SpudFiles Wiki - User contributions [en]

Golf ball

2005-11-21T23:27:29Z

207.68.122.5:

[[Image:Golf_ball.jpg|200px|right|]]'''Golf balls''' are commonly used as ammo in spudguns for a few reasons

*Uniform in shape and size
*Aerodynamic
*Availability

==Barrels==

Golf balls fit perfectly in 1.5" SDR 21 [[PVC]] pipe, but because of its thin walls, it should be sleeved inside 2" SCH 80.

Also fairly common is the construction of a hop-up device. These consist of a high-friction object on the top of the barrel which catches and puts a back spin on the ball. This backspin generates lift via the magnus effect, greatly extending the range of a golfball. Also, it improves accuracy, because instead of a spin in a random direction pushing the golf ball off course, you have a consistent back spin.

==Modifications==

Mantle removal: By removing the outer covering (mantle) of the golfball, you reduce the diameter which allows you to put it in 1.5" sch 40 pipe. This is best done with a chisel or such tool. However, this removes the dimples; they increased the magnus effect (responsible for lift) and decreased the drag. This means that the ball won't go as far.

"fin" insertion: By drilling a hole and inserting a nail/golf tee/stick, you prevent the golf ball from spinning. This improves accuracy by protecting the golf ball from the magnus effect.

{{stub}} [[catogory:projectile]]

What is a spudgun?

2005-11-21T23:23:29Z

207.68.122.5: -typo

'''Spud guns''', '''potato cannons''', or '''produce accelerators''' are all recreational launching devices usually made of plumbing pipe. There are two common means to launch projectiles from a spudgun. The [[pneumatic launcher|first]] uses the energy stored in a compressed gas and the [[combustion launcher|second]], more popular method, uses the energy released by combusting fuel vapors to heat the air and cause it to expand. There is a quite rare mix of the two, a [[hybrid launcher|"hybrid"]], that combusts a pressurized fuel-air mixture. The object of these varieties is to propel projectiles in the direction of a designated (safe) target for fun. Common [[catogory:projectile|projectile]]s include: [[mandarin orange|mandarins]], [[potato]]es, [[tennis ball]]s, [[golf ball]]s,bb's (if you have a small enough barrel), in fact pretty much any spare vegetable you can ram down the tube. This makes them a particularly popular home-made class of projectile launchers because of their low cost to build: a simple hairspray powered gun costs no more than $20 in PVC and glue, less if parts can be scrounged.

Please see the artical on [[safety]].

What is a spudgun?

2005-11-21T23:22:50Z

207.68.122.5: created cat:projectile

'''Spud guns''', '''potato cannons''', or '''produce accelerators''' are all recreational launching devices usually made of plumbing pipe. There are two common means to launch projectiles from a spudgun. The [[pneumatic launcher|first]] uses the energy stored in a compressed gas and the [[combustion launcher|second]], more popular method, uses the energy released by combusting fuel vapors to heat the air and cause it to expand. There is a quite rare mix of the two, a [[hybrid launcher|"hybrid"]], that combusts a pressurized fuel-air mixture. The object of these varieties is to propel projectiles in the direction of a designated (safe) target for fun. Common [[catogory:projectile]]s include: [[mandarin orange|mandarins]], [[potato]]es, [[tennis ball]]s, [[golf ball]]s,bb's (if you have a small enough barrel), in fact pretty much any spare vegetable you can ram down the tube. This makes them a particularly popular home-made class of projectile launchers because of their low cost to build: a simple hairspray powered gun costs no more than $20 in PVC and glue, less if parts can be scrounged.

Please see the artical on [[safety]].

Safety

2005-11-21T23:17:42Z

207.68.122.5: organized and added

Spudguns can be very dangerous if built or used improperly. However, if they are respected, they can be great fun.

==Don't shoot living things==
A typically-sized spudgun is capable of launching a potato weighing 50-150 grams a couple hundred yards with the muzzle energy of a powerfull handgun; even longer distances are easily acheived with rocks,PVC darts,golf balls, and other aerodynamic projectiles.
This energy, carried by a projectile as fragile as the humble tuber is easily capable of killing someone, or at least breaking bones. As to property damage, a thrown potato is capable of destroying windows, smashing decorations, and the like; think of what it would do if it had 25 times the energy - most launchers can put a vegtable through a peice of 1/2" plywood, and many can put it through 3/4".
The same applys to short/and or small-bore launchers too.

Despite their great potential to do harm, it is not looked appon well if you (attempt) to use your launcher as a hunting istrument. They are often hard to aim, leading to a low probability of a clean (humane) kill - plus, it may be less then legal for you to do so.

The bottom line is: don't aim a spudgun at anyone, at any time, even if you think it's not loaded. Also, make sure you are firing in a safe direction that is free of people, pets, livestock, and property.

==Ammo Saftey==
Some advise against shooting bolts, coke cans full of concrete, and other hard objects out of your gun; saying things along the lines of:
"Anthing that is much harder than a spud can cause grevious bodily harm if shot at another person,or any animal for that matter."
...in acctuality, even a tater will cause "grevious bodily harm" if shot at another living being. There may be an increased chance of ricrochet when using sturdy ammo - use common scence, and don't fire non-shattering ammo at close targets.

Some caution should be taken with shooting loose sub-munitions, specificaly gravel or stones, with a [[sabot]] behind them - there is a significant probability of them jamming up, and the barrel being overstressed when the sabot tries to keep moving through the blockage, leading to a failure. Always wrap your lose projectiles in something - paper towls, old socks, and plastic bags are all acceptable.

What is a spudgun?

2005-11-21T23:14:32Z

207.68.122.5: moved saftey warning to saftey artical

'''Spud guns''', '''potato cannons''', or '''produce accelerators''' are all recreational launching devices usually made of plumbing pipe. There are two common means to launch projectiles from a spudgun. The [[pneumatic launcher|first]] uses the energy stored in a compressed gas and the [[combustion launcher|second]], more popular method, uses the energy released by combusting fuel vapors to heat the air and cause it to expand. There is a quite rare mix of the two, a [[hybrid launcher|"hybrid"]], that combusts a pressurized fuel-air mixture. The object of these varieties is to propel projectiles in the direction of a designated (safe) target for fun. Common projectiles include: [[mandarin orange|mandarins]], [[potato]]es, [[tennis ball]]s, [[golf ball]]s,bb's (if you have a small enough barrel), in fact pretty much any spare vegetable you can ram down the tube. This makes them a particularly popular home-made class of projectile launchers because of their low cost to build: a simple hairspray powered gun costs no more than $20 in PVC and glue, less if parts can be scrounged.

Please see the artical on [[safety]].