What is the best fuel, how to light it

Boom! The classic potato gun harnesses the combustion of flammable vapor. Show us your combustion spud gun and discuss fuels, ratios, safety, ignition systems, tools, and more.
12tjklotz
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Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:03 pm

i have made my fist spudgun and i am having trouble actually launching the potatoes. I used AXE spray for about a second and then lit it with a match. All that happens though is it flare up and then burns real slow eventually setting the bottle on fire, what should i do?
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Gippeto
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Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:15 pm

i have made my fist spudgun and i am having trouble actually launching the potatoes. I used AXE spray for about a second and then lit it with a match. All that happens though is it flare up and then burns real slow eventually setting the bottle on fire, what should i do?



This is like asking how much water will fit in your bucket, without telling anyone how big your bucket is. :?

How about you put up some details of your canon so that those "in the know" can actually help you?

Off the top of my head (and certainly being no expert with combustions) I would say try using less fuel.

By the way, how big is your ignition hole?

Details my boy, details. :wink:
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DYI
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Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:27 pm

I can see at least one glaring problem here:
and then lit it with a match
How would you light it with a match without compromising the chamber as a pressure vessel? Because if there's a hole in the chamber to insert a match... :roll:

Also, you're likely using far too much fuel.
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88pathoffroad
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Sat Oct 25, 2008 1:24 pm

First thought, build a real spud gun instead of mucking about with bottles and matches. You're gonna burn yourself.

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CasinoVanart
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Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:52 pm

DYI wrote:I can see at least one glaring problem here:
and then lit it with a match
How would you light it with a match without compromising the chamber as a pressure vessel? Because if there's a hole in the chamber to insert a match... :roll:

Also, you're likely using far too much fuel.
bWAHAHAHAHAHHA :) golden....

I like butane, use a syringe and you have metered fuel dude, oh yeah touch holes went out before the ark i think:)
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starman
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Sat Oct 25, 2008 7:27 pm

I prefer metered propane...cheap, powerful, readily available and relatively easy. Here's a syringe example.
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qldrocketscientist
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Sat Oct 25, 2008 11:16 pm

Well i have a tennis ball launcher , it s combustion chamber is 100mm in dia and it it is a "T" section based chamber . the arm on the
"T"
^
the arrow above that is pointing to the arm im talking about, is 65mm long , the transtion is 5 cm, long and the barrel is 36 inches long and is 65mm .

the ratio is 0:8:1.

Can areostart ( a flammable spray used to start areoplane engines) will work good .
Last edited by qldrocketscientist on Sat Oct 25, 2008 11:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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jook13
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Sat Oct 25, 2008 11:43 pm

a good spray fuel that I have found is called 321 nail dryer.. it is in the beauty cosmetic supply isle at walmart if you have one near you. if not, try any store that specializes in beauty supplies and look for some kind of nail dryer. it is mostly butane and propane so it works well, just be sure not to over fuel it....

and if you get a chance, try your hand at a propane meter.... it is very rewarding...
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owza
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Sun Oct 26, 2008 8:25 am

I just use any deodorant thats lying around. May not be the most powerful stuff but it does the job and best of all it's free (pretty much)
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starman
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Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:23 pm

owza wrote:I just use any deodorant thats lying around. May not be the most powerful stuff but it does the job and best of all it's free (pretty much)
Well, it's not free....someone had to buy the deodorant.
owza
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Sun Oct 26, 2008 10:15 pm

starman wrote:
owza wrote:I just use any deodorant thats lying around. May not be the most powerful stuff but it does the job and best of all it's free (pretty much)
Well, it's not free....someone had to buy the deodorant.
Not literally free but there's an abundance of it (for me anyway) and there's never any need to go out and buy fuel especially.
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