looks overall pretty nice, you butted the two elbows pretty close together, not bad for your first cannon. Maybe throw a cool paint job on it, pimp it out with some neon lights :)
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-Skate-
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Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:03 am

Haha, Thanks loads for the help man...

We did have a problem with the elbows as we had to remove the pressure gauge before we could unscrew the solenoid. That sort of sucked.

Mostly the problem is that Home Depot only had DWV pipe. What stores sell SCH-40?
PVC Arsenal 17
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Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:19 pm

Lowes is pretty good for NSF-pw parts up to 2"
Some places vary, but mine always has what I need.

For the odd stuff, plumbingsupply.com and sprinkler.com are bound to have it.

Ask spudstuff aboutthe place he buys from. He said it's cheaper than anything. I think it was something like aurorasupply on eBay.
-Skate-
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Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:13 pm

About five minutes ago I shot a couple potatoes. That was really fun considering I haven't shot potatoes before. They are my prime ammo right now.

The only downfall is I couldn't see how far it went. It just sort of disappeared into nothingness.
Dom
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Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:41 pm

-Skate- wrote:
pyrogeek wrote:Since you have to use it, pressure test it to "X"PSI and fire it remotely. Then just fill it to like 1/2 that at the science fair. And preferrably fire it remotely their and keep people away.
For future reference though, use Sch40 or higher PVC for pneumatics. Combustion can use either Sch40 or higher, or ABS (although it's not recommended.)

I don't like how that is going from like 3inch(barrel) to 1 inch(valve) to like 2inch(barrel). Maybe you could get some 1inch ABS and make a new barrel that would screw onto the chamber, and convert it to a combustion since it would be a shame to just throw all of that away.
I'm not allowed to use it AT the science fair, I have to use it and test it FOR the science fair.

They don't want me blowing it off at the school.


Oh, and I tried it with a tomato. WORKED LIKE A CHARM.

I don't know what's so bad about it... We are staying at about 60 PSI for safety and it's doing great.
ABS can "handle" pressure.. but not REPETITIVE pressure.. read here -> first time it will work like a beauty but after a dozen shots or so, it will start to weaken to a critical point.

As for the wrapping in high quality wire and ducttape... waste of money, really. Something under pressure that needs to escape, if it breaks, it BREAKS. Nothing, except maybe a real steel wire or concrete, will stop it. It has been aborded on this forum many times, just look around.
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SpudStuff
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Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:41 pm

Yes I get my shit from several places. Like you said Aurora Supply on eBay has good prices. They relist things I believe every month. Mc Master has high prices but can ge good if you cant find specialty parts. Also, the phone book for irrigation stores. They often have good prices if you buy the entire box of fittings. That can be usefull if they are common fittings, like 4" threaded adapters.
SpudBlaster15
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Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:54 pm

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Last edited by SpudBlaster15 on Wed Jul 14, 2021 12:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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SpudStuff
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Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:24 pm

This is fucking rediculus. A mod should lock this topic.
ABS is NOT an acceptable material for Pneumatic guns.
No questions asked. It is not pressure rated in ANY way. Being cellular core makes it even worse. Always make sure the fittings on a pneumatic say NSF-PW on them.
SpudBlaster15
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Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:44 pm

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras nec placerat erat. Vivamus dapibus egestas nunc, at eleifend neque. Suspendisse potenti. Sed dictum lacus eu nisl pretium vehicula. Ut faucibus hendrerit nisi. Integer ultricies orci eu ultrices malesuada. Fusce id mauris risus. Suspendisse finibus ligula et nisl rutrum efficitur. Vestibulum posuere erat pellentesque ornare venenatis. Integer commodo fermentum tortor in pharetra. Proin scelerisque consectetur posuere. Vestibulum molestie augue ac nibh feugiat scelerisque. Sed aliquet a nunc in mattis.
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SpudStuff
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Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:49 pm

Um... No, you are wrong there. Almost all ABS at stores is Cellular Core. It even says it in big bold letters. Solid Wass ABS looks the same but is extremly rare. You cannot see the bubles.
SpudBlaster15
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Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:18 pm

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras nec placerat erat. Vivamus dapibus egestas nunc, at eleifend neque. Suspendisse potenti. Sed dictum lacus eu nisl pretium vehicula. Ut faucibus hendrerit nisi. Integer ultricies orci eu ultrices malesuada. Fusce id mauris risus. Suspendisse finibus ligula et nisl rutrum efficitur. Vestibulum posuere erat pellentesque ornare venenatis. Integer commodo fermentum tortor in pharetra. Proin scelerisque consectetur posuere. Vestibulum molestie augue ac nibh feugiat scelerisque. Sed aliquet a nunc in mattis.
Last edited by SpudBlaster15 on Wed Jul 14, 2021 12:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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SpudStuff
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Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:24 pm

Can someone non retarted comment? This guy has no clue what he is talking about....
SpudBlaster15
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Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:29 pm

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras nec placerat erat. Vivamus dapibus egestas nunc, at eleifend neque. Suspendisse potenti. Sed dictum lacus eu nisl pretium vehicula. Ut faucibus hendrerit nisi. Integer ultricies orci eu ultrices malesuada. Fusce id mauris risus. Suspendisse finibus ligula et nisl rutrum efficitur. Vestibulum posuere erat pellentesque ornare venenatis. Integer commodo fermentum tortor in pharetra. Proin scelerisque consectetur posuere. Vestibulum molestie augue ac nibh feugiat scelerisque. Sed aliquet a nunc in mattis.
Last edited by SpudBlaster15 on Wed Jul 14, 2021 12:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-Skate-
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Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:38 pm

JUST STOP ARGUING.

I GET IT. ABS SUCKS.

Seriously. I know that and I have learned that ABS is not the way to go, so you guys should stop arguing.
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SpudStuff
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Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:49 pm

Good Point! We should stop arguing until someone comments.
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