Found a variety of 2" IBC valves! What to do with them

Cannons powered by pneumatic pressure (compressed gas) using a valve or other release.
Post Reply
Mauk
Recruit
Recruit
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2010 1:46 pm

Hello, spudders!
I was exploring my dads old garage and found a box full off different 2 inch IBC valves and some pipes, and the first thing that came to my mind was a spud gun =D Unfortunately the pipes are too short to be used as a barrel, but maybe I find an use for them too.

There are at least 4 different types of valves, probably more. Most of them are balls, but there are some butterflies and plugs too. They are meant to be used with 1000-1200L fluid containers so I think they should be able to handle enough PSI.

Image Image Image
Image Image

Has anyone used IBC valves with pneumatic spud guns before? They are manual and slow to open, but the slugs give a quite good airflow right away, and I could probably use two valves at the same time, by connecting the levers together. I could probably also make a spring system that pushes the lever fully open after a certain point has been reached.

Got any design ideas? :D
Top
User avatar
deathbyDWV
Corporal
Corporal
Posts: 576
Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 4:02 pm
Location: Owasso, OK

Yeah ball valves have great flow. The bad thing is the crap opening time... Most people spring load theirs and a few have made pneumatic rams... It'd be cool to see two together with a ram. You'd have a beast!
Life's too short to mark off the items on your wish list...
Top
User avatar
Bluetooth
Corporal 4
Corporal 4
Posts: 863
Joined: Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:57 am

deathbyDWV wrote:Yeah ball valves have great flow. The bad thing is the crap opening time... Most people spring load theirs and a few have made pneumatic rams... It'd be cool to see two together with a ram. You'd have a beast!
They'd be great for a first gun, but I think pneumatic rams are a bit overkill (ball valves don't have that insanely great flow to be worth it).
Top
User avatar
Lentamentalisk
Sergeant 3
Sergeant 3
Posts: 1202
Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:27 pm
Location: Berkeley C.A.

But they are much easier to find rated at redonculous pressures than any other type of valve, so while at low pressures it may not be worth it, the higher pressure you go, the more attractive they become.
Do not look back, and grieve over the past, for it is gone;
Do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come;
Live life in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering.
Top
Mauk
Recruit
Recruit
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2010 1:46 pm

So which would be the best? Butterfly, plug or the round ball?

I believe plugs would be better than balls, because they have a bigger opening at start. When the valve is 1/3 opened, the opening of the plug is a square, while the opening of a ball valve is just a segment of a circle, with the same height as the square.
Top
User avatar
jackssmirkingrevenge
Five Star General
Five Star General
Posts: 26219
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:28 pm
Has thanked: 582 times
Been thanked: 348 times

I would not trust these at much pressure, IBCs are not pressurised containers and those holding liquids which generate pressure such as volative solvents usually have check valves incorporated in the top cap to relieve pressure.

Still, looks like they would be ideal for a low pressure big bore fun gun :)
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
Top
Post Reply

Create an account or sign in to join the discussion

You need to be a member in order to post a reply

Create an account

Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute

Register

Sign in

  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Pneumatic Cannons”