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=== The Spudding Handbook ===
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== The Spudding Handbook ==
Provided by the users of [http://www.spudfiles.com SpudFiles]
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Welcome to The Spudding Handbook!  This wiki format handbook contains all of the information you will ever need to build spudguns, and much more besides.  The purpose of this handbook is to explain the principles of spudguns and how they are built and operated. All of the information contained in this handbook is free and available to anybody who wishes to view it.
  
This Spudwiki is here for you to learn about the spudgun hobby.
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Look around and enjoy your stay.
All of this is totally free so be happy and get on to registering and posting!
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--[[User:BC Pneumatics|BC Pneumatics]] 02:13, 31 May 2008 (EDT)
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[[Image:Cannon.jpg|frame|An Advanced Combustion Cannon]]
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==What is a Spudgun?==
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''Main article: [[What_is_a_spudgun%3F|What is a spudgun?]]''
  
-''PCGUY (Kyle), maker of SpudFiles''
 
  
==What you can learn here==
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There are many different names for spudguns. They are called potato cannons, spud launchers, potato guns, spud cannons, and a host of others. Whatever you decide to call it, all of the aforementioned describe the same type of device: a device used to accelerate a [[potato]] down the [[barrel]], and launch it some distance. While it may offend some purists, the humble little potato is quickly losing favor to other ammunitions such as [[golf ball]]s, [[tennis ball]]s, and other cheap, uniform projectiles.
  
Here you can learn all about:
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==Types of Spudguns==
* [[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?==
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=== [[Pneumatic_launcher|Pneumatic Launchers]] ===
[[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.
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These use the energy stored in compressed gas to launch a projectile. The launcher's [[chamber]] is [[pressure|pressurized]] and the gas held back from the barrel by a [[valve]]. When the valve is opened the gas is allowed to rapidly expand and escape down the barrel forcing the projectile out before it.
  
They also go by several other names, commonly also called spud/potato/produce - guns/zookas/huckers/launchers/cannons.
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=== Combustion Launchers ===
A lot of people commonly just call them "Launchers" or "Cannons".
 
  
==Types of spudgun==
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* '''[[Combustion_launcher|Regular Combustions]]'''
  
So far, hobbyist launchers can be grouped into:
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These find the energy needed to launch a projectile from the [[Combustion process|combustion]] of a gaseous [[fuel]] and air mixture. The fuel is added to the air already in the chamber, the chamber is sealed and the mixture ignited.  This combustion creates a pressure spike that forces the projectile out through the connected barrel.
* 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.
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* '''[[Hybrid_launcher|Hybrid Launchers]]'''
  
'''Pressure''' based launchers can be sorted into two sub groups:
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Hybrid launchers are a special type of combustion launcher that use a pre-pressurized fuel/air mixture. This results in a higher pressure and hotter combustion on ignition, thereby transferring more energy to the projectile.
*'''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:
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=== [[BB Machine Gun]]s ===
* '''Induction''' (Railguns, Induction coilguns), where the projectile is under a repulsive force.
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A [[BB Machine Gun]] (BBMG) is a device designed to shoot a large volume of small diameter ammo, typically plastic airsoft or steel BBs. BBMGs are pneumatic guns but unlike single shot launchers they require a constant gas supply to function.
* '''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==
 
==Important & Related Links==
  
[[Cannon construction]]
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[[Index|Glossary/Index]]
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[[Good technical examples & articles]]
  
 
[[Useful construction links]]
 
[[Useful construction links]]
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[[Safety]]
 
[[Safety]]
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[[Ammunition]]
  
 
[[Legal issues]]
 
[[Legal issues]]
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[[SpudFiles forum guidelines]]
 
[[SpudFiles forum guidelines]]
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[[Spudding Jokes]]
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[[Forum Stickies]] (Some of the most important topics on Spudfiles)
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
  
*[http://www.bcvids.com BCVids (aka Utopia), video tutorials (in part by PCGUY)]
 
 
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spud_gun Wikipedia's page on spudguns]
 
*[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.thehalls-in-bfe.com/GGDT Gas Gun Design Tool, simulation program for pneumatic guns]
*[http://www.spudfiles.com/Other/are_they_legal.php ATF Correspondence concerning spud gun legality]
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*[http://www.thehalls-in-bfe.com/HGDT Hybrid Gun Design Tool, simulation program for hybrid/combustion guns]
*[http://www.spudfiles.com SpudFiles forum (aka The Spud Cannon Database)]
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*[http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=13324#13324 ATF Correspondence concerning spud gun legality]
*[http://www.spudtech.com Great source of spudgun information]
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*[http://www.spudfiles.com SpudFiles Forum (aka The Spud Cannon Database)]
*[http://www.uksgc.co.uk/forums/  UK Spudgun Community (UKSGC) - The place for UK Spudgunning]
 

Latest revision as of 02:42, 9 October 2013

The Spudding Handbook

Welcome to The Spudding Handbook! This wiki format handbook contains all of the information you will ever need to build spudguns, and much more besides. The purpose of this handbook is to explain the principles of spudguns and how they are built and operated. All of the information contained in this handbook is free and available to anybody who wishes to view it.

Look around and enjoy your stay. --BC Pneumatics 02:13, 31 May 2008 (EDT)

An Advanced Combustion Cannon

What is a Spudgun?

Main article: What is a spudgun?


There are many different names for spudguns. They are called potato cannons, spud launchers, potato guns, spud cannons, and a host of others. Whatever you decide to call it, all of the aforementioned describe the same type of device: a device used to accelerate a potato down the barrel, and launch it some distance. While it may offend some purists, the humble little potato is quickly losing favor to other ammunitions such as golf balls, tennis balls, and other cheap, uniform projectiles.

Types of Spudguns

Pneumatic Launchers

These use the energy stored in compressed gas to launch a projectile. The launcher's chamber is pressurized and the gas held back from the barrel by a valve. When the valve is opened the gas is allowed to rapidly expand and escape down the barrel forcing the projectile out before it.

Combustion Launchers

These find the energy needed to launch a projectile from the combustion of a gaseous fuel and air mixture. The fuel is added to the air already in the chamber, the chamber is sealed and the mixture ignited. This combustion creates a pressure spike that forces the projectile out through the connected barrel.

Hybrid launchers are a special type of combustion launcher that use a pre-pressurized fuel/air mixture. This results in a higher pressure and hotter combustion on ignition, thereby transferring more energy to the projectile.

BB Machine Guns

A BB Machine Gun (BBMG) is a device designed to shoot a large volume of small diameter ammo, typically plastic airsoft or steel BBs. BBMGs are pneumatic guns but unlike single shot launchers they require a constant gas supply to function.

Important & Related Links

Glossary/Index

Good technical examples & articles

Useful construction links

Launcher configuration

Computer Applications

International Potato Launching Association

Safety

Ammunition

Legal issues

History (A Brief History of Spud Guns)

SpudFiles forum guidelines

Spudding Jokes

Forum Stickies (Some of the most important topics on Spudfiles)

External links