SpudFiles

Hi, my names Max, but you can call me ChunKy...

I visited this site quite a while back, but didn't realise there was a forum, otherwise i would have joined a long time ago.
I've been thinking about rebuilding my very old cannon, as it really is in a bad condition, or i might just start again, yes i think i'll start again. The old cannon could shoot a spud around 100ft, but i'm ready for something more powerful, and fun to build.
I just want to ask a few questions...

1. Which type of cannon should i start off with, pneumatic or combustion?

2. Should i use Metal or PVC tubing?

+ Could someone recommended a diameter for the barrel?

Thanks in advance.

~ChunKy

Welcome to the forums

Usually which type of cannon you start off with is your choice of which you like more. People normally start with PVC because it is easy to work with then work their way up to metal cannons once they have built a few. The diameter of your barrel depends on how big your cannon is.

I would recommend (for a second spudgun) that you build a PVC pneumatic. A decent sized pneumatic will easily outshoot 100 feet with a potato.

Why not have a 3"x18" chamber, and a 1.5"x36" barrel? It will be fairly lightweight and easy to hold, but still will achieve nice performance (thanks to its 2:1 Chamber:Barrel volume)

If its going to be a pneumatic, it should probably be an over-under (just for portability and safety reasons).

I agree with demon. Its your choice of which type of cannon to make. I think most people start out with simple combustion cannons and work they're way up from there. My first cannon was 1ft of 4in pvc for the chamber and 5ft of 1 1/4in for the barrel. We estimated the distance on google maps to be 250 yard while using hairspray. and the first time I shot i was very suprized with its power.

Thank You for your help.

I think i will start off with a combustion Spud Gun, mainly because they seem easier.

~ChunKy

If you go Combustion, you might want to go ABS.

I have plenty of ABS around me, as i have a local supplier, so i'll probably go for that, and reinforce the combustion chamber with wire mess and an epoxy coating.

I have another question, what are these 'Spud Bux' for?

~ChunKy

Well its been proved that wire mess does nothing but since its abs it rips instead of exploding like pvc, it might do something to help but correct me if im wrong.

Spudbux= basically nothing. You can use them to buy things in the store (http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/shop.php?). People mainly use them for buying a signature. You can also "buy" other things, such as cannons and g-strings, but you don't actually get them; its all for fun!

Professor Amadeus brings up a good point... could wire mesh help protect you from an ABS failure? PVC shards would just rip through it... but haveing this wire mesh, coated in epoxy, it may prevent your hand from getting ripped up when the ABS fails

Pneumatics to me are easier to maintain and easier to achieve better performance... just me though... welcom to spudfiles

I wouldn't be using much Butane though, and this PVC and ABS pipes have quite a high failing point. WHen i build it over this weekend, i think i'll use my Remote Detonator to do a test run, that way, if it explodes, no hands will be lost. I'll make a video.

~ChunKy

Just make sure that the abs isn't cellular core and you won't need the mesh or epoxy. Also make sure to solvent weld it correctly.

If i were you i would go with a pneumatic spudgun for the sole reason that if you fire it WILL shoot, and its hard to achieve this with a combustion because they need ventilation ans if you use hairspray or deodorant they need cleaning. The point for me is that pneumatics are much more reliable and combustions without propane metering can get damn messy at least in my point of view.