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Main Page

2008-05-28T03:25:03Z

STHORNE: /* The Spudding Handbook */

=== The Spudding Handbook ===
Provided by the users of [http://www.spudfiles.com SpudFiles]

This Spudwiki is here for you to learn about the spudgun hobby.
All of this is totally free so be happy and get on to registering and posting!

-''PCGUY (Kyle), maker of '''SpudFiles'''''

==What you can learn here==

Here you can learn all about:
* [[What_is_a_spudgun%3F|What a spudgun is]] and how it works.
* The different types of spudgun.
* How to use and [[Cannon construction|construct]] your spudgun well - [[Safety|safely]] and reliably.
** How to build each type of spudgun, and [[FAQ|which might be best for you]].
** The right [[Construction_materials|materials]] to use.
** The basic rules of shooting, loading and caring for your launcher.
* How to make basic spudding accessories like breech loaders, and how to fit pressure gauges.
* What types of [[Common_Fuels_for_Combustion_Spudguns|fuel to use for your combustion spudgun]], as well as the types of [[Ignition_source|ignition]].
* What [[Pneumatic_cannon|valves]] you can use for your pneumatics.
* There is advice on good and bad types of [[projectile]]s for you to use
* How [[Legal issues|legal]] your cannon is.
* And a lot more besides.

Above all you will be able to find instructions on how to build things that you will love for years to come.

==What is a spudgun?==
[[Image:Cannon.jpg|frame|An Advanced Combustion Cannon]]
''Main article: [[What_is_a_spudgun%3F|What is a spudgun?]]''

In short, a spudgun is a general term used to describe home-made recreational launching devices. The name is a little misleading, because in fact, many launchers will never launch a potato, but it's a name that's stuck.

They also go by several other names, commonly also called spud/potato/produce - guns/zookas/huckers/launchers/cannons.
A lot of people commonly just call them "Launchers" or "Cannons".

==Types of spudgun==

So far, hobbyist launchers can be grouped into:
* A main category of '''pressure''' based launchers.
* A rare sub-group of '''electromagnetic''' launchers.

The vast majority fall into the former category, as they tend to be more powerful, as well as easier and cheaper to build.

'''Pressure''' based launchers can be sorted into two sub groups:
*'''Pre-compressed air''' powered, where air at greater than atmospheric pressure is used:
** [[Pneumatic cannon]]s
** [[BB machine gun]]s
* '''Flammable gas''' powered, where the pressure is generated by the heat from combustion of flammable vapours:
**[[Combustion cannon]]s
**[[Hybrid cannon]]s

The rarer '''electromagnetic''' launchers fall into three sub groups:
* '''Induction''' (Railguns, Induction coilguns), where the projectile is under a repulsive force.
* '''Reluctance''' (Most Coil/Gauss guns), where the projectile is under an attractive force.
* '''Electro-thermal'''/'''Electro-thermal-chemical''', where electrical power is used to generate heated gasses to provide force.

==Important & Related Links==

[[Index|Glossary/Index]]

[[Cannon construction]]

[[Useful construction links]]

[[Launcher configuration]]

[[Computer Applications]]

[[IPLA|International Potato Launching Association]]

[[Safety]]

[[Legal issues]]

[[History]] (A Brief History of Spud Guns)

[[SpudFiles forum guidelines]]

==External links==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spud_gun Wikipedia's page on spudguns]
*[http://www.bavetta.com/aircannon.html Air Cannon Barrel Length Numerical Analysis]
*[http://www.thehalls-in-bfe.com/GGDT Gas Gun Design Tool, simulation program for pneumatic guns]
*[http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=13324#13324 ATF Correspondence concerning spud gun legality]
*[http://www.spudfiles.com SpudFiles Forum (aka The Spud Cannon Database)]
*[http://www.spudtech.com Great source of spudgun information]
*[http://www.uksgc.co.uk/forums/ UK Spudgun Community (UKSGC) - The place for UK Spudgunning]

Main Page

2008-05-28T03:24:09Z

STHORNE: /* The Spudding Handbook */

=== The Spudding Handbook ===
Provided by the users of [http://www.spudfiles.com SpudFiles]

This Spudwiki is here for you to learn about the spudgun hobby.
All of this is totally free so be happy and get on to registering and posting!

