SpudFiles

Hi i'm looking for any help in making a simple small caliber spud gun.
The main thing i'm looking for is the power to launch Nerf darts but also small bits of potato and/or other objects.
I'm also wondering if a modified sprinkler valve would work considering i'm only using 10-15 Psi.
This brings me to my second point, what dimensions am I looking at for a a 10-15 Psi tank.
Obviously my gun is pneumatic.
PLZ HALP!!!

Stormling wrote:I'm also wondering if a modified sprinkler valve would work considering i'm only using 10-15 Psi.
This brings me to my second point, what dimensions am I looking at for a a 10-15 Psi tank.

A sprinkler valve will most likely not even seal at 10 psi. Is there a reason you want to use such low pressure?

if your only after 10-15 psi your not too much after any performance just use a ball valve. but I don't see why you don't put at least a little more power into it. i cant think of a pump that wont make 50psi

i think you should use a qev(my one seals at 5-10psi), and make a gun that can handle 100psi, so that you can tune in the proformance you want for a nerf gun and still do damage with marbles and stuff.

Other than the simple part, mine works fine at low pressure.

Some sort of cork in a barrel would work that could be pulled by hand on a rod would work well for a low pressure launcher.

The problem with many air operated valves is they won't want to seal or trigger properly at low pressure. A manual valve would be best. Even a 1/4 turn plumbing shut off valve may do the job since power is not a concern.

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:

Stormling wrote:I'm also wondering if a modified sprinkler valve would work considering i'm only using 10-15 Psi.
This brings me to my second point, what dimensions am I looking at for a a 10-15 Psi tank.

A sprinkler valve will most likely not even seal at 10 psi. Is there a reason you want to use such low pressure?

I'm mainly needing such a low psi due to the fact that a Nerf dart is only a fraction of the weight of a potato. I know of 30 psi guns shooting a potato at least 20 m
I need the gun to still fire the darts safely and not to completely ruin the darts either.
As for using a sprinkler valve this was only due to the trigger style system but I might settle for a pvc valve or ball valve but if anyone does know another way that would be good.

I can confirm that at 200psi from 20ft away nerf dart can survive being fired at a block wall.

metalmeltr wrote:I can confirm that at 200psi from 20ft away nerf dart can survive being fired at a block wall.

Isn't not the impact that kills them it's when they are being fired. I don't think that ability is common so props to who ever did that. I still require the low power though and I've seen 120psi pop the end out of a dart and bust the side out of another though.
I might just be being paranoid because I don't have a lot of darts

Stormling wrote:As for using a sprinkler valve this was only due to the trigger style system but I might settle for a pvc valve or ball valve but if anyone does know another way that would be good.

If you want a trigger system, just use a blowgun directly. Hook it up to a low pressure chamber, say 75-100 psi, on one end, and barrel on the other. This will give you good performance with small "squirts" of the valve and multiple shots before the chamber needs to be refilled.

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:

Stormling wrote:As for using a sprinkler valve this was only due to the trigger style system but I might settle for a pvc valve or ball valve but if anyone does know another way that would be good.

If you want a trigger system, just use a blowgun directly. Hook it up to a low pressure chamber, say 75-100 psi, on one end, and barrel on the other. This will give you good performance with small "squirts" of the valve and multiple shots before the chamber needs to be refilled.

That sounds pretty good actually. I'll actually use it but I sorta need the trigger not inline with the tank so I can mount it, thats why I was going with the modified valve.
So I'm correct in thinking that if I get a blowgun with a good flow, i pump up the tank stick in the dart and pull the trigger I can fire.
Thankyou btw.

So what are you using? I think a blowgun triggered QEV would be a good choice. It would give you your non inline trigger that you wanted and be more efficient.

Stormling wrote:I'll actually use it but I sorta need the trigger not inline with the tank so I can mount it, thats why I was going with the modified valve.

A diagram of your intended configuration would help us help you

So I'm correct in thinking that if I get a blowgun with a good flow, i pump up the tank stick in the dart and pull the trigger I can fire.

Pretty much.

I think a blowgun triggered QEV would be a good choice

Most people don't realise that with a decent barrel blowguns used directly make pretty good valves. I did this with this:



Add a properly set detent and it has the potential to be more powerful than any piston valve.

I'm sure you could modify a 'maverick' nerf gun to do what you want it to

Not without complete internals replacements. Mavericks shoot 40 feet fully modded, that is far from all that you could want.

shardbearer wrote:Not without complete internals replacements. Mavericks shoot 40 feet fully modded, that is far from all that you could want.

Yeah sorta going for a sniper here. I already tried a fully modded maverick from a friend of mine and it could only get about 10 metres. we sorta wanted a sniper that could snipe so that was in-fact the basis of the project