I want to build a top of the line pneumatic...
- wangpushups
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I'm finished with my combustion and i want to start on a marble pneumatic kinda like "The S400 ~ By Chaos"... Burnt latke helped me out a lot with my combustion but i noticed there wasnt anything about pneumatics on there. I wanna start building it soon but its all making my head spin. Every pneumatic is built differently and none of them look the same...its so confusing and its like stepping into a whole new different world compared to combustion. I have no idea where or how to start building one, ive looked around and none of it really makes sense...so far.
Are there any construction sites or plans to get me started? I'll answer all questions, and dont tell me to search cause i already have. Its just so confusing as to where to start.
Are there any construction sites or plans to get me started? I'll answer all questions, and dont tell me to search cause i already have. Its just so confusing as to where to start.
look at the sticky about how piston valves work- its somewhere in here- i think in the pneumatic cannon discussion, and really, pneumatics are just free to do what you want with them. Make it however you want, really. It'll usually perform good. I like pneumatics because you can make them so different and so out of the ordinary. You just have to set goals for yourself about what you want and then go from there
"Some say his pet elephant is pink, and that he has no understanding of "PG rated forum". All we know is, he's called JSR. "
- wangpushups
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Woah i just looked at that diagram and it makes a lot of sense... i always thought that the piston pushed the projectile out of the barrel...
I have some questions, 1. ) How are your construction skills, regarding materials.
2.)What is your working budget
3.)How powerful would you like your cannon
4.)What situation are you using it, i.e. stationary or mobile?
5.) Ammo
and what is your favorite shooting position? e.g. shoulder firing
2.)What is your working budget
3.)How powerful would you like your cannon
4.)What situation are you using it, i.e. stationary or mobile?
5.) Ammo
and what is your favorite shooting position? e.g. shoulder firing
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- mark.f
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First off, this thread does not belong in "Web Site Discussion".
Second off, you just need a little patience, and, (sorry), research. Back on the old Spudtech forums, I remember every now and then a completely new person popping up with his first post about his chamber sealing piston valve pneumatic, so you don't really NEED our help to build a pneumatic, you just WANT our help.
That being said, a good place to start would be, believe it or not, Wikipedia. Pneumatic and Hydraulic circuits, gas laws, etc. are all a very good base upon which to start building compressed gas cannons. A little material science wouldn't go amiss either. Jumping right into trying to make some semi-automatic or auto-feed fully automatic pneumatic rifle without knowing and understanding the basics first is like going to take a college linear algebra course without first taking college algebra and calculus. It may not be what you want to hear, but you have to be thorough and meticulous in your education before trying to apply it to hobbies or other real-world practices.
Start off on Wikipedia, the SpudWiki, the Spudtech archives, and then, finally, searching these forums. I'm pretty sure in a little over a week of solid research whatever you're confused about will be clarified.
EDIT - PCGUY posted his decision while I was posting this. Good job.
Second off, you just need a little patience, and, (sorry), research. Back on the old Spudtech forums, I remember every now and then a completely new person popping up with his first post about his chamber sealing piston valve pneumatic, so you don't really NEED our help to build a pneumatic, you just WANT our help.
That being said, a good place to start would be, believe it or not, Wikipedia. Pneumatic and Hydraulic circuits, gas laws, etc. are all a very good base upon which to start building compressed gas cannons. A little material science wouldn't go amiss either. Jumping right into trying to make some semi-automatic or auto-feed fully automatic pneumatic rifle without knowing and understanding the basics first is like going to take a college linear algebra course without first taking college algebra and calculus. It may not be what you want to hear, but you have to be thorough and meticulous in your education before trying to apply it to hobbies or other real-world practices.
Start off on Wikipedia, the SpudWiki, the Spudtech archives, and then, finally, searching these forums. I'm pretty sure in a little over a week of solid research whatever you're confused about will be clarified.
EDIT - PCGUY posted his decision while I was posting this. Good job.

Last edited by mark.f on Sat Nov 24, 2007 11:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
- wangpushups
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1. I'm really good at constructingseudo411 wrote:I have some questions, 1. ) How are your construction skills, regarding materials.
2.)What is your working budget
3.)How powerful would you like your cannon
4.)What situation are you using it, i.e. stationary or mobile?