-''PCGUY (Kyle), maker of SpudFiles (the worlds best spudding site)''

==What you can learn here==

Here you can learn all about:
* [[What_is_a_spudgun%3F|What a spudgun is]] and how it works.
* The different types of spudgun.
* How to use and [[Cannon construction|construct]] your spudgun well - [[Safety|safely]] and reliably.
** How to build each type of spudgun, and [[FAQ|which might be best for you]].
** The right [[Construction_materials|materials]] to use.
** The basic rules of shooting, loading and caring for your launcher.
* How to make basic spudding accessories like breech loaders, and how to fit pressure gauges.
* What types of [[Common_Fuels_for_Combustion_Spudguns|fuel to use for your combustion spudgun]], as well as the types of [[Ignition_source|ignition]].
* What [[Pneumatic_cannon|valves]] you can use for your pneumatics.
* There is advice on good and bad types of [[projectile]]s for you to use
* How [[Legal issues|legal]] your cannon is.
* And a lot more besides.

Above all you will be able to find instructions on how to build things that you will love for years to come.

==What is a spudgun?==
[[Image:Cannon.jpg|frame|An Advanced Combustion Cannon]]
''Main article: [[What_is_a_spudgun%3F|What is a spudgun?]]''

In short, a spudgun is a general term used to describe home-made recreational launching devices. The name is a little misleading, because in fact, many launchers will never launch a potato, but it's a name that's stuck.

They also go by several other names, commonly also called spud/potato/produce - guns/zookas/huckers/launchers/cannons.
A lot of people commonly just call them "Launchers" or "Cannons".

==Types of spudgun==

So far, hobbyist launchers can be grouped into:
* A main category of '''pressure''' based launchers.
* A rare sub-group of '''electromagnetic''' launchers.

The vast majority fall into the former category, as they tend to be more powerful, as well as easier and cheaper to build.

'''Pressure''' based launchers can be sorted into two sub groups:
*'''Pre-compressed air''' powered, where air at greater than atmospheric pressure is used:
** [[Pneumatic cannon]]s
** [[BB machine gun]]s
* '''Flammable gas''' powered, where the pressure is generated by the heat from combustion of flammable vapours:
**[[Combustion cannon]]s
**[[Hybrid cannon]]s

The rarer '''electromagnetic''' launchers fall into three sub groups:
* '''Induction''' (Railguns, Induction coilguns), where the projectile is under a repulsive force.
* '''Reluctance''' (Most Coil/Gauss guns), where the projectile is under an attractive force.
* '''Electro-thermal'''/'''Electro-thermal-chemical''', where electrical power is used to generate heated gasses to provide force.

==Important & Related Links==

[[Index|Glossary/Index]]

[[Cannon construction]]

[[Useful construction links]]

[[Launcher configuration]]

[[Computer Applications]]

[[IPLA|International Potato Launching Association]]

[[Safety]]

[[Legal issues]]

[[History]] (A Brief History of Spud Guns)

[[SpudFiles forum guidelines]]

==External links==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spud_gun Wikipedia's page on spudguns]
*[http://www.bavetta.com/aircannon.html Air Cannon Barrel Length Numerical Analysis]
*[http://www.thehalls-in-bfe.com/GGDT Gas Gun Design Tool, simulation program for pneumatic guns]
*[http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=13324#13324 ATF Correspondence concerning spud gun legality]
*[http://www.spudfiles.com SpudFiles Forum (aka The Spud Cannon Database)]
*[http://www.spudtech.com Great source of spudgun information]
*[http://www.uksgc.co.uk/forums/ UK Spudgun Community (UKSGC) - The place for UK Spudgunning]