New to this, where to start?

[Xzen]

Hey, i was flicking around the web when i came across this website. After looking at it a while i figured i should at least try to make a cannon. I don't really want to spend much money (i live in the UK). So what do you guys recommend as an easy or easier first build?

[jrrdw]

A simple combustion would be your best bet. Did you look at the Wiki, the button is at the top of the page. Just do a quick search on combustion cannon and you will find all the info you need to get started.

Welcome to Spudfiles.

[Xzen]

Looks cool. I will see if i can find some instructions on the net to guide me ^^.

Thanks
Nemesis

[Ragnarok]

A simple combustion would be your best bet.

That could be troublesome. The larger bores of pipe needed for a decent combustion are hard to find in pressure rated forms in the UK.

However TRS supplies and Hendersons are good cheap internet stores that do pressure rated pipe for cheap.

[jrrdw]

You, like every other member probly will have all the parts to build a mini combustion. Check out the mini showcase section for idea's, plenty of them to look at and get idea's from.

[Xzen]

I'm fairly sure i have nothing i can build a cannon out of.... Thanks for the links Ragnarok. Looking at a few designs combustion seems a little to big for my first project. Pneumatic cannons seem a better bet... Perhaps this or this if i am feeling ambishous.

quick edit -

Also, how am i going to pressurize this thing? i have a hand pump..... but i dont think that will do.... would a foot pump with a gauge be a better bet?

Thanks
Nemesis

[Gippeto]

A simple ball valve launcher is your best bet for ease of construction, and cost effectiveness.

A really simple, economical and trouble free build.

[dilweed]

Yep go with a ball valve gun.

Get a large air chamber. Dont use a plastic bottle, they scratch and get really weak, use a copper pipe or some pvc. For a beginers gun, dont use it past 100 psi. Always make shure the pipes are pressure rated. Make shure there is a large area of air to flow through when you open your valve. If you want more power and elaborate, carve a stock, make a spring and hook mechanism. It will give greater power and make it look more realistic. Be safe, dont point in any direction of anything living( as common sense dictates, although youd be surprised about how large a number of fellow humans lack it) DONT LOOK DOWN THE BARREL NO MATTER WHAT, treat it like a real gun even if it sucks in the power spectrum. Our hobby is great, lots of fun to blow SH*T up! If you want to embed your self further in flow of information and knowledge our site has to offer, try a piston, hybrid or combustion gun. and remember.....


HAVE FUN! (sorry for my bad grammer and spelling)


Look at these site. There very helpfull. Not to mention cool:

http://airgununiverse.net/

http://www.sentex.net/~mwandel/cannon/air_gun.html

Or just use the search options. Welcome aboard

[jrrdw]

I'm fairly sure i have nothing i can build a cannon out of.... Thanks for the links Ragnarok. Looking at a few designs combustion seems a little to big for my first project. Pneumatic cannons seem a better bet... Perhaps this or this if i am feeling ambishous.

quick edit -

Also, how am i going to pressurize this thing? i have a hand pump..... but i dont think that will do.... would a foot pump with a gauge be a better bet?

Thanks
Nemesis

You don't have a empty pill bottel, ink pen tube and eletric tape?

[Ragnarok]

Pneumatic cannons seem a better bet... Perhaps this or this if i am feeling ambishous.

Cost effective sprinkler valves are hard to come by in the UK.

I know they can be found, but I can never remember where...

[ALIHISGREAT]

you could visit the UK spudgun forum UKSGC.co.uk to find materials links.... but i use spudfiles more as it has alot more traffic.....

as for your first cannon... i would reccomend simple copper-QEV cannon such copperhead prime? http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/copperh ... t6013.html
(fancy grip and barrel supports are optional )

so more like this http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/1-2-qev ... 10406.html

both made by UK spudders... if you want cheap copper supplies and fittings i would reccomend http://www.bes.co.uk/ they stock most things you will need...

and the most important thing..... think about you design.... lots

[jonnyboy]

Heres a link to a very simple cannon. http://www.instructables.com/id/The-%24 ... ow-musket/. This link is important too http://www.spudfiles.com/spud_wiki/inde ... _Rated_PVC.

[jimmy101]

I second JRRDW's idea (I think). Make a pill-bottle mini-combustion.


Only tricky part is the igniter. A BBQ piezo will of course work but at $10 to $15 they are a bit pricey (and i'm not sure how available they are in the UK). A cheap alternative would be a long-handled fireplace lighter. They usually have piezo's in'm. With a bit of luck you might be able to find one for $5.

The lighter can be both your ignition system and your fuel source (butane works fine in combustion guns). Use the hose that's in the lighter to deliver the fuel into the pill bottle.

For a barrel; the BIC pen body like JRRDW suggested, or a short length of 1/4" copper tubing.

For ammo; BBs in tissue paper, any stiff veggy (spuds, zuchini, apple, ...)

From an old post;

Another option for the piezo is a long handled fire place lighter. Basically a big butane lighter. With a little creativity you can leave the lighter 90% assembled and use it's trigger and handle.

With a little more cleverness, you could plumb the butane into your chamber and have a spray-n-pray fueling system that fuels much slower than an aerosol can. So it might take 5 or 10 seconds to inject the right amount of fuel, and that might be easier to control than a 1~2 second spurt from a can. And, none of the fuel would escape during the fueling process so it should be a bit more consistent.

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Handy-Flex- ... ireplaces/ dp/B0017NWVJW/ref=sr_1_3/104-7200449-9667130?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=12128770 60&sr=8-3

This one has a flexible neck, which really isn't needed since you'll probably remove the neck anyway. These lighters are piezo ignited. This particular one is $4 w/o shipping.

Many expensive cigar lighters are also piezos. Might check the local bodega or cigar shop.

[nivekatoz]

If I were in your shoes, I think I would do a pneumatic. Even if it were simple. These are the thoughts that would go through my head.
First off..get a sprinkler valve.."If not," a ball valve would work,(not well) but will work none the less. I might even spring load the ball valve to make it better. I think the valve is the most important part of the cannon.. It determines the performance of the whole gun. Another option for a valve would be a QEV. You can get them on Ebay along with sprinkler valves..On my cannon I used an ASCO brass 3/4" diaphram valve. Its just like a sprinkler valve only a bit smaller and made of brass. Its modified like one also. Back in the day I started out with a ball valve cannon . It worked good but I knew that there was something better out there. Than I discovered sprinkler valves..They worked great. Than I wanted to make a cannon out of all metal..Thats what made me use a ASCO brass diaphram valve. It was metal and it was similar to a sprinkler valve, and modified like one also. All I have to say is once you start with canons you will get sucked in.. You will always be looking for, or making something better..You will not be able to rest. All of your waking life will be thinking of how to make your cannon better..IT WILL CONSUME YOUR LIFE.

[Xzen]

So er, just to be clear on the little pill box one (which i might try in a sec) do i spray deodourent in the box and set it on fire with a match or spark or something similar??? *confused* .... im sorry, i am very new to this.

edit -

If you know of any instructions or can write some i would be very grateful....

Thanks
Nemesis