First spud gun-durability ?'s

Miniature guns are novelty custom, unique, and sometime downright crude! Common construction materials often include pill bottles or pens. Show us your work!
Das Chicken
Private
Private
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:50 pm

Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:46 am

Hello fellow spudders, this is my first post, as well as my first potato cannon build (Attempt). I'm an economical person, whenever something small and cheap is involved (.22 LR bullets), i get interested. So when i saw the mini spuds, i got excited. So i did some looking around at how to build a combustion mini, and i found the film holder/pill bottle spud guns. I looked around my house for either of those items. No luck, but i did find an airlock for beer brewing. It was broken, thats why i chose it in the first place. It is very similar to a pill bottle in size, but it seems a little flimsy. Do any of you think it wont explode in my hands if it is used as a spud gun? By the way, the breakage is by the tube where the barrel will go, so i don't think it will be a problem.
User avatar
Zeus
Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Posts: 1505
Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:34 pm
Location: 'Straya, C*nt

Fri Mar 01, 2013 6:29 pm

For starters, the 50-100psi from any combustion won't get any fun results from pulled .22s. Just too dense, nowhere near enough surface area. Airsoft BBs will work well though.

And I daresay that "chamber" will hold, but power won't be anything special.
/sarcasm, /hyperbole
Das Chicken
Private
Private
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:50 pm

Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:21 pm

Zeus wrote:For starters, the 50-100psi from any combustion won't get any fun results from pulled .22s. Just too dense, nowhere near enough surface area. Airsoft BBs will work well though.

And I daresay that "chamber" will hold, but power won't be anything special.
I think you misinterpereted what i implied in my post, i'm not using .22 bullets for ammo. I will use airsoft bbs .12g and .20g, depending on which gets better accuracy. Also, good to know someone has faith in my "chamber". Thanks for your opinion.
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

Sat Mar 02, 2013 12:28 am

Some photos of your chamber would help. As Zeus pointed out though, power will be fairly dismal in such a small calibre.
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
User avatar
cammyd32
Specialist 3
Specialist 3
Great Britain
Posts: 326
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2011 7:00 am

Sat Mar 02, 2013 8:53 am

Well bearing in mind people have made cannons out of Cardboard, I think your little chamber will hold well enough for what you intend, although getting a good mix in such a little chamber might take more luck than skill
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

Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:02 am

cammyd32 wrote:getting a good mix in such a little chamber might take more luck than skill
Not luck, science!

http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/how-to- ... 22301.html
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
User avatar
cammyd32
Specialist 3
Specialist 3
Great Britain
Posts: 326
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2011 7:00 am

Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:26 am

Not luck, science!
If you just so happen to have a butane canister and syringe lying around in your house :wink:
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

Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:33 am

Both over-the-counter items that shouldn't cost you more than a couple of quid ;)
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
User avatar
cammyd32
Specialist 3
Specialist 3
Great Britain
Posts: 326
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2011 7:00 am

Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:42 am

Some kid walks up to a pharmacy counter, with his nose just above the counter he asks: 'one of your largest syringes please' :wink: Doesn't sound suspicious at all!
When your young I suppose the best you can do is assemble some ragtag parts from around your house whack a barbecue lighter inside it, then conduct a ritual sacrifice and pray to Odin every time you fuel the little blighter :P If this dude wanted to do things properly I suppose he'd probably go out and find something that would be better suited than a broken little plastic container with a hole in it :lol:
User avatar
Zeus
Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Posts: 1505
Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:34 pm
Location: 'Straya, C*nt

Sat Mar 02, 2013 3:01 pm

Just find a farm co-op, and buy them there. I buy a lot if 23GA needles and 3mm syringes without anyone bothering me. Of course I'm using them legitimately, but my point stands.

They'll never hesitate selling you 20mL and up syringes, needles are another matter.
/sarcasm, /hyperbole
Das Chicken
Private
Private
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:50 pm

Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:40 am

I completed my mini and fired it! it looks pretty ghetto, and it's transparent to boot! After firing for the first time, (and after a structural inspection) i tried to fire it again, but it didn't light. Properly metered fuel via syringe doesn't sound like too much work now. I'm hoping to get some power tests done today; But since my one and only shot was sent into a tree, i have no idea of it's capabilities.
Post Reply