Small caliber spud gun/ Nerf gun

A place for general potato gun questions and discussions.
Stormling
Private 2
Private 2
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 4:08 am

Thu May 12, 2011 5:35 am

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!!!
User avatar
jackssmirkingrevenge
Five Star General
Five Star General
Posts: 26216
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:28 pm
Has thanked: 576 times
Been thanked: 347 times

Donating Members

Thu May 12, 2011 5:40 am

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?
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
User avatar
shiny455
Private 3
Private 3
Posts: 58
Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2011 5:08 am

Thu May 12, 2011 6:08 am

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
User avatar
Crna Legija
First Sergeant 2
First Sergeant 2
Posts: 2333
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:14 am
Location: australia

Thu May 12, 2011 6:38 am

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.
'' To alcohol... The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.”
--Homer Simpson

Add me on ps3: wannafuk, 8/11/11 cant wait
User avatar
Technician1002
Captain
Captain
Posts: 5189
Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:10 am

Thu May 12, 2011 8:39 am

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.
Stormling
Private 2
Private 2
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 4:08 am

Fri May 13, 2011 8:56 pm

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.
metalmeltr
Specialist 4
Specialist 4
Posts: 426
Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:42 pm
Location: united states

Fri May 13, 2011 9:16 pm

I can confirm that at 200psi from 20ft away nerf dart can survive being fired at a block wall.
Stormling
Private 2
Private 2
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 4:08 am

Sat May 14, 2011 12:48 am

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 :(
User avatar
jackssmirkingrevenge
Five Star General
Five Star General
Posts: 26216
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:28 pm
Has thanked: 576 times
Been thanked: 347 times

Donating Members

Sat May 14, 2011 1:58 am

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.
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
Stormling
Private 2
Private 2
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 4:08 am

Sat May 14, 2011 8:24 pm

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.
shardbearer
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 85
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2011 10:21 pm

Sat May 14, 2011 10:28 pm

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.
User avatar
jackssmirkingrevenge
Five Star General
Five Star General
Posts: 26216
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:28 pm
Has thanked: 576 times
Been thanked: 347 times

Donating Members

Sun May 15, 2011 1:36 am

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:

Image

Add a properly set detent and it has the potential to be more powerful than any piston valve.
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
User avatar
shiny455
Private 3
Private 3
Posts: 58
Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2011 5:08 am

Sun May 15, 2011 1:36 am

I'm sure you could modify a 'maverick' nerf gun to do what you want it to
shardbearer
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 85
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2011 10:21 pm

Sun May 15, 2011 3:04 am

Not without complete internals replacements. Mavericks shoot 40 feet fully modded, that is far from all that you could want.
Stormling
Private 2
Private 2
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 4:08 am

Sun May 15, 2011 4:54 am

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
Last edited by Stormling on Sun May 15, 2011 5:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
Post Reply