CO2 Stokes Mortar

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.
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Cthulhu
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Wed May 17, 2017 9:26 pm

A friend and I are making a mortar that fires foam projectiles powered by 12g CO2 cartridges. It isn't anything fancy, just a 3" PVC pipe with a nail at the bottom to puncture the cartridge and a bipod to hold it up. It's 4 feet long with a 3 inch bore, and can adjust it's trajectory​ between 45 Degrees to 75 degrees, just as the original Stokes mortar did.

I'll be uploading pictures of the finished painted product, various experimental shells, and possibly a firing video, along with the customary data on ranges and ballistics. If anyone's particularly interested I'll draw up some blueprints for you.
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The unpainted mortar
The unpainted mortar
This weapon serves to silence the noisy speakers of the stupid of the other street! (joke) -Hectmarr
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jackssmirkingrevenge
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Fri May 19, 2017 8:25 am

Consider eliminating the CO2 12g from the projectile by having it refillable like the Hades Arrow from Hakkotsu:

[youtube][/youtube]
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
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Cthulhu
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Fri May 19, 2017 4:25 pm

I considered that, but couldn't come up with a cheap or easily manufactured design.

The closest I came to was a pressurized pipe with a very strong burst disk.
This weapon serves to silence the noisy speakers of the stupid of the other street! (joke) -Hectmarr
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Gippeto
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Fri May 19, 2017 6:57 pm

What about a toolies piston like this one; Some pics start about half way down the first thread, some pics of the mortars valve are in the second thread. Function is essentially the same.

http://www.spudfiles.com/pneumatic-cann ... 22848.html

http://www.spudfiles.com/pneumatic-cann ... 15933.html
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jackssmirkingrevenge
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Sat May 20, 2017 6:17 am

I considered that, but couldn't come up with a cheap or easily manufactured design.
Image

There's your cheap pre-made pressure chamber... drill a hole in the cap, sandwich a burst disk in there...
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
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Cthulhu
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Sat May 20, 2017 12:13 pm

That's actually a really good idea, wouldn't I have to drill another hole and fit in a fitting for the pump though?
This weapon serves to silence the noisy speakers of the stupid of the other street! (joke) -Hectmarr
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Sat May 20, 2017 2:13 pm

Well, I threw on a couple layers of olive drab paint, it's a bit spotty and I left the Axel it hinges on unpainted (it would rub off there anyways), but for all things considered it looks pretty good.
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Painted mortar (sorry for bad image quality!)
Painted mortar (sorry for bad image quality!)
This weapon serves to silence the noisy speakers of the stupid of the other street! (joke) -Hectmarr
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Sat May 20, 2017 4:21 pm

Cthulhu wrote:That's actually a really good idea, wouldn't I have to drill another hole and fit in a fitting for the pump though?
I would put the valve in the cap as it's the thickest piece of plastic. The burst disk could be in that small circular bead in the bottom of the bottle.
Penetration is key
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Sat May 20, 2017 8:25 pm

WizardNoodle wrote:
The burst disk could be in that small circular bead in the bottom of the bottle.
I'm not very familiar with burst disks, how would you attach it at the bottom?
This weapon serves to silence the noisy speakers of the stupid of the other street! (joke) -Hectmarr
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Sun May 21, 2017 7:52 am

I would put the valve in the cap as it's the thickest piece of plastic. The burst disk could be in that small circular bead in the bottom of the bottle.
I'd do it the other way round - the threaded cap is a convenient way to attach a burst disk in a reusable manner, while the bottom of the bottle is thick enough to tap for an [airsoft type fill valve](http://www.ebay.com/itm/MadBull-Steel-R ... SwopRYiFq7) epoxied in:

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hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
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Cthulhu
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Sun May 21, 2017 9:29 am

Those are pretty expensive valves for something that will probably fly away never to be returned to me hahaha.
Do you know of any cheaper alternatives? I might go old school and mix some vinegar and baking soda in the bottle and then quickly cap it with the end cap.
This weapon serves to silence the noisy speakers of the stupid of the other street! (joke) -Hectmarr
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Sun May 21, 2017 1:00 pm

I would use a Simple Truth water bottle as the bottom doesn't have those annoying flimsy thin-walled prongs. Vinegar and baking soda are pretty weak & impractical relative to all the other ways you could achieve pressure. If you aren't hell bent on using CO2, I would install a Shrader valve into the rocket/mortar and pressurize the bottle with air. Make sure you first test how far the bottle handles pressure until it explodes so you don't accidentally overpressurize it while it is in your hands.
Penetration is key
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Sun May 21, 2017 3:29 pm

WizardNoodle wrote: If you aren't hell bent on using CO2, I would install a Shrader valve into the rocket/mortar and pressurize the bottle with air.

I'm willing to use whatever it takes to get it flying, where would you suggest installing the Schrader valve? On the cap or on the bottom of the bottle.


I experimented with vinegar and baking soda this morning, it was messy, annoying, and didn't fly. But the main issue I had was that gas was actually leaking from around the burst disk.
This weapon serves to silence the noisy speakers of the stupid of the other street! (joke) -Hectmarr
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Sun May 21, 2017 4:56 pm

I would do what jackssmirkingrevenge suggested and install the Schrader valve on the bottom of the bottle. Use a Simple Truth or other flat bottomed water bottle. Cut a 1/2" hole into the bottle cap and that will be where you rupture the burst disk with a nail or other puncturing mechanism. If you need help with burst disk materials, go here.
Penetration is key
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Sun May 21, 2017 5:47 pm

Those are pretty expensive valves for something that will probably fly away never to be returned to me hahaha.
You can find them for about 3 dollars each, not exactly going to break the bank.
the main issue I had was that gas was actually leaking from around the burst disk.
How did you go about it?
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
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