Washingmachine solenoid-mod

[Brian the brain]

Hi guys...

I'm working on too many projects at once..and none are even near ready to be shown...

But this I had to share:
I modded a twin solenoid valve from a washing machine..

I took off the solenoids, tapped the lids to 1/8 and made some hammervalves for it.

The piston's centrehole was melted shut with a soldering iron.
It's perfect for a double barrel ( with dual external hammers) launching airsoft bb's or in this case nerfdarts.

It's meant for my son and will be used at footpump pressures.( rated 10 bar)

At three bar it launches 2 foam plugs across the room in a straight line...really fast.
Did I mention it's only got stubs for barrels.
The two valves can be triggered independently.

Just for testing right now, so hold your critique untill you've seen the endresult...:

[wyz2285]

That's cool.
I found a solenoid in my old washing machine too, but my parents wanted the machine intact for recycling and Ii was not allowed to take it off

[Brian the brain]

It shouldn't be too hard to get hold of one if you really look for it.

[wyz2285]

It shouldn't be too hard to get hold of one if you really look for it.

Things are a little different here for parts like this it's not sold in stores, you have to contact the respective company how sell the washer machine with the model of the solenoid, I'll have to answer the model, brand etc to buy a one "to replace the one from the washer machine"

[Brian the brain]

No Ebay or different auction websites?

[wyz2285]

ebay normally the shipping cost more than the product if it's not from China no second hand market here, people like me piratically doesn't here.

[Technician1002]

Find appliance recyclers. Tell them you want some valves by the pound for a science fair or art project. If they smell money for an exact replacement part, they will milk it for all it is worth. Asking for scrap parts is dirt cheap. No guarantees or exchanges.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Cute will there eventually be hammers or is it to remain a poppet valve?

[Brian the brain]

I feel like you don't know me at all...


Hammer time! Offcourse!
can't touch this, remember...
Da-da-da-da...dada...dada...

What I've done today:

I cut down the 3/4" inlet to reduce the overall size ,fitted a teflon plug inside and compressed it in with a 3/4" ring I found--Originally used to hold a hosebarb.

Then I cut off the original outlets and plugged them with some m8 bolts and cut those down.

I then opened up the bottom of the valves to create new ports to the barrels, wich not only enables me to orientate the valve better for hammering the poppets...but the out-ports are now inline with the pistons aswell.

The inport is tapped to 1/8"and a small elbow will then direct the air into the valve from a butt-reservoir.

The barrels will be break action ( or basculating if you will) like a real doublebarreled shotgun.

And yes...the two hammers will fire independently.
I choose to use a single trigger and have the hammers release one after the other depending on how far the trigger pulled.
This gives me the option of firing both at the same time if I pull the trigger in one swift motion...

And just to sorta "claim"the idea...I plan on building a similar style launcher using a 12gram adapter and two 1/4" QEV's.
The trick is how to connect both valves to a single point..and have it withstand 900 psi..I think I know how to now.

I've had promissing results testing a hammered QEV directly to a 12 gram.The valves themselves hold sufficient volume at that pressure to launch say.. a 10 mm roundball at serious velocity.



Anyway, here the mods to the valve so far.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Ah, now it's making sense... So Brian junior is getting a nerf coach gun?

[Brian the brain]

You got me.

...with the percussion style external hammers.

[Zeus]

More like



Amirite?

[Brian the brain]

He's got that one and the Buzzbee Doubleshot.

I stumbled apon some cheap rated PVC today so I figured I'd give it a go.

Woodglue is still curing and it needs some cleaning up.
There is nothing connecting the valves to the barrels right now and it;s pretty much held together by Scotchtape...

I'm starting to have doubts about the hammers though..
Seems like a lot of trouble to go through when you have two perfect thumbtriggers..
They work fine like that.
KISS right?

Maybe I'll go with just the hammers...no trigger?
We'll see.

[Zeus]

Aww c'mon, you can't not give the boy triggers. A hammer side by side lock is trivial, only 4 moving parts all up.

[Brian the brain]

If I figure out an elegant way of going around the reservoir I will..

heck...maybe I'll just go through it...
Two opposing fittings , two O-rings and a spring between them to keep them seated...Then a rod running through it to the hammers....hmmm


me like!