Tennis Ball Cannon With Pics

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mattyzip77
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Mon Sep 24, 2012 10:02 am

I made this cannon a few weeks ago and I am just now getting around to posting it. The chamber is about 42 inches of 2 inch sch. 80, the barrel is 60 inches of 2 1/2 inch sch. 40 sdr 21, the valve is a irritrol 2 inch sprinkler valve and I am piloting it with a 3/4 inch qev from mcmaster. This thing has alot more power than I expected it to. I am putting a tennis ball at least 300 yards at 150 psi. It kicks like a mule!!! :D It also has a pressure gauge in the chamber, 160 psi max. And thank you 8tonsemi for the tennis balls!! Paint job and breech loading still to come!! Comments and criticism welcome. This cannon has all the stuff thats hard to get. Oh yea, you cant see it in the pics, but I am using my doggies pig stuffed animal as a barrel support held in place by a hose clamp!! :shock: :shock: Doggies not happy about it!! :roll: :roll:
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8tonsemi
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Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:00 pm

Looks great. Cant wait to see a video.
Also 2inch sprinkler valve or dust collector?
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mattyzip77
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Mon Sep 24, 2012 4:52 pm

Its a sprinkler valve, says it in my description. :lol:
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8tonsemi
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Mon Sep 24, 2012 5:09 pm

I meant which one is better, sorry i should have been more specific.
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mattyzip77
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Mon Sep 24, 2012 8:17 pm

Idk yet I havnt really tested it. I gotta put some numbers together for ggdt. I would think a dust collector because its faster. I havnt tried shooting golfballs yet with this either.
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jackssmirkingrevenge
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Tue Sep 25, 2012 12:49 am

Pretty efficient valve system you got there, looking forward to some proper damage pics/videos :)
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
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mattyzip77
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Tue Sep 25, 2012 12:30 pm

I recently "obtained" a jvc everio full hd 60 gb camcorder. I dont know if its a good one but I will be taking some videos soon. It has a one touch upload to youtube button on it so I assume it cannot be too difficult to finger out..... :lol:
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jackssmirkingrevenge
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Tue Sep 25, 2012 12:51 pm

mattyzip77 wrote:I assume it cannot be too difficult to finger out..... :lol:
Just got it and already you're thinking of molesting it :D
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
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MrCrowley
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Tue Sep 25, 2012 5:15 pm

mattyzip77 wrote:Idk yet I havnt really tested it. I gotta put some numbers together for ggdt. I would think a dust collector because its faster. I havnt tried shooting golfballs yet with this either.
Dust collectors are only 1.5" though, right? In that case, the 2" sprinkler valve should kick its ass with tennis balls at the same pressure.

Nicely constructed! I have a cannon quite similar and they're loads of fun. Buy some 12pk boxes of cheap soda and you'll go through several dozen cans before you get bored :D
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dewey-1
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Tue Sep 25, 2012 5:28 pm

MrCrowley wrote:Dust collectors are only 1.5" though, right? In that case, the 2" sprinkler valve should kick its ass with tennis balls at the same pressure.
Typical sizes are 1, 1-1/2, 2, 2-1/2 and 3 inches.
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8tonsemi
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Tue Sep 25, 2012 5:31 pm

MrCrowley wrote:
mattyzip77 wrote:Idk yet I havnt really tested it. I gotta put some numbers together for ggdt. I would think a dust collector because its faster. I havnt tried shooting golfballs yet with this either.
Dust collectors are only 1.5" though, right? In that case, the 2" sprinkler valve should kick its ass with tennis balls at the same pressure.

Nicely constructed! I have a cannon quite similar and they're loads of fun. Buy some 12pk boxes of cheap soda and you'll go through several dozen cans before you get bored :D
I dont know dust collector valves can have metal chamber and taken probably to 500psi with the right set up.
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MrCrowley
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Tue Sep 25, 2012 5:39 pm

8tonsemi wrote:
MrCrowley wrote:
mattyzip77 wrote:Idk yet I havnt really tested it. I gotta put some numbers together for ggdt. I would think a dust collector because its faster. I havnt tried shooting golfballs yet with this either.
Dust collectors are only 1.5" though, right? In that case, the 2" sprinkler valve should kick its ass with tennis balls at the same pressure.
I dont know dust collector valves can have metal chamber and taken probably to 500psi with the right set up.
*facepalm*

Obviously, a plastic valve can't handle 500PSI. So when I say "at the same pressure", I am inferring that you are using a pressure that allows the valve to stay in one piece.

@dewey,
That's true but I think the ones commonly used by 8ton and Matty were only 1.5" IIRC. I'm sure a 2" dust collector would perform better than a 2" sprinkler under the same circumstances.
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mattyzip77
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Tue Sep 25, 2012 10:08 pm

A 2 inch port barrel sealer should have out performed a 1 1/2 inch dust collector too but it didnt.... I will post results when I get time to test, prolly this weekend. I would love to shoot some soda cans mr.c but they dont fit!! :evil: My supplier only had 2 1/2" inch sdr 21 and I believe Soda cans you need sdr 26. I am hovever going to fill some tennis balls with concrete... :D
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8tonsemi
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Wed Sep 26, 2012 7:23 am

mattyzip77 wrote:A 2 inch port barrel sealer should have out performed a 1 1/2 inch dust collector too but it didnt.... I will post results when I get time to test, prolly this weekend. I would love to shoot some soda cans mr.c but they dont fit!! :evil: My supplier only had 2 1/2" inch sdr 21 and I believe Soda cans you need sdr 26. I am hovever going to fill some tennis balls with concrete... :D
The sdr-21 fits full soda cans :lol: I tried the fit the other day, it's snug but if you put like some Vaseline on them they should work nicely.
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mattyzip77
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Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:54 am

Im on it!!! Gotta try it asap!!! Cannon is going to kick like a christmas donkey!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:
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