Ignition types

Boom! The classic potato gun harnesses the combustion of flammable vapor. Show us your combustion spud gun and discuss fuels, ratios, safety, ignition systems, tools, and more.
Potato Demon
Private 4
Private 4
Canada
Posts: 60
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2018 4:22 pm
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Sat Oct 27, 2018 10:04 pm

Hi, I was wondering what the best ignition (other than a stun gun) is for spud guns. I generally use 2 nails and the piezoelectric thing from a bbq lighter but I have heard that grill igniters work better. So if anyone knows of any other (under $20 ideally) ignition sources please let me know.
The world is the problem, the atomic bomb is the answer!
keks2033
Private 4
Private 4
Russia
Posts: 94
Joined: Mon Feb 08, 2016 2:37 am
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 5 times

Sun Oct 28, 2018 5:29 am

Potato Demon wrote:Hi, I was wondering what the best ignition (other than a stun gun) is for spud guns. I generally use 2 nails and the piezoelectric thing from a bbq lighter but I have heard that grill igniters work better. So if anyone knows of any other (under $20 ideally) ignition sources please let me know.
Image it is a gas lighter, it works on 220 volts. This is the best initiator I have used, it ignites almost any mixture. I need a battery, a boost converter and a capacitor, I took this circuit from the old camera.price about 1.5 dollars
Image
Image there are still lighters. Powered by batteries, provides continuous spark while the button is pressed. Also a good initiator, but a spark is weak. Price 1 dollar
Potato Demon
Private 4
Private 4
Canada
Posts: 60
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2018 4:22 pm
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Sun Oct 28, 2018 3:55 pm

I might just go ahead and modify a cheap arc lighter.
The world is the problem, the atomic bomb is the answer!
User avatar
Labtecpower
Sergeant 3
Sergeant 3
Eritrea
Posts: 1297
Joined: Sat Feb 20, 2010 6:38 am
Location: Pyongyang
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 13 times

Tue Oct 30, 2018 5:05 am

jimmy101
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
United States of America
Posts: 3198
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:48 am
Location: Greenwood, Indiana
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 15 times
Contact:

Thu Nov 01, 2018 11:34 am

Potato Demon wrote:Hi, I was wondering what the best ignition (other than a stun gun) is for spud guns. I generally use 2 nails and the piezoelectric thing from a bbq lighter but I have heard that grill igniters work better. So if anyone knows of any other (under $20 ideally) ignition sources please let me know.
"Work Better" is misleading. Either the spark works or it does not. Not working is a PITA but even a cheapo piezo, if setup correctly, will work basically all the time if the mixture is correct. A hotter spark won't increase the power of the gun.

The only times a more complex sparker might be needed is if you use multiple spark gaps or you are doing a hybrid.

For a combustion, the most important thing is getting the mixture right. Everything else is pretty much irrelevant if you can't get the right amount of fuel in the chamber.
Image
MDSpudderButter
Private
Private
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2018 1:28 pm
Been thanked: 1 time

Mon Jan 28, 2019 8:03 pm



I use one of these in my combustion cannon. I've used both 2(AA) batteries for around 3v input, and now a 5v input from a USB power block. Both work very well and it is dead reliable.
Post Reply