5.) Ammo
and what is your favorite shooting position? e.g. shoulder firing
2. My budget is open to any price range
3. Very powerful
4. Mobile
5. Marbles
6. Shoulder firing
- wangpushups
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I just want to make a bolt action pneumatic, not a semi or auto.markfh11q wrote:Jumping right into trying to make some semi-automatic or auto-feed fully automatic pneumatic rifle without knowing and understanding the basics first is like going to take a college linear algebra course without first taking college algebra and calculus.
EDIT: Accidental double post.
look at the deusexmachina by iknowmytables or however you spell his name. also i built a really nice one that I should have pics of soon up... if my mom ever lets me use her camera.
"Some say his pet elephant is pink, and that he has no understanding of "PG rated forum". All we know is, he's called JSR. "
- jackssmirkingrevenge
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There are countless bolt action marble guns in the finished cannon section that you can copy or use as a starting point, I would start my research there if I were you.
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
JSR! I was waiting for you to meander across this thread! Lol anyway, ditto on what he said. HEre's one idea for breeh loading for you, if you're just shooting marbles, go out, by a PVC ball valve, and drill a hole in teh side... if you can't figure out what that does, well then go do some more research please
"Some say his pet elephant is pink, and that he has no understanding of "PG rated forum". All we know is, he's called JSR. "
- VH_man
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a top-of-the line pneumatic is easy as pie... hehe i have pie on the brain
anyway, Might i reccomend a QEV instead of a piston valve for your first pneumatic.....
they can be bought at www.mcmaster.com on page 941. you want the right angle valves, most likely the 3/4 inch one.
a QEV is basically a piston valve that has quality control. all you have to really do is screw some fittings into it and your ready to fire. look around at some QEV cannons for some ideas.
you wont be dissapointed by their power either. they outpreform my first piston valve
and easily outpreform a sprinkler.
plus, they are EASY to use. REALLY easy.
PM me with questions. i jsut received my 3/8 inch QEV in the mail for my cannon, and oh my god..... lots of power.... lol.
anyway, Might i reccomend a QEV instead of a piston valve for your first pneumatic.....
they can be bought at www.mcmaster.com on page 941. you want the right angle valves, most likely the 3/4 inch one.
a QEV is basically a piston valve that has quality control. all you have to really do is screw some fittings into it and your ready to fire. look around at some QEV cannons for some ideas.
you wont be dissapointed by their power either. they outpreform my first piston valve

plus, they are EASY to use. REALLY easy.
PM me with questions. i jsut received my 3/8 inch QEV in the mail for my cannon, and oh my god..... lots of power.... lol.
I'm sure the rest of the guys would agree with me that a bolt action cannon that fires marbles off the shoulder is a bit odd, But it can be done. I am partial towards piston valves because of the ease of use once basic construction has been mastered,
So here goes:
you want an all steel preferably aluminum or stainless steel cannon.
coaxial layout and and for a trigger a blow gun, sprinkler valve or just a pressure sprayer, it is your choice if you want power i suggest a HPA system and make sure that your parts can handle it, if you have this you can attach a remote coil to an HPA tank pop it in your back pack and have raw power on tap.
The above however is only an idea like every one else says you need to read this entire site and most like it, know your basics and study the how to section like a gospel, then you can ask questions that will allow the guys to give you instant solutions.
_Seudo411_
So here goes:
you want an all steel preferably aluminum or stainless steel cannon.
coaxial layout and and for a trigger a blow gun, sprinkler valve or just a pressure sprayer, it is your choice if you want power i suggest a HPA system and make sure that your parts can handle it, if you have this you can attach a remote coil to an HPA tank pop it in your back pack and have raw power on tap.
The above however is only an idea like every one else says you need to read this entire site and most like it, know your basics and study the how to section like a gospel, then you can ask questions that will allow the guys to give you instant solutions.
_Seudo411_
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Heart of A Huslter...
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- MrCrowley
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If you can get the stainless steel, go with that. Otherwise I suggest looking at a bunch of copper cannons like H.E.A.L and Copperhead Prime.
The best way to learn how to make a pneumatic, is look at everyone on the site and find out how they work, why the work and what you need to do to make them work.
I didn't want to waste any money when building mine so I literally went through every pneumatic cannon on this website when I started out.
The best way to learn how to make a pneumatic, is look at everyone on the site and find out how they work, why the work and what you need to do to make them work.
I didn't want to waste any money when building mine so I literally went through every pneumatic cannon on this website when I started out.