My First Piston Valve Launcher

Show us your pneumatic spud gun! Discuss pneumatic (compressed gas) powered potato guns and related accessories. Valve types, actuation, pipe, materials, fittings, compressors, safety, gas choices, and more.
acs2997
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:36 pm

Sun Jul 15, 2012 12:04 am

I've been considering building a piston valve launcher for some time now. I want to go big, I'm tired of making little launchers. I've made a few and now I want something bigger. I was thinking of making a 4" piston valve to shoot golfballs. would this be too large? should I just use a 3" valve?
User avatar
jackssmirkingrevenge
Five Star General
Five Star General
Posts: 26179
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:28 pm
Has thanked: 543 times
Been thanked: 319 times

Donating Members

Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:16 am

acs2997 wrote:would this be too large?
Is there such a thing :D

If you only want to shoot golf balls, 3" is more than enough, and it keeps your material costs downcompared to 4" definitely.
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
acs2997
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:36 pm

Sun Jul 15, 2012 9:48 am

haha, that's true!
And price (for me at least) is a moderate issue. Also the 4" pvc i would buy turns out to be only rated at 133 psi, which is enough, id only be pressurizing up to 100 or so, but better safe than sorry.

What about tennis balls? i was thinking of having a multiple barrels that i could just screw on
User avatar
Technician1002
Captain
Captain
Posts: 5189
Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:10 am

Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:45 am

For golf balls, a good flowing 2 inch port valve works well.
User avatar
jackssmirkingrevenge
Five Star General
Five Star General
Posts: 26179
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:28 pm
Has thanked: 543 times
Been thanked: 319 times

Donating Members

Mon Jul 16, 2012 12:34 pm

acs2997 wrote:What about tennis balls? i was thinking of having a multiple barrels that i could just screw on
In that case you should be looking to make your valve in a tee, a 2" porting valve should be more than enough for most applications.
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
User avatar
8tonsemi
Specialist 3
Specialist 3
Posts: 321
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2012 6:08 pm
Location: The moon

Mon Jul 16, 2012 1:22 pm

3 inch would be fine. It would be big enough for what your using it for. Especially if your shooting golf balls. I have a 2 inch chamber on mine and it performs fine. Good luck, and if you end up making the gun make sure to post it.
jsefcik
Sergeant 2
Sergeant 2
Posts: 1138
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:11 am

Mon Jul 16, 2012 1:27 pm

Or simply purchase a dust collelector valve nd you don't have to build the .valve
User avatar
8tonsemi
Specialist 3
Specialist 3
Posts: 321
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2012 6:08 pm
Location: The moon

Mon Jul 16, 2012 1:28 pm

jsefcik wrote:Or simply purchase a dust collelector valve nd you don't have to build the .valve
Yeah that would work great and you wouldn't have to build any thing as jse said.
acs2997
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:36 pm

Mon Jul 16, 2012 3:51 pm

Im going away soon to block island. like tomorrow kinda soon. thanks for all the help! i've came up with a really interesting kind of reloading system, so ill be sure to include that into my gun.

one more question: would it be possibly use a 4 way tee for a piston valve? one like this: (obviously not 1/2 inch pvc)

i've just never made a piston valve before and i cant find any issues with it, but i wasn't sure. it would allow me to use two air tanks
jsefcik
Sergeant 2
Sergeant 2
Posts: 1138
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:11 am

Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:05 pm

acs2997 wrote:Im going away soon to block island. like tomorrow kinda soon. thanks for all the help! i've came up with a really interesting kind of reloading system, so ill be sure to include that into my gun.

one more question: would it be possibly use a 4 way tee for a piston valve? one like this: (obviously not 1/2 inch pvc)

i've just never made a piston valve before and i cant find any issues with it, but i wasn't sure. it would allow me to use two air tanks
why would you use it any way?

one end is where barrel goes, other is your pilot and where piston goes into and other end is chamber
acs2997
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:36 pm

Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:17 pm

its so i could have two air tanks instead of one. sure, i could just make a super large air tank, but i was hoping on having two if possible
User avatar
MrCrowley
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 10078
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:42 pm
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Been thanked: 3 times

Mon Jul 16, 2012 5:45 pm

Yes, it has been done before. I think one of our moderators, jrrdw, attempted it a few years ago and there is a build log on some person's personal website where they also used a 4-port cross instead of a tee (it may have been a coaxial as well). Hopefully someone can provide a link for you.
why would you use it any way?

Flow might improve marginally and there may also be aesthetic or practical reasons for wanting to use a cross.

jsefcik, I've noticed recently that you like to suggest the dust collector valve when anyone wants to make a piston valve. This is all well and good but can you also provide a link to one on ebay or such; many people don't know what they are. Also, providing a link makes your post come across as more considerate than just telling someone to go and buy a valve instead of making one.

While buying a valve can be beneficial (especially with a good valve like a dust collector), you should provide more info (price, availability, porting size, material, etc) so someone can make a rough assessment of them without having to go and dig through Google. Just a friendly suggestion :)
User avatar
mattyzip77
Sergeant 3
Sergeant 3
United States of America
Posts: 1249
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:22 pm
Location: Taxachusetts

Donating Members

Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:25 pm

I also have a friendly suggestion. Actually get the valve make a cannon out of it and test it. All you have been going on is what I have told you about it and 8tonsemi. What if we were in cahoots to get you to get the valve as a prank?? Never thought of that have you?? :D
Go Bruins!!!!
acs2997
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:36 pm

Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:27 pm

jsefcik messaged me all of that information. price, avalability, etc. I think im gonna stick to the piston valve.

but the main reason i would use a cross or 4 way tee is so that i could attatch two air tanks that run parralel to my barrel, without being directly underneath. i plan on incorperationg a reloading system and a convention over-under design would get in the way. sure, i could just offset my air tank but that wouldn't look all that great and i would like all the chamber space i can get

moderated message: please don't double post. If you need to reply to two different members, do so in the same post. If you have something to add to a post just after you have submitted it, please use the edit button to edit the original post instead of posting again.

mattyzip77, well then i would be a couple bucks lighter than before! haha thanks for the heads-up
User avatar
mattyzip77
Sergeant 3
Sergeant 3
United States of America
Posts: 1249
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:22 pm
Location: Taxachusetts

Donating Members

Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:45 pm

No it really is a good valve, actually its a awesome valve. I have a few and its very powerful and simple to use, plug and play. However piston valves are powerful too and if its the build your after than go that route. There are how too's all over the forum and youtube but if you want a big one check this out


Go Bruins!!!!
Post Reply